Isaiahc72

Alright. I just woke up and decided "Hey, I'm gonna ride a century today." (Seriously) Am I crazy? Riding an old Raleigh Technium 440. I've ridden a Half-century before. What should I expect?

Machka 

When you say "I've ridden a Half-century before" ... when was that? A week ago? A month ago? 6 years ago?

How well is your bicycle set up? Does it fit you and feel comfortable? How about your saddle?

What are you planning to eat? How much are you planning to drink?

The answer to the question, "what should I expect?" depends on the answers to these questions.

Isaiahc72

It was about one-and-a-half months ago. My bicycle has a new back wheel and pretty new tires. It feels decent. Has a memory-foam saddle. I plan on taking a break after 40-miles and eating fruit and maybe some french fries. I plan on drinking atleast a whole 20oz+ bottle of water for every 20-miles or so.

Machka 

So you feel like the bicycle fits you, and you didn't experience any saddle discomfort on the 50 mile ride?

As for eating and drinking ...

1) aim to consume 200-300 calories per hour starting with your first hour.

2) aim to drink at least one 750 ml bottle of water every 1 to 1.5 hours. (750 ml is about 26 oz)

Phil_gretz

Keep you cadence up and your speed down. Save energy for as long as you can. You will begin to ponder your place in the universe at about mile 60...

Isaiahc72

Alright. Will do.

hls811

so funny.. I never did a centtury, the most i've done is a metric+ (66 miles) and you're right, somewhere between miles 50-60 I was pondering and thinking WAY too much and realized my brain is what would probably ever keep me from doing a full 100 mile ride.

Machka 

It gets better at about mile 80.

10 Wheels

Have fun with it.

Pace your speed. Go easy on the first 50 miles.

bikemig 

I like the idea of French fries on a century. Personally I prefer some pie but to each his (or her) own.

Machka 

French fries give you both potassium and sodium ... electrolytes.

erief0g

gawd.. I'm still dieting and working to get into shape... Now your telling me if I'm able to ride a century I'm ENCOURAGED to eat FRENCH FRIES!!!???

I'm getting on the bike right now! French fries could be my new motivator!

just dank

I've done 4 this season, and at my break point (50mi) I snack on a small bag of chips and a Coka-Cola. Works for me.

Machka 

It's probably a bit too late for this, but here are some Tips for riding a century ...
https://www.machka.net/articles/century.htm

SpeshulEd 

This is fantastic advice. I did my first century on Monday, I burned close to 4000 calories and did not take in enough. I had a small pork chop for breakfast and out on the road I had a honey stinger waffle and some chomps gummies. That was it. I bonked around mile 80. If I could have laid down on my bike and still pedaled, I would have...I was definitely trying to.

When I got home I laid in the shower with the water running on me for about 10 minutes before I was somewhat coherent enough to function. Took me about an hour after getting home to be able to eat anything substantial just because I was so weak. I felt like I had the flu.

Next time I do one, I'm stopping for a sandwich about half way through.

ill.clyde

Miles 65-85 can be a total wasteland, in terms of your mind and body, especially if you bonk.

I've only done supported centuries, so there are usually rest stops every 20-25 miles

just dank

I'm lucky enough that my half way point is my old home town, and I know the best perch platter in southern Ontario. Great for fueling up! I've never bonked and the last one I did (last weekend) I felt super great! Lots of water also is key

lenA

Mmmm... perch platter

-Homer

jsjcat

All good tips so far. My wife and I have completed two centuries so far this year and have two planned in October. One was very hot and the other was hot and hilly. Stay hydrated and eat. Lunch at the halfway point should be real food and not just powerbars or snacks. We find that the company that you ride with is very helpful from a psychological point. If you're riding with experienced people you are more apt to stay with it and be encouraged. It is hard but doable. Some people are afraid of hills and think long grades are hills. Like they other posters said, it's amarathon, not a race. Keep your cadence up, save energy, and have a positive attitude. I'm 60 and my wife is 56 and we do them. Good thing about being older is that you forget the pain and the hills so you're ready to tackle the next challenge without any lingering thoughts. Just hydrate and prepare your fitness beforehand.

jsjcat

PS - I keep my bike computer on the cadence mode so I'm not watching the mileage either. Well, I take that back because the last century I switched it to mileage at the 90 mile mark and just about stared at it the whole time waiting for those miles to tick off. Not good. It seemed to take forever. Funny things happen in your head past 80 miles but My wife can smell the barn at the end and gets her second wind. I don't know about the french fry thing. A bowl of ice cream is my reward.

rumrunn6

was gonna say he's late but it appears he's no longer reading, hopefully we'll get a report back tonight! :-)

Isaiahc72

Well, I made some mistakes today in my attempt and only accomplished about 50-miles out of my "solo-century"(I don't have a riding partner). So here's what I did wrong:

>Stayed up all night last night(Definitely very stupid of me)
>Took the route with most hills(Arkansas Problems)
>Got directions from Google Maps(I got lost for quite some time)
>Rode alone(I don't have any friends that like riding and have know idea how to meet any.)


But then yall gotta understand, this is my first year of being an avid cyclist. I did okay on calorie and water intake and definitely though I could do it. I guess the biggest mistake was pulling an all-nighter and then riding almost 40-miles before a good break. On my break, I refilled myself and went over what I did wrong, got a little rest, and was able to make light of the final 10. A really interesting experience. The hills did kill me pretty badly as well but what do you expect from Arkansas. I'm gonna be better prepared next time. Thank you everyone so much for your advice.


My Technium(440)(Raleigh) definitely held up great with those 27-1/4 inch wheels. I've put that bike through so many rough roads and miles yet it still holds up great.

I guess that's a good summary of the day.

10 Wheels

Good Try..

TrojanHorse

Good try!

Nothing wrong with Google Maps for directions, make sure you turn on the bike layer so you can see the roads that are probably more suitable for bikes.

Oh, ridewithgps.com is a nice resource for route planning and you can print a cue sheet from your route. Pretty slick.

If you can do 50 you can do 75... if you can do 75 you can do 100... you'll get there.

gamby

Going 40 without stopping is an easy way to burn out. I'm a wuss--I stop every hour or so.

Mile 85 is a hopeless time.

Sorry you didn't make it. Try again with better prep/care for yourself.