Any advice
 

I am going to DO my first century tomorrow. I will be doing it solo as I have no one that I know that will try it with me. I have done lots of rides over 50 miles and one over 80. Will try to do it in 5 to 6 hours. It is going to hot though highs tomorrow well into the 90s. Was wondering how much fluids per hour should I consume and how many calories per hour?

what/ how much were you eating/ drinking on your 80 mile ride?
what time of year was that ride?
has your cycling fitness increased/ decreased since then?

about 3 weeks ago I did 80 but the temp is up at least 25 degrees. I ended the 80 with a really bad headache I think I was dehydrated. That is why I asked I do not get that thirsty on my rides and have to think about fluid consumption. I know everyone is different was wondering how many ounces per hour would maybe stop the headaches?

A very rough guess is about 24 onces per hour. I road 80 on Memorial day early but warm, windy, and used 4 bottles @23 oz. I had nothing eat before 7am ride and nothing with any calories during the ride took about 4:30 to complete. I am in good shape and used to not eating for long periods but if you take food up the amount it fluid. BTW, I had your basic 7000 calorie meal after that ride.

I am new to bikes I run alot and usually take in very little water but man I dry out riding a bike. I usually do not eat while riding but have read that most do. I do not think I could eat very much while riding but maybe that was the reason for the headaches. I am in good shape but my legs are not used to bike miles only been riding for 4or 5 months.

If you've done 80 you should have no problem doing 100.

Drink at least one water bottle/hour. Fill bottles with gatorade or sports drink. Stop every ~90 minutes and eat something with approx 200-300 calories, Cliff Bar, PBJ, Fig Newtons, Pop Tarts, or whatever floats your boat.

Let us know how it goes.

ps Oh yeah, with the heat...START EARLY!

When I Finish the hundred you will hear me yelling!!!

EAT SOMETHING! Make sure you're continuously eating. I've done plenty of long rides in the afternoon but the first time I did one in the morning I completely bonked. I was exhausted and had to call someone to come get me.

And with the temperature as high as it's been lately, leave at 5 or 6 am.

5 hours is pretty fast for a solo century.

Given that you struggled a bit to finish 80, in lesser heat, I think you'd be well served to dial back you pace, and make your goal finishing the 100 miles without worrying about the time.

Start out a bit below you average speed you did for the 80 mile ride. If you're feeling good at 65 miles or so you can always pick it up a bit.

Conversely if you go out too hard, and only start feeling that at 75 miles or so, the last 25 miles can really suck.

And as for eating and drinking, do as much of both of those as you can get down, starting early. Standard wisdom is most people can consume about 24-30 ounces and hour and 250-300 calories.

You're going to be running a deficit in both regards, so the trick is to keep from falling behind as much as you can.

I am not really worried about time the distance is what i want. I will slow my pace a little did the 80 4:15

Now remember it is very flat down here no hills all i will have is some wind

Anthony, like you I am a runner first and have run many marathons. I never took anything except water in a marathon and never eat a thing. Now I was doing this for 3-3 1/2 hours so that is different than 5-6. Funny thing is that I seem to loose a lot more water riding than running.. at least for long rides of more than 3 hours. To do a fast century I would want to eat before some high carbs of about 800 or so for breakfast and take plenty of water. I would eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at 50 miles and maybe some crackers for salt, and then of course water. I can spare glycogen really good and with proper load ahead can avoid eating much at least of 5 hours.

I also notice I that cycling makes my appetite much great afterwards than running. If I run really hard for 10-15 miles I would not be very hungry at least for awhile, and I never get hungry running. On a bike I actually get hungry at about 3 hours and starving at the end of 100. Wish I could ride the century with you I have get anyone to ride with me around here, it is all solo due to time conflicts.

102 miles 5:40.

Congratulations! That's a decent time for a newbie. Did you get plenty of fluids and calories? How did you feel at the end (besides tired ;) )?

The temp was high. drank at least 130 ounces of fluids felt good until I turned in about 15 to 20 mph wind at about 85 miles and to ride head into it for the last 17 miles. that really killed my time

Did you ride in groups (drafting) or by yourself?

Solo I do not know anyone that would be willing to ride that far

Okay, I thought you were riding an organized ride with lots of other riders and SAG stops and support.

I know that there are a few organized rides around here but I haven't look into them yet. Would love to ride with other people. I have been riding for 4 or 5 months and have not even seen another rider. I ride 5 days a week and log 200 plus miles and see no one!

I ride solo the majority of the time training, and I like to see how I compare to other riders by riding organized centuries on weekends (about 1 or 2 a month). I was surprised that I can average 2 mph faster over longer distances just from drafting in pacelines (and yes, I take my pulls too). It was also cool to be able to pass other riders on hills.

I am not sure what the average is nation wide but down here it is rare too see anyone that is a normal weight and next to imposable to find someone that is fit. So bike riding is not very nornal most people look at you like you are an alien.