First Metric Century
 

My previous longest ride was about 65km. I've done in the 55 to 65km range several times this month. So I decided last night to do a 100km ride this morning. I mapped out a route last night that was just a bit over 103km. I had been using 2 gels on my 60+km rides and figured 3 should be enough for the 100km. That worked out well (in my head) as I only had 3 left at home.

I started out this morning and was feeling good. About 25km or so in I missed a turn and went 8 blocks too far before I realized my mistake. I then corrected and ran into a major detour. It added probably 10km to my route but I was determined to soldier on. By about 60km in I realized that my gels were going to be inadequate.

There is a very popular dairy/ice cream shop that was close to my route on my way back (on a sunny summer weekend there can easily be 30 to 40 road bikes parked there). I decided I would adjust my route to go by there on my way back. That motivation certainly helped!

When I got there I got my ice cream cone. I don't know if one ever tasted so good! That gave me the energy I needed to make it the rest of the way home. I live up on a hill so that last hill up to my house hurt more than it has in a long time but there was no way I was stopping!

My final distance was 120.2km with 705m (2312') of climbing. Elapsed time was 4:44:30 and time on bike was 4:20:47 for an average speed of 27.7km/h. All things considered I'm pretty happy with my results. I certainly have some goals I can set for next time... Better speed, more climbing, etc.

John

Congrats, John! As you do more of these rides, you'll learn quickly what works for nutrition, hydration, and breaks. And what doesn't. :thumb:

+1

Of course, after your extended ride, you're now officially ready for an imperial century. Well done!

I definitely did realize that on rides longer than 2 to 2.5 hours that I have to eat more frequently. My next ride of this distance or longer I will bring along enough gels to have one every half hour after the first hour. I think if anything at that I am likely erring on the side of bringing too much with me but it certainly should help narrow down what I actually need.

That thought did occur to me as well but I think getting a couple more 100km rides under my belt before I go for the imperial century is probably a good idea. I was pretty tired for the rest of the day yesterday and even after stretching and using my rumble roller yesterday I can definitely still feel my legs this morning.

The difference between a metric and an imperial century is mostly mental - you'll be able to do it when you want to.

mental and the proper nutrition. it is paramount to focus on eating and drinking regularly on a long ride. an average speed of 27.7kph is very respectable and i believe you can easily do a imperial century.

Stopping for an ice cream on any type of century totally nullifies and voids the ride for reporting purposes. A proper century must be rode with stops for only maintenance and biological breaks. ;)

I think I'm still OK then for the century... I just checked and it's 19.6km from my home to the dairy. So, I had just got over the century mark when I stopped for ice cream, 100.6km. Phew, I feel so much better now that I know I'm still legit ;).

In all seriousness (is seriousness actually allowed on the 41?) though, doing the calculation told me pretty much exactly where I was when I crossed the century mark which is nice to know.

I always stop for a coffee and a donut since I never carry any food. Had a 400km ride last month and stopped 4 times.

Awesome!

Congrats to the OP - major accomplishment!

I hope you're right about the difference being mental - I'll put this theory to the test this Sunday. Did a Metric last Sunday, and have the "regular" (I'm from US) century planned for this weekend. Hope I survive!

Thanks and congratulations to you on your metric last Sunday! I am sort of thinking about doing the imperial shortly too but I think I will hold off a bit longer. I want to have at least one metric under my belt where I am happy with my nutrition.

You are right to wait. Better take things slowly. I think I'm rushing things a bit. But I don't like riding solo, and this Sunday will be the last organized century in my area that I can attend, so it's either this Sunday, or next year. They will have SAG support, so there will be someone to pick me up if I hit a wall. My goal is to do at least 70 miles, to build up on the metric from last Sunday. Lets see how close to 100 I can get.

I ride almost exclusively solo so that hasn't been an issue for me at all. It's not that I dislike riding with others but that schedules rarely mesh. I also don't tend to plan rides that far into the future but rather just think what I would like to do tomorrow.

I am planning on doing the two day ride to conquer cancer next summer which is from Vancouver, BC to Seattle. That ride is supported. I agree it would be nice to do my first imperial supported but that won't be happening for me.

With the support and comraderie of the group I'm sure you'll do fine!

I seem to go faster and stop less when I ride unsupported... go figure. Something about those rest stops beckons... and with hundreds of riders, they take forever to get in and out of.

Regardless, if you spend a couple minutes with google maps you can figure out stops every 20-25 miles in case you get in a pickle. Unless you're in the boonies, there's usually a 7-11 or something around where you can stop and get water, gatorade or snacks.

Disagree. Doing a metric century with no food and no breaks is a bit rough but do-able. I don't know that it's physically possible to do an imperial century without bonking though.

Nice, congrat :D

For me, doing longer rides are almost like taking a little roadtrip. The great thing about living where I live (south of Holland) is that I can actually visit Belgium and Germany on one of those rides.

See, I was going to hypothesize just this. The hypothesizing being necessary because I've not yet done a real century.

I've been upping my mileage this month, starting from the 40-50 range, to the point where I did 60 miles day before yesterday and 60 miles today. I don't eat on my rides and 60 feels like the outer limit of that paradigm, at least for me. At 40-50 I'm fine without eating on the ride, and today I felt great rolling back home, but the other day on the 60 I felt the bonk hovering around the edges...

I do carry a power bar but my understanding of a real century is that you need to eat some food early on. Can't wait till the bonk.

I start rides well-hydrated, and with a big bike bottle (mostly frozen) of water and a vitamin water bottle that has a 50% diluted orange juice/water mix in it. I do partake of the OJ bottle throughout the ride. It gives me hope before the big climbs, lol. Today, at around mile 45, I went by some Gravenstine apple trees and oh MY, what I wouldn't have given... I could SMELL 'em... I about stopped and stole some from their yard! :)

Congrats to the OP for his metric century! I did one by accident in June so I'm not much interested in that number- hence my 60 milers. However a real century is in the early planning stages and I'm excited about that.

I made snack and lunch stops during the metric, and definitely planning on taking breaks during the full. I think it all depends on how flat the terrain is and what the average speed during the ride is. For someone who's going 20+ mph, doing a metric in 3 hours without food is fine. For me, average of 12mph, a 6hr bike ride without food is just isn't happening. For the regular century, if I finish in under 11 hours (including breaks) I'll be happy. This is definitely a mental stamina event for me. 48 hours from now I'll be riding!!!

I'm IFing, 6 months, no food during the day. Riding a metric century, no food before or during, is simply no big deal..but I am not pushing it effort wise. I think it's what you train into: if your diet includes fueling and snacks, then you'll always need them.

My favorite weekend ride around the SF Peninsula (where I live) is out to the coast and back, a bit over 100 km. So many hills though (6000 ft... ish), so it is in no way possible to do without food - I burn well over 3000 calories on that ride. Imo, once in shape and taking food, it isn't distance that matters, but elevation. never done 100 miles, but to me the difference between 40 and 80 miles is just time in the saddle and more food.

I agree that it is what you train into - I used to commute to school 20 miles round trip every day in Arizona heat and never drank water during the day. I just never got thirsty. It isn't healthy though, so I made a conscious effort to drink more. Now I commute in 50 - 70 degree temps and drink 3 or more bottles a day.

As to real climbing, speed..I agree that fueling matters, with reservations. I'd be on a light intake, rely on some Cytomax and small snacks.

Hydrating, yes. Although my water consumption has done down I always have a bottle or two, two in spin class...but I run a 5K beforehand.

Agree. Caution, I am bragging here. But I often ride "metric centuries" on Sundays (less now that I used to). Before coming here, I just did not know people called them that. You can really treat them like a normal ride. Bring enough water though.