1st- CONGRATS ON YOUR 1ST CENTURY! DESPITE THE ELEMENTS YOU PERSISTED! GOOD JOB!!!!

Now for some suggestions to make you more comfortable:

We don't talk about it much and I don't see much on organized or other rides, BUT, I highly recommend that you do some stretching at rest stops. It doesn't have to be much, BUT it will make a big difference.

Stretch those quads- I just do it for 10 seconds on each leg a couple of times while holding on to a tree, fence, table, whatever. (This may be a little painful at first so don't overextend the stretch.After a few repeats you should feel much better!) I never stretch before I am warmed up- just during rides. I also do this stretch after the ride and when I get home and am in the warm shower.

Ditto for your hamstrings- I don't do this one as often as I should, but it does help.

Back stretching is good if your back is bothering you on a long ride. I've also discovered that by strengthening my ab muscles, my back doesn't hurt anymore on long rides. I just did a double metric (actually 127.5 miles) and didn't have any problems with my back at all! (I have, at times had to take Ibuprofren to ease the pain). The only thing I've done differently is ab exercises.