Maelochs

really good advice. I have done rides recently where my body just said "No" at some point---totally out of the blue, just some part of me didn't have as much as the rest on that day. Being able to bail and ride a shorter route home (not that I was doing a century) was a huge help.

Actually I had planned about 50 miles ... very soon realized that wasn't happening, and ended up doing 24 and arriving home very happy and able to ride again the next day, instead of suffering for several hours wishing I had a bail-out route handy.

chandltp

Personally, I've found that if it's too easy to bail out, I'll stop earlier than I need to. If I was doing a 25 mile loop, I'd probably stop on the 2nd or 3rd time around. But if I ride out 50 miles and turn around, I wouldn't turn around at mile 40 on the way out.

But my wife says whenever I decide to do something, I'll do it. And she's right. I'll keep going long after I feel the desire to stop. There was one ride I had leg cramps starting 30 miles into a 90 mile ride. I finished the 90 mile ride because I had a destination. But that's my mindset. Not everyone has that mindset.

bargeon

The OPs questions were clear, simple and straight forward about how _you_ ride, you could answer based on your experience. He can compare that to his situation and reach his own conclusions. Since he didn't frame the question as a comparison, how he rides doesn't matter to your answer.

ironwood

All of these questions are answered on the Long Distance Forum.

Fastfingaz

What is it that you're whining about Barigon?,,, are you inferring that my answer was disrespectful to the OP?

Maelochs

Depends on you knowing yourself. I have been at it long enough to know when I can push on and when not to ... I learned, as so many do, by occasionally taking that "HTFU/Go for it" attitude at the wrong time and then having to sit out for a week because I didn't listen to my body.

There is guy who posted here about a 202-mile ride he recently took. Obviously he is a really tough guy. However, he had a lot of knee pain which he ignored, got patellar tendonitis, and has been off the bike for a month because of it. He will always have that accomplishment ... but maybe if he had bailed at 150 he would still be riding. Every person has to find his/her own balance.

Also ... because I ride on roads, which tend all to be connected, there are almost always some roads I could choose which would take me home more quickly. Unless I do an out-and-back, there will often (not always) be some road which cuts across my loop. Also, I have mapped out a bunch of routes of various lengths, and can string them together when I feel like I have more to give.

Maybe You quit too easily, and need the imposed discipline of no options. I try to gauge at each turnout how I Really feel (not the "I'm tired---my legs hurt" mental whines which can be constant, but the more serious messages my body sends me about how much more I can safely do.)

I guess the fact that I want to do more, is the motivator and the discipline. I usually find it tough to turn for home, because my thinking is, "To get out here again I have to do this much work. I have already done all the work to get here----this is a great chance to go farther."

But there are also times when I know that going farther would be counterproductive----no sense setting a personal record and needing a month to recover, ....for me. Others have their own ways and their own needs and desires.

TexMac

I did 160 miles with 5kft with a friend. Conti GPX 4k tyres, KMC chain, 2 CO2, two tubes, gatorage, water, bonk breakers, stops at gas station for a turkey sandwich every 1.5 hrs.

chandltp

My motivation comes from going somewhere. Even on an out and back, I'll have a location to stop at before I turn around.. even if it's stopping to get something to eat at a gas station.

Occasionally, I'll have a simple training loop that I use.. but usually it's because I want to ride a specific route for one reason or another.

BlazingPedals

On the original question, not sure how it'll help; but my average speeds for an 'average' century are around 19 mph. That's mostly because I'm typically riding with a group that goes slower than I'd go alone. My last century was at 21.5 mph. A major factor is that I live in pretty flat terrain -- 21 ft/mi is pretty normal. Lots of flat ground and any climbs tend to be either short and fast, or shallow and fast.

bargeon

No ,I wasn't. 'Should have kept my mouth shut. My apologies.

Isaiahc72

Just recently finished my first double century.

DON'T overthink it. Just get out there and ride. When you get tired, take a break. When you get hungry, eat something. When you're thirsty, drink.
It took me a while before I was able to stop overthinking it and just go out and ride. But once I did, I was amazed and wondered why I hadn't done it even sooner.

Good luck!

Crewchief911

I'm planning to do my first century this summer. I have done 70 (on my 70th birthday) and I think I could have done the other 30 if I had planned it. I averaged about 17-18 on my birthday ride, with a strong tailwind, and hit a high of 26, and low of 15. West Texas winds are murder, at your back you can ride like you have jets on your backside, and when it's in your face , there are times it feels like you're pulling a big rig behind you. I usually try to stay on the 15-17 mph range, but it took a lot of riding to get to that point. I don't go for miles much anymore, but seat time. I try for 4-5 hours and don't worry how many miles I did. I read a book written by a Tour rider , and he said seat time is more important than miles.

My tool kit includes a multi bike tool, a small crescent,tube, patches, and a CO2 pump thing with extra co2 bottles. small and compact, and easier than a hand pump!

I carry some energy bars, nuts, and dried fruit, I have 2 water bottles and that is usually good for my rides. There is always a lace to refill somewhere along my routes if I need to.

Fastfingaz

Tell you what,, what you wrote down is pretty much my style and speed ,,only thing I'm 5 years younger , I say you won't have any problems doing that century,,ride on

cwar

This is very good advice. I think most people who have been riding frequently could pull off a century, but without proper training it's not going to be fun. There are plenty of training plans out there. If you follow a training plan then you should have a pretty good idea what it's going to be like before you ride the event.

Foxman

Something I found useful during centuries is mixing in some cytomax every couple of hours instead of water or Gatorade, I instantly feel refreshed after a few swigs.

A buddy i was riding with was struggling really bad with leg cramps, and stiffness. I gave him a bottle of cytomax,and he was able to finish the ride, it was looking pretty bad for him up to that point.

Also work your way up to at least a 60 mile ride prior to the century, with the rest stops during the century you should be able to it.