richjac

51.7 miles; longest previous ride was 36, but once I was 20 miles in to the ride, I decided to go for it - and I discovered that I feel pretty much the same after 50 miles as after 25 or 30. Of course, I just finished an hour ago, so we'll see.

The only problem is, my wife has become a cycling widow... I'd better stay home tomorrow (or finish my ride before she wakes up!)

Rich

cranky old dude

Congrats on the great ride.

Digital Gee

Woohoo!!!

And bring her some chocolate, and you'll be fine.

stapfam

Get her a credit card and send her out shopping. Make certain it is HER credit card though.

One of the unfortunate things about getting old(er) is that you cannot do what you used to be able to do---Except for ride your age rides. Bet you couldn't have done that 2 years ago.

Well done but spend some recovery time with the wife before she Throw your toys out of the pram.

Mojo Slim

Another "rode my age". Nice going, congrats and well done.

Maybe we should have one "ride my age" day each year and all celebrate with a 50+ ride and a piece of pie.

Tom Bombadil

Good show! Nice 40% jump from your previous high.

I found the same thing as you. I felt almost exactly the same after 50 miles as I did at the 26 and 33 mile points on my ride. Very surprising.

Where were you riding?

richjac

I rode from home to the Glacial Drumlin trail (9 miles) then west on the trail until it becomes gravel in Dousman. I needed another 3 miles to get halfway to 51, so took to the roads - very nice riding around the Kettle Moraine area, where I followed a large group ride for a few miles.

This route is the first 22 miles of my intended ride from New Berlin to Madison - someday, maybe soon. That will be a 78 miler, so I will probably wait for cooler weather. I also need to start bringing food along on rides over 90 minutes or so.

Tom Bombadil

At some point this year, I'm going to start on my end of Glacial Drumlin and ride east. Haven't been on it yet. It starts about 15 or so miles from my house.

If you did a 51 miler without a problem, then you likely have a 78-miler in you.

I was in Dousman, and Eagle, on Tuesday of this week.

I sometimes carry a Clif bar, but I almost never eat them. The same bar will be in my bag for 5-7 trips. I usually don't eat until I've been out about 3 hours, then I look for a restaurant.

doctor j

Well done on the birthday ride. I think a lot of us are discovering that we can do a little more than we thought we could do.

Food/fluids are IMHO critical for longer rides. You should start experimenting with what works for you.

p8rider

Congrats on a great Birthday Ride!!!
It sounds as though you are in pretty good shape right now. On a 78 mile ride you will probably feel a little additional fatigue setting in towards the end, but you should make it okay.

George

Great ride and happy birthday. I know one thing, this riding your birthday thing, I'm not doing it when I'm 80.

nalax49

Did a metric century in the Waterford area today with a few of the local clubs. Turning 58 on Monday so I had a few extra miles. Had a tour of the Waterford frame factory and saw some fine bikes. Rode with a lot of fione folks as well.

We cruised to the first rest stop at 17.5 mph average and relaxed the rest of the way for a 16 mph average for the ride. It probably got up to the lower 90's today but luckily we were done before that.

I feel great to be riding!

Lurch

Congratulations. That's a significant jump from your previous distances. Did you feel like you were pacing yourself for the distance? I tried to take it easier when I rode my age in Lancaster Co., PA a couple of weeks ago. That's a great place to ride if you like open farmland and light traffic, although some of the horse-drawn traffic is intimidating to those not comfortable around large animals.

richjac

OK, I have to confess - it's not my birthday, that's in November. That's why I made it 51.7 miles - 4 months to go to 52. Riding 52 miles around here in November is an iffy proposition at best.

I guess I learned something about this riding your age thing - on your birthday (light goes on) - I get it!

Tom Bombadil

No, we should each ride on a separate day, and then everyone will celebrate each ride with pie.

Rickochet

That is great!!! What tips do you have for those of us who have not accomplished that feat---yet?!!! That is my goal this summer.

fprest

Hi all,
I turned 50 today and I rode 50.8. I hope everyone had as great a day as I had today!

richjac

That's terrific, and Happy Birthday! It was 96F here today, I hardly ventured out of the house. What a wimp I am.

Tom Bombadil

+1

96, humid, with a hot wind blowing.

I didn't even think about going for a ride.

Lion Steve

I did a "ride my age" ride on my birthday yesterday. I'm now 58, and I did 62 miles. I didn't worry much about the time, just enjoyed the long ride. My wife joined me for lunch at a spot along the way, and rode 15 miles with me. I did all of it on the local bike path. The perfect weather played a big part in my decision to make the ride on my birthday. Sunny, light wind, temperature 65 to 75 degrees, low humidity. I don't know if I'll make it an annual event, but yesterday's ride will certainly will be memorable.

Metric Man

I guess I'll chime in here too...did my 50/50 ride a couple of weeks ago. 50.9 miles to be exact. Ate a couple of Power Bars in the middle and lots of fluids. The last 10 miles about did me in since I'm just a daily 12-14 mile guy. Previously my longest was 21 miles...but only did that once. Started riding last September so I feel pretty good about this.

Mojo Slim

Lion and Metric,
Way to go. This is an important milestone and much of which to be proud. And even though our age gets greater, so do the rides. You will be doing 'Age rides' well into your 80s.

snavebob

I mentioned it on another thread but I rode my age +1, 53, on Thursday. Four weeks ago my longest ride had been 27 miles. Then I rode 31, 33, 42, and then 53 on consecutive Thursdays. I also rode two to three times each week in between the longer rides. Thursday, the key to making it in the humidity was water, gatorade, Fig Newtons, and breaks. I really didn't feel any difference between the 27 mile ride and the 53 miler.

Going camping, biking, and golfing in two weeks in Door County, WI. Hope to do a circuit around the pennisula at least once. I think it is over 50 miles.