Good morning everyone! (EST)

I did my first century today (NYC Century Tour; anyone else here do it?), and I feel great. I don't have any specific information to break down (such as my avg. HR, MPH, etc.), but the official distance was 103 miles. The pavement was mostly flat terrain with some large hills to conquer in Queens. It took me about 10 hours to finish it (pretty slow, I know).

I was originally going to do 75 miles, since I didn't feel like I was ready to go the full 100, but I changed my mind when I got halfway, since I was still feeling up to it. My legs are still in pain, and I have a blister on my left hand.

Question for anyone that's done centuries before: what do you recommend for recovery? I would like to get back to my "training" mode sometime this week (10 - 20 miles a day). Is it a good idea to start tomorrow, or should I wait a little bit?

Thanks everyone for making this possible!

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Get back on the bike today to do a 'recovery' ride. Really all you need to do is a few miles at a very easy effort, usually I try to do anything between 10-20 miles, my usual route is 14 miles and I try to do it in about an hour spinning (this is sometimes really hard since you just want to go faster). Then take a complete day off the bike, at that point you will be rested and ready to start getting back into 'training' mode again.

Congrats!

Now, time for new gloves?

Actually, it's already a little too late for some of the critical recovery steps, namely a) stretching a lot after the ride and b) replenishing carbohydrates within the first hour or two after you finish. If you're feeling sore the next day, I'd do some mild stretching and lots of walking.

Of course, my current plan for recovery is to walk around town looking at bike shops, to pick out a better road bike than my current 20 year old steel road bike.

Congratulations on your first, I did mine this past weekend as well. Good work.

Instead of riding this year I was a mechanic at the Alley pond rest stop. I actually had a lot of fun doing that, even if 3-4 hours of my day was spent patching tubes.

Congrats! I also completed my first century this weekend. I had to do some things yesterday so I didn't get to ride any but am getting ready to head out for a "recovery" type ride now...

I did the ride too, in just under 9 hours. It isn't the kind of ride you can do fast so don't feel like you're a slouch. Do a recovery ride as suggested and you'll be fine. Keep stretching those muscles, and eat and drink. You're probably a little dehydrated still, I know I am.

congrats!!!....I did my first a few weeks ago as well!!

Yoshi,

All I can say is when I started the race, I had TWO flats...fixed in an hour (your mechanics helped me find a bike shop that was open...I didn't get the name of the shop, but it's two blocks away from the entrance and the owner/mechanic/clerk is very very very nice).

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Were you the dude wearing the Mavic cap?

Congrats!
I'm planning on doing my first century soon, but I have two exams in the following days, so it doesn't quite look so doable

I did it without...STUPID mistake!

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congrats. I did my first century Sunday also.

Yeah that was me.

congrats on the century!

Did two centuries labor day weekend, soninlaw and I, his first.

kentwood to bitely friday, then back on memorial day taking the scenic route 208+ miles overall, not exactly sure of the total as the computer pickup stopped working at 208 on the white pine trail.

For recovery I normally take the main ride in normal riding mode, then cruise around a bit (10-15 sometimes even 20 miles) afterwards to ease the muscles into relaxed mode, riding easy and drinking chocolate milk till I relax completely. when I do that I don't have any recovery issues. If I do stop dead at the finish I get stiff and sore the next day.

Ken.

And having done the NYC ride yesterday, I couldn't do another today. That's what the 2 day riders do on the STP ride and I could never quite figure out why that was considered easier than 200 in one day. Once you're going, you're going, but once you stop, that's it for me.

I'd love to do the NYC Century Tour. Lately I've mostly been upstate on family business when I'm up that direction, but next year I think I'll arrange the timing of my trip to coincide with the NYC ride.

I did my first two centuries recently at two week intervals (August 18th, Sept 1). Mine were slow too (in both cases about 8 3/4 hours total, counting rest stops). I wasn't concerned with speed on these two, just finishing (especially the first one in 100 degree Georgia heat, and the humidity everyone down here has grown to love). My plan for the next two months is to work on speed. At 56 years old I'm not expecting to get below seven hours total time, but I'd like to get closer to the middle of the pack.

I'm planning on doing the UMCA's Larry Schwartz Year Rounder in 2008 (a century a month), so I'm working out the kinks of my long distance riding conditioning, style, and equipment. It's amazing the things which don't cause problems on a 20 mile ride which begin getting really obvious after about the first 80 miles (in my case bad seat adjustment, cycling shoe size, and hydration style).

Congrats.
I did the 75 mile, and a little extra.

The Northeast regional forum has a long thread on the NY100.

My only recovery was a few slow miles back to my car and a good night's sleep. Had dinner with my parents Sunday night, a 5 hour car ride Monday morning and back to work mid-day. Was stiff after the car trip, but feeling better today.