Is this a dumb choice?

[Crankin]

As many of you know, I often state I don't "train" for things. I do prepare, somewhat, for the very few organized events I do. I did not train for the one century I have done, which was very flat, but had the added fun of high winds along the coast and rain. My time was respectable (6.5 hours), but I was 7 years younger than I am now.
So, our state bike advocacy group is running a century/metric/30 mile ride that leaves from the recreational area in the next town on July 27, about 4 miles away. Every single one of the roads for the metric and the century are roads I have ridden on, live near, and am familiar with. The 30 mile ride goes into Lexington, where I never ride, but I am not considering that option.
I haven't ridden as much this year, I have just under 1,000 miles. But, the riding has been quality riding, and I always say riding steep hills and recently, in the heat, keeps me able to do other things. I trained for a hard metric 5 weeks ago by doing 2 hilly 50 mile rides. I was successful in completing that metric, which was probably the hardest local ride I have done, with 4,200 ft. of climbing. However, my body kind of fell apart after that. This always happens to me, so not sure what else to say about this.
The metric on the 27th has 3,100 feet of climbing and the 2 steep hills are nothing compared to what I did in June. As with the one in June, there are tons of options to just turn around and go back (or home). The cue sheet for the entury is not on line yet, but I imagine it's just an extension of the metric. There may be 1-2 more climbs, though, and if they are in Harvard, MA, well, they will be hard.
Am I crazy for considering the century? I don't have to register until the day before, which we will do because of weather. I have a lot of time to ride in the next 2 weeks. I know DH will not want to do the century, but I could convince him.
What do you think?

[OakLeaf]

If the metric beat you up that badly and you haven't ridden anything longer since then, I'd be very hesitant. But I think if you can do an 80-85 mile ride between now and next weekend and feel okay, then go for it...

[roo4]

No, you are not crazy for thinking about it.

Why do you want to do the century? The challenge of completing something tough? Because it is local and you ride and you "should" do the century? If it is the latter, eh, skip it. If you are jazzed about 100 miles and looking for a challenge (and don't mind too much if it kicks your butt), then do the century.

Can you sign up for the metric and decide about 40-50 miles in to the ride?

[Crankin]

Oak, my body falls apart from an immune system kind of thing. It happens after every tour/hard effort I do, not always in the same way, though. It depends on what else is going on, how rested I am, etc. It just so happened that DH got sick a few days after my last metric, I caught the germs, and I probably was in a little bit of a depleted state. If I come back from a tour and it's nearer to the end of the summer, it often just shows up in a decrease in my average speed. Funny though, that didn't happen when I went to Spain, when the trip was the last week in May. I did do a lot of training very early in the season, for that, and a lot of nordic skiing that winter, too. I didn't have any physical problems, i.e. back or hips, or anything during the last metric, either during or after, so all my PT paid off.
I want to do the century because I want to do another century. I just want to finish, and I probably will be the slowest :), as from what I see more of the "racer" types sign up for the longer distances at these kinds of lower key events. I don't feel that I "should" do it because it's local, but more that I always feel more relaxed when I know where I am, the nature of the roads and the climbs. I like knowing what to expect. I had a serious anxiety attack on a very steep climb on the last metric; it was on a road I usually do in the other direction... that way is hard, but this was worse. Despite this, I passed some of the racer boys on that one. That has never happened to me. Usually I get "angry" at the hill and it motivates me!
I cannot sign up for the metric and decide to do the century, as they start 2 hours apart. I can sign up for the century and decide to do less there, though, because I'll always be in a place where I will know how to get back in a shorter distance.

[Catrin]

Whatever you decide to do Crankin, we are cheering for you :) I can certainly understand wanting to do a century because you want to do a century! I REALLY want to do one this summer myself, but that isn't going to happen. Nothing wrong with being the slowest - but you already know that. I also doubt you would be the slowest :) Your knowledge of the area is a real advantage should you decide that you need to take a different route back. Whatever you do, have fun!

[roo4]

Sounds like you're doing a century then. :) Enjoy!

[ny biker]

I'd say try for the century, since you know you can shorten it if you need to.

Good luck!!

[shootingstar]

Do what psychologically makes you "enjoy" this ride. You proved to yourself several wks. ago what you're capable of.

There will always be rides just as challenging or even more next time for you to tackle.

[Susan Otcenas]

No, not dumb, provided that you pace yourself well. Start easy and stay easy. Start well hydrated and stay well-hydrated. Start with a good breakfast, and stay fueled up thoughout the day. Don't set yourself a time goal, but instead, set yourself an EFFORT goal. You want to keep it easy and steady all day. Keep the gearing comfortable, keep your breaks to a minimum (unless you are overheating, in which case a break in the shade with your feet in a creek is a lovely thing :-) ) Expect your average pace on your century to be less than your average pace on your metric. And that's OK!

Increasing from a metric to a full century is a 50% increase in distance, so pacing is important. But you have a solid base, so it's definitely doable.

In randonneuring, we ride a spring series that consists of 200K, 300K, 400K and 600K. Most of us who do this year round, do a ride of a minimum of a 200K (125 miles) every month. Some of us do that 2-3 times a month. But over the winter, we rarely ride over 200K in one go. But come the spring series, we ride a 200K, then a 300K a few weeks later, then a 400K a few weeks after that, then the 600K a few weeks later. But we don't ride "interim" distances to prepare us from the step up from 200 to 300, or 400 to 600. For example, I don't ride 250 to prepare for the 300. Rather, I use all of the pacing and fueling strategies listed above to keep me at a low steady effort for an increasingly long time.

In my case, this is what my riding has looked like since January. Note that I do continue to ride between each increase in event distance.

KM Date Elapsed time
130 1/5/2013 8:15
114 1/13/2013 5:58
207 1/22/2013 9:36
112 1/25/2013 5:37
202 2/2/2013 10:35
100 2/3/2013 6:05
200 2/17/2013 11:18
200 2/24/2013 11:27
208 3/3/2013 11:28
200 3/9/2013 10:58
200 3/23/2013 10:16
114 3/31/2013 5:18
300 4/6/2013 16:07
213 4/13/2013 12:23
200 4/14/2013 11:30
300 4/20/2013 13:29
400 4/27/2013 21:20
365 5/3/2013 24:00
211 5/18/2013 12:40
202 5/19/2013 13:27
600 6/1/2013 38:26
204 6/15/2013 11:53
600 6/22/2013 34:50
201 7/6/2013 11:50

My point here is that the body is generally capable of much more than we think it is, provided we don't over-exert. I've read in SO many places that the "safe" or "typical" way to increase mileage is by no more than 10% per week. I'd have to call BS on that though. As long as you pace yourself and fuel yourself, and you are healthy, you'll be surprised what you are capable of!

[Veronica]

Go for Crankin! I have not been on my bike since 5/22 - 7 weeks. I've been doing weight workouts, running and a little bit of indoor trainer time. I just did a 40 mile ride with a friend. I'm tired and I was a bit slow during the last 15 miles, but I survived. :D

You have a really good base and if you do need to cut it short, you can.

Veronica

[Crankin]

You guys have helped me make up my mind. My strategy is always as Susan says: start out easy and stay easy. I would ride my Guru, with the mountain rd and not stress myself over speed at all. I *know* I could do this tomorrow, if I had to; this is how I get through all of my hard efforts.
Of course, I am sitting on the veranda of the Mt. Washington Hotel, drinking wine, so right now, anything seems possible.

[withm]

A very wise rider once told me, when contemplating longer rides, "Start off easy, then taper off."

[SheFly]

You can do it. Which century is it? If you know all the roads, even if you do decide it is too much, you will at least know your way home. Is this the Climb to the Clouds? Beautiful ride if so.

Good luck! Can't wait to read the report.

SheFly

[Crankin]

Nah, Not Climb to the Clouds. A climb up Mt. Wachusett does not exactly make an easier century :). Besides, that fills up quickly.
It's the Mass Bike Century. I did their 35 mile ride several years ago, and it was well run, despite the terrible time I had on their tour across MA, a couple of years after that. The lure of the free 2 beers, Redbones food, and the ability to sign up the day before is also a draw. It starts at NARA park in Acton.
DH has agreed that we should try. Given the heat wave conditions, we will probably do a 75-80 mile ride on Sunday, when it is supposed to get cooler. We'll probably do our "Fruit Loop" ride up to Kimball's Fruit Farm, in Pepperell, but we'll start from the house, instead of the soccer field in Boxborough, which is 50 miles. There's lots of big hills, so it will be good training.

[antimony]

Of course, I am sitting on the veranda of the Mt. Washington Hotel, drinking wine, so right now, anything seems possible.

...Funny, so was I this weekend. :) And not riding my bike, despite bringing it along, because I decided sitting on the veranda was more what I needed rather than another hill workout.

As for the ride, you'll be fine. Even if it adds every hill in Harvard onto the metric, they're all pretty much short and steep, which worst-case is a nice chance to stretch your legs.

[Crankin]

Antimony, do you or your spouse/SO/friend work for Mathworks???

[antimony]

Antimony, do you or your spouse/SO/friend work for Mathworks???

Yes, I do. :) That's why I was so amused to see you mention the hotel. If you're one of my coworkers, I'm the only Sarah in the directory in quality engineering.

[Crankin]

No, it's my DH. I'd better watch what I say... :) there's more of a chance you know him, than him knowing you.

[Crankin]

Bump.
So today we planned a 65-70 mile route that is very hilly. It was supposed to be cooler and less humid. It is cooler, but when we left, still humid. Within 6.5 miles DH was complaining bitterly about his legs feeling like toast (not like him at all). We were barely into Littleton, MA, so we decided to bag the ride to Hollis, NH and back through Dunstable and Groton. DH has been sick, again, mostly allergies, and unlike me, he rode to work in the 100 degree temperatures on Thursday, when he was sick (34 miles rt). I wasn't really "feeling it" today, so I was happy to abandon that plan. We ended up riding 33 miles at a slightly faster than noodle pace, stopping back in west Concord for lunch. When we came out of the restaurant, the wind had picked up and it did feel better out, but I really, really need a beautiful clear and dry New England day at this point. And, I was so hungry on the ride, I am not sure what's up. I had my normal bigger Sunday breakfast, ate 1/4 of a Lara Bar before leaving and by mile 18 had finished it. My stomach was seriously growling by the lunch stop at mile 25.5 and it was just noon.
Sooooo, for next weekend, I think the century is out. Mentally, I probably could do it, but at this point, I think I'm not into it. I will do the metric, if the weather is OK, which is now not looking that great.
Still more chances for centuries in September.

[ny biker]

I've done a couple of rides lately that I was not mentally into doing, but one was a birthday ride for a friend and the other was a club ride that I had volunteered to lead several weeks ago. So I did them and had a nice enough time. Sometimes it turns out okay once you start to pedal.

However every ride is different and sometimes I'm perfectly content to not do a ride that I'm just not up for.

In your case, I'd go with your gut and not do it.

p.s. I could go for a clear dry New England day myself.