is a metric century realistic?

[batsheva]

Hi everyone-- I could use your advice/opinions--

I have been riding a year (road) and there is a metric century coming up locally for the red cross - an organized and supported ride--

I am reasonably regularly doing 40 miles, although sometime I bonk, primarily from poor nutrition I think-- and there is the option of a 33 mile ride also at the same event.

what do you guys think? 33 or 62 miles (metric century)?
am I just setting myself up to fail in the hot and sticky Florida heat trying 62 miles (with a couple of friends) and should just do the 33?

it's a pity there isnt a 50 mile option - but it's either 33 or 62 - any advice/input very gratefully received!

batsheva

[Lifesgreat]

In my experience, if you are out there doing 40 miles on a regular basis, you should be OK to do 62. Stay hydrated and fed.

[SadieKate]

If it is on the same terrain you are used to riding, you'll do fine. Just eat more!

You're ready.

[HillSlugger]

Is there a way to bail out of the metric if you are having problems?

Try to get in a 50 miler as training and you should be good to go.

[IFjane]

I agree. Begin the morning with a good breakfast (oatmeal with raisins, cranberries, blueberries, walnuts & almonds is my choice ), don't go out too hard in the beginning, and refuel FREQUENTLY (at least every 15 miles). Stay hydrated - hydration starts days before the ride - plus keep drinking throughout. If you do all those things you will be fine.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[aicabsolut]

I did my first metric last summer after riding less than a year, and after I'd only done a couple of rides in the 40-45mi range after being off the bike for a month. It was super hilly and hot, and I was miserable (riding with a fast climber), but I survived. I have no doubt that you can do it. Just keep ahead of the bonk. Eat in the neighborhood of 300 calories/hr and keep the hydration and electrolytes up to par. I can do that same ride no problem now (and hot but flat and fast 70 milers too). Only my butt starts to complain by the end. You've got support and can go your own pace. Sounds perfect.

[Mr. Bloom]

you should be OK to do 62. Stay hydrated and fed.

+1 Go for it!

On Rain (160 miles...50 miles beyond my prior best), I kept a Bento Box on my top tube stuffed with Clif Blok. I took one every 20 minutes as I rode as a reminder to drink water.

[Grog]

Of course! Go for the metric.

And keep eatin'

[mary9761]

I'll echo what many have already said, if you're riding 40 comfortably, 62 shouldn't be too bad. Again be sure to stay well hydrated and refuel!! Eat and drink long before you think you're thirsty or hungry especially in the heat. If you have access to cool refreshment at the rest stops, drink or eat them, it helps to cool your core and makes it easier to go on. If you get too warm, don't be afraid to put layer ice in a bandana under your helmet. It cools you gradually and depending on the humidity, it will dry eventually as you ride. I've also been known if it was absolutely horrid, to put ice in my bra to cool me off. The key will be the hydration and nutrition though.
I rode a metric just weeks after I started riding in 2005 but I'm insane If I'd realized what I was doing, it might not have happened that way LOL.. I'm taking it easier this time around and trying to gradually build my rides back up.

[ibcycling]

Absolutely! Go for it and make sure to eat enough and take breaks when you need to. I started riding spring of 07 on my mountain bike. In Sept I found my wonderful road bike and did a couple 40 mile rides. In October I did a 75 with some hills and it was GREAT! (I was seriously out of shape before I started riding in the spring BTW) Go For It but make sure to eat enough!

Lora

[batsheva]

thanks for the input guys!

none of you said to aim low for the 33 miles instead of the 62--

i take away the message of nutrition and hydration and taking it easy to make the distance--

your encouragement and advice really helps!! i shall report back--

thank you--

batsheva

[Andrea]

I'll preface by saying I'm sometimes considered "crazy"

When I started riding a bike, my first ride was about 30 miles, then I went on a couple of 30 mile group rides, then went for a metric- on a very heavy (more MTB-style) hybrid, literally my 4th time riding a bike since I was in 9th grade...

I'm not gonna say that I wasn't cursing and hating life by the end of the ride, but it's definitely possible! I was sooooo happy that I'd done it.

I say go for it!

[Bike Goddess]

Batsheva- When people say hydrate and eat, they aren't kidding!

The point is to keep liquids in your system. Sports drinks (I don't recommend Gatorade as it has a lot of simple sugars, but if that's all you've got- dilute it!)will not only hydrate you but also give you energy. I use Cytomax as I have found that it works well for me. I drink a couple of sips every 15 minutes (more or less) as I ride along. I have found that this regimen helps my energy as well as my hydration. (I even carry extra cytomax with me for rest stops) The point here is to be regular with your liquids. I'll usually eat some kind of solid food around 25-30 miles depending on the type of ride I'm doing. Since you are doing an organized ride, that shouldn't be an issue for you as food and drink will be available on your route.

Also if you can get electrolyte pills (they are call Endurolytes) by all means use them! You probably only need about 4/hour but they will help as well.

My other advice to you is to not stay long at a rest stop. Keep going! The earlier you can finish in the day the better you will feel.

Have fun and let us know how your ride went. Pretty soon you'll be riding centuries. Remember if you can do 40, you can do 65, if you can do 65 you can do 70 etc.,etc.

[Bad JuJu]

If you have a couple of weeks or so left before the ride, you could use that time to experiment with different combinations of fuel and hydration (aka food and water) to see what feels best/works best for you on a long ride. When I did my first metric, my longest ride before the metric had been 30 miles. I hooked up with another woman who was riding about my pace and whose longest ride until then had only been 25 miles; we stopped at all the rest stops and fueled up and filled our bottles (though we didn't stop too long, as BikeGoddess recommended) and we kept a pretty steady pace, though slower toward the end. We were both beat when we finished, but we didn't bonk. VERY satisfying when you hit that finish line!

[Duck on Wheels]

If you're doing 40 miles on your own, then you should be good for at least a metric century on a supported ride. I do 20 on my own, but have done 40 on a supported ride and barely noticed it the next day. It really does feel easier once there are others riding alongside and a rest stop to look forward to just when you're beginning to feel you need it. Just remember the antibonk rule: Drink before you're thirsty; eat before you're hungry! So carry plenty of water and some sports drink, drink a couple of good mouthsfull every 10 minutes (or sip pretty much constantly if you're wearing a camelbak). [I had water in my camelbak and energy drink in my caged bottle; sipped water constantly, and took a slug from the bottle every half hour or so.] Also carry a couple of your favorite energy bars, and be sure to eat at least some of the fruit and cookies on offer plus refill your drink bottles at every rest stop. Oh ... and HAVE FUN