sparker

I am planning to do my first century later this month or early next month. Ive got my route planned, all the stops mapped out. I mainly ride alone and avg 15-17 mph on 3+ HR 60 mile ride (my longest so far, I'm doing an 80 miler this Sat).

One question still remains.... how many BF'er do century's alone or in a group. I would think that the group would be safer but I prefer to ride alone, b/c I get a better workout. My route takes me 30 miles out of town and the last 40 keeps my within the city limits.

kr32

I just did 102 Saturday solo. Just be careful and take cell phone just in case you may need a ride or whatever.

coasting 

do it solo. that's a real century.

Daytrip

solo.

I got my first flat ever on my first century, looked down at my phone and there was no signal. Fixed the flat and finished the ride.

coasting 

what a man!

DataJunkie

With a group. Long rides are boring enough.
However, I frequently ride accidental centuries solo. Out all day riding from here to there.

knobster

I prefer an organized century. Even if I don't ride with a group during it, the rest stops are nice. Especially in places where there aren't many stores to depend on.

998

Alone. I don't play well with others.

banerjek

Group rides are more of a social activity. If you're perfectly happy riding alone, do it solo. There is more support on a group ride, but I wouldn't sweat the safety issue -- you'll be as safe during each mile on a solo century as you would be on each mile of a much shorter ride.

coasting 

the annoying thing about solo is that there is no one to high five at the end.

bike eagle

I've done them both ways, and enjoyed both for different reasons. I say do the solo, then a month or two later, sign up for a group one. That way, when you're doing the group century, you'll have the confidence that you gain from having already done one.

GP

Both. Sometimes both in the same day if I ride to a group ride then ride home. For me, a group ride is harder because I'm a slacker if left alone.

Yaniel

yea, when you do it in a group it's only like 80 miles



WTF?

FlashBazbo

A solo century, to me, is just a long training ride. Nothing wrong with that, but nothing really special or exciting about it.

For me, the fun is in group centuries. Riding in a big group at high speeds is different (and more fun, to me) than riding solo. A group century is easier -- unless you lose the draft. (Nothing is worse than doing a group century solo.)

kleinboogie

Agreed, both. There's satisfaction in both.

icyclist 

Organized centuries do it for me. I love all the colors and the mass of great looking riders and the shared sense of community. That said, I usually set my own pace, even when I start off a century with friends; consequently, I will meet and chat with lots of cyclists over the course of the ride, as well as link up with pace lines, where words are sometimes rarely spoken.

akansaskid

Solo. My route, my pace, my stops, my food, my thoughts... I support a large group of people all week. My weekend centuries are my time to myself.

rumrunn6

solo but I miss people

Tsuru

Didn't any of you learn about the buddy system? And remember... ALWAYS hold hands!

thump55

I don't think there's any debate: a solo century is harder than a group century. Groups are fine (and more fun), but IMHO, for the OP to get the truest sense of accomplishment, the first one is best done solo.

If you do it in a group, you have to ask yourself: Could I have done it alone? The reverse is not true...if you did it solo, you definitely could have done it in a group.

Daytrip

Imagine the sound of one hand high-fiving.

Tsuru

You can do 100 miles by yourself without doing much work. It'll take you forever, but you can do it. Meanwhile, you can do 100 mile hammerfest with 2 buddies, working your ass off.

CyciumX

I did my last century alone. Only finished because I had this little need to not want to die. If a female in a group had been present... I would have HTFU even more.

Yaniel

The group century I did was the hardest ride I've ever done. The pace was at my breaking point the entire time, mentally fighting to not lose that last wheel, and not give up on the group and finish it on my own. In contrast I could've done that ride alone easily enjoying the scenery or at a descent but still easier pace solo.

CyciumX

I think there is a distinct difference between group rides and group training rides.