My First Century

[ridenread]

Well it ended up being a metric plus 10.
I had a flat two miles into the ride. replaced the tube but had a small hole in the tire. Managed to get it OK to ride and figured I could get to the first rest stop at mile 30. Only had a hand pump so wasn't able to fully inflate the tire.

So I rode the first 30 miles with a soft underinflated tire with no sign of a SAG wagon anywhere.

Fortunately there was menchanical assistance offered at the rest stop and I was able to get a brand new tire.( at no cost, I was pleasantly surprised)

The new tire felt great, didn't realize how much harder I had been working until I got to ride on the new tire and seemed so much easier.

I made it to the second rest stop with no problem. Felt great, a little tired and knew I really needed to eat. Unfortunately I had a really hard time getting any solid food down. I managed some orange wedges and a Clif Bar. Filled my water bottles and headed out for the next stage of the ride.

Between miles 50 and 60 things started to go downhill for me. I started to feel very nauseous and shaky. Tried to keep drinking fluids. Did some GU gel and later some GU chews. I had to stop a few times between 60 and 70 miles because I felt like I was going to vomit. Not a good feeling.

I got to the third rest stop at mile 72 and knew there was no way I could continue. Which was unfortunate because the last 30 miles is my favorite route to ride. The ride ended a few miles from my house and the route it took is my favorite ride. I tried to convinve myself that becuase I know the ride I should be able to do it. But when I stood up to get back on my bike I started to shake allover and felt pretty bad I called my husband to come and get me.

So while I am happy that I made it 72 miles which is the furthest I have ever ridden I am also disappointed that I couldn't finish.

But there is always next year to try this one again.

[Sadie]

Congratulations! Those are challenges rides and you did great!

[Tri Girl]

Congrats!!! I think having a flat that early does a job on your mental state and that can sure take it out of you physically for sure (riding on a soft tire sure doesn't help matters any).
You did GREAT! Congrats!

[Rosie road]

Just completed my very first century, 102 miles in just over 6 hours. I feel really excited, and actually ended feeling pretty good. It was great seeing all the participants and the span of ages, athletic experience, the range of bikes etc. There were 1900 riders, and 3 different distances, but a large number did the full 1 0 0!

Very exciting. Hooray! Had to brag somewhere!!!

[tulip]

Congratulations to you both!

Ridenred, you probably figured this out already, but it seems like you did not eat enough early on, and perhaps did not drink enough either (although that's hard to tell from your ride report). A rule that works for me is to drink every 5-10 minutes, and eat something--a bite of powerbar is what I usually do--every 15 minutes. I always eat at all rest stops, too. Did you eat at the first one?

Keep extra hydrated for the next few days--you'll be recovering for a while.

[ClockworkOrange]

ridenread
Hey I am in awe of you, your account of the ride tired me out but you did so well, 72 miles is great, hope the knees are OK now.

Rosie road
Too right you are excited and every reason to brag, well done.

tulip
You are always there with encouragement and useful advice, what most of us need at times.

Clock

[ridenread]

Rosie Road were you out at TFCE. That is where I was. Beautiful ride wasn't it. I had a Super Grover jersey if you were one of the hundreds who passed me.
I thought I was drinking enough but apparently not. I went through 120 oz in 5 hours. I don't think I ate enough to compensate for the calories I was burning. I still felt pretty sick most of last night and didn't feel like I could get enough water into me.
This morning I feel surprisingly good except for a nasty headache which I am hoping will resolve with some caffeine.
Overall I am pleased with my 72 miles in 5 hours. I will need to figure out a better eating and drinking plan for next year
Rosie Road I am close to the starting point of the ride and ride 14-15 miles an hour if you are ever looking for a riding buddy. Although if you finished in 6 hours you are probably too fast for me.

[spindizzy]

I also just did my first imperial century yesterday. Will post that in a different thread. Congratulations to you both Ridenread and Rosieroad. Long distance riding is a totally different animal.

[Rosie road]

Thanks for the accolades. To Ridenread: I sometimes feel like I ride as an excuse to eat without guilt. I try to eat and drink throughout the ride pretty much every 10-15 minutes. If you don't feel good digesting (I've experimented with different bars to see which ones are the easiest to process for me) while you ride (particularly if you ride in the drops a lot compressing your stomach) the gels work well as a quick calorie and therefore energy boost. I also use HEED (Hammer) in my water bottle and carry small packets to make sure that every 2 hours or so I add another shot to keep electrolytes up. You can also experiment with when to conserve and when to push. It's good to build in short recovery periods in the ride even though others are whizzing past.

Sad watching the daylight shrink and my weekly riding totals shrinking too!

Any Aussie readers, I envy you right now!!

[Eden]

I thought I was drinking enough but apparently not. I went through 120 oz in 5 hours. I don't think I ate enough to compensate for the calories I was burning.

You may have had enough to drink - depending on the conditions, how hot it was, how much you were sweating this may have been enough liquid - but it definitely sounds like you were not eating - and for some people (me included!) a lot of liquid without solids = sloshing stomach = nausea. It's like getting seasick without having to get on a boat... combine that with some bonking (which it totally sounds like also happened to you - shaking and nausea) and you've a recipe for feeling really sick. It unfortunately builds on itself too - drink too much, start feeling sick, don't want to eat, get even sicker...

Don't beat yourself up - finding your perfect ride nutrition can be difficult and everyone bonks some time.

[DebbieDowner]

Congratulations on your ride, I think riding 72 miles is amazing and you are smart to know when to stop.

I do have a question as somebody who would like to do a century ride. What is the longest ride you should have while training for a century?

When I train for marathons my longest run pre race is 22 miles?

Thanks for the help.