General Cycling Discussion - Starting to Freak out

I have decided to do a century in June...my first one...just bought a rode bike. Ok, I'm thinking this isn't a big deal. I've done three day long fighter training camps(kickboxing) that leave you immobile and sore for a week...so I'm thinking a day long ride can't be a big deal. But, people are beginning to freak me out. They start mentioning things like, “you'll make it if you draft”...Ok I know what this is, but does it really matter? So, now...I feel like I need to find an experienced group to ride with so I can practice this concept.

What are some things I should consider. I don't know what questions I should be asking? I really don’t want to make this complicated. I just like riding & figure what the hell...I can raise some money for charity. I've easily ridden 51 miles(not fast, but easy)...and I'm doing 75 tomorrow. I looked at the stats for this ride & a few women did it in 5.5 hours. What would I need to do to try and kick some butt on this ride.

Chill.

Any reasonably fit person with a modicum of cycling experience can do a century. There's a kind of 50% rule -- if you can do 50 mi., then you can do 100 mi. The effort isn't that much greater, it's really just a question of saddle time. I remember that i did my first century with no training and no preparation. It was supposed to be a 120 km ride that turned into 162 km. Just stay fit and get used to being in the saddle for long lengths of time... and rest the day before the big ride or take a short, easy spin.

As for: “you'll make it if you draft”... well, duh... Everyone drafts. That's the reason to go with a group. You could probably do a century alone, but it'd take you 8 hours; in a group, it'll take 5-6 hours. On my first century [see above], we had three guys, and our average speed was 27.5 km/h.

I can understand why 100 miles might be seen as a personal milestone, but I can't understand why people make such a big deal out of training for a century. Almost anyone on this board could go out and do one tomorrow -- you included.

Thanks!
That's what I needed to hear. I was just getting to many "Wow, can you really do that?..that's long...and in these mountains?...do you know you have ride over Snake Mountain?" It was discouraging. I am the unassuming cyclist...so I should expect that kind of response.

BUT I WILL DO IT!

I'm going off line to go enjoy the great outdoors!

yea its like velocipedio said just about anyone can finish 100 miles in a day. 5 or 6 years ago was the First time i did a century i had no clue, just knew it sounded like fun.. i was on a slow hybred to boot and .couldnt keep up with anyone I did most of the ride alone people pased me all the time some gave encouragement. I made the mistake of taking too long a break for lunch my legs thought the ride was over. at one point i was off the bike and just stareing at it and wondering what the hell i was doing out here . then i got inspired and finished the ride i took just over 8 hrs really a pahitic time! Thankfully since that day i upgraded to a better road bike and became a much faster rider its a
differerent story now. Go for it!, it feels good at the finish line
catfish

Like the guys said, any regular non-athletic cyclist can ride a century.
Athletic non-cyclists need to get out and put some saddle time in, just to get used to being in the saddle. Your 50 and 75 miles seem good preparation.
Dont forget to eat and drink on the ride. The last 20 miles can be a pain if you run out of glycogen, so keep your body topped up with fuel.
Dont try to kick butt on your very first century, dont try to sprint or climb hard at the start. Endurance riding is about using your resources efficiently.

Originally posted by velocipedio
Chill.

Any reasonably fit person with a modicum of cycling experience can do a century. There's a kind of 50% rule -- if you can do 50 mi., then you can do 100 mi. The effort isn't that much greater, it's really just a question of saddle time. I remember that i did my first century with no training and no preparation. It was supposed to be a 120 km ride that turned into 162 km. Just stay fit and get used to being in the saddle for long lengths of time... and rest the day before the big ride or take a short, easy spin.

As for: “you'll make it if you draft”... well, duh... Everyone drafts. That's the reason to go with a group. You could probably do a century alone, but it'd take you 8 hours; in a group, it'll take 5-6 hours. On my first century [see above], we had three guys, and our average speed was 27.5 km/h.

I can understand why 100 miles might be seen as a personal milestone, but I can't understand why people make such a big deal out of training for a century. Almost anyone on this board could go out and do one tomorrow -- you included.

Agree. As long as you have been training and ridding, a Century isn't a big deal. I did mine last Saturday under the most unfavorable weather condition (wet, raining, cold, and windy). Just remember to bring energy drink and packet food. If I were you, here is what I would do. Fill up two water bottles with energy drink. Bring alone some extra (a bag) energy drink mix with you on the ride. Drink as much as possible during the first 50 miles. By the time you are at the 50 miles mark, you should have emptied the first bottle. Now, take a slightly long break and drink up the entire second bottle. Remember to eat. You should have two empty water bottles now. Then, refill just one of the water bottles with the energy drink mix. You should be able to finish the century strong while keeping your bike lighter.

Hi Betta:
I'm doing my first century in June too. It's for charity too. I'm in ok shape in that I work out 3-4 times a week as it is. As others said, with the century, it's saddle time that counts. I've ridden 50 and was fine. The worst part about long rides is butt aches from the saddle. And staying hydrated and fed are important too. It's a mind thing I think too. I live in Wisconsin where it's flat, the ride is in Tahoe where its mountainy. Initially, I'm thinking AAAAhhh! How will I be prepared for the hills??? But then I remind myself that I've ridden in some pretty fierce head winds, I'm lifting weights for strength, etc... and that I can CAN CAN do it!!! Just 'relax' have fun and take my time! Plus.... I will reward myself with a huge dessert that night!! wooo Wooooooo! :p
Sarah

You can do it if you pace yourself and eat and drink during the ride. I "hit the wall" and have trouble completing more than 30 miles/50 km without eating something.

In 1972, I completed the Los Angeles Wheelmen double century in 12:18, and I my father can tell you that I am NOT a natural athlete. (I tested at the bottom of my 6th grade class during President Kennedy's national physical fitness program.)

8 hours is a bad time to do a century!?I know with breaks it took me longer than that and there were still people coming in after me.Man I am a horrible athlete,but I have fun.I like to see the sites:D ...Hilly

I just found out today that im doing my first century of the year in 3 weeks. That was just 5 minutes after i watched the weather; rain rain and more rain for the next two weeks... Hope i can get a few miles in before then :)

Don't let your energy stores run out, don't let the SAG wagon out of sight, and don't over do it. ;)

Originally posted by John E
(I tested at the bottom of my 6th grade class during President Kennedy's national physical fitness program.)
I remember those tests! The first time I got up the rope I was thrilled!!!!! I hated the jump from a standing position...I sucked!
:p
Sarah

Since I use my bike for transportation, travelling a lot of miles in one day is simply a matter of deciding where I would like to travel to and then getting there. Cycling 100 miles in one day doesn't represent a particular milestone for me -- it would just mean that I had some place 50 miles away that I wanted to travel to and from.

I think of my odometer as a tool -- it helps me estimate how far I am towards reaching a particular destination, but I long ago grew tired of trying to get the highest possible daily odometer reading. I keep monthly totals and annual totals, but I have no particular interest in keeping track of daily totals.

Thanks...for all the info & support.

I rode 63miles the other day....was suppose to be 75, but winds & hunger killed it. Plus, I made the mistake of working out hard the day before. Now, I know. But I LOVED the ride!!! There is nothing like flying down the mountains…it’s the best reward for a long climb.

Yes, the food/water idea makes sense. I live by energy packets.

The one thing that is beginning to bother me is climbing. I can't seem to push it any faster...my muscles get fatigued. I can average 6-7 m/h but drop at times to 5 or even 4. I'd like to maintain a speed. Is there anything I can do about this. I'm beginning to think maybe it's because I'm a woman and I just can't keep up with men.
;)

Or should I venture into the world of muscle building powders & other supplements; things I have always avoided.

What would I need to do to try and kick some butt on this ride. Well for starters I wouldn't try to kick butt on
my first century, not without building up to it.

The one thing that is beginning to bother me is climbing. I can't seem to push it any faster...my muscles get fatigued. I can average 6-7 m/h but drop at times to 5 or even 4. I'd like to maintain a speed. Is there anything I can do about this.
In a word, Spin. Keep in a lower gear and spin, Don't try to push too big a gear.
Just look at what Lance did on the mountain stages last TdF.
I'm not saying try to maintain his pace (god knows I couldn't do it), but watch his style of riding.
I wouldn't worry about keeping up with anyone, just finishing a century is reward enough.
Marty

betta,
climbing is definitely my weakest point as well. i would like to attribute it to being female, but then i watch a good friend of mine cruise up hills and realize that we cant take the gender excuse on this one :rolleyes: ... granted, she really had to work at it. something that helps me on a long climb when i start thinking that my legs should really be spinning faster is to click down into a harder gear and stand for a few seconds to bring my cadence up and change the muscles that are working, then sit and go back to an easier gear again. viola! i am spinning again - at least for a little while...

Originally posted by Betta
The one thing that is beginning to bother me is climbing. I can't seem to push it any faster...my muscles get fatigued. I can average 6-7 m/h but drop at times to 5 or even 4. I'd like to maintain a speed. Is there anything I can do about this. I'm beginning to think maybe it's because I'm a woman and I just can't keep up with men.
Genevieve Jeanson is a woman and she could drop half of the men's pro peloton -- not to mention everyone on this board -- in a climb.

One of the toughest things about finding your way in cycling is the realization that you are always going to have [relative] weak areas. I'm strong and steady over long distances and I can sprint very well, but I can't climb. I get over climbs well enough, but I'm neaver at the head of the group and I have to fight until my eyes are popping against my sunglasses to keep up. If someone wants to attack me, a hill is the place to do it. My build and physiology -- ideal for powering into a sprint -- are a disadvantage in the hill, and the only way I'll ever become a mountain goat is if I lose more weight and suddenly become one of those reedy climbing guys.

What I do is, as my coach Greg leMond says [in case you're wondering, I've never met the man, but I use his training book], is train my weaknesses. Every week, and preferably twice a week, I do hill work. I go to some of the most challenging hills in the city and I repeat them for a couple of hours. It's painful, unpleasant work but, as I get better at it, it becomes strangely satisfying [it's probably the endorphins]. Training hill won't make me a great climber, but it'll make me an adequate climber, [i]and it's ideal long-duration interval training.

The trick to long climbs is rhythm. Don't worry about speed, just shift into your lowest gear and, like lotek says, spin. Keep a steady cadence. If that means getting out of the saddle when the grade kicks up [I've never seen a hill that was a continuous grade], then do it; you can ease off a bit and semi-recover when the grade drops a bit.

There are two things to remember on a climb: (1) You feel like hell, but you'll rtecover in less than a minute on the other side, (2) As bad as you feel, the other guys feel just as bad and most of them probably feel worse.


Or should I venture into the world of muscle building powders & other supplements; things I have always avoided.
Avoid this crap. Like all shortcuts, these products are generally too good to be true and can seriously screw with your body chemistry. The only solution is hard work and patience. If you can get over the hills with some effort now -- whether the other guys are faster in the climb or not -- then that's good enough for now. If you want to get better, train for it.

Originally posted by Betta
The one thing that is beginning to bother me is climbing. I can't seem to push it any faster...my muscles get fatigued. I can average 6-7 m/h but drop at times to 5 or even 4. I'd like to maintain a speed. Is there anything I can do about this. I'm beginning to think maybe it's because I'm a woman and I just can't keep up with men.

Or should I venture into the world of muscle building powders & other supplements; things I have always avoided.

With appropriate gearing, climbing should challenge your endurance and your cardiovascular system, not your raw muscle strength. Since I grew up in the canyons and hills of west Los Angeles and have small bone structure and little excess weight, hill-climbing comes naturally to me. I have friends who can leave me in the dust against a headwind or on the flats, but who struggle mightily against gravity. Do not worry about maintaining a "decent" speed on a long or a steep climb, particularly if it is part of an all-day ride! Practice hill climbing, learn to pace yourself, and re-evaluate your gearing. Although I can handle most typical hills in a 49.3-inch gear (42/23), I do resort to something lower on steep grades or while "hitting the wall." I also find it helpful to get out of the saddle occasionally, to use my muscles differently.

Betta,

5 mph on a climb is pretty good. It sure beats walking :-)

Hi Betta,

All good advice you are getting. I rode my first 100 at the age of 53 . I went on a 50 mile or so ride and got home and I felt so wired I hopped back on after about 10 minutes and did another 50 miles. I really do think people make too much out of a century.
I will admit that I did lots of 50-70 mile rides before I did the 100 going to do a double century for my 56 birthday. By the way I am fat out of shape and get out of breath riding in an elevator ! *LOL*

Ride Safe........Dudley

The longest ride i have ever done is 125! for me that is a big thing. It was just me and my dad and we would take turns for who was in the front and all. He would spend most of the time there because he is a much better rider than me :) but i have alot of time to learn being that i'm only 15 now.

When i did mine i said to my dad that i was going crazy by the age of 14!!!! but once i finished ot i felt good (tired but good)

Jared

Don't get me wrong. When I mean 'kick butt' I mean my own butt. I wont try and kill myself on my first century. I just want to do the best I can do, and right now I feel I can do better.

In terms of climbing, I have been trying to increase the difficulty as I improve. I try and stay in one gear, and only go light if absolutely necessary. I have been trying to improve my climbing for the past month. I guess I'm looking for some solid training suggestions on increasing climbing speed. I'm not necessarily doing it just for the century. I am doing this for my own personal challenge.
Hey, I'm competitive and I have this body so I'll push it. I want to look out across the mountains without getting in my car.

Putting in extra effort on a climb may bag you 2mph increase, but the same effort expended on the flat would increase your speed by maybe 5mph.
On a long ride you shouldnt blow your energy on a big climb, but spin steadily and efficiently to conserve energy.

Are you riding with a triple chainset or a racing double chainset? What is your lowest gear?


I ride some very steep short hills and some evenings, ride intervals up the steepest one. I managed to do the climb 5 times in a row once. Im a wreck by the time I reach the top, but recover on the roll down. That is about the limit of any training I do, and its really for fun rather than to "perform" better.

All of the above is good advice. Any of us can do a century if we eat and drink properly on the ride. Eat and drink BEFORE you feel you need to!

Good luck. The long self satisfied soak in the bath afterwards is well worth the effort. And you'll sleep like a baby too.

Yes, I have a triple.

I was reading the other responses...like the space case I am, I didn't read the second page of responses.

I have to say I don't think I could get out of the saddle on some of the climbs. It would mess me up. I just try and stay calm watch my breathing and maintain. I actually, love climbing. I just get frustrated when my thighs get tired before I do. I don't know what is going on. I don't even feel like I'm pushing that hard. I'm thinking I may just need a break.

But, I'll try and do some interval training....that sounds like a plan. Plus, making up speed in other areas sounds like an even better plan.

Again, thanks!

This is just me -- arch roadie -- but I don't think a triple is even necessary unless your biggest cog is a 19.

Climbing out of the saddle is a good technique to learn. It delivers more power to the pedals -- though it does tire you out more -- and lets you use different muscles. For short periods, it can help give you the power to get over a short kick-up and it can allow the leg muscles you use most in the saddle to recovery slightly. Another thing to try is to bring your knees together slightly from time to time. That engages the quads on the outside of your leg which normally get minimal use on the bike, and lets the quads on the front recover a bit. Eddy Merckx used to do this.

Don't be afraid to shift! You have gears -- use them. The only thing you'll get from grinding in a hard gear up a climb is a knee injury.

Betta,

Ok, I can get that about the kicking butt, please disregard
everything I said before (on this thread only! :lol: )

Marty

Here are my three suggestions for any long group ride:

1. Ride very slowly in low gears until the halfway point. The adrenaline and excitement at the beginning will push you to ride too fast and burn out early. Try to ride so easily that you feel no pedal pressure on your feet. When you get to halfway, you'll be fresh as a daisy.

2. Start as early as possible, even though most century type rides have a start "window". It's more fun riding with people around. If you start early people will keep coming by even if you're going slow. If you start last and ride slow, you'll see noone and all the good munchies will be gone at the pit stops.

3. Don't waste time at the rest stops. Stop, do your "business", fill your bottles, stuff food in your pockets and get going. The longer you stop, the stiffer your muscles get and the sorer your butt will be when you get back on the bike. If you're riding with others who want to stop longer, ride slow until they catch back up.


I used these to do a double century a few years ago. It was much easier than I expected.

I've only done 2 centuries and have one coming up in June. I have just a little to add to all of the great advice that's already been given.
1. Try to eat a good dinner the night before. Don't start out on a long ride calorie depleted. It's amazing how much better you feel if you're "stocked up".

2. Try to sleep well the night before. It may be hard to do because of the excitement/nerves but you'll feel better for it.

3. Enjoy the ride. Check out the scenery, chat with the other riders, monge on the food at the rest stops... The whole process is as much a part of what you're doing as your time to the finish line. Make the most of it.

Wow, all these stories about the fun of a century might get me on a road bike someday, sounds like alot of fun!

if anybody can do a century regardless of if they really aren't in shape or not... then does cycling not really do a whole lot for you keeping you in shape? do you have to push yourself really hard and very often to get good in shape benefits from cycling?

I agree that it is the time in the saddle that is the biggest problem. I managed to get my non-cycling (but relatively fit) brother to do a double century last year. He trained about 350 km before the event, and the longest training ride was 60 km. His legs were surprisingly good, but he had big problems to sit on the saddle for the last 200 kms. Partly due to this, we had over six hours off the bikes for a total time of 19.30 hrs.


Originally posted by JimQPublic
Here are my three suggestions for any long group ride:

1. Ride very slowly in low gears until the halfway point. The adrenaline and excitement at the beginning will push you to ride too fast and burn out early.

Very good advice. When I did my first double century (mid-June 2000) I had prepared in the worst possible way. I had done a bit over 1000 kms during the spring, but only one 30 km ride in the last thirty days before the event. Two weeks before the ride I had a cold for a couple of days. I started the ride just before midnight (70 riders start every two minutes from 20.00 to 05.00 the next morning) and for the first 45 kms me and my dad stuck to the plan and cruised at about 20 kph.

After the first rest stop, something went wrong in my head and I started hammering away. I probably did 30 kph for about 20 km, and then I bonked big. Afterwards, my dad told me that he had expected me to quit at the food stop after 110 kms because I had looked like a wreck. I had been awake since nine in the morning before the start, and during the final 100 kms I had to struggle to stay awake. I have a picture of how I looked fifteen minutes after finishing (at just over 21 hrs) and that's no pretty sight...

With at least 500 kms of training, with one or two 100 kms rides, before the event I think most people could do a century comfortably.


Originally posted by JimQPublic
Don't waste time at the rest stops.

Another good piece of advice. I am practicing this on my longer training rides this year. My goal for this year's double century will be to have 30 minutes off the bike for every 100 kms. Of course, for your first century you probably want to take it a bit easy. The first time I did 160 kms in one day was on the last day of a two week tour together with two friends in 1996. We started at just before 08.00 and I came home to my parents' house just past 23.00. I don't think eight hours is a bad time for a century, particularly not the first one.


Originally posted by AutoAudio
if anybody can do a century regardless of if they really aren't in shape or not... then does cycling not really do a whole lot for you keeping you in shape? do you have to push yourself really hard and very often to get good in shape benefits from cycling?

To me it proves just how forgiving cycling is to the body. If you want to, you can push yourself hard and often, but you don't have to do that to gain benefits from cycling.

/Csson