Road My First Ever Century Last Week at 51 Years Old!!!! +
10-07-10, 10:09 AM
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Road My First Ever Century Last Week at 51 Years Old!!!! +
3 months ago, I was in the worst shape of my life so I set a goal for myself of riding a century by the end of the summer to encourage me to ride. In that 3 months, I rode over a thousand miles culminating in my century last week. And I feel great, having trimmed down quite a lot.
I live in NJ and I started from West Orange, riding down to New Brunswick and then on to Sayreville. From there, I rode east to Atlantic Highlands / Sandy Hook. From there, I followed the coast all the way down to Island Beach State Park. I was really tired at the end, but I did it. And I'm really proud of it.
Now I just need to maintain my fitness throughout the winter season and I'll do another one next year, maybe with a more difficult course through the mountains.
So if anyone out there is feeling like a total blob, take heart. Get on your bike and start riding it and within a couple months, you'll feel great.
I live in NJ and I started from West Orange, riding down to New Brunswick and then on to Sayreville. From there, I rode east to Atlantic Highlands / Sandy Hook. From there, I followed the coast all the way down to Island Beach State Park. I was really tired at the end, but I did it. And I'm really proud of it.
Now I just need to maintain my fitness throughout the winter season and I'll do another one next year, maybe with a more difficult course through the mountains.
So if anyone out there is feeling like a total blob, take heart. Get on your bike and start riding it and within a couple months, you'll feel great.
Last edited by Howguy; 10-07-10 at 10:11 AM. Reason: typos
10-07-10, 10:17 AM
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Congrats!
I'm about your age and long distance rides, including the miles needed to prepare, have transformed my level of fitness.
Set a goal of a century-a-month starting in May, 2011.
Michael
I'm about your age and long distance rides, including the miles needed to prepare, have transformed my level of fitness.
Set a goal of a century-a-month starting in May, 2011.
Michael
10-07-10, 10:24 AM
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Thank you very much. A century a month. Now that's a cool goal. I'll need to mull that one over. But it's quite intriguing.
10-07-10, 11:45 AM
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This is the toughest part for me, especially with the holidays. It's just a lot more difficult to make time to ride in decent conditions (I know...HTFU). I'm a fair-weather cyclist, and we get a lot of it down here but there are fewer fair-weather weekend days in the winter than summer.
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10-07-10, 12:07 PM
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regarding keeping fitness through the winter. set a goal for yourself. This is mine
https://www.granfondony.com/
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10-07-10, 12:47 PM
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Well done.
10-07-10, 03:09 PM
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Good job. Now do another one.
10-07-10, 03:10 PM
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10-07-10, 03:51 PM
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Very cool. Of course, this being bikeforums you forgot the most important detail, what bike did you ride it on?
Just kidding.
Just kidding.
10-07-10, 04:00 PM
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Good job. I just picked up a bike and I got 120 miles under my belt now. I want to enter a small race next year.
10-07-10, 04:08 PM
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I can relate. A few years ago I would die going up any sort of incline. Last weekend I pedaled up a mountain, drank a glass of OJ as a reward, flew back down the hill and continued on with a long busy day.
10-07-10, 04:15 PM
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I did my first ever hill climb on a real bike a week ago and I liked the challenge.
10-07-10, 04:17 PM
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This is the toughest part for me, especially with the holidays. It's just a lot more difficult to make time to ride in decent conditions (I know...HTFU). I'm a fair-weather cyclist, and we get a lot of it down here but there are fewer fair-weather weekend days in the winter than summer.
. I suppose it got down into the 30's every now and then...The summer I spent there (2008) was horrible. I can't imagine cycling regularly with highs of 103 for weeks at a time. Enjoy those Texas winters though, while I'm here in St. Louis fighting road salt, ice storms, snow, and freezing rain.
10-07-10, 04:23 PM
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3 months ago, I was in the worst shape of my life so I set a goal for myself of riding a century by the end of the summer to encourage me to ride. In that 3 months, I rode over a thousand miles culminating in my century last week. And I feel great, having trimmed down quite a lot.
Congrats and keep on keepin on.
10-07-10, 05:16 PM
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Congratulations! I did it at the opposite of your age. 2 weeks ago at the age of 15.
10-07-10, 05:50 PM
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Very cool! And you get extra point for being a senior. So ask yourself, how many of your freinds can get off the couch and ride 100 miles? Probably not many. You should be very proud.
For the winter, you might want to try a mountain bike. The slower speeds on single track means the cold doesn't affect you as much.
For the winter, you might want to try a mountain bike. The slower speeds on single track means the cold doesn't affect you as much.
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10-07-10, 06:22 PM
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Congrats and thanks! You are an inspiration. I turned 51 a month ago and plan on completing my first century soon.
10-07-10, 10:15 PM
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Well played sir. Turn 50 in march, this was my first summer back on bikes. Weighed 271 last Thanksgiving, now 226 and still dropping. Did an 85 mile organized ride in August, and a 90 miler last weekend in seven hours total time. First century for me in 2.5 weeks, in death valley, will likely push it into a 120. Next fall goal is a double century in death valley [adventurecorps puts on great events], then, maybe just maybe, crew in the 508 next fall and apply to solo it in 2012! What a fun sport. [1999 aegis 700 aro]
10-07-10, 10:35 PM
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I love it! Congratulations.
Last summer I met a large (260 lb) 57-yr-old fellow on a road where I rarely see any cyclists. In fact, the road is so desolate I often go 80 miles without seeing anyone. He was on his first day of a planned TransAmerica ride. He had started cycling one year earlier and had lost over 100 lb. Like someone else said, Dream Big.
Last summer I met a large (260 lb) 57-yr-old fellow on a road where I rarely see any cyclists. In fact, the road is so desolate I often go 80 miles without seeing anyone. He was on his first day of a planned TransAmerica ride. He had started cycling one year earlier and had lost over 100 lb. Like someone else said, Dream Big.