I posted here a few weeks ago I was considering whether to try a century.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=#post11488291
I received some great advice and encouragement. I hope my experience below will be of some value to others considering their 1st.
Me:
Age: 50
Experience: 2 years on flat bar hybrid, 2 months on road bike
Riding frequency: 2k miles over previous 2 years, 1k miles in last 2 months
Longest ride prior: 50 miles once, 40 mile rides weekly for last month
Weight before ride: 208
Weight after ride: 202 (after consuming quite a bit of food and drink during the day!)
Height before AND after ride: 6'2" (no change here thankfully)
Results:
006..jpg
Distance: 103.22
Riding time: 5:42:31
Total time (including stops): 6:28:24
Avg speed: 18.08
Elevation: don't really know..guess it was about 3-5k...too much whatever it was
Avg pulse: 138
Max pulse: 160
Good advice I followed
* Carb load few days prior, LARGE meal night before
* Carb breakfast couple hours prior
* Drink bottle or 2 per hour
* Eat during ride
* Stand, stretch througout ride
* Stop at all SAG stations, 10 minutes max
* Do 1st century with an organized ride
Advice I didn't follow!
* Take it easy
- I planned to average 15mph. This would have been a mistake keeping me in the saddle for another hour. While I understand one shouldn't overdo it, if you're in shape, I think its a better idea to ride at a moderate pace and get out of the saddle over sooner.
* Do at least a 70 mile ride before.
- would probably have helped get me in better shape, but I didn't really start having problems
until 80 miles.
* Don't change bike or gear before the race!
I should have listened and did not. I wanted everything 'perfect', so I
- adjusted derailleurs day before, then threw chain 3 times off front! Chain rubs entire ride as I'm too much in a hurry to stop and adjust it. Just silly on my part.
- bought new and 'better' bibs, promptly got chafing for 1st time ever after about 70 miles..I may have had the same problem with old bibs, but it was a bad idea to try new ones!
* Go slow at beginning, speed up later:
I didn't and it worked out. I got caught up in the front of the group and was just having too much fun to slow down to my planned pace. I rode with them for the 1st 30 miles to the 1st rest stop at average speed of 20, then left before them with another guy. We took turns pulling and encouraging each other and rode the last 70 together. I'm actually glad I stayed with the fast group at the beginning as it put some cheap drafting miles in the bank. Also, faster means less time in the saddle. By the end of the ride, I REALLY wanted off due to the chafing.
This was my 1st time to ride in hills. They weren't much compared to what others ride, maybe total 4-5k elevation change, but never having ridden any hills before, it was more than I wanted by the end of the day! I really think the ride would have been a cake walk on the flat lands I had always ridden on before.
Miles..
0-60: Heaven: fun, easy, exciting, even with the hills...no fatigue or any discomfort.. Flying down the hills at 35mph, cruising easily up the next one...60-70 degrees and sunny skies with shade covered roads...living well!
60-80: Purgatory: starting to dislike anything above a 2' change in elevation...seeing next hill gives me a slight irritation, but nothing I can't handle....
80-100: Hell: I HATE HILLS. Every new one that pops up causes to wonder if I'll have to walk up this one. I'm down to 6 or 7 mph at the tops of them where I had been truckin' along at 15 in the morning. It's now 90 degrees, chafing kicks in, legs have no more energy, and to finish I have to ride PAST the start/finish line for 1 more 20 mile loop...unnecessarily cruel..thankfully there is a final SAG station, so I break for 10, refuel and head out just as I almost make an unscheduled stop. Just 10 miles from the finish, my partner thankfully gets a FLAT, giving me a very welcome excuse to stop and help. His CO2 failed. Luckily my frame pump saved the day. By this time, I really was not having any fun at all and did not think I would want to ride again for a month.
2 hour drive home was even worse!
Very surprisingly, I wasn't sore at all after the ride, but chafing a real pain. I am ready to ride again 2 days later and really looking forward to my weekly 40 mile ride this weekend. I'll definitely try to do another in the spring.
If you're thinking about doing one of these ...GO FOR IT...especially nice doing your 1st century in an organized ride. The benefit of SAG statinos and drafting cannot be overstated.
BIG thanks again to everyone who offered advise and encouragement!
cheers!
