I've perused the old threads (plus Velo's more recent thread), and I'm trying to put everything together. Comments? Suggestions?


  • Don't go out too hard, too fast. Learned this one from the first century attempt - didn't have much of a choice, but I did feel the effects of it. Can someone help me quantify that? What does "not too hard" feel like?
  • Try not to get too worked up/tense/stressed out - I think this might have been another one learned from the last attempt. You expend more energy when stressed. There are worse things than sagging in or taking a shorter route.
  • Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Ride your own ride.
  • Just focus on the next stop.
  • Keep the rest stops relatively short.
  • Beating the heat - utilizing arm coolers, a Camelbak (which works for me), and I'll bring freezer bags to fill with ice (which will probably get stuffed in the jersey)
  • Nutrition - Powerade in the bottles (frozen the night before), and I'll bring a few snacks with me to supplement the fruit and such at the rest stops. Honey Stinger Chews worked pretty well for me today. I had a fantastic ride powered by donut holes, a bag of which will likely end up stuffed into a jersey pocket. I tend to do better with softer, less crunchy foods. As for protein, I'm trying to figure that one out. It'll be hot out, so anything like eggs or meat would be a bad idea. I'm thinking about a Rice Krispie treat type snack packed with Kashi Go Lean and nut butters (I'll test that recipe out Saturday). Any other protein ideas that don't require refrigeration or get nasty in the heat - I love Snickers, for example, but I'm not sure that I'm going to want one that at best has been sitting in my top tube bag all day (at worst, it's been in my jersey pocket and is REALLY melted and nasty).
  • Enjoy it! This is supposed to be fun, right?


What have I missed?