cokolosh

So on sunday I finally did my first century. I have only been cycling for about 2 months. From mile 1-60 I was fine but from about 60-80 I had bad burning pains in my quads and hams when I stoped to refuel I thought I would have to stop but from 80-100 I was able to get my second wind and complete it. Is there anything to do about the burn I got it is a pain I have never had before from either weight lifting or running or cycling before.

newbalous5001

Congrats on knocking out your first century. Its a great feeling accomplishing a goal like that.

As far as the pain, did it feel like you just ran out of gas? If so, you might not have been eating and drinking enough. How many breaks did you take?

Shifty

Well done, congrats!!

merider1

First and foremost, congrats on your century!!! To answer your question, my first thought is "did you train enough for the 100?" 2 months on a bike isn't enough unless you were really training properly. Also, did you fuel enough/properly along the route. There are many helpful posts on this site in the training/nutrition section that can provide you proper fueling information/suggestions. There are also tons of books (too many for me to list) that can help, but do not take this piece of your training/preparation lightly. Without the fuel, your muscles can't function properly and even if you do not "bonk" you can experience nausea, fatigue, malaise and muscle pain. If you DID fuel properly, my next question is "did you stretch along the route?" Don't take that lightly either considering you are so new to the sport. Someone who has ridden many centuries may hammer right on through without stopping at the rest stops, etc. But someone new should stop at all of them and stretch at least for 2 minutes while there. Your goal, if I may be so officious, is to to finish the ride feeling good - not to do it in any specific time. Other than that, I haven't a clue. But keep at it!!! And congratulations on what must feel like a real accomplishment.

Extort

Congratulations on completing your first century!

roadfix

Congrats!!

howsteepisit

Here's to many more. The burning is likely either too high of exertion level or general fatigue. How near your max heartrate were you riding? For your first century I would think you want to keep exertion level at 70-80% HR max. It could have been lactate accumulation at higher heart rates. OR you just need more time on the bike. But congratualtions, its a real milestone. Going for 200 or 300 k next?

stapfam

Agree with how steepisit. Did a ride with a casual rider on Sunday - 65 miler. This was his longest ride and I noted a couple of things- First of all I had to tell him to keep drinking. I would expect to be taking a litre an hour on my rides and if I had not told him to drink- he would not have been drinking half that. He took a few cereal bars with him but he was not eating enough on the ride either. At one point I could feel him lagging and made him take one of the Gel packs that I carry for emergencies. 20 minutes later and he was fine- Gave him another one about an hour later.

Most people when they do a century- do not know what to expect. Staying within the 70 to 80% of max heart rate works. Then there is the problem that the body has not worked for this long before so Eat before you are hungry and drink before you are thirsty. Then there is that Magic 80 mile mark. This is where everything starts to hurt. Time to feed up- drink up- rest the butt and stretch the legs for about 10 minutes- and take the gel pack if you have one. I do this while still riding so no need to stop- just slow a bit to take a breather. Then finish the ride -still in agony but it can be done with a smile on your face for the onlookers.

Well done on the ride- but try and do a short ride tomorrow- if you haven't done one today- just to stretch the muscles abit. Then next weekend=- you can go out and start training for your double century.

Rowan

Onlookers? I only wish, these days.

Agreed, but if you just can't come at getting on the bike for any reason, don't sweat it... go for a walk around the neighbourhood or a local park. It works just as well. Some specific stretching and self-massaging of calf, thigh and hamstring muscles can help. And don't confuse muscle soreness with lactic acid build-up -- the lactic acid is gone from the muscles within 30 minutes of you finishing a ride.

Now, when are you up for the 200km distance?

cokolosh

I am not sure if I trained enough I never road past 40 miles because I never had time but I rode anywhere from 30-90 min 3-4 times a week and did some weight training. I did not feel like I did not have fuel I had some gels and some cliff bars about every 20 miles. Some guys at the bike shop said it was probably lactic acid

Rowan

It might have been lactic acid build-up. It pays to pace yourself for long-distance rides. The temptation is very great to go hard while you feel fresh, but you can fall in a heap somewhere along the road if you do. The pain also could be just overuse strain on the muscles and hamstring, something that often is overlooked when a rider leaps from moderate to long distances in one ride.

stapfam

Whatever training you did worked as you have done the century ride. I would have eaten a bit more on the ride- But I would also have carbo- loaded for a week or so before the ride. Stuff to eat on the ride- Anything with carbo hydrate- Cereal bars- cake- dried fruit and I normally take some cheese with me to give a bit of protein and give a different taste. A packet of Chips helps with the salt and different taste- but from experience- I do not take nuts now- Choked a couple of times and it was not nice.

I ride often and in preparation for a long ride- I do not ride 100 miles. I do non stop rides- start at 2 hours and when I get to 4 hours- that is enough.