To ride... or not to ride... that is the question!

[Skierchickie]

I'll be the lone dissenter here.

October 19th is almost 3 weeks away. You could go for 60 miles next weekend, 80-85 (at a slower pace) the next, and be all set for 100 the weekend after that. I only say so because I just did it. I had only a handful of 40-50 milers in by mid-August. I did 60 one Sunday, 83.5 the next Sunday, and a solo 100 the following Saturday. Tired - sure. But no problem making it. Then I did shorter rides and 2 weeks later did 120. Definitely had to make sure to ride easy, but it was really no problem.

If you want to do a shorter one, or your back is questionalble, by all means do that. But if deep down you want the satisfaction of proving to yourself that you can do it, and you are healthy, then just do it in a smart way.

Fuel is very important along the way. I pop Gu or Shot Blocks every so often, along with a couple of Power Bars. And Heed. Of course, my hottest ride this summer was the 83.5, when it was almost 90 degrees, but most of my long ones have been in the upper 50s and 60s. That can made a huge difference.

Ultimately, do what you want to do, and have confidence in yourself. You are young and a strong rider - just don't injure yourself or blow yourself up trying to maintain a blistering pace over distances you aren't used to. And DON'T jump directly from 43 to 100!

Have fun!

And you don't have to have BF along to get your training in! If you want to do it, and he doesn't, then go for a long ride! He can just have supper waiting for you when you get back.

[arielmoon]

*hugs you*

The good thing is I can make the call the day of the ride. If I havent been able to get the miles in I can do the shorter one!

[wildhawk]

Great advice - I learned alot from reading this thread. Arialmoon: Lucky you for living and working in horse country - I love horses!! Take pics!! I would go for the 45 mile ride and do more if I felt good. I am signed up for a 50k this coming Sunday, but DH and I will do more if we are feeling good (Katluvr I will be looking for you at Withlacoochee - hope you are still planning on being there). I know a 50k is a small ride to some of you century riders, but it will be my first “long ride” to date. So far I have been doing about 50 or 60 miles a week. Arielmoon: Those hills will be tough in horse country. Driving them has taught me that. That having been said, DH knows how much I love those huge horse farms and he said that next year we can set that as a goal ride alongwith the Bok Tower Century and tour of Sebring. This year our big goal is the MS150 in May. Best of luck to you and hope that you have a great ride!

[arielmoon]

Great advice - I learned alot from reading this thread. Arialmoon: Lucky you for living and working in horse country - I love horses!! Take pics!! I would go for the 45 mile ride and do more if I felt good. I am signed up for a 50k this coming Sunday, but DH and I will do more if we are feeling good (Katluvr I will be looking for you at Withlacoochee - hope you are still planning on being there). I know a 50k is a small ride to some of you century riders, but it will be my first “long ride” to date. So far I have been doing about 50 or 60 miles a week. Arielmoon: Those hills will be tough in horse country. Driving them has taught me that. That having been said, DH knows how much I love those huge horse farms and he said that next year we can set that as a goal ride alongwith the Bok Tower Century and tour of Sebring. This year our big goal is the MS150 in May. Best of luck to you and hope that you have a great ride!

Thank you!! Where is that MS ride in May? Is it the Sea World one? I was wanting to do the St. Augustine/ Daytona one two weeks ago but BF never got the day off from work.

[wildhawk]

It’s the Breakaway to Key Largo ride out of Miami - looks like they will have the same route again for 2009.

Here’s the link:
http://bikefls.nationalmssociety.org...E_FLS_homepage

Here’s a link to a couple who have ridden it several times - lots of pics and info on their experience - they rode it on a tandem last year!
http://www.tlausser.com/MS150_2008/MS150_2008.htm

I hope you can do that ride with us! That would be AWESOME!! Of course we will be on our hybrids, sans panniers, so we will make slower time, but I am doing the ride in memory of my friend Joyce Sprung who died a few months ago. She had suffered from MS for many years but managed to put herself through the University of Wyoming, raise a daughter alone, and go on to become a counselor for the Wyoming MS Society. She was a major inspiration to me and a great friend. DH and I will be wearing a bandanna with her pic on it for the ride.

[arielmoon]

After much discussion I had pretty much decided to do the scenic 45. The key being that BF is in no way ready for 100 and we had planned to ride together.

However, although I did not ride longer today (It was incredibly windy and I was fighting it for 24 miles) it looks like BF is going to be exBF and I may just go for the 100.

[chicagogal]

I am so sorry that things aren't working out with BF, but and exBF is better than a bad BF!!!

You are strong rider, and I bet you'd be fine with the century - I say go for it (but maybe try to get a long ride in tomorrow or next weekend at a comfortable pace so that you know you can do it).

You probably won't be able to maintain the same, fast, pace you have been doing on your shorter rides. If you want to have fun, slow down a bit, and you'll be proud of yourself for having completed 100! You know you want to do!

[arielmoon]

I am so sorry that things aren't working out with BF, but and exBF is better than a bad BF!!!

You are strong rider, and I bet you'd be fine with the century - I say go for it (but maybe try to get a long ride in tomorrow or next weekend at a comfortable pace so that you know you can do it).

You probably won't be able to maintain the same, fast, pace you have been doing on your shorter rides. If you want to have fun, slow down a bit, and you'll be proud of yourself for having completed 100! You know you want to do!

Very true.... I have been very patient but I think it's time to acknowledge that he is not going to change and become a positive person.

I am going to talk to some of the bike shop guys on the group ride that I know are doing the century... I am sure they will look out for me.

I will try and ride 50 or more tomorrow.

And yeah, I really would like to do it. I dont think there is any shame in it if I cant finish but a real sense of accomplishment if I can.

It's all good!

Thanks for the encouragement!

*hugs*

[arielmoon]

Just rode 55! Lovely cool morning but again rather windy. I stopped at mile 17 at the farm where I work for a snack, potty break and to refill my water bottle. Also stopped for a minute around mile 30 to see if I could figure out the new creak in my crank or pedal. No joy.

My back started hurting at mile 42 and by mile 47 was more like a dull ache. I rode some the horse farm route (there are arrows on the road) and even rode the "killer hills" everyone talks about. Not bad at all. Started having some pinching between my shoulder blades around mile 49 and what felt like a stomach cramp. I may have been hungry. Anyway, I felt pretty good other than that but was very happy to make it home.

Averaged 17.5mph and probably could have taken it more easy I guess.