My First Century!!

[SouthernBelle]

Today I rode my first century, the Clarksville Rotary Annual Metric. Despite the title they have a real, 100 mile route. The ride was well supported, frequent rest stops with lots of food, drink and ice. My speed was decent for much of the ride, but my feet began to hurt so much that pedaling became painful.

Though the ride started in Tennessee, most of the ride was in Kentucky through Mennonite country. Waved at several cute Mennonite children with their little bonnets. They were often out on the side of the road watching. Since we were close to Ft. Campbell, there were several soldiers riding.

One rest stop was in Jefferson Davis Park. It had a gigantic monument you could see for miles. Very pretty park. Went through lots of pretty little towns. Saw tons of corn fields. Really don't want to see another one for a while.

My feet still hurt, but proud to say I did 101.36 miles.

[Starfish]

proud to say I did 101.36 miles.

You should be seriously proud of yourself! Thanks for letting us know! :) :) :)

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks. ;)

[jusdooit]

Congrats. Try soaking your feet in epsom salts, it should help a little with the discomfort.

[F8th637]

Wow, congratulations! What a feat! I hope to one day be able to say the same thing. :D

[teigyr]

Congrats! That is SO exciting :D

Be sure to save your number, that way you can look back at it with fondness. I sometimes write notes on the numbers just so I can remember specifics.

I am proud of you!!! Do you have pictures?

[SouthernBelle]

Meg took a pic of me early in the morning and as I staggerred in at the end. Maybe she'll post something tomorrow.

[Mr. Bloom]

Great Job!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

Great job- you should be very proud!

My first century was over 100 as well, it is kind of mean when they do that don't you think? Epsom salt is a great suggestion; I too soak in it after long rides.

[cosc]

Congratulations. Way to go woman!:)

[Zen]

HUZZAH!
I hope to be able to join that club one day.

Your only physical complaint is your feet?
What kind of shorts were you wearing?

[RolliePollie]

Wow, congratulations! What a feat! I hope to one day be able to say the same thing. :D

What she said! Good for you! :D

I hope your feet feel better too!

[Alex]

Hooray! SouthernBelle rocks! Congratulations!

Alex

[Jiffer]

Congrats! I haven't done a century yet, but my husband's scoping some out for us to do on our tandem eventually. Farthest I've gone so far is 52 miles. I'm getting my first single soon and plan to do a half century on it in a few months. I might do one sooner if my weekend schedule weren't completely booked until August.

Hubs did a century today and was stoked to come in the top 15%, his best ever. With him at the front of the bike, I can't do TOO bad at my first century! As long as I can manage to sit on the saddle that long!

Again, congrats on finishing your first century. Sounds like a beautiful ride. I love beautiful rides. I did the San Fancisco Half Marathon and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery along the entire route, having not been to SF since I was 4. It sure helps to have interesting stuff to look at when you're huffing and puffing! :D

[Duck on Wheels]

Wow, congratulations! What a feat! I hope to one day be able to say the same thing. :D

And what feet! Good on them, and you, for doing the whole feat! And I second that emotion ... hope some day to finish a century myself.

[makbike]

Way to go, Southernbelle!

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks all. Feet seem to be better this morning, at least as far as I can tell with soft squishy slippers. The scenery was pretty although we all got tired of corn fields. "Oh look, there's another %#*^ cornfield!"

I was wearing PI short attack shorts and riding on a WTB shespeed saddle. The bits did bother me a bit for the last 30 miles or so. But with my feet hurting so much, it made it hard to come up out of the saddle and give them a rest.

[SouthernBelle]

For those who are curious about the Garmin, here is my ride on motion based:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/invitation/dashboard.mb?episodePk.pkValue=2844639

[Meg McKilty]

Meg took a pic of me early in the morning and as I staggerred in at the end. Maybe she'll post something tomorrow.

Here you are, darling! (Literally.)

[Meg McKilty]

Also, I heard TeamEstrogen's name being dropped in the locker room after the ride! Something about the clothing, and I told them about our forums.

/Double Post.

Real edit: SB also dropped an inexpensive water bottle, then ran over it. Hehe.

[SouthernBelle]

I did! Squashed it flat!

Thanks for the pic, Meg.

[silver]

Hey! you look mahhhhvelous! Was that before or after? ;)

congrats!!!!!

I'm nursing two chafe marks on the backs of my legs from the chamois seams. I knew I had one pair of shorts that chafed on longer rides (had the problem on day two of the Harmonie Hundred) I just didn't remember which pair it was. Another theory I have on no shorts problems with looong rides is you want to use newer shorts. These that chafed me are pretty worn out.

You should consider the Horsey for next year! I hear you about the cornfields...I ride past them all the time......but you don't say..."oh look! there's more &@#4 horses!" ....You say "Oh Look, more beautiful horses!" even after you've seen 200. :D

[Batbike]

WOW! to ride a 100 miles is a true accomplishment! CONGRATS :D :cool: :D

[SouthernBelle]

That's me pulling into the lot at the very end. Note how few cars are left.

Silver, another KY ride I've noted is Misaligned Minds (http://www.crcc.net/Misaligned%20Minds.htm). The name alone makes it sound worthwhile.

[Meg McKilty]

Oopsey. Didn't read you wanted the before picture earlier.

[SouthernBelle]

Why do I see my mother?

[madscot13]

Congradulations! All this century talk makes me want to do one.

Also this is all so funny!

[Mr. Bloom]

Congradulations! All this century talk makes me want to do one.

OK, now that I'm in the century club, let me give you some advice:

:D :D Take the box off your head! :D :D

That avatar is hilarious!

[SouthernBelle]

Even with the little eyeholes, her vision is terrible. & every stroke of the pedals goes, "bump-box, bump-box."

[Zen]

Why do I see my mother?

I have that same thing going on :eek: heaven help us.

[Meg McKilty]

Why do I see my mother?

It's the Aunt Jamima head wrap.

[suzieqtwa]

Congratulations.............I hope to do one before the year is over. The furthest I've ridden was 62 miles. How many hours did it take you???? I'm going to try 72 in 3 weeks. You should be real proud of yourself.

[madscot13]

Even with the little eyeholes, her vision is terrible. & every stroke of the pedals goes, "bump-box, bump-box."

And I have been wondering what that click sound was when I pedaled! I could only hear it when i was riding the bike- the mechanic at REI thought I was crazy!

[madscot13]

ps the box is for aerodynamics

[Mr. Bloom]

Why do I see my mother?

:D When I look at my pictures, I may see chubby...but one thing I can safely say...I've never seen my mother. Phew!:D

[SouthernBelle]

Suzie, my moving time was 7:27. But at the end, actually about the last 30 miles, my feet were in such bad shape that my force on the pedals was next-to-nothing.


Mr. S. Get a head wrap & earrings, then look for your mom.

Although, Meg, my mom never wore a buff.

I thought it looked rather piratey.

I have pedals sitting in my cart at Nashbar. I should go ahead and buy them.

[eclectic]

Let me come over and congratulate you here too Southern Belle

the pics were great!

Way to go - a century is a great feeling. You will savor your first for a very long time. Even if you do many more, nothing beats the feeling of the first :)

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks all.

Despite my holiday laziness, I'm heading out shortly to spin out my legs.

[cosc]

Way to go on your first century. Sounds like your feet are better if your going for a spin. What kind of pedal are you thinking about purchasing? Misaligned
Ride is close to my sister's home which would give me another great reasons to visit her.

[SouthernBelle]

There are so many of us that could meet up for a centralized ride.

Maybe some of us could do the HOW100 in September. I'm planning on it. It's a women's ride & we could get Mr. Silver to be our own personal SAG. Or if he and Silver could get a tandem, then he could ride.

COSC, I got the Shimano A520 Sport/Touring pedal. Click me (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=14392&storetype=estore&estoreid=906&pagename=Estore%3A%20Component%20Deals). Since I am used to SPDs, and the price was right, I figured that was a good tryout.

I eagerly await them.

[Mr. Bloom]

Or if he and Silver could get a tandem, then he could ride.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: As it is, we have a three car garage with no room for cars because of bikes!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

:rolleyes: I guess we could get rid of the water heaters, and one of the furnaces to make room:rolleyes: Of course, that might cut down on SilverDaughter's long showers:cool:

[SouthernBelle]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: As it is, we have a three car garage with no room for cars because of bikes!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

:rolleyes: I guess we could get rid of the water heaters, and one of the furnaces to make room:rolleyes: Of course, that might cut down on SilverDaughter's long showers:cool:


Actually, even with the cost of a Tandem, you might come out ahead. :rolleyes:

[bikerchick68]

southernbelle... congrats! way to go...:D did ya save your number? I save mine... they're all taped on the garage wall :p makes me happy to look up there and see 'em...

as to your feet hurting... did they burn? I was getting "hot foot" as it's known... where they just burn. Two things I was told helped... one is that partway into the ride, loosen the straps on your shoes... as your feet get hot they swell and then they're squished... the other is that if the balls of your feet are burning, move the cleats just a little bit towards your heel... this helped me a TON in reducing hotfoot...

anyway, congrats again on your huge accomplishment...

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks BikerChick, but have done all that. This goes beyond hot foot. I'm hoping a pedal with a larger footprint will help.

It usually clears up in about 24 hours. It's akin to riding on bad bruises.

[Bikingmomof3]

Congratulations!!! :cool: :D :cool:

[ShubieGA]

Way to go!

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks everybody.

This has turned into the longest century thread. :o

Course we didn't exactly stay on subject.

[Flybye]

Just had to add my congrats to the list. You did great!! How many other people will be able to say that they rode a 100+?

Just a tip for ouchie feet. I put two water bottles in the freezer (the kind that you would buy with water in them already). When I come home from long rides I roll my feet on them for 14-30 minutes. Heavenly.:D

[indysteel]

SouthernBelle, congrats on your first century. Having just completed my own, I know the thrill of finally reaching that goal. Way to go!!!!!!

K-

[ATL Laura]

Congratulations! I love reading posts like this…its inspiration for my own first century that’s coming up at the end of June.

[SouthernBelle]

Oh, it's gonna be hot in Hotlanta by then.

[Brandy]

Congratulations Southern Belle!