one4smoke

I've really been wanting to do a 100 mile ride in one day, if for nothing else ...just to say I did it. But, I'm not exactly a spring chicken anymore. I've been putting in around 20 to 40 miles, a couple days a week, continuously for the last half year. The most was about 65 miles.

My question is, and I know everyone is different and it depends on the individual, but is 100 miles overdoing it and too much on a 53 year old? I lost about 70 lbs over the course of about 8 months (from 268 to 195) and as far as I know, in pretty decent health, other than normal aches & pains for a 53 year old. I do have an issue with a rotator cuff, but that doesn't affect my cycling. Just my sleeping.

I will obviously be slowing down somewhat for the winter, but is this something I should pursue before it gets too cold (live in the south), or wait for spring? Or, pursue at all?? Is it too much for an old guy like me??

TakingMyTime

Go for it. You're not too old. I'm 61 and still thinking about doing another one. From what I've read here in different threads is if you're able to get a couple of 70 milers in you can finish a Century.

trainsktg

Folks decades older than you do 100 milers. 100 miles is really no big deal unless you think it is, especially since you've already done 60 mile rides. Just make sure to eat properly before the ride, keep hydrated during the ride and take enough food so you dont bonk. The only think you might not be ready for is saddle soreness. Until I found the right shorts, I would get overly chaffed starting at the 50-60 mile point even with butt cream.

Keith

TriDanny47

No, it's not too much, if you can do 65 you can do 100. Whether you can squeeze it in before your season ends or at least slows down depends on you.

Now, don't take this wrong, but I always get a good chuckle when I hear people down South worry about the "winter" - like my cousins in Georgia, or aunt near Tampa who complains when it's "only" 55 degrees or whatever.

-25F air temp with 30 mph winds and 18" snowpack anyone? That's tough to cycle in ... But I'm sure someone has at some point.

My approach to my first ever century was to keep hydrated, eat and rest as needed, and not worry at all about "how long" just "how far".

Best of luck, you can do it ... As long as you think you can.

bhchdh 

I think you will do fine. Perhaps get up to 70 miles or so before trying the century. Remember to fuel and hydrate often and rest when you need to, have fun.

Lanceoldstrong

You can do it. Like others have said, you are ready.
I weigh 195 pounds. In a month I turn 53.
This year I have ridden 11 centuries.
Gotta get the 12th one in during December for 1 a month.
Who you callin' old?

rm -rf

I got a road bike and started riding regularly, about 10 years ago, when I was your age. I did a 100 mile ride with 7,000 feet of climbing this summer.

I like to do 2 or 3 group rides a week. I have to stay in shape to be able to keep up with the group, and the rides are fun. So it's motivation to not slack off.

Once you get to 65 or 70 mile rides, you'll know if you can tolerate sitting on the bike for multiple hour rides. Then the 100 mile ride is mostly a matter of pacing and eating and drinking enough.

I still remember an uh, "epic" group ride I did the first year. It was 60 miles, and I thought about adding a couple of miles to make it my first 100 kilometer ride. But I was too worn out to even try the extra distance. Now, 60 miles is just a decent Saturday ride. It seems to take a couple of years of regular riding to really settle in and adapt to the longer rides.

yooperbiker

You have already done over 60 miles - going 100 miles is not going to be a problem. Only issue is that for a 100 mile ride you must eat something during your ride. If you do not eat you will bonk by the end of the ride, no doubt. If you are doing an organized century ride (highly recommended - riding with other people makes the miles go by easy) there will be food stops. Snack up and hydrate at each stop and you can ride all day long.

freedomrider1

sounds like a we all should take a road trip down south and ride it with you. Go for it , eat, drink, stop for a short period, say every 20 miles.

dendawg

I did my first century at age 61, and again at age 62. I trained for 4 months leading up to both rides. Starting out slow and working up to 80 mile rides a few weeks before the actual century. The ride was in May and by April I was doing 40-60 miles on my own mid week, with a longer group ride (60 - 80 miles) on the weekend. While I may try one again it is officially off my bucket list. Hopefully you will be doing an organized century. Being in a group will make things easier, plus there will be support if you need it. As others have said, eat properly, and stay well hydrated. And the aches and pains are nothing now. Wait until you tack on another decade.

StephenH

You could probably go do it right now.
Don't get in too big of a hurry on the ride, grab some chow along the way, have some fun.

yooperbiker

By the way, congratulations on that weight loss. Job well done.

I have just gone from 205 to 178 lbs this summer, and that was hard enough.

chasm54

You're kidding, right? 53 is not old. I'm 61, I'm way out of shape at present, but I'd have zero difficulty doing 100 miles tomorrow. There are 80 year-olds who ride centuries.

Seriously, long distances aren't hard. All that is needed is for you to get used to spending a longish time on the bike. You have all day, you can ride at your own pace, it's no problem. Going further is easy, it's going faster that is hard. Just build up your time on the bike gradually until you can do 70 miles in a day or 150 miles spread over a week. Then go out and do your century.

RonH

Go for it. You're just a kid. I did my first metric at 55 and my first century at 56.

BlazingPedals

Being in shape for the century is more important than your age. At 60, I did a couple of centuries this year.

TGT1

Did my first century at 63 on a 35lb Schwinn 80's steel mt bike.

My Medicare ride, (turned 65) last month was only 80 mi, but with 8,300 ft of gain.

Anything past 60 mi is all about hydration, nutrition and what your back and ass can stand.

JohnDThompson 

+1 this. I'm 60. Here's a picture of me finishing my 5th fixed gear century last year:

Rick@OCRR

As noted above, it's not really as difficult as it sounds.

I'm 65 this year and just finished my 30th 2015 century yesterday (with 11.000 ft. of climbing). Just so you know how easy it is, I've also ridden seven double-centuries this year and have another double planned in a couple of weeks.

Only the "thought" of it is difficult. Once you get your head around it, and get out there and ride it you'll be fine.

Rick / OCRR

freedomrider1

But you are lying down the whole time LOL

StanSeven

You might be able to do one now but it likely won't be comfortable. It's always better to gradually increase your longer ride each week to 70 or 75 miles. That will give you a good idea of pacing, nutrican, and liquids needed. Also it's more enjoyable for most people to do an organized century with rest stops for their first. You end up with lots of company, don't have to worry about getting lost, and have food and drinks waiting for you.

icyclist 

I probably started riding centuries at least once a year in 1987 or so. I used to say that if I could ride 33 miles, I could ride a century. And if I could ride up about 1500 feet, I could ride up about 5,000 feet on a century. It worked for years.

This year, I'd have to say it still works. After a few months off my bike, with nothing more than a 30 mile ride and a few 10 and 15 mile rides, I found it not particularly difficult to ride 100 miles with about 3,000 feet of gain.

So much of what we think is up to the body is also up to the mind.

BlazingPedals

Yes, but I have to stay awake the whole time!

freedomrider1

irwin7638

I've never pursued one, but manage to do one at least once a year. It usually happens when I trust Google Maps and am on a fully loaded self-supported tour. You can if you have to I guess.

Marc

Tony Marley

Train up to 85-90 miles, and then go for it. I was 56 when I did my most recent century, and lots of folks older than that complete them.