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.

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.