Sixty Fiver

A group ride over this distance will be far easier if you can run with the group's pace... big difference between a group ride and a solo ride of this distance.

My solo pace on my touring bikes can be as good as 30kmh over 100 miles and sometimes even better but running with a good group can push the speed up into the high 30's and low 40's depending on the group dynamic.

Position on the touring bikes is set for comfort and usually get off the bike feeling pretty great.

HokuLoa

So, not really making any assumptions but are you sure your fit is right? A lot of peeps I hear make similar comments are suffering from a poorly sized stem. Considering all factors like age, flexibility, riding style, etc, etc the choice of stem length and rise can make a world of difference. A lot of LBSs setup bikes for a fairly standard "road fit" when fitting a customer. That fit doesn't do much for the average, older, pleasure rider. If you are having trouble with discomfort in the drops including neck pain and "keeping head up" that often indicates to me that the rider could use a shorter stem with a greater rise. It allows a flatter back (ie more comfort and strength in stroke), more comfort, and less neck bend to keep eyes focused down road while in drops. Anyhoo, just a consideration.

BTW, you can get a new stem w/ shims included so you can play/adjust w/in a range of -/+ including adjusting for ride type like regular training v/s century....

Clipped_in

Congrats on the completion of your first century! They're all easy from here on out.

For local and regional century rides, go to Cycling Utah for a list of pretty much everything in the area. Good luck!