Originally Posted by
BikeArkansas
It appears the best way to increase the total mileage for a ride is to break the ride into segments and only concentrate on each segment.
That approach does sound reasonable. I have been thinking of how totally exhausted I have been at the end of each century and that I could not have gone another mile.
I have worked hard to hydrate correctly and eat correctly on the centuries and have been surprised at how exhausted I have been. That exhaustion in spite of my work on my hydration and food intake is the reason I decided to ask about the mental difference because I felt I had prepared very well for the centuries.
The 200K I want to attempt is an official brevet. I knew the time allowed was over 12 hours, but I could not remember the exact time. I have not stayed on a bike for more than 7 hours, so that will be a new experience
You've done your centuries between 5.75 and 7 hours, which is great ... but maybe try doing your next century at a more relaxed pace. Slow it down just a bit, have a look at the scenery, take a break now and then ... and see how you feel at the end of a century like that.