How long did it take you to do your first Century?

[Geonz]

I think four years... and it took seven + hours, but it was basically fun. Some of the parts into the wind were tiring. Being on a 30 pound hybrid made it harder - but people were really supportive (it was a three-loop route and I started at the VERY beginning so people were passing me a lot ). At what might have been a critically boring part, somebody tucked in behind me - which was a first for me; ya don't get drafted on when you're going 14 mph on a hybrid too often. He'd go by me on the downhills (smoother tires) and tuck in on the uphills... and yes, he was a parasite but, on the other hand, my biggest foe at that point was the TEDIUM, not the pedaling, and, welp, I'm a sucker for having my ego primed - and frankly, I didn't really know *how* to draft behind him. .
THey're a lot easier on lighter bikes :-)
Training... I was riding 150-200 miles/week because that was my level of addiction that summer, so I wasn't formally "training" but I was pretty much ready for it. I was unemployed and free-lancing, and I figured that this might be the last time in my life that the fates would let me be in such good shape, so I pushed for it. SNork!!! Now the addiction has me heading for another 8000 mile year...