bobthib

Ok, so it turned out to be only 95.4 mi. I think a lot of people felt "cheated" but it was a charity event (Tour de Cure for diabetes) so that's a good thing. Our club co-sponsored the event, and helped design the north part of the route that passed thru our town. The weather was a bit chilly at the start, some where around 50, but the skies were clear and the NW breeze was 6 - 10. It warmed up to the mid 60s, and it was very dry, hence "no sweat."

We were fortunate to have a police escort for the entire ride, and that was really nice. We fought the headwind most of the way north, and I kept in the center of the pack. After the frist rest stop at 30 mi we regrouped and headed out again. I managed to pull the group for about 7 miles in 2 different shifts. One leg was heading north in to the wind. Inspite of that, I never to my HR into zone 5 (90%+)

One thing I learned: Not stopping is a HUGE advantage. Having to start up every few miles takes a LOT of energy. On first century I bonked at about mi 90. Yesterday I could have done 20 or 30 more, but wifey would have killed me as I had to get home to help set up for the party.

Riding on a FLAT course is a bit help too!

See the details here: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/20844

At the end of the day we completed the route in 4:48 (RT) for a 20.0 avg spd. 5:15 (ET)

That night we had a BBQ at my house and welcomed the Austrian Olympic Tri Team that is training in our town. I hope to do a 3 hr ride with them on Tuesday.


Notice that aerodynamic belly! Provides less wind resistance that flat abs!

Hermes

Nice result and ride. I agree that stopping, eating and restarting takes more energy and I feel like I have to warm-up my legs again.

George

Sounds like you had a pretty nice ride Bob. It also sounds like the weather your having there, is pretty close to what we have here.
I use to stop for a minute or two after an hour or so, but here lately I have been riding 2 hours straight and then I stop to switch water bottles. I know I can switch the bottles as I'm riding, but it only takes a minute and less hassle.
Anyhow it looks like you had a pretty good day.
Um, lets not talk about the gut thing.

ps when I read the title, I thought this may be another weak link thing.

Allegheny Jet

Really nice job Bob! Sounds like you did everything right.

Pat

Aerodynamic belly huh? Well if you can do a 20 mph century, you have no complaints from me. I do stops in a century, if for nothing else to take a pit stop and fill up on water.

BlazingPedals

Flat courses area huge advantage! Don't ask how I know that...

palookabutt

Nice ride! +1 on flat courses for bolstering the ego. +1 on short stops/no stops, too, though sometimes my bladder won't take "no" for an answer...

The Weak Link

Well, now that you mention it....

I certainly couldn't sustain that kind of pace in the terrain we have here in Kentucky. I probably could sustain 20 MPH for an hour or two in a non-twitchy paceline on Florida-level ground. Doing that for 95 miles would be a stretch.

George

That sounds fast enough to me

'47

Considering another current thread about body fat percentage as a reliable indicator of "heart health level" or even fitness......well, you and your tummy provide good support for the idea of measure yourself by what you can do, not simply what you can measure. Flat terrain or not...an avg speed of 20mph for century for a guy our age pushes you well above the typical, middle aged recliner jockey who, we have to admit, would have no problem going 4 or more hours daily on his chosen vehicle-- in fact, does it daily with little need for recovery. But then, consider the demands of your Motobecane versus his LazyBoy.

Anyway, more than well done!

jppe

Great going! Even if it was a tad flat.

billydonn

20 mph? I've got to get me some of those abs! Very impressive!

BikeArkansas

Nice going.

The "No Stop" is of interest to me. Last year I rode a century in 5 hours 19 minutes total time and only stopped twice. Once for a little relief and water. Once for water and a PBJ. I felt I was less tired at the finish than when I stop frequently. I did eat some items while riding but I have been considering carrying more food and maybe a third water bottle in my shirt so that one stop will suffice for the century.

bobthib

And after you empty one, you won;t have to stop for "relief!"

Indeed, stopping, or more correctly starting, requires a lot more energy than just pedaling to maintain speed. Having the police escort so that we could go though stop lights and stop signs without slowing makes a HUGE difference. HUGE. At the end of that century I was not even tired. My butt was a bit uncomfortable, but I easily could have done 20 or 30 more miles under the same conditions. Maybe more.