Yeah, I tend to agree with the other ladies - since everything else she was saying seemed to be complimentary, the "first century" question probably was not meant in a condescending way.

I appreciate hearing your perspective on this though....because a question like that is exactly the sort of question I might ask someone on a ride, and it's good for me to realize that it might not always be taken that way! I am forever sticking my foot in my mouth saying things that are easily taken in a way I didn't mean them, and I'm really trying to work on that.

Maybe a better question to start a chat would be something more along the lines of "have you done this ride before?" instead of "is this your first century?"