DavisClydesdale

Hey Air! I've been off the boards for a while, but am just not getting caught up.

I did my first Century last month. I chose the Bike around the Buttes century in Sutter, CA because it is relatively flat. Here are my stats:

102 miles
7:05:51
14.4 average moving speed
8:34:46 total time with breaks included
1,281 feet of climbing (super flat, basically one hill that tops out at 380 feet or so, some gentle rollers, and bridges and overpasses)

The weather was nasty. Light winds and pouring rain almost the entire time. I hit every stop for at least 10 minutes, and I caked on the chamois cream before I started. I felt good when it was over, but I had to stretch my back at each stop.

For reference, I am 5'11", and weighed in at 264. Hope that helps. I have another century scheduled for next month. 108 miles with some hills at a higher elevation:

DanteB

I've done 18 doubles, 2 triples and I don't know how many centuries since '04. This last weekend I did the Central Coast Double. It was 208.8 miles and 14,902' of climbing. I was on the bike 14:50 and on the course 17:00. I'm 6', 225# and 55 years old.

jupiterboy

Awesome! 18 doubles - way to go. What set up do you ride?

Do you have any advice for durable rims? I have been considering Cane Creek Volos XL. Any input?

Thanks

DanteB

I ride a 2001 Waterford 2200, which I had built for me, with full Campy Record 10sp and triples in the front. As far as wheels they are Campy hubs with 32 hole 14 gauge black straight spokes, Mavic Open Pro CD Ceramic rims. I don't have any troubles with wheels. For tires I use Conti's 4 Season 700X25, but I'm changing over to Conti 4000 700X25. I run my tires at 100 psi.

hammond9705

I did a 300k brevet this year (190 miles) and 3 other centuries. I'm 6' 1" and 260+. I have ultegra hubs with open pro CD rims hand built by Colorado Cyclist. Over 5,000 miles on them and they have never been touched since. Highly recommend that you call them and have them hand build you a set.

powerglide

I ride about 100/week. I've done centuries but I've never considered a double century.
Something about the prospect of getting to the 100 mark and having to "turn around and do it again" in the same day is daunting.

How many regular centuries did you guys do before doing the double?

Tom Stormcrowe

I haven't hit the 2 century in a day mark yet. I topped out so far at 167. Maybe later this Summer I'll blow through the 2C mark, especially after a stint loaded touring!

jupiterboy

My Double training consisted of shorter rides during the week (2 or 3x) that balanced work and family. On the weekends I put in at least one 100+ ride.

The California Triple Crown website has great training tips and ideas for which Doubles are recommended for first timers.

https://www.caltriplecrown.com/

powerglide

Thanks for the link!

K4LK

Tom,

How much do you weigh these days?

Dana

NotAsFat

Did my first imperial century a couple of weeks ago. 7:43 total time. If you can do a metric in 4:00 without blowing up, an imperial century is mostly mental, just eat enough and keep your hr in the mid 70% range, and you'll be fine. I do about 140-160 mi/wk.

Tom Stormcrowe

I'm currently holding at 217. I seem to be stuck at the moment. This may be because of the loose skin though from all the weight loss. I may well be down to my minimum until I get that taken off.

K4LK

And you started at 582 . Great job!

Tom Stormcrowe

Yepperes!

nun

I'm around 220lbs. Now that it stays light a bit longer after work I'm back into 30 miles after work 3 times a week and then I rotate through 50, 75 and 100 mile rides at the weekend. My main thing now is to drop some weight so that i can become a better hill climber.

Air

Ride Report and first Century Cherry popped!

Well, Avatar and I started off around 4:30 or so for the 145 mile ride from Penn Station to Montauk. Planned on taking our time and kept a 15 mph pace - first person who passed us was at the first rest stop. Avatar had his backpack with him because they didn't have a truck at the start at that time, I was able to find someone I knew to throw mine in a truck at Babylon.

First people who passed us were at the first rest stop. I tell ya, that rest stop for the 145 was the best in terms of food - the biscotti were awesome! The other ones were out of Gatorade and had some muffins and white bread (along with the smattering of fruit)

Saw Svloid around the 30 mile mark, it was funny because we were talking about him and I look up and there he was! We kept to our pace and kept trucking. Keeping his backpack on him until Babylon took a toll on Avatar though, overworked. After the 60 mile mark his tendenitis started flairing up, around the same time my rear wheel went out of true [from other threads I broke 6 spokes on a ride three weeks ago on the rear, got a replacement which wasn't tensioned right and almost destroyed it on a ride to Coney Island. Retensioned and away we went. Maybe I can get one those cement wheels like the Flintstones, it certainly couldn't slow me down any more!] Put new brake handles on that had QR so I released the brake on the rear so it wouldn't rub.

Somehow he missed the 80 mile reststop in Westhampton (I think) and was on Dune Rd. I raced to catch up and found I wasn't fatigued at all, felt as if I was starting fresh. I kept at around 22mph on Dune Rd but didn't see him, got a txt that he was SAGed. About a mile from that bridge I finally broke my Century cherry (7:19) - w00t!

So now the race was on to stay ahead of the truck. But then that bridge came up - wow. Granny geared with that headwind all the way to the top, took some pics and thought about waiting for the truck right there because damn it was a nice spot. But looking down Dune Rd I couldn't see them so I kept going. Had to stand up going downhill, painful!

I kept a really good pace and was surprised at how much energy I had. I was really hungry though and knew a bonk was coming - had a powerbar at that point but that was it in terms of food (I keep saying this but next time I really have to stop and eat someplace - eff the reststop snacks). Also thought I might be able to squeeze out the last 30 miles on a deficit. Then I passed a girl with a flat who looked utterly fustrated. I stopped, thinking there was enough time to fix the flat and keep ahead of the truck but there were three punctures and I got to the finish line in the bus of shame.

HOWEVER, there was plenty of good things about this ride that I didn't feel disappointed. The weather was absolutely perfect. I was concerned about a mechanical or bodily breakdown and neither came (well, besides the rear wheel but it was rideable). Not only did I get to the Century mark with plenty of energy, my body doesn't feel beat up (today dehyrated but not beat up), muscles and joints are happy, butt could use some lovin'. And the thing I'm most happy about is that my wrists didn't hurt - I was struggling with the fit of that roadie since I got it. The trekking bars with the grips and grip tape I put on (oh, about an hour before the ride) was heaven. It's nice riding without being on the brakes the whole time!

Now that the distance was conquered I can concentrate on getting my speed up. The heart monitor I found was great in terms of keeping in a comfortable zone - I used to glance at it in terms of curiousity but now I see where certain areas can be sustained for much longer periods of time. Of the 8:17 hours I rode I only spent 5 mins above 80% of max, 2+ hours below and 6+ in between. The first time I attempted a Century in September I spent about 65% of the time above 80% of max and then crashed hard and had to limp back.

All in all - awesome day!

mkadam68

Great job! Glad you stayed within yourself...it gives you a baseline measure and now you know what you're capable of so you can go out and push a little harder. Excellent!

Tom Stormcrowe

Outstanding job!

jupiterboy

Awesome! Congratulations on going over the century mark!

There is no shame in stopping to assist a rider. In long distance cycling (similar to ocean sailing), you should never strand a person in need.

Way to go!

Archinutt

I am just now hitting 100 miles a week. mostly because of time constraint. I am doing my first century in two weeks. I can't wait and by coincidence I have the week before off of work. Family is coming but I plan on getting long rides in every day.

I can do a 30 miler with no problem now, but I haven't done more than 40 yet.

Tom Stormcrowe

Just takes time, Archie, and there is no requirement that you ever do a century, or a double. All thatv matters is that you ride! (Although you might just surprise yourself and do an accidental century the first time! )