50+ Centurions
 

From the responses to DGlenday's thread on what is a decent 100 mile time for riders over 50, it's clear that many in this forum ride centuries quite often, and that others aspire to do so in the future. I think that's impressive, and that it might be nice to have a thread where people posted the details of these rides. Fast or slow, it doesn't matter; they're all a cause for celebration.

I haven't completed one yet this year, but I'll start the ball rolling with my most recent:

Distance: 128 miles
Elevation gain: 6492 feet
Riding time: 7:36:31
Total time: 8:38:00 (long lunch!)

I do 100 miles on some solo training rides, but this is the only organized century so far this year. I did it with a small group, where a couple of other guys and I shared the pulling... then they dropped me when I faded at the end!

Casa Grande Century: 1/8/2012
Distance: 102 miles
Gain: 909' (Flat!)
Riding Time: 5:15
Elapsed: 6:15 (BBQ at turnaround point)
Avg Moving Speed: 19.3
Avg Cadence: 84
Avg Watts: 196
Total Work: 3,712 kj

I did a flat one two years ago. It's funny, but I remember being in a paceline in which one member had a very noisy chain. By mile 80 i was thinking bad thoughts about cyclists who don't take proper care of their bikes.

Anyway, I'd have to get on the home computer to check the details. The key is I'd rather to a flat Imperial century than a hilly metric.

TDPS 2-11-12
Distance 104 Mi.
Elevation Gain 2869
Total Time 8:20:46

First 15 miles into a 20-40 knot wind and that was where most of the elevation gain was.

This Saturday I am set up for my second century this year. 110.8 miles with 2417 elevation gain. It may rain so time might be moot. Just finishing will be the challenge.

Not done many road centuries on the road bike but did quite a few on the MTB. I got into enduros and they were good fun---Afterwards. 100 miles offroad is not much fun by mile 80. Luckily I came to my senses in 2006 after one horrific one with gale force winds on wet clay trails and got a road bike. Still have enough sense to say the Metrics are comfortable and further is not.

Sound more like a 200km brevet that a "century"..?

Splitting hairs, I know, but do we count 160km permanent or a 200km brevet as a "century"? I'd vote yes.



I've only done 2 centuries, but 2 weekends ago I did a 200km brevet (aka randonee) with almost 10,000 feet of climbing. It was the longest distance I'd ever ridden. Finished in 9:58. Terrible time, I know, but I have a long list of excuses - starting with "I stink at hills"! :lol:

This weekend I'll be doing a fleche - 230 miles over 24 hours. But the pace will be deliberately slow. Should be a lot of fun!

LOL. We play cricket over here. Any batsman who scores over 100 in a single innings is described as a "centurion". Quaint, I know, but somehow "breveteer" doesn't have the same ring.

Anyway, however you want to define it, let's agree that any ride of 100 miles or over qualifies for inclusion in this thread.

I think it is the support part that is differnt from a Brevet and a Century, Ultra century, double century, and endurance race. as I understad it a Brevet has to be self supported.

You all are awesome, my last and ONLY, "Century Ride" was In 1984!!!! To those that have one planned for this year, may you have SUCCESS! :)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4...0/DSCN0048.JPG

I've ridden 5 centuries and one double century so far this year, with all the details provided in the prev. noted thread.

One coming up this weekend should be challenging. It's even called the Mulholland Challenge and takes place in the Santa Monica Mountains. There is a 12 hour time limit for the 112 miles with 12,750 feet of climbing. Last time I rode it (several years ago) my time was 8 Hours, 38 minutes.

Hopefully I can come close to that on Saturday. Weather is predicted to be cold (low of 32 deg.F) with a high of only 63 deg.F, so that should be good for me. I would rather ride in much warmer weather, but I go faster in cooler weather, for some reason unknown to me.

Here's a link for anyone wanting further details: http://www.planetultra.com/MulChallenge/index.htm

Rick / OCRR

I did that one also but not as fast of course. I also did these:

2012 annual total=1100 km
ACPB 300 2012/02/04
ACPB 200 2012/02/18
ACPB 400 2012/03/10
ACPB 200 2012/03/24

There's a 600 on Sat - winds are forecast to be 20+ with gusts in the 30's. I'll simply do the best I can and go as far as possible. Just not sure what I want on my Tombstone.

Oh - I'm intimately familiar with cricket! (Didn't grow up in the USA).

I wind up doing 4 or 5 centuries per year: one or two are "organized" (sic) rides, one is usually the graduation ride for the 12-week cycling skills series I coach, and a couple are just either accidental or training rides leading up to one of the aforementioned.

To be honest, I don't really enjoy centuries all that much; I've found that my ideal cycling distance for a single day's ride is ~75-80 miles...less than that and I feel like I missed an opportunity, but more than that and I feel like I'm just a little too desperate in my search for nirvana. But right around 75-80 miles, man, that's perfect!

I'll do a metric at the drop of a hat, but centuries take a little more preparation. I rode 4 centuries last year and hope to do about 6 this year. The first one of this year was this past Saturday and I'm planning to ride one weekend after next.

Stats for the recent ride:

distance: 102.6 miles
elevation gain : 2136 ft.
riding time: 6:44
total time: 8:10 (lots of socializing at rest stops)

Long Distance Cycling ... Long Distance Forum
 

In the Long Distance Forum ...
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...urance-Cycling ...
which caters to cyclists of all ages ... there are two Century threads (for 100 miles and longer).


Century-A-Month: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...y-A-Month-Club
This is for cyclists who ride at least one century (100 miles or more) in each month of the year, starting in January. If you haven't already started riding centuries this year, you've missed out on this one, but you can start planning for next year.


Century Challenge: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...tury-Challenge
This one is for cyclists who just want to ride one, two, or more centuries (100 miles or more) this year. All of you are welcome to post your centuries there as you do them. Let's see how many centuries you all can do!


There's also a Double Century thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...p-Longer-Rides)
This is for cyclists who want to push themselves a bit further than 100 miles ... for cyclists who want to take on 200+ miles all in one go.


There are lots of other long distance challenges in the Long Distance forum ... go take a look, and feel free to participate. Post your centuries! Remember ... the Long Distance forum is for anyone, of any age, who wants to ride long distances.


And now, there's a new "Tips for riding a Century" sticky in the Long Distance forum for cyclists who have ridden several centuries to pass along advice to those who are just getting into it.

I did 24 100+ rides last year. I'm ahead of that pace this year because of the great weather we had this winter. I've done 5 so far this year.

What I haven't done is any really long rides. My longest was last year at 118 miles. Longest this year is 110.

Did a Century at the end of last year. But the hardest ride is coming up in June: Garrett County Maryland Gran Fondo: Metric Century with 8,000 feet of climbing. Wanna do the full century? Get ready for 13,000 feet! ;)

That reminds me: A friend of mine used to lead an annual "Double Half Century" ride every June 20th (longest day of the year). 50 mile ride before work in the morning, another 50 mile ride after work in the evening. I might have to urge him to resume that tradition.

When I was stilll in my fifties (that's 30 years ago!) I rode several double centuries.
My goal was to do it in 12 hours. Finally achieved my goal and quit riding doubles.
Pedal on!
Rudy/zontandem

12 so far this year

Haven't done one since last year but will be doing one next week for the MS 150. Several 100K rides, however, since Jan. 1.

I completed one century this year in the Gran Fondo Texas. I have done many metric centuries this year. I am hopeful I can complete another century in the 2012 Ride the Rockies in June. I doubt if I will do any more this year as I only get motivated for them when they are part of some event. I did my first century on my 61st birthday in the Hotter n Hell Hundred, which wasn't as hot as most. It was 106 deg F when I did 110 km in the Cape Argus Cycle Tour in March.

You're an inspiration, Rudy. I've never done an Imperial double century, I may get round to it before I get to your age.

Four century rides per month, or nearly. Do you have a target for the year or does it just happen when you feel like it?

Did a few Imperial centuries way back when - Santa Fe, Hard Scrabble, Elephant Rock, a portion of the Ride the Rockies, and many metrics, but no more. I don't enjoy them and have absolutely NO desire to do any more. But, my hat is off to you folks who do enjoy them, and two hats off to the double century folks.

I'm doing the Elephant Rock Metric in June and then the Deer Creek Challenge Century in August. I completed several metric century's and a full century last year but to be honest the full century was mostly down hill. We started at the top of Independence Pass and rode from there. I like to keep most of my rides between 65 to 75 miles.

I want to do a metric century and a century(100 miles), but until I get the carpal tunnel release on the left hand, I don't think that will be possible--at least not without a crap load of stops making the ride last 10+hours.

Here is link to my Garmin data from the Century on Saturday. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/168107906

Or, if you prefer, here it is on Strava: http://app.strava.com/rides/6788377

The OP asked about an acceptable time for a century, but under ordinary circumstances my time of 9:45 would be very slow. The difference here was the 13,000 feet of climbing, some of which was on mightly steep roads. Actual riding time was 8:56.

As you can see from the temps, it was a good day for climbing, plus (you can't see) super clear and beautiful day in the Santa Monica mountains. From the altitude chart you can see we were up and down a lot throughout the day.

None of the climbs really bothered me until Stunt Road which we began to climb with 92.6 miles on our legs. Plus, dumb move, I'd forgotten one of my bottles at the prev. checkpoint. So I had to ration the one bottle I had, which I'm sure didn't help. Not horribly steep, mostly 6 - 7%, but I was dragging.

At the top of Stunt, a kind soul gave me another water bottle (didn't get his name), plus I hung out there, hydrating, and didn't have any other problems for the remainer of the 116 mile total. Overall a great day and a fun ride; lots of friends either riding or working the checkpoints (one reason I spent almost an hour, total, at the checkpoints).

Rick / OCRR

Did 231 miles yesterday.

(An event called a "fleche")

Ride them when the weather is good. It has been a problem this year. Not complaining.
I commute RT 15 miles, to a retired group that mostly rides 70 miles.

That gives me 85 miles. When they go long and put me in the 90's I will finish with a 100 mile ride.
The most I have done:
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...eenShot094.jpg

LOL. Seventeen centuries in a month. That's a lot of riding.

I used to have a similar experience with a club I belonged to. The Sunday club run was usually c.70 miles and the start/finish point was about 18 miles from my house, so I ended up doing quite a few centuries that year.