VarVintg

This Sunday I completed my first Century, riding in the Chile Pepper Challenge. I was on the '92 Cannondale, which compared to the other rides I saw, is definitely a C/V bike. I did have quite a few guys comment on it, and if I had to guess it was probably the oldest bike I saw out there. Took 6 hrs 47 min and that included repairing one flat tire and stopping at five food/water stations.
Crossing the start/finish line cell phone pic.

Italuminium

congratulations!

lostarchitect 

Awesome! So how did you feel afterward? Did you do any training to build up to this or did you just wing it?

The Golden Boy 

I'm wondering as well!

I've done 60+ miles- and I was not really ready for it. I wonder how the other 40 would have kicked my tail...

jimmuller 

Well done!

Okay, now what is the total mileage + bike age + rider age?

dgodave

Well done.
.
What's the course like? Hilly? Hot? Fun?
.

RobbieTunes

Congratulations.

Now you understand that 40 is halfway for a metric, and 80 is halfway for a 100, in many cases.

seedsbelize 

Congrats. There is an ongoing century a month challenge you might wish to join.

OldsCOOL

Congrats! I did my first century last month riding the '85 Trek that I'd trained on all summer. I worked up to 2 81 milers but couldnt go the extra 20 because the heat just plain wrung me out. So when the temps dropped into the low 70's I hit the road and did it. For me it was near 8hrs including quick stops for lunch, snack and dinner. Being diabetic, the meals are necessary.

Good job!

seypat

Congratulations! I also attempted my first century last weekend. I was riding the Northern Neck RiverRide. I say attempted because the rear tire went flat coming out of the 85 mile rest stop. Tried to fix it a couple of times but it kept going down.(fast) So I had to abandon with about 12 miles left. I was bummed because I was feeling good and making all of my time goals up to then. I was on schedule to do the English in the same amount of time as I did the metric last year.(on a different bike)

As far as the training and prep I did a couple of 70 milers in the preceding weeks. I think the key is not to think of it as 1 century but as 3 or 4 smaller rides with rest stops after each one. Stop at each rest station and load up on food fuel even if you are not tired.

VarVintg

Thanks guys. I have been riding for a year this Sept. Started like most of you, 10 miles and 12's. Worked up to some 20's three times a week. This summer did a lot of 30's 40's and 50's three times a week. This challenge had climbing two mountain passes, one is one mile high with a 6% grade, the other most of you would not even consider a mountain, but thats what we have here. I trained on the mountains quite a few times, so that was not a big issue with me. After I was confident with the mountains I thought flats would be no problem so I winged it after that. Temps were in the mid 90's but a part of the day was overcast and not to bad wind wise, it was a great day. My biggest recommendation is get a riding partner to help push or motivate you. Next, drink, eat and stretch at all the stops, and as mentioned, break the 100 into pieces or stages. For me the last eleven miles were tough, but I distinctly remember the last two miles dragging on. The only way I can explain how I felt afterwards is like a day after a good workout at the gym, a good sore. I could not stop smiling the next day and felt elated. I also was told to take vitamin c because the immune system weakens after extreme exercise, not sure if that is correct or not, but made sense to me. I think I answered all the questions, oh not sure on the age one. Bike is 19 and rider is 47. Not sure on the total mileage, for this ride 100, but are you talking about all mileage ever ridden? For this race it is 166????
Sal

VarVintg

Jim, you have my interest, what exactly does this tell you?
100 miles, 47 years, 19 years??

VarVintg

Robbie, I had to read your post several times for it to sink in. But yes it is absolutely true, like I said the last 11 were the toughest, felt like 25.

Sal

VarVintg

Seeds,
Not sure I'm up to one a month, but I now can atleast mark this one off my bucket list. I am however looking at a metric on Oct. 16 called the Tour de Tolerance, the proceeds go towards running costs of the Holocaust Museum.

ThermionicScott 

Careful, centuries and other long rides can get addictive. Soon, you'll be scoping out not only centuries, but shorter charity rides and metrics because "Aw, that's nothing!"

- Scott

jimmuller 

This is C&V, right? So it's cool to ride longer distances on older bikes. Even better if the rider is C&V too! (By this metric my best is 176.)

But lemme' get this straight, you are 19 years old, rode 47y.o. bike for 100mi? In that case you probably use a different adjective instead of "cool".

Pompiere

Good job on the century. Now that you know what you are capable of, you can look forward to doing it again next year. I rode two centuries this summer on my "84 Miyata. That's 100+27+50=177. Back when our bikes were new, we rode centuries on them, so why does the modern bike crowd think it is so amazing that it can be done today? It's more about the rider than the bike. Some bikes will be more enjoyable than others, but if you can ride a century on one bike, you should be able to ride a century on any bike.*

*not including extreme examples such as penny farthings, track bikes, muscle bikes, etc.

rhm

Congratulations on your first!

I do the monthly century thing, mostly as a way of reminding myself that I need to ride more.

Last Wednesday I rode one on my 1948 Raleigh Record Ace, so let's see... 63 year old bike, 49 year old rider, 97 miles (I know, I know! ) = 209

OldsCOOL

For me it was the last 15. It was 5pm and all I wanted was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with ice cold milk. It happened to be that I planned on being home for that so it was like, "I'm not here to rest, it's just a pitstop". And out the door I went for that last 15. The last 5mi was forever but when pulling into the drive it was pure joy and a good measure of relief.

100mi+53+26. And I always ride solo.

OldsCOOL

Because they are supposed to be high-tech and they spent so much money on them.

And it really is about the engine.

leaping_gnome

Sal

Congratulations on your first! Many more to come I hope. My son's girlfriend rode her first century with us this past weekend too. She rode a Terry, 80's something lugged steel. Her total score was rather low though, being only 21 and all...

I hope to hear more about your rides in the future - It sounds like you're on the way up.

Jim

VarVintg

Jim
Very cool concept. Now I only wish I was 19 with the sense and know how of a 47 year old! But no I got it wrong, its 100 miles 47 yoa, (c/v rider as you said) and a 19 year old bike. And cool is still a good adjective for me! Thanks

VarVintg

Now that is very cool!

VarVintg

Thank You Jim. I appreciate yours and everyone elses kind words, keeps me motivated. What a cool group of people meet here! Congrats to your sons girlfriend as well.

Sal

jimmuller 

Yow, you win! This year I'm pushing only 62y.o. rider and a 38y.o. bike. But surprisingly, the age totals go up by two every year. How does that happen?

I guess I have to either ride further or buy an older bike.

It keeps me (at least) motivated as I accumulate years.