Horsey Hundred Log - The First Century

[Mr. Bloom]

Well, it's 6:30 AM in Georgetown Ky. Silver and I are getting ready for my first century. We are hoping to meet Indysteel and Makbike at the start.

Silver and I have realized that each of us brought two deodorants, but neither of us brought toothpaste! So, we'll smell good as long as you're not too close

I'm looking out the hotel window to a beautiful sunrise. I now have the route map and have input it roughly into routeslip.

Now I'm scared (no macho in me, huh?)

Here's the elevation:
http://www.routeslip.com/routes/42699

I'm still going to go for it, but I admit being a little concerned.

We'll update you in about 12 hours.

[Mr. Bloom]

Well, We Did It!!!

We started by meeting makbike and truly enjoying her company for the first third of the ride...(until she moved on at a faster pace). She's a very good and experienced rider



As noted above, this was MUCH more hillly than I expected. Therefore, I started with a great deal of apprehension. Our goal was to average a 14mph pace

First 18 miles, rolling hilly and very scenic - averaged 15.8mph.
Next 14 miles, intense hills...couldn't enjoy the scenery, but raised our overall average speed to > 16mph.
Next 12 miles, hills were easier, but some were still tough. A highlight for me was hitting one of the tallest peaks right at noon when the chimes at the North Fork Baptist Church were peeling out hymns. It was really cool...because at that moment, I knew I was going to be able to make the century!! Really, Really Cool!
The rest of the ride was beautiful. This is some of the prettiest country side in America. Beautiful horse farms, rolling hills, unbelievable architecture.
After about 80 miles, a "group" formed and we stayed together for several miles. It was cool too.
But, for the last 10 miles, we were able to fly. I was feeling very strong and pulled way ahead.

Our goal was to average a 14mph pace and overall, I showed 14.9mph at the end. Silver was still feeling a little puny from her illness, but she stuck in there and finished strong.

So, I've completed my first century. It was a tough one. But, I feel good (and my knees only hurt a little!).

The only bad things:
- zipper on saddle pack broke and so I couldn't access anything inside.
- serious eye allergies...they're so red right now that, if pulled over, a cop would have thought I was stoned
- brought a bad camera battery, so I couldn't take several pictures.

[Fredwina]

Congrats all!

[Zen]

Good lord, man!
I looked at that elevation graph, that's a LOT of climbing for a first century
Fantastic job!

[makbike]

Mr. Silver/Silver - great job! It was a pleasure meeting you guys and I hope you enjoyed your brief stay in Kentucky. I'm off to get ready for the second day of the Horsey Hundred. I'm not sure which route I'll ride at this point but whichever one I select will be a winner. I'm sure my legs will let me know early on what I can and can't do today.

[SouthernBelle]

Very impressive with the hilly choice. I choose the one I did specifically because it was relatively flat. & I can't say I finished strong!

Good job.

[Mr. Bloom]

SouthernBelle, there's a really intense one sometime soon at Land Between the Lakes. I hear it even includes a 15% grade!

Silver and I pondered signing up for about 10 milliseconds

[silver]

silver's observations:

Mr. did awesome for his first century.
makbike is sweet, kind, and an awesome cyclist
my hind shorts with the black stitching are the ones that chafe
cyclists in Kentucky are friendlier than cyclists in Indiana
The Goergetown, KY area is beautiful
a century in southern Indiana does not equal a century in central Kentucky (flat versus hilly)
The "plague" that I had last week took more out of me than I thought
I love cycling!!!

[Flybye]

Way to go!!!
I just checked out your weight loss blog and think that what you have accomplished so far is great. Congratulations on your first century. I did my first half century on Sunday and woke up with the flu on Monday - no wonder it was SO hard!!!

I copied this off of your blog:
THROW OFF everything that HINDERS and the sin that so easily entangles, and RUN with PERSEVERANCE the RACE marked out for me. Hebrews 12:1

This is the very address of the scripture that started all consistent determination for weight loss for me. I so easily started strong with dieting and then flopped like a fish. If you don't have your sights on the end product - the finish of the race - then there will be no consistency, so discipline, and no determination. It really is the middle of the race (or diet, or century) that gets us to the end. That is where we are tested, tried, and refined. Physically and spiritually speaking. It is a great anchor to hold to.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Your wife must be very proud of you! You must be very proud of you, too!

[SouthernBelle]

SouthernBelle, there's a really intense one sometime soon at Land Between the Lakes. I hear it even includes a 15% grade!

Silver and I pondered signing up for about 10 milliseconds

Come on down here & I'll take you up a 22%'er and not that short either. When I dl'd my info off my Garmin, it said max grade was 22% for yesterday, but it must have been short because I don't remember it.

[Mr. Bloom]

I copied this off of your blog:
THROW OFF everything that HINDERS and the sin that so easily entangles, and RUN with PERSEVERANCE the RACE marked out for me. Hebrews 12:1

And yesterday, I kept repeating that "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength".

Now, my sights are set on the Ride Across INdiana - RAIN. It's 164 miles from Terre Haute to Richmond.

When I dl'd my info off my Garmin, it said max grade was 22% for yesterday,

Tell me about your Garmin, since I'm a toy junkie. Is it one for your bike or a bigger one?

[SouthernBelle]

Garmin Edge 305, bike specific. Gadget-Queen here luvs it. Over in my century thread click on my link to the motion-based website and it will show SOME of what it does. I'm still learning it. You can also program in workouts, like intervals, courses, race against yourself on a previously done route. Fun, expensive toy.

[Mr. Bloom]

Over in my century thread click on my link to the motion-based website and it will show SOME of what it does.

I did...looks like Silver and I will have about $500 less cash in the account! Neat toys are bought in 2's around here!

[SouthernBelle]

What!? Silverson doesn't get one too!

Retail is $399, so even discounted it's gonna be more than 5. If you're gonna get it, get the whole 9 yards, HRM & cadence.

[Mr. Bloom]

What!? Silverson doesn't get one too!

SilverSon has more money than me! He can get his own!