Getting ready for a Metric Century

[7rider]

MDHS...
Do you do your training rides alone? How often did you stop, get off the bike, walk around, eat??
Will you be doing the metric alone? Even if you go by yourself...for a group ride you are never really "alone." I think if you can do 42 miles in pretty snotty weather solo....you can handle a group metric with stops and people.
Personally, I get really bored on 40 mile solo rides, which makes those rides painful. I find the social aspect of group rides help make the miles go by much more quickly. You (1) focus on stop to stop, rather than "OMG, I gotta do 62 miles!!" and (2) chat with folks, ride group to group, get on the wheel (with their okay) of a group moving at a nice clip. There are sort of "rides within the ride" that keep you motivated.
I think you'll do fine.

[HillSlugger]

MDHS...
Do you do your training rides alone? How often did you stop, get off the bike, walk around, eat??
Will you be doing the metric alone?

I've been doing all of training rides alone. I know when I ride alone that I don't do well at laying back and taking it easy. I definitely need company for that. I'm not riding with anyone, but hopefully I won't be alone. I have no idea how many will sign up for this length. It replaces their old 75 miler; last year there were less than 20 on that ride. Hopefully this will be a more popular choice. It was my suggestion that they make this change so I'm hoping it will be a success!

I generally try to stop about once every hour. On Saturday I stopped at 13, 26, and 35 miles to eat, drink, walk, pee. The rest stops for the metric are at 14, 22, 28, 42, and 55 so that should work out pretty well for me. I don't understand why there's a 22 and a 28; I'm thinking I'd skip the 22 unless I'm having issues.

[OakLeaf]

You'll be fine. There's so much added motivation from having other people around. Just take it easy (although really, with the miles you have under your belt already, it doesn't sound like you NEED to take it easy, just it might be more fun if you do). It sounds like it's a really well-supported ride with so many food stops!

[alpinerabbit]

What she said.

I usually ramp up from sub-50 K to 100-and-a-bit in the week in Mallorca mid-March, with only a few rides before. This year I actually had like 400K (trainer&outdoor) or so in my legs before Mallorca, last year, waaay less.

Usually, that is in the past 2 years. Like I'm this seasoned cyclist.

[HillSlugger]

By the way, the day before this last 42 miler I did a bike commute (Bike to Work Day) 20 miles round trip. How might that factor in to predicting my readiness for the metric?

[LBTC]

Since I'm just 6 months into being well again after 2 lost seasons to illness, I haven't commited to doing the 100K at next Sunday's metric century, or the 56k. I'm leaving that decision for that morning, depending on a lot of factors.

But I'm glad I read your thread! I had been thinking I would not be stopping on the group ride! I hadn't even thought about it.... Throw a few stops in, and I feel even more confident about the 100K!! And yesterday was my longest ride yet this year - the 56 k route for next week's ride. It was no problem at all, even with the wrist splint!

Oh, and the 22 and 28 mile stops may be so close together because of terrain - perhaps there is a hill or two in there?

I'll let you know how mine goes.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[HillSlugger]

I got out today and did another 40 miler. Again, it was windy but at least today it wasn't all headwind. It was still difficult, and I'm having a shorts or saddle issue that kicks in after 30 miles. I've got one more long ride (50 miles) next Saturday to try to get it sorted out. I'm riding on a Terry Liberator Race Gel. My race bike has the same saddle, but without the gel. My commuter has a Terry Liberator Gel. I'm thinking of trying the commuter's saddle but bring the race saddle along on the ride to switch off to if I have to.

Any suggestions or wisdom?