First Century & Flying Solo

[indigoiis]

I think you will enjoy it more riding solo. Just break it up into chowable sections; four 25 mile rides with ten minute breaks (no longer than ten minutes) seems to be a good breakdown for a lot of folks - and was recommended to me here prior to my first century.

I did the tour de cure in May alone. I liked it better. I kept choosing little packs of guys to catch up to. That kept my speed up and kept my confidence up - if I could keep up with a pack of guys, even if only for a few miles - I can do anything.

Also, when and if you feel lonely, and I don't think you will, think of all of us TE gals cheering you along! We'll be thinking about you!

Enjoy it!

Indy

[indysteel]

I wouldn't worry about riding all or part of it alone. There will be plenty of other riders to hook up with or, if you're like me, you'll enjoy at least a few miles of solitude.

I tend to need food every 20 miles or so. For longer rides, I use a top tube bag and place some bite size chunks of food, e.g., Payday candybars, Shot Blocs, that I can nibble on between rest stops. At rest stops, I usually eat at least half of a banana and a cookie or two. My stomach isn't particularly fussy, but I don't like the consistency of gels. At lunch, I usually eat a PB&J sandwich and something salty like chips or trail mix.

If I were you, I'd try to eat a bit more "real" food along the way and not rely exclusively on gels. When my stomach is empty of solid food, it starts to bother me and make me feel even hungrier than I really am.

I try to drink a 2 to 1 ratio of water and Cytomax, although I never seem to drink enough. I try to take a sip of something every 5 minutes on long rides, but I get off track and never seem to drink enough.

Finally, half the battle regarding nutrition and hydration for a long ride starts before you get on the bike. Make sure you are plenty hydrated in the days leading up to the ride. I like to drink a big thing of water right when I get up the morning of the ride. Yes, it means going to the bathroom more frequently, but I'd rather do that than get dehydrated. I don't do much "carb loading," but I do eat a balanced dinner and breakfast.

Good luck and have fun!

[OakLeaf]

I try to take a sip of something every 5 minutes on long rides, but I get off track and never seem to drink enough.

One thing that helped me when I was first learning to hydrate properly, was to take a drink every time I thought about water. See a ditch by the side of the road? Drink. Wonder about whether you can swim well enough to do a triathlon? Drink. Hear "Proud Mary" coming out of someone's car radio (rollin' on the river)? Drink.

Kind of a back-door way of learning to listen to my body, but it worked for me, and now I don't even have to think about it.