To ride... or not to ride... that is the question!

[arielmoon]

BF and I have been planning on riding the Horsefarm 100 coming up Oct 19th. I just started riding in May and ride very consistently. BF on the other hand has not and will not be able to ride at all this week because of work.

I noticed on a recent 43 mile ride (with no stops) that my lower back was very sore. It did not last more than a day or so but I was pretty uncomfortable while riding.

Last thursday I rode a very strong 33 miles at 19.2mph with no back pain until the next afternoon which may more relate to riding my horse after that bike ride now that I think about it.

So I raised my concerns to BF about being able ride 100 comfortably and he admitted that he was out of shape for it last year too, bonked twice but was only sore/ tired for a few days. He said that he thought I would have no trouble if I rode at 15-16 mph and stretched at the rest stops. However, we are talking about a 7 or so hour ride. This seems daunting to me.

He wants to do 100 so he can say he did it. There are other options. A 55 that stays in town or a 45 that just does the horse farms.

Basically I have no idea what to do and although BF has done the ride twice his motives and thinking confuse me so I would love some advice.

[Blueberry]

What kind of distance have you done? Are you happy riding more slowly, or would you rather blow it out on a shorter ride? Is it flat (it's Florida, so I would assume so...)?

I think you can probably finish the 100, but you will be tired and sore. And you'll have to pace yourself. It just depends on what your goals are:)

Have you had a bike fit done on your new baby? Did you have back pain with your other bike? Just wondering if the fit needs to be tweaked a bit...

CA

[alpinerabbit]

CA just beat me - Have you got any rides under your belt longer than 43 miles? Such as 60 or 75? That will give you a better idea of whether you can make it. You can then push through the last 20 or so.

50 and 100 miles are different animals.

Although I hear people do the jump, it's your confidence we're talking about, and you just might suffer. As in really sore legs, and sit area, having to crank out another 30 miles.

There's always next year.

[arielmoon]

The 43 miles was the most I have done in one ride but I did ride 95 miles in 3 days on separate rides.

My goal? I like to have fun and I like to go fast. I get kinda bored when I have to wait for BF but I figure he would be able to set a slower pace for me. I would like to eventually do a century but I dont want to do one if I am not ready.

I have had the bike about 2 months and do not normally have lower back pain. That was the first time.



Oh and Ocala is quite hilly and the course has some tough ones!

[Biciclista]

100 miles in 3 days is a world apart from 100 miles in one day. If I was the one making the ride, i'd go for the horse farms. You'll be able to go faster than in the city; and it will wear you out nicely.

have fun and take pictures.

[alpinerabbit]

I would go for the 55 or shorter. reasoning:

you won't have fun from mile 75, promised. and if you shoot out too fast in the beginning, even less of that. I'm not saying you could not draw any satisfaction out of doing it, just it won't be fun.

my first 100k, from previous ~80, was painful. That was my second season riding.

my first 120k from previous 100 was painful, and so was my first 100 miler. And the second for that matter.

[Blueberry]

I'd do the 45 and see the horse farms too if my goals were speed and fun. 43 to 100 is a big jump, and you'll likely have to cut your speed significantly to make it. Plus with hills, I don't think it would be fun AT ALL.

I've done a 33-77 jump, so it CAN be done, but my average speed suffered (as did my butt).

CA

[arielmoon]

I would go for the 55 or shorter. reasoning:

you won't have fun from mile 75, promised. and if you shoot out too fast in the beginning, even less of that. I'm not saying you could not draw any satisfaction out of doing it, just it won't be fun.

my first 100k, from previous ~80, was painful. That was my second season riding.

my first 120k from previous 100 was painful, and so was my first 100 miler. And the second for that matter.

I am inclined to doing to 45 because it will be more scenic and I have ridden most of the route before.

[tulip]

If you decide to do the 100, pace yourself. If you go out too fast, you will have a horrible last 40 or so miles. Slow down and enjoy the ride. Dont' skimp on drinks or eats, and do stop at rest areas to fill up your bottles and munch.

Life is a wonderful journey; there's no need to rush through it!

[indysteel]

I agree with the suggestions to do one of the shorter routes. Even if you weren't currently having back pain, a century would hurt if your longest ride to date is 43 miles. Ideally, you want to have some rides under your belt in the 75-mile range before doing a century.

As for your back problems. If you've only been riding a couple of months, a 19.2 average over 33 miles is fabulous, but that kind of speed suggests to me that your back problems might relate to tight hamstrings. When I started doing speed work, my low back really bothered me. You might try stretching them before, during after your rides. If your low back still bothers you, you might see if bike fit is an issue.

Good luck and have fun!

[arielmoon]

Thanks for the advice gang! I was already leaning toward one of the shorter distances. I am also trying to look out for BF who is in no way ready for a century. His longest ride was 30 we did in May and 35 he did 2 weeks ago. :eek:

My acupuncture/ massage guy thinks my back pain is linked to tight glutes and he has me doing twice daily stretching. However, I have had tight hamstrings all my life. :(

Is there anything specific that can be done to the bike for that? I know that raising my saddle a tad had a huge impact on my knee.

[tulip]

Have you tried Pilates (real Pilates by real instructors--otherwise you could get hurt)? It helps my back in a big, big way. IT band issues, too.

[arielmoon]

Have you tried Pilates (real Pilates by real instructors--otherwise you could get hurt)? It helps my back in a big, big way. IT band issues, too.

I have always wanted to try it but I have not done so as of yet.

[katluvr]

I live in St. Pete. I am training for a 1/2 marathon so not doing much biking so I am not doing this (but would love to do this ride). I know of the Horse Farm 100...not done it but heard. It is hilly, so it is tough. My understanding is that if you really want to see the good country go for 100. That being said...I am a slow rider. And at my best only avg. 15 mph. I am a "descent" hill climber. But this would be a very difficult course to do w/ minimal training. I can "crank out" a slow century w/ minimal training...just lots of experience w/ endurance. But I would not try to do a hilly 100 ride. Flordia is flat, but this area is known for some good hills and those that are really deceiving--dont' look all that bad but you find out 1/2 way up you are in the wrong darn gear!
Go w/ your gut---not your desire. Test the shorter routes to give you a better indication of what to train for next year!
Even the shorter routes should have some nice country and farms to see.
K

[arielmoon]

I live in St. Pete. I am training for a 1/2 marathon so not doing much biking so I am not doing this (but would love to do this ride). I know of the Horse Farm 100...not done it but heard. It is hilly, so it is tough. My understanding is that if you really want to see the good country go for 100. That being said...I am a slow rider. And at my best only avg. 15 mph. I am a "descent" hill climber. But this would be a very difficult course to do w/ minimal training. I can "crank out" a slow century w/ minimal training...just lots of experience w/ endurance. But I would not try to do a hilly 100 ride. Flordia is flat, but this area is known for some good hills and those that are really deceiving--dont' look all that bad but you find out 1/2 way up you are in the wrong darn gear!
Go w/ your gut---not your desire. Test the shorter routes to give you a better indication of what to train for next year!
Even the shorter routes should have some nice country and farms to see.
K
Thanks Kat! I grew up in St Pete and my mom still lives there btw! (Do you know Rollin' Oats? Love to shop there!)

Thing is, I live in and ride almost daily through the horse farms that will be seen on the ride. I work on a gorgeous 3500 acre farm too so that part is not a huge deal to me (of course it is nicer than a city). I have also ridden a number of the hills and they are tough. One that I have not ridden but I have driven in my truck is a real steep one. I do like a challenge- one my first ones was the route to my work cause I would drive them and think "I bet these hills are tough". It was a real sense of accomplishment and now I do them without batting an eye lash.

On the other hand I believe in training properly and building up to such a long tough ride. I had planned to do at least one 75 mile ride but BF is not motivated and he forgot about it. I think there is one the weekend before the horsefarm in Mount Dora but I am sure it is a Sat and BF works. :confused:

[Skierchickie]

I'll be the lone dissenter here. :D

October 19th is almost 3 weeks away. You could go for 60 miles next weekend, 80-85 (at a slower pace) the next, and be all set for 100 the weekend after that. I only say so because I just did it. I had only a handful of 40-50 milers in by mid-August. I did 60 one Sunday, 83.5 the next Sunday, and a solo 100 the following Saturday. Tired - sure. But no problem making it. Then I did shorter rides and 2 weeks later did 120. Definitely had to make sure to ride easy, but it was really no problem.

If you want to do a shorter one, or your back is questionalble, by all means do that. But if deep down you want the satisfaction of proving to yourself that you can do it, and you are healthy, then just do it in a smart way.

Fuel is very important along the way. I pop Gu or Shot Blocks every so often, along with a couple of Power Bars. And Heed. Of course, my hottest ride this summer was the 83.5, when it was almost 90 degrees, but most of my long ones have been in the upper 50s and 60s. That can made a huge difference.

Ultimately, do what you want to do, and have confidence in yourself. You are young and a strong rider - just don't injure yourself or blow yourself up trying to maintain a blistering pace over distances you aren't used to. And DON'T jump directly from 43 to 100!

Have fun!

And you don't have to have BF along to get your training in! If you want to do it, and he doesn't, then go for a long ride! He can just have supper waiting for you when you get back. :)

[arielmoon]

*hugs you*

The good thing is I can make the call the day of the ride. If I havent been able to get the miles in I can do the shorter one!

[wildhawk]

Great advice - I learned alot from reading this thread. Arialmoon: Lucky you for living and working in horse country - I love horses!! Take pics!! I would go for the 45 mile ride and do more if I felt good. I am signed up for a 50k this coming Sunday, but DH and I will do more if we are feeling good (Katluvr I will be looking for you at Withlacoochee - hope you are still planning on being there). I know a 50k is a small ride to some of you century riders, but it will be my first “long ride” to date. So far I have been doing about 50 or 60 miles a week. Arielmoon: Those hills will be tough in horse country. Driving them has taught me that. That having been said, DH knows how much I love those huge horse farms and he said that next year we can set that as a goal ride alongwith the Bok Tower Century and tour of Sebring. This year our big goal is the MS150 in May. Best of luck to you and hope that you have a great ride!

[arielmoon]

Great advice - I learned alot from reading this thread. Arialmoon: Lucky you for living and working in horse country - I love horses!! Take pics!! I would go for the 45 mile ride and do more if I felt good. I am signed up for a 50k this coming Sunday, but DH and I will do more if we are feeling good (Katluvr I will be looking for you at Withlacoochee - hope you are still planning on being there). I know a 50k is a small ride to some of you century riders, but it will be my first “long ride” to date. So far I have been doing about 50 or 60 miles a week. Arielmoon: Those hills will be tough in horse country. Driving them has taught me that. That having been said, DH knows how much I love those huge horse farms and he said that next year we can set that as a goal ride alongwith the Bok Tower Century and tour of Sebring. This year our big goal is the MS150 in May. Best of luck to you and hope that you have a great ride!

Thank you!! Where is that MS ride in May? Is it the Sea World one? I was wanting to do the St. Augustine/ Daytona one two weeks ago but BF never got the day off from work. :(

[wildhawk]

It’s the Breakaway to Key Largo ride out of Miami - looks like they will have the same route again for 2009.

Here’s the link:
http://bikefls.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_FLS_homepage

Here’s a link to a couple who have ridden it several times - lots of pics and info on their experience - they rode it on a tandem last year!
http://www.tlausser.com/MS150_2008/MS150_2008.htm

I hope you can do that ride with us! That would be AWESOME!! Of course we will be on our hybrids, sans panniers, so we will make slower time, but I am doing the ride in memory of my friend Joyce Sprung who died a few months ago. She had suffered from MS for many years but managed to put herself through the University of Wyoming, raise a daughter alone, and go on to become a counselor for the Wyoming MS Society. She was a major inspiration to me and a great friend. DH and I will be wearing a bandanna with her pic on it for the ride.

[arielmoon]

After much discussion I had pretty much decided to do the scenic 45. The key being that BF is in no way ready for 100 and we had planned to ride together.

However, although I did not ride longer today (It was incredibly windy and I was fighting it for 24 miles) it looks like BF is going to be exBF and I may just go for the 100.

[chicagogal]

I am so sorry that things aren't working out with BF, but and exBF is better than a bad BF!!!

You are strong rider, and I bet you'd be fine with the century - I say go for it (but maybe try to get a long ride in tomorrow or next weekend at a comfortable pace so that you know you can do it).

You probably won't be able to maintain the same, fast, pace you have been doing on your shorter rides. If you want to have fun, slow down a bit, and you'll be proud of yourself for having completed 100! You know you want to do!

[arielmoon]

I am so sorry that things aren't working out with BF, but and exBF is better than a bad BF!!!

You are strong rider, and I bet you'd be fine with the century - I say go for it (but maybe try to get a long ride in tomorrow or next weekend at a comfortable pace so that you know you can do it).

You probably won't be able to maintain the same, fast, pace you have been doing on your shorter rides. If you want to have fun, slow down a bit, and you'll be proud of yourself for having completed 100! You know you want to do!

Very true.... I have been very patient but I think it's time to acknowledge that he is not going to change and become a positive person.

I am going to talk to some of the bike shop guys on the group ride that I know are doing the century... I am sure they will look out for me.

I will try and ride 50 or more tomorrow. :)

And yeah, I really would like to do it. I dont think there is any shame in it if I cant finish but a real sense of accomplishment if I can. :)

It's all good!

Thanks for the encouragement!

*hugs*

[arielmoon]

Just rode 55! Lovely cool morning but again rather windy. I stopped at mile 17 at the farm where I work for a snack, potty break and to refill my water bottle. Also stopped for a minute around mile 30 to see if I could figure out the new creak in my crank or pedal. No joy.

My back started hurting at mile 42 and by mile 47 was more like a dull ache. I rode some the horse farm route (there are arrows on the road) and even rode the "killer hills" everyone talks about. Not bad at all. Started having some pinching between my shoulder blades around mile 49 and what felt like a stomach cramp. I may have been hungry. Anyway, I felt pretty good other than that but was very happy to make it home.

Averaged 17.5mph and probably could have taken it more easy I guess.