thejokell

So tomorrow I'm riding in the Tour de Cure in my area. I've signed up for the 65 mile route, but I am seriously contemplating the full century (I can change when I pick up my packet in the morning). The farthest I've gone so far on a bike was 53 miles. I was tired at the end, but overall I did it fairly easily and wasn't dead once I was done. I know I can do the 65 miles no problem - but am I foolish to tackle the 100?

There are plenty of stops every 10-15 miles (I think there are 8 total), so I'll have time to break throughout the ride.

Is breaking it up into 1 hour segments enough to make it doable? Or should I just hold off and attempt a century later?

texbiker

Go for the century. If you were doing two days back to back I would stop at 63 but you will have a day to recover afterwards plus the thrill of riding 100 miles to drown out the sore muscles. The 1 hour segments is a good idea. Pace yourself and don't over do it early on.

Rick Ankrum

Mr. Beanz

You can do the century!

I say snack your butt off in the early miles. Eat, EAT, I say again EAT something solid at about mile 60. It will replenish you body and help you recover for the later miles.

Just about every centruy I have done, I get a low energy at about mile 65-70. So I learned to eat something solid ahead of time to help recuperate. This will put me in relax, crusie mode form mile 70-80 then I wil be anew rider at about mile 90 feeling like I did at mile 30.

By something solid I mean eat a turkey sandwich, subway, or if the sag support offer sandwiches which most do at about that point in a century.

DON'T try to get by on gels unless you have done several centuries and have trained hour body to do so. Mortals need something solid to replenish.

TrojanHorse

Eat enough, drink lots, don't try to set a break neck pace and go for it. You will hit a wall at some point... 75 or 80 miles maybe. Just expect it and know that you can make it through.

Report back when you're done.

1242Vintage

Give the century a shot. Just set a modest pace (remember it's a ride not a race) and keep eating and drinking throughout the day both at the rest stops and on the bike as you ride. I get caught up in the scenery and talking with other riders and tend to forget the eating part so I set the timer on my watch for 30 min intervals as a reminder. Timer goes off and I grab a granola bar or gel or whatever snack I stuffed into my jersey pocket at the last rest stop.

And as was said above, something substantial at lunch will carry you through.

Enjoy your day and report back on how your century went.

thejokell

Alright, century it is. I'm riding with a group so I'll be able to keep a pretty solid pace the whole time. If I survive I'll report back tonight.

CommuteCommando

I would look at the elevation profile first. Around here, the difference between a metric and full century can be upwards of 3-4000 ft of climbing. Never been to VA, but I understand parts of it are hilly.

kstephens

It works the same here in KY, the extra 38 miles on the century routes from the metric routes, are usually the more hilly section of the entire ride. If you keep a comfortable pace, and stop, walk around, eat and drink at the stops you should be fine for either. The only times I have struggled on organized century rides was when I tried to stay with a group that was stronger and faster than I was.

CommuteCommando

OOps. Shoulda checked dates and times. As I posted previous comments you were probably already clipping in. I did a club ride today and wound up in the middle of our local TDC. I did it last year, but passed this year, only because I kinda suck at fundraising, and wound up paying the entire minimum myself (ouch).

Hope your ride was a good one.

thejokell

Total elevation was only 1600 feet. Metric was probably only about 1000-1200.

Did it. Now I'm exhausted. But I did it! First century, under my belt. Here's the strava link: https://app.strava.com/activities/49783627

Podagrower

Congrats

cmrtn7

Good Job!

bhchdh 

jokell, it looks like you answered your question. Well done.

root11

well done!

10 Wheels

Fast...

kstephens

Congrats

1242Vintage

Congratulations! Pretty good time for that century too.

Chitown_Mike

Wow, very good time! When I did my first one last year, and with training, it wasn't that fast. You beat me by a good .5 mph!

Congrats!

thejokell

Thanks everyone! I rode with a team, which helped keep my speed up. We were actually some of the last ones to finish - but I don't care, because I finished!

Chitown_Mike

That's all that matters! Can't say you rode a century if you didn't ride a century.

cyclist2000

congradulations, the time doesn't matter, in a century the distance is what counts.