Quote Originally Posted by Catrin View Post
I have changed my riding goals for this fall, instead of doing a 200k brevet in 3 weeks, I will ride a century before the winter.

I have found this "wall" at about 5-5.5 hours into my ride. I think it is more a time-in-saddle issue than an actual mileage thing - right now that is about 68-70 miles for me [...]
Catrin, I think you're making a very wise choice here, and I applaud your self-awareness!

As far as I can tell, most everyone attempting to ride very long distances (100+ mile) has a "wall" of one sort or another, and for many it seems to be at around the 60-70 mile mark. That could be one reason why metric centuries are so popular.

It's so easy to underestimate the physical and psychological barrier that one has to cross when transitioning from 60-70 mile rides to 100+ mile rides. From my own personal experience, and seeing others' experiences (first-hand and from ride reports), it's by no means a linear progression.

Granted, some people have an easier go of it, but I'll bet even the studliest have a hiccup or two transitioning from metric century distances to 100+ mile distances. Perhaps those studly folks hit their own walls transitioning from double metrics to double centuries. Bah.

I think you & everyone else who responded are quite right in that a lot of it is time in the saddle and nutrition, they definitely go hand in hand. Many people can wing it, nutrition-wise, up until around that 60 mile mark. Beyond that distance, you really need to figure out what works for you, and that takes trial & error, which takes time in the saddle.

There'll be plenty of other 200K brevets for you to go for once you've made it over that wall. And you will.