Machka 

Are there any others of the 50+ crowd here who enjoy long distance cycling?

And by long distance cycling, I'm talking about metric centuries, centuries, double centuries, randonneuring/audax events and similar.

wthensler 

Yes
Yes
Never tried
Never tried, etc.

Metric centuries don't stress me out at all, I've only done several centuries. I'm not sure double centuries would even appeal to me, but then again I've yet to try.

fietsbob

I did, rarely, 30 years ago, with friends when In Eugene.

rode to my favorite Swimming place, in the late 50's..


for my 50th year I took a Long bike Tour, but took a few months to do it..

big john

60-80 mile club rides on Saturdays, used to do 100 every Saturday but it's probably over a year since a century. No doubles, no 508, no 600k, a double metric is my limit.
A lot of the longer rides have involved climbing.Done a 12,000 foot day of 114 miles, centuries with 10K feet and some with 11k.
Never done a flat century, except when touring. I'll be 63 next month and I should celebrate with a long ride.

AGGRO

Been doing those forever and won't stop.

bikemig 

I'm going to do some longer distance events this year but 200 km is about it for me. There comes a point where I just want to get off the bike and have a beer. Actually the toughest ride of the year that I do is a metric century but it has around 6,000 ft of climbing.

Biker395 

If you live in So Cal, you'll soon be sorry you asked.

There are quite a few of us. What's your pleasure?

Carbonfiberboy 

Is "enjoy" the right word? I mean, you're talking about the Dark Side of cycling. Do we really enjoy slogging uphill in the pouring rain wearing about 10 lbs. of said rain, and it running down the road so fast you think you're going to spawn? Or trying to restore the feeling in our feet from riding the last 6 hours in sleet? Is there romance in changing a tire in the cold, wet dark? CLimbing the 3rd pass of the day in 100+ heat?

Well, I suppose there is, at least enough to attract the peculiar among us. Yes, doubles, 400ks, populaires, gran fondo type events, all sorts of crazy nonsense. My wife and I did a double on our tandem with a racing team age of 137. I didn't get started riding again after a long, long layoff until I was 50, so all this has been as an adult. Well, except for the solo century I rode at 18, just for a lark. And the all-day gravel rides in my early teens. I've always had a hankering to go a little further.

Machka 

I rode my first century in 1994 and was actively into long distance cycling up till my early 40s. I've done four 1200K events and one 1000K, plus numerous "shorter" distances. Then I kind of had to take a bit of a break after developing DVT on a flight to Australia in 2009. Rowan and I still did some events with Audax Victoria, but not to the same level as we had before. In 2012, we spent about 8 months travelling the world, and while we did do some cycling we probably should have done more. I put on a bit of weight. Too much good food out there! Things were unsettled for the next couple years ... moving, job changes, etc..

Then in 2015, I lost the weight and started getting back into Audax events again. In 2016, Rowan and I completed a couple 200Ks, a 300K, and a 400K ... and about 400 km of a 600K (an unusual health issue kind of got in the way of that last one).

This year, we're trying it all again. We're in the midst of something Audax Australia has called a Petite Year Round Randonneur. We're attempting another Century-A-Month challenge. And we're participating in various other long distance events.

In February, I cycled my 100th century (100 mile ride). I've done an additional 75 longer rides, but that was my 100th 100. And just last weekend we got our first 200K randonnee in for the season. I've written about all of these in the Long Distance forum.

Some of you may recognise me from other forums here. But today I turn 50 ... so here I am!

Wildwood 

All my centuries are now metric. Next birthday ride is 66 miles in July.
Been 5 years since the last 100 mile century, which was always my limit.

AGGRO

Near eighty all this week

Carbonfiberboy 

I'm sorry! BC Randonneurs can offer you more interesting riding: https://database.randonneurs.bc.ca/s...?region=011611
Absolutely gorgeous up there. Low traffic. Lots of trees. Haven't done any brevets on the island, just touring on our tandem.

Machka 

We're hoping to do a ride or two with the BC Randonneurs in June/July this year.

dunelt_1954

Happy birthday, Machka;

I lurk a lot and post little. Your anecdotes have been great, educational and fun. I wish you and Rowan many more good, long rides. I did not ride much until my 40s, and only have one true century in my log. Still not that strong.

Best wishes!

OldTryGuy

My most recent rides

140 miles 3/4/2017
125 miles 3/2
120 miles 2/28
114 miles 2/25
106 miles 2/23
103 miles 2/21
102 miles 2/18
307.8 miles Bike Sebring 12/24 Hours.......6:30AM on 2/11 to 4:00AM 2/12

This Saturday planning 150 miles. Getting ready for Cross Florida 168 miles on 4/2/2017

ClydeTim

Done about 35 centuries. Some with 10,000-12,000 ft of gain. My best 10,000 ft was 7:10 ride time. Best flat century at 5:45. Solo efforts. I hate sucking wheel.

MediaCreations 

I haven't done too many centuries for a while but I'm going to have to get back in practice.

I'm currently planning a fundraising ride across Australia from Perth, WA to Newcastle, NSW in September/October 2018. The ride will take just over four weeks and cover over 4000 km, with an average daily distance of 150 km. The longest days will be just under 200 km.

The ride will raise funds for Compassion, an international Christian child development and child advocacy ministry.

I've crossed Australia on bike five times in the past but my last time was 2003 so I've got a lot of training to do in the next 18 months.

Rowan

Hey, I haven't seen you post here in ages!

And a public HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Machka.

She celebrated her very first Queen of the Mountain achievement Strava by finding a gold crown on her computer this morning.

MediaCreations 

It's certainly been a while. I'm hoping to spend a bit more time here to help with motivation in getting fit for the big ride.

(And it's nice to be remembered.)

Gerryattrick

Happy Birthday.

canklecat

Working my way up to it again, after 30+ years since my last century rides. I've ridden several 45-60 mile rides since last summer. Getting up the gumption to tackle a solo century soon.

NYMXer

I will ride with a friend today and go about 70 miles. He is trying to build up his endurance for a century ride this June.
I guess that I am lucky, I can just go out and ride 100 miles on a whim, no prep needed.

2manybikes

Happy Birthday Machka!

big john

Happy 50th! What bike are you using for long rides these days? I remember your favorite bike was stolen some time ago. Was that bike ever recovered?

Wileyrat

I've done a number of metrics. I'd like to tackle a full century, but my butt seems to have a metric time limit.