Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - First Century on the Books

Well I can finally stop being a lurker here as I just completed my first century....... a boy can I pick em...

I did the Kings tour of the Quabbin put on by the Seven Hills Wheelmen in western mass.


The total climbing was around 7,000 ft and it was all rolling hills..... I am definitely feeling the hills today. Looking back I could (to be read as Should ) have done more hill work but I did complete the ride in 7 hours with a riding time of 5:30 and a 17.6 m/hr average. The scenery was so beautiful that I made sure to take time to take it all in.

It took till about mile 30 before I felt warmed up.... and mile 50 - 70 (rt202) where a lot of the steeper intense climbing lived was brutal. I really was feeling low at the last rest stop mile 76 and was not sure I could finish but pushed on with the help of my riding partner and by the time mile 80 came I was feeling pretty good again. The finish was a punishing 3.5 mile climb to the end but I was so happy to be done.

I was amazed and pleased that I completed the course and was blown away by how bad I felt at mile 76 and how good I felt by mile 80.

I am so hooked and though my muscles are sore and I have some pain I am already looking to see what my next one will be.


Zev

Sounds like quite a work out- Congrats - in some respects you were lucky, hills and heat could have done you in.

With that kind of pace over a hilly route - no doubt you can ride a sub-6-hour when and if you try a flat route. (assuming light winds)

yeah I got really lucky with the weather..... overcast and cool perfect in my mind. If it was sunny and hot I don't know if I would have made it

Congratulations!!

And yes, that bit between about 60 miles and 80 miles is usually the hardest bit of a century. You've already ridden a long way and you've still got a long way to go. By 80 miles, you've ridden a long way, but the end is in sight.

Congratulations. For some reason I always feel better at 75-95 miles than I do from 55-65. Just remembering that keeps me going a lot of times.

I really was feeling low at the last rest stop mile 76 and was not sure I could finish but pushed on with the help of my riding partner and by the time mile 80 came I was feeling pretty good again. The finish was a punishing 3.5 mile climb to the end but I was so happy to be done.

I was amazed and pleased that I completed the course and was blown away by how bad I felt at mile 76 and how good I felt by mile 80.That's why I'd be hesitant to ride alone. I had the same thing last season: I would pretty much break down completely at around 100 km, then be fine at about 120 km. Really needed my riding partner to keep me going through those kilometers; if I had been alone, I probably would've chucked my bike in a ditch and called a taxi.

Luckily, he has the same thing at around 130 km; I know I'm gonna have to pull him through that so I don't feel too bad about having to be dragged through my dip.

.tsooJ

Well its official I am totally hooked..... I am registered for the local clubs Century called Climb to the Clouds (7800 ft of climbing but Ive been told that it is easier than the ride I just did ) on July 18th and if all goes well I have two more that I want to do this year...... I might make a century a month for the rest of the season.