Training for first Century
11-28-18, 09:54 AM
#26
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I did the Solvang Century several years ago on the tandem with my wife. It is a solid, fun course. I looked at the map and it is the same as when we did it. The course has one longish climb and overall the course is 50 feet of climbing per mile.
We trained on terrain of 40 feet per mile and the last couple of weekends before the ride, we did 75 miles solo on Sunday with some riding on Saturday along with some long climbs. I used to live in LA and I am familiar with the terrain. I suggest riding Glendora Mountain Road as many times as it makes sense from now until the ride. On the Solvang century, there is steady climbing from mile 67.5 to 80. The GMR is a long climb with little traffic and great pavement and is not a bad proxy for what you will face in Solvang. One can easily climb for miles on the GMR without stopping and the grade is 5 to 6%. As such, it is easy to get one hour of climbing or more without stopping. I am driving up to LA on Saturday to do the GMR in preparation for an upcoming cycling trip with a lot of climbing. I have been doing threshold repeats up shorter climbs but I need some sustained climbing.
The next thing about Solvang is the temperature excursions and wind. When we did the ride, it was cold at the start and then warmed up fast. When we got to the climbing section, besides having 67 miles in our legs, it was hot. We passed a lot of cyclists on the side of the road overheated that looked like they were finished. I remember the climb being in the 80s and the start in the 40s - so a big swing and it is hard to dress.
When one turns right heading north, the wind can be strong. Even on the tandem, we needed a lot of power for not much speed and were pulling a gang of singles bikes.
So you can see that the setup of the course is to put a lot of fatigue in your legs if you get the wind and then hit the climbing at mile 67.5 with 32.5 to go. This is why I suggest to get some solo climbing work in on the GMR. Some may think this is over preparing but I think it will pay dividends for the last 1/3 of the ride. Also, knowing that you have the hardest part of the ride in the last 1/3, I suggest riding easier at the beginning than you think you need to. Good luck and have a great time.
We trained on terrain of 40 feet per mile and the last couple of weekends before the ride, we did 75 miles solo on Sunday with some riding on Saturday along with some long climbs. I used to live in LA and I am familiar with the terrain. I suggest riding Glendora Mountain Road as many times as it makes sense from now until the ride. On the Solvang century, there is steady climbing from mile 67.5 to 80. The GMR is a long climb with little traffic and great pavement and is not a bad proxy for what you will face in Solvang. One can easily climb for miles on the GMR without stopping and the grade is 5 to 6%. As such, it is easy to get one hour of climbing or more without stopping. I am driving up to LA on Saturday to do the GMR in preparation for an upcoming cycling trip with a lot of climbing. I have been doing threshold repeats up shorter climbs but I need some sustained climbing.
The next thing about Solvang is the temperature excursions and wind. When we did the ride, it was cold at the start and then warmed up fast. When we got to the climbing section, besides having 67 miles in our legs, it was hot. We passed a lot of cyclists on the side of the road overheated that looked like they were finished. I remember the climb being in the 80s and the start in the 40s - so a big swing and it is hard to dress.
When one turns right heading north, the wind can be strong. Even on the tandem, we needed a lot of power for not much speed and were pulling a gang of singles bikes.
So you can see that the setup of the course is to put a lot of fatigue in your legs if you get the wind and then hit the climbing at mile 67.5 with 32.5 to go. This is why I suggest to get some solo climbing work in on the GMR. Some may think this is over preparing but I think it will pay dividends for the last 1/3 of the ride. Also, knowing that you have the hardest part of the ride in the last 1/3, I suggest riding easier at the beginning than you think you need to. Good luck and have a great time.
Last edited by Hermes; 11-28-18 at 10:53 AM.
11-28-18, 11:36 AM
#27
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Solvang is a beautiful, well-supported century.
The terrain is roll-y, but it doesn't have any super-long climbs in it.
If you do 60-mile rides around the LA area, you, no-doubt, are prepared for any/all terrain included in the Solvang Century (maybe not Figueroa mountain or something, though, but, thankfully, that's not on the century route.)
If you do GMR or the Montrose ride (long), you're prepared for the Solvang Century.
In my experience, the leap from pushing hard on longish training rides to doing centuries can be accomplished with a bit of attention to your pacing and food/drink. Dial the pace/effort back 10-15% and eat/drink 20% more than you normally do and you'll do great.
Then you can reward yourself with an amazing dinner at the Red Barn or Sides Hardware & Shoes (google them!) and do some wine tasting in Los Olivos on Sunday.
(edit: also, don't sleep and miss out on the little town of Los Alamos nearby. Bob's Well Bread is unmatched for morning coffee and treats and there are some amazing lunch spots there as well, like Plenty on Bell, Bell St. Farms, etc.)
The terrain is roll-y, but it doesn't have any super-long climbs in it.
If you do 60-mile rides around the LA area, you, no-doubt, are prepared for any/all terrain included in the Solvang Century (maybe not Figueroa mountain or something, though, but, thankfully, that's not on the century route.)
If you do GMR or the Montrose ride (long), you're prepared for the Solvang Century.
In my experience, the leap from pushing hard on longish training rides to doing centuries can be accomplished with a bit of attention to your pacing and food/drink. Dial the pace/effort back 10-15% and eat/drink 20% more than you normally do and you'll do great.
Then you can reward yourself with an amazing dinner at the Red Barn or Sides Hardware & Shoes (google them!) and do some wine tasting in Los Olivos on Sunday.
(edit: also, don't sleep and miss out on the little town of Los Alamos nearby. Bob's Well Bread is unmatched for morning coffee and treats and there are some amazing lunch spots there as well, like Plenty on Bell, Bell St. Farms, etc.)
11-29-18, 07:35 AM
#28
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Generally speaking, if you are physically fit and have been doing cycling for at least a few months, you can take the maximum number of miles you are capable of and do that in a single day (with 2-3 rest days prior and around 4 rest days after to fully recover). So, if you've done 100miles in a week, I bet you could do them in a day.
11-29-18, 03:41 PM
#29
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The best way to prepare for a century is to go out and ride a DOUBLE CENTURY. 
Ok,
What you need to do is to push yourself a bit. Get out of your comfort zone. Longer, harder rides. Or, perhaps in some cases, shorter, harder rides.
A century ride doesn't have to be a major organized event. Heck, one might be able to do a century just shopping around town. But, what you really need is the time in the saddle, and endurance.
If you can do say 130, or 150 miles, even somewhat flatish, then 100 miles with a few hills won't seem that bad.
As mentioned above, you'll get a bit of extra adrenaline boost doing a group ride, whether you are riding with someone, or simply passing a few people, and meeting new friends.
A couple of people mentioned drinking and hydration. Probably appropriate, especially in southern California. But, for me, part of it is actually avoiding over-hydration. If you're carrying all your own water, you don't want to come up short (big bottles). And, if you're drinking a lot, then you'll have to be hunting for restrooms.
Of course, riding 8 hours without needing a restroom break is also really bad.
Ok,
What you need to do is to push yourself a bit. Get out of your comfort zone. Longer, harder rides. Or, perhaps in some cases, shorter, harder rides.
A century ride doesn't have to be a major organized event. Heck, one might be able to do a century just shopping around town. But, what you really need is the time in the saddle, and endurance.
If you can do say 130, or 150 miles, even somewhat flatish, then 100 miles with a few hills won't seem that bad.
As mentioned above, you'll get a bit of extra adrenaline boost doing a group ride, whether you are riding with someone, or simply passing a few people, and meeting new friends.
A couple of people mentioned drinking and hydration. Probably appropriate, especially in southern California. But, for me, part of it is actually avoiding over-hydration. If you're carrying all your own water, you don't want to come up short (big bottles). And, if you're drinking a lot, then you'll have to be hunting for restrooms.
Of course, riding 8 hours without needing a restroom break is also really bad.
12-04-18, 09:11 PM
#30
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My perspective: I'm a 53 year-old guy who now has 7 centuries under my belt (I realize that's nothing to many of you), and I started riding 4.5 years ago, completely out of shape. It took me 2 years to do my first century with no coach. Six months later I failed to complete my second century. I got a coach a few months later and now I have six more. What I learned that worked for me:
1. Hydrate! But don't just drink water. I'm in SE Florida, so sodium is very important. I use Infinite Go Far. It's a powder that has everything you need: electrolytes, carbs, amino acids, other stuff and I think there is some caffeine too-- I think. But the point is that you consume this one product and forget about everything else. It makes it idiot proof. You don't have to worry about carb bars, salt licks, protein snacks, etc... I drink one bottle with the Go Far in it every 60-75 minutes-- usually a large gulp every ten minutes that go by on my Garmin. So every 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 00... I'm drinking. For me, I will also drink some straight water on the 30 minute mark and 60 minute marks.
2. Nutrients: Go back and read #1 . I prepackage more Go Far in zip lock bags for the rest stops. I only eat something at a rest stops if it looks good to eat and I feel like eating it. The one time I made a mistake was eating a half of a slice of pizza. I had a bad case of lead belly for the next hour.
3. Don't go out too fast at the beginning. You'll be pumped and excited and more likely to feel like you can go faster than you usually go. Don't fall in to that trap. I verbally remind myself out load to, "Ride my ride, not his." If you meet other riders who claim to have plans to ride at the same pace you are planning, be careful. Cyclists lie! They say they're going to ride a certain pace, but they're excited too. They're more likely to go faster than they say.
4. Experiment with different breakfasts during your training each week. Eat some protein and some slow releasing carbs. My usual breakfast before an endurance ride is one serving of oatmeal (no sugar), one egg, one egg white and my obligatory coffee. I stopped putting peanut butter in the oatmeal and cut out the second egg yoke. They made me feel too bloated. I've found that my breakfast at least an hour prior to the ride is best. 90 minutes prior is perfect for me.
5. I don't remember how much training time you have, but my coach had me increase my Saturday endurance distance by about 10% every two weeks and a lesser distance about once a month to recover. My last long distance ride was 80-85 miles two weeks prior to the century. The week before, she had me ride about 40 miles and some casual rides during the week leading up to the century.
6. Bring your bike to your LBS for a tune up a month before and two weeks before the ride.
7. Don't try anything new the day of the century. Stick with what has been working.
8. Have lot's of fun!!! Oh... and hydrate!
1. Hydrate! But don't just drink water. I'm in SE Florida, so sodium is very important. I use Infinite Go Far. It's a powder that has everything you need: electrolytes, carbs, amino acids, other stuff and I think there is some caffeine too-- I think. But the point is that you consume this one product and forget about everything else. It makes it idiot proof. You don't have to worry about carb bars, salt licks, protein snacks, etc... I drink one bottle with the Go Far in it every 60-75 minutes-- usually a large gulp every ten minutes that go by on my Garmin. So every 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 00... I'm drinking. For me, I will also drink some straight water on the 30 minute mark and 60 minute marks.
2. Nutrients: Go back and read #1 . I prepackage more Go Far in zip lock bags for the rest stops. I only eat something at a rest stops if it looks good to eat and I feel like eating it. The one time I made a mistake was eating a half of a slice of pizza. I had a bad case of lead belly for the next hour.
3. Don't go out too fast at the beginning. You'll be pumped and excited and more likely to feel like you can go faster than you usually go. Don't fall in to that trap. I verbally remind myself out load to, "Ride my ride, not his." If you meet other riders who claim to have plans to ride at the same pace you are planning, be careful. Cyclists lie! They say they're going to ride a certain pace, but they're excited too. They're more likely to go faster than they say.
4. Experiment with different breakfasts during your training each week. Eat some protein and some slow releasing carbs. My usual breakfast before an endurance ride is one serving of oatmeal (no sugar), one egg, one egg white and my obligatory coffee. I stopped putting peanut butter in the oatmeal and cut out the second egg yoke. They made me feel too bloated. I've found that my breakfast at least an hour prior to the ride is best. 90 minutes prior is perfect for me.
5. I don't remember how much training time you have, but my coach had me increase my Saturday endurance distance by about 10% every two weeks and a lesser distance about once a month to recover. My last long distance ride was 80-85 miles two weeks prior to the century. The week before, she had me ride about 40 miles and some casual rides during the week leading up to the century.
6. Bring your bike to your LBS for a tune up a month before and two weeks before the ride.
7. Don't try anything new the day of the century. Stick with what has been working.
8. Have lot's of fun!!! Oh... and hydrate!
12-06-18, 02:54 PM
#31
Portland Fred
As others have observed, if you can do 60, you can do 100. It takes far less fitness to ride 100 miles than most people imagine unless there's a lot of climbing. The most important thing is to relax and pace yourself.
More specifically, don't push yourself or light your legs up until you can figure out how distances work -- riding even a few tenths of a mile per hour faster than you should is a recipe for pain. Since this is your first century, resist the temptation to compare yourself to other riders or speed up when ladies with silver in their hair leave you in the dust. They're experienced and conditioned.
As Clifford points out, you can get an adrenaline boost from riding in a group or with people you like. A heart rate monitor can be a useful tool to help you tell when you're high on the moment and working harder than you should.
You need to eat and stay hydrated, but food isn't that big a deal for a century. This ride has plenty of stops so just eat what you feel like when you take breaks. Just eat normally -- too much will make you feel sick.
The ride will be much more fun if it's significantly bigger than anything you've done before. If you've prepared so much that you've practically done it already, it just won't be the same. The most I'd ridden before my first century was 15 miles, so that first one was one of the greatest cycling days of my life. Wasn't going to top that for more than 25 years, I still get excited when I think about it, and I know I'll never top it again. There's a lot to be said for making the first one special.
More specifically, don't push yourself or light your legs up until you can figure out how distances work -- riding even a few tenths of a mile per hour faster than you should is a recipe for pain. Since this is your first century, resist the temptation to compare yourself to other riders or speed up when ladies with silver in their hair leave you in the dust. They're experienced and conditioned.
As Clifford points out, you can get an adrenaline boost from riding in a group or with people you like. A heart rate monitor can be a useful tool to help you tell when you're high on the moment and working harder than you should.
You need to eat and stay hydrated, but food isn't that big a deal for a century. This ride has plenty of stops so just eat what you feel like when you take breaks. Just eat normally -- too much will make you feel sick.
The ride will be much more fun if it's significantly bigger than anything you've done before. If you've prepared so much that you've practically done it already, it just won't be the same. The most I'd ridden before my first century was 15 miles, so that first one was one of the greatest cycling days of my life. Wasn't going to top that for more than 25 years, I still get excited when I think about it, and I know I'll never top it again. There's a lot to be said for making the first one special.
12-06-18, 03:16 PM
#32
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My perspective: I'm a 53 year-old guy who now has 7 centuries under my belt (I realize that's nothing to many of you), and I started riding 4.5 years ago, completely out of shape. It took me 2 years to do my first century with no coach. Six months later I failed to complete my second century. I got a coach a few months later and now I have six more. What I learned that worked for me:
1. Hydrate! But don't just drink water. I'm in SE Florida, so sodium is very important. I use Infinite Go Far. It's a powder that has everything you need: electrolytes, carbs, amino acids, other stuff and I think there is some caffeine too-- I think. But the point is that you consume this one product and forget about everything else. It makes it idiot proof. You don't have to worry about carb bars, salt licks, protein snacks, etc... I drink one bottle with the Go Far in it every 60-75 minutes-- usually a large gulp every ten minutes that go by on my Garmin. So every 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 00... I'm drinking. For me, I will also drink some straight water on the 30 minute mark and 60 minute marks.
2. Nutrients: Go back and read #1 . I prepackage more Go Far in zip lock bags for the rest stops. I only eat something at a rest stops if it looks good to eat and I feel like eating it. The one time I made a mistake was eating a half of a slice of pizza. I had a bad case of lead belly for the next hour.
3. Don't go out too fast at the beginning. You'll be pumped and excited and more likely to feel like you can go faster than you usually go. Don't fall in to that trap. I verbally remind myself out load to, "Ride my ride, not his." If you meet other riders who claim to have plans to ride at the same pace you are planning, be careful. Cyclists lie! They say they're going to ride a certain pace, but they're excited too. They're more likely to go faster than they say.
4. Experiment with different breakfasts during your training each week. Eat some protein and some slow releasing carbs. My usual breakfast before an endurance ride is one serving of oatmeal (no sugar), one egg, one egg white and my obligatory coffee. I stopped putting peanut butter in the oatmeal and cut out the second egg yoke. They made me feel too bloated. I've found that my breakfast at least an hour prior to the ride is best. 90 minutes prior is perfect for me.
5. I don't remember how much training time you have, but my coach had me increase my Saturday endurance distance by about 10% every two weeks and a lesser distance about once a month to recover. My last long distance ride was 80-85 miles two weeks prior to the century. The week before, she had me ride about 40 miles and some casual rides during the week leading up to the century.
6. Bring your bike to your LBS for a tune up a month before and two weeks before the ride.
7. Don't try anything new the day of the century. Stick with what has been working.
8. Have lot's of fun!!! Oh... and hydrate!
1. Hydrate! But don't just drink water. I'm in SE Florida, so sodium is very important. I use Infinite Go Far. It's a powder that has everything you need: electrolytes, carbs, amino acids, other stuff and I think there is some caffeine too-- I think. But the point is that you consume this one product and forget about everything else. It makes it idiot proof. You don't have to worry about carb bars, salt licks, protein snacks, etc... I drink one bottle with the Go Far in it every 60-75 minutes-- usually a large gulp every ten minutes that go by on my Garmin. So every 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 00... I'm drinking. For me, I will also drink some straight water on the 30 minute mark and 60 minute marks.
2. Nutrients: Go back and read #1 . I prepackage more Go Far in zip lock bags for the rest stops. I only eat something at a rest stops if it looks good to eat and I feel like eating it. The one time I made a mistake was eating a half of a slice of pizza. I had a bad case of lead belly for the next hour.
3. Don't go out too fast at the beginning. You'll be pumped and excited and more likely to feel like you can go faster than you usually go. Don't fall in to that trap. I verbally remind myself out load to, "Ride my ride, not his." If you meet other riders who claim to have plans to ride at the same pace you are planning, be careful. Cyclists lie! They say they're going to ride a certain pace, but they're excited too. They're more likely to go faster than they say.
4. Experiment with different breakfasts during your training each week. Eat some protein and some slow releasing carbs. My usual breakfast before an endurance ride is one serving of oatmeal (no sugar), one egg, one egg white and my obligatory coffee. I stopped putting peanut butter in the oatmeal and cut out the second egg yoke. They made me feel too bloated. I've found that my breakfast at least an hour prior to the ride is best. 90 minutes prior is perfect for me.
5. I don't remember how much training time you have, but my coach had me increase my Saturday endurance distance by about 10% every two weeks and a lesser distance about once a month to recover. My last long distance ride was 80-85 miles two weeks prior to the century. The week before, she had me ride about 40 miles and some casual rides during the week leading up to the century.
6. Bring your bike to your LBS for a tune up a month before and two weeks before the ride.
7. Don't try anything new the day of the century. Stick with what has been working.
8. Have lot's of fun!!! Oh... and hydrate!
12-06-18, 04:54 PM
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As mentioned earlier by another poster, do GMR. My buddy and I did GMR to Baldy Village weekly for about 2 months before the century. This made the century a breeze.
We actually rode over the big hill we were warned about wondering when we were going to hit the hill.
Some, wind, some hills, but if you do GMR, this will be a breeze. We did it back in 98 and as a couple of newbie riders, we rolled through it rather easily in 5:30. Not racing, just riding together holding a pace and taking turns at the front once the wind hit. Just us two and the windy section was only 10 miles or so. All other sections were rather easy riding conditions.
If you do 60 miles already, the 100 will not be a problem. I do like to eat something solid at mile 60. This gives me a little something more than gels for the later miles. Learned that on Ride Around the Bear century. Turkey sandwiches served at mile 55 or so. Felt great in the later miles, sprinting at mile 90 for a strong finish. Now every time I do a century, I eat around the 60 mile point.
These are the 2 main points I think will help you most on Solvang.
We actually rode over the big hill we were warned about wondering when we were going to hit the hill.
Some, wind, some hills, but if you do GMR, this will be a breeze. We did it back in 98 and as a couple of newbie riders, we rolled through it rather easily in 5:30. Not racing, just riding together holding a pace and taking turns at the front once the wind hit. Just us two and the windy section was only 10 miles or so. All other sections were rather easy riding conditions.
If you do 60 miles already, the 100 will not be a problem. I do like to eat something solid at mile 60. This gives me a little something more than gels for the later miles. Learned that on Ride Around the Bear century. Turkey sandwiches served at mile 55 or so. Felt great in the later miles, sprinting at mile 90 for a strong finish. Now every time I do a century, I eat around the 60 mile point.
These are the 2 main points I think will help you most on Solvang.
03-06-19, 02:59 PM
#35
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Hey guys, The Solvang Century is that Saturday and I have a question for those who have done it before. What are road conditions like (notwithstanding the effects of current weather)? Do you recommend reducing tire pressure a few pounds to compensate?
03-06-19, 03:55 PM
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Hey, I'll be out there riding riding Solvang with you this weekend!
Solvang's roads are mostly okay(probably a 6-7 out of 10), but there are some that are downright awful (like Drum Canyon.)
I wouldn't worry about adjusting tire pressure, but be prepared to take that Drum canyon descent into Los Alamos carefully as there are a LOT of ruts, holes, etc. that could quickly ruin your ride (and wheel/dental work.)
EDIT: Scratch that, you won't be doing Drum Canyon if you're doing the full 100 mile route -- my friends and I, having all done the full centure a number of times, are option for the 70 mile route this year as we want to be done in time to get some lunch at Industrial Eats in Buellton and be hungry for our fancy dinner reservations later... Solvang is all about the eats and drinks! 
Solvang's roads are mostly okay(probably a 6-7 out of 10), but there are some that are downright awful (like Drum Canyon.)
I wouldn't worry about adjusting tire pressure, but be prepared to take that Drum canyon descent into Los Alamos carefully as there are a LOT of ruts, holes, etc. that could quickly ruin your ride (and wheel/dental work.)
EDIT: Scratch that, you won't be doing Drum Canyon if you're doing the full 100 mile route -- my friends and I, having all done the full centure a number of times, are option for the 70 mile route this year as we want to be done in time to get some lunch at Industrial Eats in Buellton and be hungry for our fancy dinner reservations later...
Solvang is all about the eats and drinks!
Last edited by goenrdoug; 03-06-19 at 04:00 PM.
03-06-19, 04:10 PM
#38
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Well, look for me. I'll be the guy with the flashing red light on the back :-)
Hey, I'll be out there riding riding Solvang with you this weekend!
Solvang's roads are mostly okay(probably a 6-7 out of 10), but there are some that are downright awful (like Drum Canyon.)
I wouldn't worry about adjusting tire pressure, but be prepared to take that Drum canyon descent into Los Alamos carefully as there are a LOT of ruts, holes, etc. that could quickly ruin your ride (and wheel/dental work.)
EDIT: Scratch that, you won't be doing Drum Canyon if you're doing the full 100 mile route -- my friends and I, having all done the full centure a number of times, are option for the 70 mile route this year as we want to be done in time to get some lunch at Industrial Eats in Buellton and be hungry for our fancy dinner reservations later... Solvang is all about the eats and drinks!
Solvang's roads are mostly okay(probably a 6-7 out of 10), but there are some that are downright awful (like Drum Canyon.)
I wouldn't worry about adjusting tire pressure, but be prepared to take that Drum canyon descent into Los Alamos carefully as there are a LOT of ruts, holes, etc. that could quickly ruin your ride (and wheel/dental work.)
EDIT: Scratch that, you won't be doing Drum Canyon if you're doing the full 100 mile route -- my friends and I, having all done the full centure a number of times, are option for the 70 mile route this year as we want to be done in time to get some lunch at Industrial Eats in Buellton and be hungry for our fancy dinner reservations later...
Solvang is all about the eats and drinks!
03-06-19, 04:14 PM
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I know on Saturday! I learned a lot over the past three months. I rode regularly (until it got too wet), figured out ride nutrition, sustainable HR, cadence, the right clothing, and my own ability to climb 6-10% grades without burning up my legs. I don't know how well I'll endure the "wall", but I've already done steeper climbs, just not after 70 miles.
I think I am reasonably prepared.
I think I am reasonably prepared.
03-06-19, 04:14 PM
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I know on Saturday! I learned a lot over the past three months. I rode regularly (until it got too wet), figured out ride nutrition, sustainable HR, cadence, the right clothing, and my own ability to climb 6-10% grades without burning up my legs. I don't know how well I'll endure the "wall", but I've already done steeper climbs, just not after 70 miles.
I think I am reasonably prepared.
I think I am reasonably prepared.
03-07-19, 12:42 PM
#42
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What's proper etiquette if I nose-up behind other riders? Do I announce, or just leave a certain distance?
03-07-19, 12:50 PM
#43
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I wouldn't draft someone closely without announcing myself. I'd observe from a few meters back to make sure they're not squirrely and then pull alongside to ask if they mind if I draft them or rotate with them to share the load. Same etiquette you'd (hopefully) observe when encountering a rider while not on an organized century.
03-07-19, 07:25 PM
#44
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" a century " is a loose term .
Is it 100 miles strait no stops no rests ?
Will there be rest stops or check ins ?
will you be with friends that act as team mates ?
Too many variables to give you a solid answer .
Some simple issues you might face are shoulder cramps or arm pains . foot numbness . if you can work on comfort and effeciency first, you will be able to be on the bike for a good long time .
You can bring at least 4 oatmeal based food bars and 8 gels 2 liters of water if it's cold to 4 liters if its hot . eat and drink at least every 25 miles .
One more thing that could help is a speed sensor . on the road you can get free speed from the wind and declines , so try to keep your average speed above 18 mph , but dont kill yourself trying to hold 25 plus let the road and wind keep your speed up so you dont burn out . unless you want to then thats on you .
Check the wind direction over the route and the time you will be on bike 4 to 6 hours .
Is it 100 miles strait no stops no rests ?
Will there be rest stops or check ins ?
will you be with friends that act as team mates ?
Too many variables to give you a solid answer .
Some simple issues you might face are shoulder cramps or arm pains . foot numbness . if you can work on comfort and effeciency first, you will be able to be on the bike for a good long time .
You can bring at least 4 oatmeal based food bars and 8 gels 2 liters of water if it's cold to 4 liters if its hot . eat and drink at least every 25 miles .
One more thing that could help is a speed sensor . on the road you can get free speed from the wind and declines , so try to keep your average speed above 18 mph , but dont kill yourself trying to hold 25 plus let the road and wind keep your speed up so you dont burn out . unless you want to then thats on you .
Check the wind direction over the route and the time you will be on bike 4 to 6 hours .
03-08-19, 02:05 AM
#45
SuperGimp
Solvang is a fairly challenging century for a first century, if I recall... something like 5500-6000 feet of climbing, although none of it is prolonged climbing. Just seems like you're always going up and down. You'll encounter "teams" who think a social century is their own personal time trial, there will be really crappy roads and some really nice roads and a lot of great scenery to top it all off.
Find a big clump of riders to hang with and enjoy. Do NOT fall victim to the temptation to hammer early on, you will most certainly regret it later in the day.
That's a great part of California to ride in, enjoy!
Find a big clump of riders to hang with and enjoy. Do NOT fall victim to the temptation to hammer early on, you will most certainly regret it later in the day.
That's a great part of California to ride in, enjoy!
03-08-19, 06:28 AM
#46
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I wouldn't draft someone closely without announcing myself. I'd observe from a few meters back to make sure they're not squirrely and then pull alongside to ask if they mind if I draft them or rotate with them to share the load. Same etiquette you'd (hopefully) observe when encountering a rider while not on an organized century.
03-08-19, 08:38 AM
#47
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Maybe he could take his 60 mile ride pace and slow it down by a 1/2 or 1 mph. They key is to pace yourself and finish, not to break a non-existent personal record for a ride distance you've never attempted.
03-08-19, 08:51 AM
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In training for the event, I found that I tend to ride solo at 17-18 mph on flats in no-wind conditions. With hills, occassional traffic signals and headwinds, etc, the overall ride average is 14-15. My goal is to finish in that range.
I had that same thought. That is really too fast for most novice riders. 13-15 mph seems more reasonable for a beginner, but I guess it all depends on the fitness and experience of the rider.
Maybe he could take his 60 mile ride pace and slow it down by a 1/2 or 1 mph. They key is to pace yourself and finish, not to break a non-existent personal record for a ride distance you've never attempted.
Maybe he could take his 60 mile ride pace and slow it down by a 1/2 or 1 mph. They key is to pace yourself and finish, not to break a non-existent personal record for a ride distance you've never attempted.
Last edited by Robert A; 03-08-19 at 09:24 AM.
03-08-19, 10:51 AM
#49
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If you want to prep spend the same amount of time in the saddle (consecutively) that it would take you to do 100miles. Don't worry about speed, it's all about how long you are in the saddle. That means 6.5 hours in the saddle on Saturday or whenever you do your long rides. Again don't worry about speed, it's about acclimating your body to be in the saddle for that extended period. Riding faster or harder for 50-60 miles isn't going to do anything for you other than make you faster doing 50-60 miles.
Last edited by jadocs; 03-08-19 at 11:04 AM.
03-08-19, 11:12 AM
#50
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In organized rides like this, is there a common understanding about when to rely on hand signals from the guy in front?
Last edited by Robert A; 03-08-19 at 11:15 AM.