Things you wish you knew when training/riding your first century

[zoom-zoom]

Have a little baggy with some advil and a tums or two in it. Lifesaver if needed.

Skip the NSAIDs. Really. Kidneys are your friend. Renal failure is not.

[blue_angel]

I wrote all of my observations in this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=43726

[Becky]

What Withm said. Do not underestimate the power of constant wind.

Eat and drink early and often, and bring some of your own snacks, just in case. Refill your bottles every chance you get. Bring some cash for stops, just in case.

Extra chamois cream in a packet or travel tub can be a godsend, especially if it's very humid or raining. Same thing with sunscreen.

Be prepared to change your own flats or fix minor mechanicals. It can be a long wait for the SAG wagon.

Have fun!

[bluebug32]

I learned to not stop too much and to be careful not to eat too much at the rest stops. Grap something, pee, and then get back on the bike quickly.

Also, don't stress out if you can't sleep the night before. You'll be running on adrenaline that day and you'll sleep like a baby the night after.

Regardless of how much you train, everyone seems to hit a point where dread sets in. The legs are tired, you're mentally tired and the damn thing is not over yet! For me, it was mile 80. I rode with two friends and luckily we all hit the wall at different points, so we could talk each other down.

[ny biker]

I don't remember the wind being a constant problem the first time I did the Sea Gull. Though there were windy sections, and there was a gust as I was crossing the bridge back from Assateague that blew me sideways pretty hard.

At the risk of sounding obsessed with food -- you'll also want to be careful about what you eat for dinner the night before. For me, having Mexican food before my first century was not a good idea. OTOH a huge bland meal at Cracker Barrel works great for me. You want something filling but easy on your digestive system.

It's harder to control your meals if you're staying in a hotel before the ride. I've been known to sneak a toaster into the hotel room so I can have waffles for my pre-ride breakfast. It's usually easier if you can eat something like oatmeal or cold cereal, if there is a microwave and fridge in the room.

Okay I think I'm done with food advice.

I've found that having a good song stuck in your head can make it easier to get through the tough parts of the ride. If necessary I will force myself to have a song stuck in my head by just focusing on one to keep my mind occupied. Of course that's if you're riding alone; if you've got someone to chat with, it helps the miles go by. If you're on your own and you find yourself riding at the same pace as a stranger, try striking up a conversation.

[blue_angel]

I've found that having a good song stuck in your head can make it easier to get through the tough parts of the ride. If necessary I will force myself to have a song stuck in my head by just focusing on one to keep my mind occupied. Of course that's if you're riding alone; if you've got someone to chat with, it helps the miles go by. If you're on your own and you find yourself riding at the same pace as a stranger, try striking up a conversation.

I actually wore earphones the whole time and listened to music. I probably wasn't supposed to, but I always ride listening to music and it makes all the difference. Especially when Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills" came on as I was climbing the largest hill of the day!

[skywalkerbeth]

Thanks for the info everyone! I'm plugging away. Because I was going 30 this morning I packed a breakfast bar and stopped at mile 20 to eat it.

Question:

I have exactly 10 more weeks to train. Week 11 is the actual ride. I didn't ride the first two wkds of July (hiking trip to Norway, so I was exercising daily just not biking) and then last weekend I didn't ride outside (TOO HOT!!).

So I've had one wkd in July where I did 22 miles one day, 10 the other... and then this morning I did 30 miles.

Meaning: 11 weeks out and I'm only at 30 miles. Should I be worried?

I think I will do 30 miles next wkd, two days... and then each Saturday add 5 miles per day and do that one day, with half of that the next day (Sunday) each week. By the end of Sept I should be at 70 miles and then Oct 7 I'll do 80 and be done with it. Is that a good idea or am I bumping up too quickly?

I mostly only ride Sat and Sun although I am adding a few gym workouts during the week. Yoga and probably non-spinning class indoor cycling.