jwalther

help me prepare. Riding my first century on Saturday. Horsey Hundred

Anything I should, or should not be doing in the next 48 hours?

Weatherby

Eat, sleep, check the tires, and lube the chain maybe. I wouldn't recommend changing anything like putting on a brand new Brooks saddle.

Make sure you have your on the bike food figured out. What and how often you will eat during the ride. Make a plan.

mapeiboy

May sure to put your cycling shoes in the car before you drive away for the ride .

Dudelsack 

I'd love to join you. Should be an awesome ride. Since you live near the course, start as early as you can and go much slower than you think you should. Take lots of pics and post them here.

Good luck.

Ursa Minor

My advice is to make sure you get the jersey. It looks cool!


Charlie

OldsCOOL

Have a great ride!

locolobo13 

Have fun & good luck

dalameda

It always helps me to get motivated a day or two before the ride to go over the course map. You can usually find a version in ridewithgps or mapmyride. I look at the contours to try and get a feel for what to expect, where to push hard, and where to take it easy, and I particularly focus on the last 10-15 miles and think about how good it is going to feel reaching that point in the ride.

Biker395 

Lol ... been there, done that.

My advice:

Meet as many people as possible, take a lot of pix, and enjoy yourself!

Little Darwin

I have never ridden an imperial century, but based on a couple of metrics...

Just remember, it is not about the destination, it is about the journey... enjoy the ride.

Of course, when you get to the destination, that last mile will be great, but what value is it if you don't enjoy the 99 miles to get there.

Dudelsack 

You can pull the course up on Strava.

I was impressed by the elevation. It has no monster climbs like the ride I did in London in April, but it also has no flat sections, just incessant rollers. Keep your momentum up and get as much free wood as you can.

BlazingPedals

I think my last Horsey was about 3 years ago. I always take it out too fast at first, especially considering I am never in shape for a full century by the end of May, much less a fairly roll-ey one. Remember to eat at every stop. Also, carry something to eat on the bike with you. One bottle should do it, but keep it topped off. Two bottles would just be more weight to lug up all the hills. Also, don't be afraid to use your low gears, to avoid toasting your legs unnecessarily.

Enjoy the scenery and the ride, and take pics for us!

aubiecat

Put them in the car the night before, check before you leave, twice. Look once more while you are driving out of the driveway.

leob1

And your helmet, and gloves, and water bottle, and snack bars, and anything else that won't be attached to your bike.

freedomrider1

Weather looks great for the Horsey. Maybe next year i can make it down there. Have a funtastic ride. hmm maybe a good site for a 50+ meeting.

jwalther

Thanks for the encouragement all. I'm riding with a group of similarly abled fifty somethings, so we'll be able to work together and provide needed encouragement. Perfect weather predicted with temps at the start in the upper 50s climbing to upper 70s.

Dudelsack 

Couldn't have picked a more spectacular day. Your fan base awaits...

Dudelsack 

@jwalther- are you still alive?

jwalther

I survived! We had a picture perfect day yesterday. Temps starting in the mid 50s, rising to mid 70s by the end of the ride. Here is the route: 2014 Horsey Hundred Century Route - A bike ride in Georgetown, KY (104 miles and 6000 feet of climbing though my Garmin registered just over 7000). Our group finished in just over 7 hours clock time, and my rolling time was right at 6 hours. I was the strongest climber of our group, so given the terrain I rode for big chunks of time on my own, especially the middle 60 miles. I had one minor mechanical mishap (dropped chain), and a near wreck. I was riding to the right of the rider in front of me when he slowed suddenly, and faced with the decision of dropping off the pavement to my right, running into him, or braking and going left, I chose the latter. I clipped his tire, and barely held it together.

My group pre ride:



My wife rode the half century with a friend.



Start/Finish at Georgetown College. And they're off!





I didn't take any pictures on course yesterday. My wife and I went back this morning, and did a relaxed 34 mile ride. We passed Lane's End Farm, owned by Will Farish, former US ambassador to Great Britain. They board Queen Elizabeth's horses, and she has been a visitor to the farm. Typical of the country around here.



I really felt much better than expected after the ride yesterday. I made sure to eat and drink en route, and in fact I think I made a mistake by overdoing it a little. I was never uncomfortable on the ride, but afterwards I just felt full. Better probably to err in that direction than to come up short.

We have another local century ride next month, and I'm already looking forward to it!

Dudelsack 

Excellent, and congrats!

GFish

Great pics, and congrats on completing your first century!!

A 6 hour moving time with 6,000 feet of climbing is excellent, really great job.

Nice jersey and great colors. That's why I always feel out of place on organized rides, I have no interesting colorful jersey's to wear. They are all plain one color with no graphics.

freedomrider1

Good Job, looks like alot of fun.