I just did my first century a week ago!

It was on a ride with friends. We rode though beautiful Unaweep Canyon near Grand Junction, CO (western CO). This canyon is unique in that it has two mouths, hence a divide in the middle. Some of the friends just rode to the divide and turned around. My bf John and I decided to ride to Gateway, the town at the other end of the canyon (downhill!). It was 44 miles to Gateway, had lunch there, and then rode back, and rode a few more miles to make it to 100. I just checked the map and the divide in the canyon is about 2400 ft higher than the mouths of the canyon. I did a bit of climbing! (4800 ft of climbing total). I have quite the granny gear on my road bike (by request). I have a 12-34 cassette; a 30-34 lowest gear, which I use a lot. We have a few hills here!