palookabutt

I've done centuries before, but always they were sponsored rides with rest stops, sag wagons and tons of other riders. Yesterday I put my Camelback to good use and rode my first self-supported century with a friend of mine who was interested in the same thing. It's only a small step up in difficulty from a fully supported ride, but at the end it felt so much more satisfying.

My friend and I left around 7:30 in the morning and headed north into a windless morning. There were few people out yet, so the ride was quiet. Once we reached the roads north of town we were able to take a lane all to ourselves. We had to move over only a few times to let a vehicle pass, but otherwise enjoyed peace and quiet for the first half of the ride.

At 35 miles we turned south and within a few miles a headwind started brewing. For the next 40 miles we rode into increasing winds with slight relief only when we turned east or west. By this time traffic had also picked up and we started to encounter other cyclists out to enjoy the sunny, if breezy, conditions. At one point we slowly crept past a fit-looking woman and she asked permission to draft us for a bit, so we let her hang onto the back for a bit of shelter from the wind. After a few miles our tag-along companion turned off and we continued our push into the wind as a duo.

At about 70 miles we finally ditched the headwind and turned west. Neither one of us felt especially bad, despite nearly two hours of steady headwind. With the wind now at our side and backs, we were positively giddy, zipping along at a high pace and taking curves as fast as we dared.

At about 80 miles we reached our turn for home and we headed north again. Now we had a nice tailwind that doubled as a cooling breeze in the midday sun. Our ride back seemed effortless even though the noontime traffic was now a steady roar. At 90 miles and close to my house, my friend turned off for the trek back to his neighborhood, and I went in search of an extra 10 miles.

My legs still felt good, if a little sore, so I thought I'd try them up a favorite little hill. To my delight, my comfort up the hill suffered only slightly from the 95 miles already in my legs. At the top, I turned around to enjoyed my just reward: a fast descent followed by a few miles of easy spin to polish off the ride.

Back at the house, my computer read 101.75 miles. Total climbing was about 2,000 feet, which is about as flat as it gets around here. The best part of this ride was doing it without support. Between my water bottles and my Camelback, I had enough fluid for a full bottle per hour, plus just enough left over for emergencies. Toss in a couple of bananas and some home-made gel and it's a complete century kit.

I had so much fun on this ride that I'm thinking of doing at least one of these every month when the weather cooperates. It left me with a "cyclist's high" that still hasn't quite faded.

Psimet2001 

Self-supported centuries are some of my favorites for many reasons. Doing that first one is all it takes to make you realize the benefits.

Gordonm

That sounds great. I am looking forward to my first century soon myself. I have done quite a few 50 to 60 mile self supported by myself and feel great afterwards also. Finding the time is tough for me with kids activites and such finding 5+ hours for this is difficult.

As far as climbing around here if you get a 200 foot elevation change it is a lot. South Jersey is extremly flat.

patentcad

Wait. Isn't a self-supported century a 100 mile training ride? Isn't that like a self-supported ride of any other length only a little longer? What's the big deal?

Brandy

Like not shelling out $50-$70 so you can gorge yourself at rest stops! It's hard to pay for organized century rides once you've done them self supported!

Allegheny Jet

It's kind of like taking a girl to the movies when you are 15 and getting to 2nd base. That's a bid deal until you have been there few more times.

botto 

where do they attempt to charge that much money for a cup of kool aid, and some bananas?

Brandy

Southern California. Planet Ultra charges $60 for most centuries and $80 for doubles, though I won't ever have to give them money again. I believe I've been "uninvited" from attending their future events.

rbart4506

Funny you should mention that....

My wife and I are doing one this coming weekend (look at my sig) and the plan is to skip the food at the rest stops. We're bringing our own, since we've learnt what our bodies like and dislike on the long rides. We'll still suck up their water and gatorade/powerade....

Organized rides north of the border are a tad pricey too, considering we do our own self-supported metrics, centuries and even a couple double metrics....

The nice thing about them is a chance to ride an area you aren't familiar with and/or help out with a fundraising event...

botto 

if i have to pay anything close to that for a ride, i'll stick with the like of the maratona and the pantani - amazing routes over historic climbs, schwag packets, with a decent jersey, plenty of food and drink, closed roads, and at the end there's a plate of pasta, bratwurst, and beer waiting for you.

Psimet2001 

Many charges have been creeping up. Most of my favorite ones have gone from $15-$20 to the $30-$40 range in the last year or two.

There are a few of the bigger, more popular, "hilly" ones that have century and century + routes that are in the $60-$100 range around here.

...but they have much more than bananas anymore. Still...I try not to drink the kool aid

Psimet2001 

Depending on your ethics and point of view there is always the option of banditing. I am not advocating that.....I don't think, but if you are not receiving anything from the ride and/or its organizers then I could see justifying it to yourself as just happening to ride on the same roads at the same time as a big organized ride.

Keep in mind - as you mentioned - that most are fundraisers for either charity or local cycling organizations and a lot fo the $$ goes to paying for insurance for the event, "volunteers", etc.

valleygirl

And then there is the 25$ late fee if you can't plan weeks in advance, no thanks. A few buddies and several miles are my favorite long rides.

Brandy

You expect the jersey to be included? No, my friend. You get the pleasure of shelling out even more money to buy one of those!

I think that for some people, paying for organized centuries makes sense. There may be one that I'll continue to support because it is put on by good people. The route is pretty do-able unsupported if you know where to stop for fuel, but it's a fun challenge.

Hammertoe

Good for you...

You never forget your FIRST...


Now try a unsupported, NON-STOP century...

umd

I think I've only managed a "never put a foot down" century once. I usually roll with a looser definition of non-stop... Curious, what do you consider to be non-stop?

umd

I don't have any problem riding on the same roads as an event. If you happen to find yourself "in" a century or somesuch that you didn't pay for, just don't use their support. They may take a different view but they are public roads and they need to STFU. It's a little more murky if you actually ride the entire route, intentionally (a.k.a. banditing), but I still fall on the side of finding it acceptable. I've done it a few times but didn't feel spectacular about it. Once I just missed the registration cutoff and rode the event without their support (but with others that paid), and paid them at the BBQ at end. Another time I gave my entry to a friend (that I met on BF, no I won't say who) so that he could ride his first century supported, and I just rode it self-supported. My wife was also on that one (and paid) and she availed herself of the stops while I just sat and waited.

Vireo

CONGRATS!!!! Go show!!

Machka 

Most of my centuries are self supported. I don't find them any more difficult than supported centuries ... in fact, I often like them better because I can do what I want.

Go check out the Century-A-Month thread in the Long Distance forum.

https://www.bikeforums.net/long-distance-competition-ultracycling-randonneuring-endurance-cycling/374970-century-month-2008-a.html

Hammertoe

No stopping...

Clip in and no clipping out until finished...



Better yet...

You must pedal the whole time (even if a soft pedal, keep the cranks turning)...


But this is my definition, which means nothing to anyone else, and is subject to change...

Keith99

Years ago I met soem of the century a week crowd. I think there were some folks whose goal was 100 centruies in a year. Quite doable when a local club has centuries both days most weekends.

Paying for rides seems off at the rates currently charged. Oh Sometimes for very nice rides, or closed roads. But I have a feeling no more for me unless it is at least a double. Or better yet something like the Land Rush or PBP.

Flatballer

I'm guessing you would need a closed route to do that on? Or do you just ride around a parking lot for 800 laps?

palookabutt

We only stopped to use a restroom or when my friend had to stop for gatorade (he didn't bring a Camelback). I don't think my bladder would last 5.5 hours, especially not if I'm hydrating properly. And I have no desire to learn how to urinate on the bike.

tobycat

I do a couple of solo non-supported, non-stop centuries a year. I do it for time so clock starts and keeps running. I think only one time did I managed to get through lights and stuff without clipping out but since I'm looking at the clock, I take some chances!

By carrying 4 water bottles and a couple of clif bars I have no need to stop at all. Hardest part is eating while still keeping up the pace and staying focused.

Best time - 4:33

umd

Have you actually done one without ever clipping out? Usually there are enough lights on my route that even though I like to trackstand, I'll usually unclip at some point. As far as I'm concerned, putting a foot down at a light or trackstanding through a light doesn't change whether or not the century was "non-stop". To me, non-stop means that you did not stop to take a break. Not stopping for any reason is a little difficult to acheive if you are not on a closed course or riding away from civilization.