First Century Tomorrow at Silver Comet trail
 

Hey guys,

Tomorrow is the day for me to complete the Strava BMC 79 mile challenge and I have decided to stretch it a bit and make it to 100. Roads around Atlanta suck for anything more than 25 miles and I dont plan on lapping the same route 4 times. I also believe I am not ready for the 6 Gap Century just yet. I am a little nervous though. Here are the reasons why.

I need to carry Snacks, tubes, tools, water bottles and I just dont know if all that will fit on the back of my jersey....

The temperature will change during the day and I might not be comfortable wearing the same clothes at 3pm than what I was wearing at 9am. Say at 9am it will be 45F but at 2pm it will be 62F. I was thikning suffering the first two hours from cold issues as to not carry extra stuff I dont need and ending the ride comfortably.

Do you guys think this is ok?

* S works Shoes with regular pearl izumi socks. (dont want to wear wool ones because they make my shoes really tight and dont want to bring shoe covers because they would look very silly at 65F).
* Bib Knicker rated for 54 to 63F.
* Two Cliff bars
* tire levers
* Spare tube
* Gore Phantom Jacket with long sleeves off.
* NO base layer
* Full Gloves (I hate having cold hands and dont mind having warm ones)
* Two big podium Big chills full of water and gatorade.
* set of lights in case I get caught riding at night.

What else?? the silver commet should be an easy century but its not my phiscial condiiton I am worried about rather the external factors.

BTW if anybody wants to join it would be great!

If you're worried about comfort, changing clothing needs and room to carry repair things, perhaps a backpack? Sounds like you dont have bike bags already or a rack to strap to.

rear rack and trunk. can't imagine doing a century with a back pack! also don't most long rides feature breaks and rest stops etc for bathroom breaks changing clothes and meals? I mean this isn't a 50 miler where you just get on and go for the duration, a century is a whole other animal, right?

I do not have any types of racks or panniers... Should have thought about that before. Now I am just freaking out. I thought a century was just two 50 mile rides :( now you tell me its a whole different animal? There is a conveniece store at mile 33 which is good because I can stop there then do 18 miles there and back and then stop there again. That should make for two 1/2 hour stops. Since there is barely any elevation changes I believe I can average 17 to 18mph most of the time so that could make it quick and less painful.

I like a camelbak on long, self-supported rides unless I am familiar with the route and know where I can get water every 25 miles or so. YOu can stick extra clothes in there when you're done with them too.

If this is a supported ride you're probably fine, if not I'd say 2 clif bars is a little light. :)

Ride safe and have fun.

I think we were thinking more of an organized ride with a time limit and planned route deal. Maybe planning a route to a friends place(back home) along the way to drop off excess clothing. Phone in case something that breaks has no chance of getting fixed.

Here's what I took on my last ride (away from home and emergency contact was working :( )
pump
chain tool
extra master link
zip ties
plastic baggy
spokes
tube
patchkit
tire levers
alcohol wipe
multitool
wrench
pliers
knife
camera
phone
candy
pepper spray

call out from work, buy a rear rack and medium rear trunk. install it or pay someone to install it. then you can carry a snack, and some clothing item, not to mention your repair kit. anyway just an idea to get out of work ... ;) you'll be fine no matter what just don't rush it. 18 mph avrg on a century? ummm ... don't think so ... just sayin'

You don't need a rack to ride 100 miles, sheesh.

You're absolutely right. You don't.

But I'd certainly like to have one for such a ride. :D

That's not a ride, that's a tour. :D

I always have a rack. every single bike. the thought of stuffing things into a shirt pocket just sounds dumb. plus full fingered gloves? change of head gear under helmet, lights when it's light out. I trunk is a good place for him to stow everything he was thinking of. including a base vest or something. plus for very long rides I like to have 2 tubes plus a patch kit cuz anything can happen over 8 hrs and 100 miles.

This is why people planning to do centuries usually build up to it. This gives you a chance to
experiment with clothing, nutrition, tempo, etc. What is longest ride you've been on so far? I
have been to a section of the Silver Comet last month, if that's a sample of the whole path then
it's a good place to do a century. Public bathrooms with water fountains every few miles. Some
bikes shops along the way for accessories and repairs as needed. I've done a few centuries so
here are some advice:

1 Start early. This way in case you have mechanical or physical problems along the way, you
don't finish so late at night. I remember signs saying the path closes at dusk?

2 Arm warmers.

3 Pace yourself, don't go all out in the beginning. If you still have a lot of energy at the end,
that's when you should pour it on.

4 That's it, have fun :D

Hearing from the other guys around I guess there is food every couple of miles so 2 cliff bars should be good enough as in betweeners. It is a solo century on a very cycling friendly route.

That is a lot of stuff to pack. Spokes! Chain tool! that is stuff I don't even own. I hope I don't get to need them.

I did in fact call out of work! I had a casual migraine :D. For real though... it came at the right time. I went and picked up my saddle and asked a few Qs to the guys in the shop. They told me that in the Silver Comet trail I dont have to worry about lack of resources since they seem to be abundant. HE also told me to forget the shoe covers and just ride the first hour with a bit of cold then when it gets above 50 I will be fine with shoes and regular socks. 18mph century.... I guess not :p

Riding for 8 hours definitely sounds harsh..

Yup going early tomorrow hopefully start riding by 9:30am. My jacket has removable arm warmers. and definitely pacing is key. Your info about the trail makes me feel at ease. My longest ride was a metric century from atlanta to woodstock and back, through backroads. The reason why I think the silver comet trail would be a good first century is because of it being fairly flat. I dont think its more than 3000 ft of climb and ive already done the three gaps in north ga pretty ok which is 5k.

just found my notes from the 1st time, well only time I tried a century, turned out to only be 88 miles. haven't tried it again since. the notes are funny cuz I was so cautious. I even changed bikes and clothes at the 1/2 way point cuz I wasn't sure which bike I should use so I used both that I had at the time
9:30-11 22 miles 90 min
rest 35 min
11:35-1:10 22 miles 95 min
rest, change, nap, eat, change bikes 1:10-2:20 (1hr 10 min)
2:20-3:50 22 miles
rest 35 min
4:25-5:55 22 miles
total saddle time 6 hrs
total rest time 2.5 hrs
total event time 8.5 hrs
avrg speed 16.6 but that's just an estimate cuz I had no computer at the time

Spokes? You carry 3 different sizes? If you break a spoke, it's more likely to be on the drive side rear. Don't you need a cassette tool and chain whip to access the spoke?

Holy cats, that's a cool looking trail! I'm sure you'll do fine.

I highly recommend scoping out some places to rewater (you may already be familiar with the trail, in which case ignore) and definitely plan on stopping for lunch somewhere and give yourself a break off the bike. Pick a spot about 50 or 60 miles in today and make sure you do it. Drink plenty all day; it will be less obvious that you need to drink in cool weather but you do.

And if you really go 100, just expect that about 85 miles in you will hate your bike and wish you were dead. :roflmao2: I don't know what it is about it but you will probably hit a wall late in the game. Just expect it and power through.

Beanz,
Yep I have 6 spokes 2 of each size. I figured if I did break the drive train side the sap truck would have a chain wrench, although if I get that trunk bag, I'll carry my own. I don't wanna WALK home :D

but remember I have broken 3 spokes now in this last month.

Ah OK! I missed the part about the organized ride. What can I say, I'm getting old and slow!:D

I think it was you that just ordered a new wheel. If so, have the tension readjusted after 300 miles or so. That's what I do and I get 20,000+ miles out of a wheel. I did 23 centuires in 2005 and never had to worry about carrying spokes or even think about it with a good wheel. :thumb:

Yea the new wheel may be on my porch. I'll have a wheel guy look it over after a couple of months.

Before my ride I went ahead and tightened any spokes I thought were loose on the stock wheel. I've only put 100 on it since then, but so far nothing has broken or feels loose and it made it through the 36 miles.

for me, a 45* start would be thin base layer, jersey, vest, arm and knee warmers. Those last 3 can be peeled off if need and can fit in one pocket.

My long ride (more then 4 hrs) check list
3 tubes/ patch kit
4 cliffbars
1 tire lever unless you run wire beed tires.
1 frame pump on the bike or 4-5 Co2 cans
1 small multi tool
1 fully charged IPOD nano
2 bottles (refill stations should be sorta plotted out)
1 meal stop around 50-70 miles into the ride


If you think you are going to run past 5pm, then bring small but bright lighting system and bolt on a rear blinker on the seat post.


You don't need to carry an entire work bench with you, you are just riding a bike. Anything more then what happens to the bike or you is a simple phone call to get picked up. If the pick up is a problem, maybe two 50 mile loops would be a better option.

A little more notice( i almost made plans to ride it this weekend,but changed my mind) and i would have liked to tag along,not so sure i could do a century yet and at 18mph i would probably slow you down,but hey i still want to try one day soon.. :thumb:

I would start earlier if I can, say as soon as the sun is up - around 7 am. I was only on the trail once,
we rented our bikes from a shop in Mableton, Cobb County. Then we rode going towards the next town, Powder Springs.
I don't know if we made it to the next town; Hiram, Paulding county. That was our first time on that trail and in Georgia, so
I'm not familiar with the area.

This was filmed 2 November 2012, ignore the typical vacation/tourist photos in the beginning :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQkt...hannel&list=UL

Post pictures of food in the Clyde forum then say ignore them? :roflmao:

It was the first time down south for this Northener, so the 1st time I ate real southern cooking I had
to take pictures. For some reason, I don't think the chain "Daisy BBQ" here in New York City is authentic
southern cuisine. :P

Are you rifing this. 2013 Specialized Roubaix Expert SL4? Good bike. I think you are over thinking this and worrying way to much. I agree with an earlier start. I love to start my rides even earlier than 7AM. On the weekends there is a lot less traffic on our roads early in the AM and I can see cars coming better. My lights are good and they can see me also. You have a real bike friendly environment. If you are in shape and are riding a multi user pathway, you should be able to come very close to your desired goal for pace. If the trail is crowded, probably not. Good luck, have fun, bring your cell phone and debit card.

Hmm, a friend and I did the Silver Comet, Smyrna to Cedartown and back on Nov. 1. http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1002843

It was my slowest Century to date and his first. I took my touring bike since I was essentially riding support for my friend.

I wore a long sleeve base layer, short sleeve jersey, tights over cycling shorts, hat and knit cap under the helmet, and started with long gloves. After a couple of hours I shed the long gloves but there is enough shade on the SC Trail this time of year that it stayed cool for the majority of the trip.

I plan on eating on the bike every 30 minutes on a 4+ hour ride. So I used perpeteum in my water bottle and ate a bagel every couple of hours. I was never hungry but did wish by the end that I had more electrolytes in me. Once I got some electrolytes in me, my legs felt much better (about mile 80).

Be warned that at Rockmart you will leave the rail trail and there are decent elevations changes until you get to Cedartown. Right and mile 39 is a chain breaking little bump at 8% grade. Plan ahead and watch for the crack in the asphalt on this hill. My buddy hit the crack and went down hard and that is why we slowed down so much.

There is good water at mile 22, 33, and 50 so plan your rest stops accordingly. Mile 33 is Coot's lake with the convenience store.

Did you have fun?

well.... Let me explain.

First of all I need to say thanks to everybody for their advice. All of it very useful and great tips!

I have decided that I am a hill kinda guy. It was nice being at good constant speed but it wasnt much of a challenge for my muscles. It was indeed a massive challenge for my bones and patience. It was a total mind game. I can assure you that from mile 67 I was going mad. I'm used to the 50 mile trip so that was fine but as soon as I reminded myself that I have to do the same $hit back I freaked out a little.

I was impressed to see that there were a few hills of descent ascent. I know Dahamac told me about it but I did take it for granted a little. Having done the N GA mountains before I thought this would be no biggie. It made it a little more interesting after all. That was probably the most fun of all day since I love those 8% bumps. Great scenery as well through most of the trail. I was very impressed.

http://app.strava.com/activities/28129329

YES!! I made the 100 miles.. In fact 101 :p. It was a great accomplishment. However I do not plan to do it anytime soon. It was a big toll on my neck and my feet. At one point I thought I was going to lose my toes to gangrene :(. I was fine after all. I will do it again. Just not soon. I need to train harder and get in better shape. I do feel good about being so desperate as to pedal with all my might pretty much standing up for the last 15 miles. I managed to do 17mph average through the last 10 miles. I thought i'd never make it. Took me almost seven and a half hours but made it. NEXT !! Six gap century :D.

Congratulations on the ride. My wife has a firm rule about avoiding out and back rides since after the "out" one's mind goes into "been there, done that" mode. This doesn't apply to climbs, however, as the descent at 4-5 times the speed looks somehow different.

Good job, especially closing it out fast.