Century this W/E

[Rakekay]

lol! i've signed up for rides that i've actually had to get up at 12:30 a.m. to get there... yes... you read that right.... just after midnight!

I'm starting to feel like a wimp that I'm not getting up at the crack of dawn (or before) for the three-hour drive to my first century in two weeks -- I'm going down the night before and staying in a hotel!

[caligurl]

don't! the only reason we haven't done that on some of the rides.. is cuz of our "babies"! i won't kennel them and i won't leave them outside alone overnight! i will get up and feed them at odd hours (i can only imagine what is going through brie's head... my true "chow hound" when she's getting fed so early! she KNOWS when she's supposed to eat!) but i digress!

they stay outside rather than in their crates inside (too many hours when you figure 3+ driving there... 8 hours or more riding... 3+ hours driving home!

they are the reason we haven't done some other rides i REALLY want to do (like solvang) cuz they are just too far to drive to in one day!

so far our limit has been just over 3 hours (without traffic in the morning... we won't talk about he LA traffic when it's time to get home!) poor hubby gets stuck driving... i usally fall asleep about the time we hit the desert (and it's dark!)

[emily_in_nc]

don't! the only reason we haven't done that on some of the rides.. is cuz of our "babies"! i won't kennel them and i won't leave them outside alone overnight!

Yes, our pooch is exactly why we're not driving down tonight and staying in a motel so we don't have to get up so early (yes, to us, 5:30 is early - you're amazing!!) Pepper (our Boston Terrier) would have to go to the kennel, and it's just not worth it when the event is only a few minutes over an hour each way. We can't leave her outside - she's just not equipped to deal with the heat - so we have to hope she can hold her bladder long enough for our drive each way and Barry's century. He's pretty fast, so I expect we'll be back home in around 8.5-9 hours at most, so she should be okay. Pets are definitely an issue when considering events!

Emily

[trigurl]

THE CENTURY WAS GREAT! We had a bad headwind all day and it was a little cool, no sunshine, but gripping about the wind kept us busy we did it in 7:19, and could have been faster if that dang wind had stopped! (it was windy all day)

There were 7 rest stops, we decided to stop at each one for a few minutes, but actually passed up 2, we averaged 14.2mph and the ride ended up being 103.5 miles!

With the cool weather and having on shorts my knees ached some starting out then my hamstrings started hurting like they were going to cramp so thank goodness for the salt advise, I took a pinch by mouth and added some to my water, after about 30 miles or more they felt much better, but my right knee continued to hurt until the end. I believe the cold did it as I haven't ridden in cold weather and I have not had any problems with my knees!

This was the 1st Annual ride so it was pretty small - total of 80 ridders - 11 century riders, we know of 2 men that quit after 50 - they were from long island and didn't think the hills would bother them The people running the ride were very nice and all of them congratulated us on our first 100, it was just a great ride. I can't believe all the older people that were there! One lady was doing the 70 mile ride and I believe she was close to 70 herself! and was riding a mtn bike!

Anyway, after about 70 miles do ya'll get silly??? we laughed for miles over stupid things and made up stupid sayings but it got us through.

After the ride we got a massage and ate then came home very tired - we had to get up at 4:00a.m.! I did little to nothing Sunday, I didn't even want to look at the bike. I am not even sore except for the muscle right over each knee, and the creases of my legs, I think my chamois was a little too padded! thank goodness for bag balm!

I SAY IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT YOU CAN, the hills ARE our friends they make us stronger, proof?? I have only ridden over 50 miles at a time ONCE and that was 70 miles the w/e before the Century, but I climb hills all the time.

[Geonz]

Gee, where we are, it's "eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty, and pee whenever you can." Of course, when the corn's tall, that's really whenever!

Group of us doing a century this Sunday in Ottawa (IL), first one for many in the group. (When I read "first century in two weeks" I thought... oh, it's been two whole weeks since she did a century - that's hard core!")

[trigurl]

HEHEHEHE, that was kinda misleading! Actually if my riding buddy had felt more like it we would have done the 65 mile ride the next day! I didn't want to go back down there that early again by myself

[emily_in_nc]

Glad your century was so great trigurl! CONGRATULATIONS on your accomplishment!!!

My 50-miler was very good too. LOTS of hills but nice weather (around 80 with mixed sun/clouds, a bit humid). I averaged 15+ for most of it, but the four-mile drag into town (lots of traffic, lights, and road trash) brought it down to 14.9 - still, I am not complaining. Did I mention it was HILLY? About 3550' of climbing, more than I am used to a couple counties over.

I just kept repeating (as I grinded up the hills in my lowest gear, wishing I had a few more) "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger"....

Emily

[Trekhawk]

Trigurl - congratulations on your century. Hope when I eventually tackle one I feel as good as you do after.

[trigurl]

Way to go Emily! there are a "few" hills in NC I ride in hilly areas all the time so I was kinda nice to have thoses "speed bumps" instead of real hills there were 2 decent hills and they were long but we did it.