how hard IS a century?

[DDH]

I learned a lot from this thread too. Thanks for posting it.

You girls who can ride all these miles just ROCK!! You know that right.

I so want to get to the point to be able to do this someday. I just think a lot of weight has to come off first.

[Geonz]

One thing from the position of somebody who's been at those sag stops: if there's running water there, fill up the ol' camelBak... if not, try to do that somewhere where there's running water. A few of the big drains and suddenly you're running a rest stop with no water, calling the sag wagon and hoping they get there soon...

[lynnepin]

The goal is to consume about 40 – 60 grams of carbs/hour when riding.

Normally, this is about 1 or 2 helpings of goo/hour.

A cliff bar has about 48 grams of carbs.

A Gatorade has about 40 grams of carbs.

In addition, consume 1- 2 bottles of water/hour. More if it is very hot.

[Starfish]

On nutrition, I would also add that a little fat can help for the LONG haul of the day. The trick is to take it in VERY small bits so it doesn't slow you down. I like a couple bites of a payday bar, which has higher fat than energy bars. I also like to have a few almonds here and there.

[jobob]

I learned a lot from this thread too. Thanks for posting it.

You girls who can ride all these miles just ROCK!! You know that right.

I so want to get to the point to be able to do this someday. I just think a lot of weight has to come off first.

Hey Donna, we all have to start somewhere!
Here's a post of mine from Jan 1, 2004, with my goals for that year:

- Ride a metric century, either the Cinderella Classic at the end of March, or perhaps sooner than that, do the full length & back of the American River bike trail near Sacramento.

- Get to the point where a 50-60 mi ride isn’t a big deal for me. I'm about at that point with a 30 mile ride, so there's hope.

- Go by the 15 mph speed limit signs on the paths I ride without wistfully thinking “yeah I wish!”. At the very least, I'd like to be able to keep up with my husband (or maybe even start pushing *him*, heh).

- Meet the Bay Area members on this list (and, if I'm really lucky, learn from Kim how to tape handlebars)

- Maybe, maybe, maybe do a 100 mile century ride this year. A girl can dream.

Happy new year,
- Jo.

Some of these things took me more than a year to accomplish (like, getting faster than my husband), but I did, eventually.

[li10up]

One more opinion on hydration packs-
If you are going on a well supported ride it's my opinion that you don't need the Camelbak. Why carry all that extra weight when you don't have to. If the rest stops are spaced 10 miles apart then 2 bottles should be plenty to get you from one stop to the next. Now, if you don't want to stop that's a different story. But taking 3 minutes off the bike every 10 miles after the first 30 miles is a good idea IMO.

[KSH]

One more opinion on hydration packs-
If you are going on a well supported ride it's my opinion that you don't need the Camelbak. Why carry all that extra weight when you don't have to. If the rest stops are spaced 10 miles apart then 2 bottles should be plenty to get you from one stop to the next. Now, if you don't want to stop that's a different story. But taking 3 minutes off the bike every 10 miles after the first 30 miles is a good idea IMO.

I do that if I don't care about having cold water.

I have been on some supported rides where they have ice at the rest stops, and I pack my Camelbak (CB) with ice and water. I have cold water until the next rest stop. Cold water on a 100 degree day is a life saver!

Although, all of my long rides this year have been non-supported, so I needed it to carry the extra water.

[li10up]

KSH, have you tried the insulated bottles by Polar? If you fill them full of ice and then your water/sports drink it will stay cold for a long time (over an hour)...even in 90+ degree heat. If you freeze them they will stay cold even longer. I HIGHLY recommend them. I too am not a fan of warm drinks...won't drink them unless absolutely necessary...yuk! Long unsupported rides do call for a Camelbak unless there are convenience stores along the way.

I like hydration packs for mtn biking but prefer bottles on the road. For me, having a pack strapped to my back while riding on hot pavement makes me feel even hotter. I need the air circulating around me. Whatever works for you is what you should use though.

[Crankin]

I used a Camelbak on my (flat and very windy) century last year. I had Accelerade in my bottles. There were only 2 real supported rest stops, although there were stores along the way. I found that I wasn't insterested in or couldn't eat what they had there for food(I am allergic to peanuts, so no pbjs for me). I ate maybe 2 or 3 Clif bars and shot Blocks and a couple of bananas. It probably wasn't quite enough, but i can barely eat anything during long rides. The temp. went down about 20 degrees in a horrible rain storm at the end and I was glad I had the Shot Blocks then. The ride took us 6 hours and 35 minutes, despite the last 15 miles being torture because of the weather.

[indigoiis]

I used a Camelbak on my (flat and very windy) century last year. I had Accelerade in my bottles. There were only 2 real supported rest stops, although there were stores along the way. I found that I wasn't insterested in or couldn't eat what they had there for food(I am allergic to peanuts, so no pbjs for me). I ate maybe 2 or 3 Clif bars and shot Blocks and a couple of bananas. It probably wasn't quite enough, but i can barely eat anything during long rides. The temp. went down about 20 degrees in a horrible rain storm at the end and I was glad I had the Shot Blocks then. The ride took us 6 hours and 35 minutes, despite the last 15 miles being torture because of the weather.

This is the one I am doing this year.
So I am glad for this information!

[Starfish]

Long unsupported rides do call for a Camelbak unless there are convenience stores along the way.

One other option, if your bike as the mounts for it, is to carry a 3rd bottle. I do that on longer unsupported rides (on the bottom of the down tube). There are also those bottle mounts that go on the back of the seat...I've never had one of those.

I have a camelbak, and used it when I first started riding, but I find I dislike having my back surface all covered up.

[sundial]

If you are going on a well supported ride it's my opinion that you don't need the Camelbak. Why carry all that extra weight when you don't have to. If the rest stops are spaced 10 miles apart then 2 bottles should be plenty to get you from one stop to the next.

I really don't mind cycling with my CamelBak because I would rather drink my cold water than whatever is available at the rest stops. Also, I would rather carry my own fuel than gamble on what's available--or not. I like to be organized and prepared for stuff.

[maillotpois]

Wow - Jo, reading your 2004 goals is fantastic (since I didn't know you then, and only know you now as the long distance queen you've become!)

I've gone both ways on the Camelback. There's a 110 or so mile race we do where I use it so I don't have to stop and re-fill bottles. Aside from that, I find bottles generally sufficient and a Camelback can get cumbersome. When I was first learning to ride a road bike, I did like being able to drink from a camelback without messing around reaching for bottles. Now it's just second nature.

ETA: And yes, I did notice the comment about the haagen dasz bar and yes: EEEWW!! I love ice cream but not DURING a ride!!!

[Blueberry]

I learned a lot from this thread too. Thanks for posting it.

You girls who can ride all these miles just ROCK!! You know that right.

I so want to get to the point to be able to do this someday. I just think a lot of weight has to come off first.

I agree - this is a great thread!

I just wanted to give you some encouragement on the weight issue - I won't admit how much I weigh, but I need to lose a LOT. I waited trying to lose weight and holding off riding. I'm doing MUCH longer distances now. I've not really lost weight (a lot of it has to do with my job), but I *am* meeting my distance goals. Our very own runningmommy is the one who got me to stop waiting and just get out there, and it was GREAT advice. I don't weigh what I want to, but I'm living my life!

[sundial]

I so want to get to the point to be able to do this someday. I just think a lot of weight has to come off first.

Don't let your weight stop you from training for a century. You would be amazed how many miles you'll log in a matter of weeks. Riding is such a release for me, a real stress buster. I really enjoy starting the day with a good ride. It keeps me balanced and prepared for the demands of the day.