First Metric Century

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Yesterday, I rode a metric century (60+ miles) from the West side of Santa Cruz, to Watsonville (CA) and back for the first time . I went with my two cycling friends who ride the same speed as me, so did not have to rush to keep up. My longest ride before that was 52 miles (last week), but I usually ride 20-45 miles, 3 or 4 times a week. I am really excited that I was able to do this. I have been riding less than 2 years and am 58 years old.

It was sponsored by the U'ilani Foundation. They pay for alternative health care treatment for breast cancer patients. They called the ride 'Cycling Auntie's' although there were a few men. Since it was mostly women, it was a much more supportive ride with a metric century and 45 mile option. There were 4 food stops and a luau at the end. They tried to keep the route with as little elevation gain as possible, but it was still over 3400 feet because there are no flat routes here. I can't say enough about how thoughtful everything was. There was even a sweep and a sag wagon and fantastic food - all for a good cause. This was a trial run for a larger ride next year.

I discovered that I could really go farther than I thought I could when I am going at my speed and there are enough refueling breaks. I have been feeling discouraged when I ride with people who are faster than me and never stop. This really helped my self confidence.

[indysteel]

Great job! I'm glad your first metric was such a positive experience and for a great cause.

[Catrin]

Congratulations! This is one of those mile-stones that you will always remember (says she with an entire 11 months of cycling experience). I know my first metric is certainly embedded in my memory

Kudos to you!

[DarcyInOregon]

It sounds like your first metric was a really good ride, and for a worthy cause too. The charity rides go better when the event is well organized. And having that much elevation gain on your first metric is exceptional.

It does help to ride with cyclists who are at your own pace approximately. I know the advice is to bike with groups that are faster than us, but c'mon, in our 50s, just how much faster are we going to get? Where we can get better is in strength, power and cardio endurance, and them sometimes we get a really good ride, like when the wind isn't blowing hard and we are well rested, and we can fly at speeds over 18 mph for miles and miles, but mostly the average speed just goes up in tiny increments or stalls out completely. So stick with your cycling friends, ride solo when they are not available, and get out on your bike and keep on enjoying the miles.

Oh I can think of one thing for you to expect on your charity rides next year, and that is that you may start out with your friends at the beginning of the ride, but more rides than not, everyone disappears, and you might see a friend at a rest stop or maybe not. There are always cyclists at the side of the road peering back down the road, wondering where their friends are, but I just keep on going and don't waste time thinking that someone might be behind me. Sometimes I even end up with a slightly faster average speed on many of the rides, even if I come in after my cycling friends, because I may have spent more time in the Porta Potties than they did, but we are usually within a .5 mph average of each other, even if we end at different times.

[OakLeaf]

Yay! Way to go.

Re: riding with friends - On my first TOSRV I'd started out with a guy I rode with a lot, but I knew he was a little bit stronger than I. We got separated early the first day when he got ahead of me. It turned out that he had stopped at the first food stop - a detour of a couple of miles off the main route - while I had gone on, since I really didn't need any provisions so early in the ride. When we hadn't seen each other for a while, he started going slower than he normally would, trying to wait for me, and I was pushing hard, trying to catch up to him ... when he was behind me the whole time. He was staying with some friends Saturday night and I didn't have their contact information, so I never saw him again the whole weekend.

This was in '83, the year they still talk about in the brochure. 25 mph headwinds all day both days. Saturday was the first warm day we'd had all year, 85° and bright sunshine. Sunday brought rain and a high of about 45°. I was miserable toward the end of the day Sunday - even though I'd stopped at the LBS in Chillicothe, halfway through, and spent most of my remaining cash to buy their last remaining pair of rain pants. I remember stopping in the restrooms of the food stops and taking my shoes and gloves off, running the electric hand dryers, trying to get some feeling (besides pain) back into my fingers and toes. I was completely beat down by the wind. Late in the day, a few merciful strong riders were going back and pulling pacelines back in, and I was able to join one of these. The ONLY reason I finished that ride was because I knew I'd never live it down with my friend if I quit.

When I got back on Sunday, it turned out that my very fair-skinned, Irish-descended friend had gotten a horrible sunburn on Saturday and had to drop out of the ride. But I still got my first TOSRV finish.

[PamNY]

Congratulations! I am happy for you and inspired, too. I'd love to do a metric.