Sorry, I wasn't clear. I was not 65 years old last year. I rode 65 centuries last year.

'Haven't done a century yet (better do it soon after about 45 years of riding), but when I finally do, it will be alone. I find, on my 50-75 mile rides, that I really love being solo so I can take things in at my own pace. I also HATE trying to talk to other people while the wind is blowing in my face or I'm huffing up a hill, etc.

Yes, solo is the way to century.

When I first got back into riding about 3 years ago, it was all by myself and I. A lot my riding was learning and building up endurance going from about 5 miles to 40 miles a day. Then I discovered Meetup.com I met folks that shared my passion for riding and I was hooked! Went on many an adventure and enjoyed companionship and post ride festivities. That being said, I still really enjoy biking solo...getting in the zone, forgetting about life's pressures and getting lost in the ride!

Many a time I never know when I can get away until the last moment ( being a father of 3). In any case, I think solo century's are a good thing. Group rides with folks of similar abilities, bikes and fitness levels are also great. As has said before, I've gone on many a ride with a group and ended up riding alone...not quite fast enough for the A group and well ahead of the B's.

It's all good though when you are on the bike!

That's better yet

Thanx for clarifying.

Did my first century in 1988 and have done many since, never solo. I mostly ride with a club and while most of the century riders are faster than me, they will wait.
I have done 75ish mile rides alone, but a solo century has not yet occured. I do enjoy the people I ride with.

I've only done one century. A solo ride 2 years ago. I like doing metrics, but that last 20 or so miles of the 100 miler just weren't all that much fun. But nearly all the metrics I've done were solo. It just gives me more freedom. Besides that I haven't met any other riders.

These days I rarely do organised rides other than races, and for the most part if I do a century it is coincidental - that is, I might be on tour and decide that the place I want to stop at tomorrow is more than 100 miles away. In general, I no longer seek to ride a specific distance as if covering miles were an end in itself.

Having said that, I generally ride alone, whatever the distance. I prefer to ride the ride I want to ride, rather than the ride that others might want. And I like to be able to Zen out, to just be in touch with my ride, and the surroundings, and not be bothered with chitchat. Unsociable, no doubt, but to me, more satisfactory.

I don't ride alone much except as a utility rider. That only represents about 5 to 10 percent of my riding time. Centuries I ride with friends and I pay because most often the proceeds go to worthy causes. I might ride 100 miles by myself but it is to get to someplace specific, like a meetup to ride with friends. I hardly ever just wander more than 20 miles or so just for the sake of wandering. So a 100+ mile ride by myself isn't a century it is just a trip like driving to Colorado, just my perspective. Sometimes when riding from Long Beach to San Diego I will ride with my group of friends on maybe pull up to another group and chat between cities. I guess I find people more interesting than bushes and dirt and pavement.

Organised rides are a good way to do your first 100 miler- or 100 Km's for that matter. You don't have ride with others and unless you have a group that you normally ride with and you know are the same speed as you it is probably better that you do it on your own. Big advantage of a "Well" organised century is the back up that is arranged. You never know if the bike will break down and that recovery does give some peace of mind. Signposting- refreshments and marshalls are also a boon. There is also the fact that other road users will be aware that cyclists are on the road as there are so many of them.

I have done several Solo rides as well as the organised rides and I still prefer the organised ones. There is always a group of other riders around and it is surprising how much energy can be saved by "Drafting" other riders. The converse is also true in that you can be pulled along at a speed that is too high for comfort and you will get tired quicker than you should but joining a group on a ride is up to you.

I prefer doing long rides with a group. Not only is it faster, but I appreciate the company. I swear, riding 40 miles solo seems farther than riding 60 miles with a group. My longest solo ride was about 75 miles, although I once rode a century when I was rode solo for about 80 of the 100 miles.

Also, I do a ton of solo rides, mainly commuting. I really enjoy riding with others when I get the opportunity.

I've done the Century A Month challenge twice. It's difficult to find someone wanting to ride a century in months like February around here. So I've done about 6 solo centuries on purpose.

However I've done a few organized century rides where I didn't really ride with anyone.

I've also done some double century rides and 24-hour races where I was almost always alone. It's more important to ride your own pace in them especially when the 24-hour races didn't allow drafting anyway.

In some of the organized centuries I have ridden most of them solo... many other riders around, but not drafting nor talking. I have also ridden more after club rides to extend to 75, 80, or 100 miles. Some friends of mine did the century a month a couple of years ago and would do that; ride 50 wth the club then another 50 for the challenge.

There was this one time I rode five solo centuries - back-to-back - and non-stop ......... I guess it could be interesting to weigh all the aspects of group versus solo riding - but the obvious answer to the original post is:
It depends....

500 miles non-stop? I like to give benefit of the doubt where I can but.....

Can you give a mild framework on how this was accomplished?

He got on his bike and just kept going. I've done it numerous times. Richard can answer for himself but I will say that he is quite an accomplished long distance rider. I understand the doubt but in his case he's not misstating his accomplishments.

I was wondering about that as well. I was at the Furnace Creek 508 in 2011 and we had both solo and team riders. The solo rider had to grab some sleep at the 30 hour mark. It took our team riders 41 hours to do 508 miles without sleep. Well someone was always awake and riding. But then we had 35,000 + feet of climbing.

I once rode with a guy who had recently come fourth in our national 24-hour TT championships. He had covered over 460 miles in the 24 hours. I asked him how long he had spent off the bike in that time, and he told me it was about fifteen minutes in total. So 500 miles without stopping except for natural breaks is perfectly feasible in the right terrain, if you have your nutrition and hydration needs sorted out. I must say I don't fancy it myself, though, extreme distances aren't really my scene.

Many years ago I did a 24 hr event and covered 320 miles in that time.I was not into road riding and did it on the MTB with slicks fitted and a lower stem. 500 miles non stop is quite feasible for someone who is used to long distance riding and is fit enough. Not that I would ever want to sit on a saddle for that length of time again

Starting my 4th year of cycling and every century has been alone. Planning on doing a double century this year and it will be alone. Question? When you all talk about doing a century with others, does that automatically mean you are drafting? To each his own, but that would be impossible for me. At least now. I rode in a paceline for 25 miles and hated it. I'm too ADD to ride that way. Gotta look around a bit. If I ride with others for a decent period of time, it is with some distance. Course, I'm riding in my first RAGBRAI this year, so maybe I'd better get used to it.

I've done the FC508 10 times (solo and on teams) and have never slept.

Of course not, at least not for me. There are those who draft the entire ride and never feel the wind, I call them EFI wheelsuckers and like to challenge them to ride without drafting but it ain't gonna happen.
On club rides I get dropped on the first climb so I am alone until they wait, which is fine. I prefer to ride at a pace where I can talk to others, at least a little.
At organized rides I never draft strangers except in rare cases and then I am extra careful and don't get too close. I start the ride with the idea of doing the whole thing without drafting.

Friend and BF member Shprung did the FC 508 on a fixed gear in around 40 hours last time. Another friend rode 4 person mixed and she said she didn't sleep, even when confined to the van.