My first Half Century

**allabouteva** · 03-08-2006, 08:18 PM

It actually was the local Rotary Club, arnaew. But after the ride, they had lots of brochures of other imminent rides.

We have the bicycle NSW website, that lsits all the local clubs that do rides, but not the full on organised ones. I just bought a bike (a nice pink Orbea), and the LBS said that they have rides for newish riders every Sunday. I think I'll try that for a while.

But geez, I don't know how you do it in the heat! And did you say Lil was 82???

I'm shocked and amazed and humbled!!!

**arnaew** · 03-08-2006, 11:38 PM

Lil came in about 30 minutes behind me, with the SAG wagon following her for her last 30k. She was quite cheerful when she turned up and pleased that she had finished. Apparently she has been ill a lot over the past year, and wasn't able to ride for most of that time. This was her longest ride since her illness, so everyone was looking out for her. She's apparently been riding for years, and has been quite impatient to get back on the bike!
Humbling moment: I passed Lil at about the 30k mark - she'd been ahead of me until that time. Why did I pass her? She had to stop because her chain came off. Probably wouldn't have caught her up otherwise. Sigh.
A

**Nanci** · 03-09-2006, 03:57 AM

Isn't it a shock to find out Centuries are really 102, 104, etc? But I think after it happens to you the first time, and you aren't all keyed in on _100_ miles, and you know it could be a bit further, then it's not such a shock. It's 95% mental, anyway. I abandonned a Century last fall at 104 miles. It was cold, raining, super hilly course, the guy I was riding with and I couldn't follow the course correctly, (why do clubs mark courses with orange, choice of highway/utility company markings?) and when we looped back on a five mile section we had just finished, and it appeared the arrows were sending us back through it again, we were both like, that's enough, and got out the cell phones. We could _see_ the point we were trying to get to, marked by a large tower, but we were just _done_. Boy did it feel good to get in the car and strip off my soaking wet clothes and crack open a choc milk and have BF drive home!

Nanci

**Lise** · 03-09-2006, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by Nanci

Isn't it a shock to find out Centuries are really 102, 104, etc? But I think after it happens to you the first time, and you aren't all keyed in on _100_ miles, and you know it could be a bit further, then it's not such a shock. It's 95% mental, anyway. Nanci

Thanks for posting that, Nanci--I thought these rides were pretty precise. Last summer's metric century was 66 miles, not 62.13 miles, and it felt like the last 3.87 miles were a steady uphill grind! In Illinois! I mean, where do you find a steady uphill grind in Illinois?

Now I know, and will be more relaxed about it next time.

And, allabouteva, congrats on your first century! It's quite a feeling of accomplishment. I'm looking forward to doing my first 100 miler--with all the knowledge here, I'll be well prepared.

**Nanci** · 03-09-2006, 06:03 AM

You should see how upset people get if they don't get the full hundred miles, though, like Six Gap last year. People were going out and riding two more miles so they could say they did 100!

I was doing a ride by myself a couple Saturdays ago, scouting part of the 400k route of this coming Saturday. I missed a turn, and figured it out about two miles later. So to back track would add on 4 miles, total, or I could short cut and get back on course, but miss the part I wanted to see. I had to have this little mental arguement with myself- (I'd ridden about 90-100 miles, already) the whole point of the ride was to familiarize myself, in daylight, with a part I would be riding at night. Like, if I'm doing a 110 mile ride, an additional four miles is really going to kill me...I went back and did the correct course.

Nanci

**allabouteva** · 03-09-2006, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Nanci

Isn't it a shock to find out Centuries are really 102, 104, etc? ... I abandonned a Century last fall at 104 miles.
Nanci

Nanci, I'd feel mega ripped off, if I did 104 miles in a Century and didn't 'finish' officially!

What's with the officials, can't they measure properly, or make a course more accurate! Maybe a mile or two at the max but FOUR miles over!!

Lise, I'm a bit embarrased to admit, that I accomplished only a metric half century, so still have a ways to go. But considering I only started cycling seriously last Oct, I'm pretty thrilled with my progress!

**SadieKate** · 03-09-2006, 11:20 AM

The route planners are at the mercy of the roads which are already built. It is a rare ride that is exactly a metric (62 miles) or a century (100 miles).

**Trekhawk** · 03-09-2006, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by arnaew

Last Sunday I rode the first event; 80k through the Adelaide Hills, from Mt Torrens through Mt Pleasant (from a cyclist's perspective, appallingly mis-named - LOL!), Crick's Hill, Martin's Hill, Forreston, Gumeracha and Kenton Valley. Aaaargh!!! Temp was about 36F, it took me about 7 hours, and I was completely knackered when I finished (second to last - last was Lil, who is 82!). It's hills, hills, hills, and when the Big Whoever was drawing them, they forgot about the down bits! Just up, then across, up then across - all the down bits were on the drive home. I have to figure out hills - because I've registered for the series and the next one is 100k in the same area (April), then it's 120k (June),150k (Aug) finishing with 200k in Sept.
A

Hey arnaew I use to live in Gumeracha (not next to the giant rocking horse though I do have some taste). LOL about Mount Pleasant not the prettiest place, pretty rough roads there too.
Congratulations on riding those hills in that heat. SA not the coolest place in summer thats for sure. Looking forward to hearing about your next SA adventure.

**allabouteva** · 03-09-2006, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Trekhawk

... in Gumeracha (not next to the giant rocking horse though I do have some taste

I remember that Giant Rocking Horse! It was there when I was a Uni student and went to a student convention in Cudley Creek, and we toured around (about 25 yrs ago). I confess my SA geography is not so great, even though my brother lives in Uraidla in the Hills. Oh so pretty! Visited there last year about August... Adelaide and SA is a place I wish I visited more, have been only 3 times. Clare Valley is supposed to be a great place to cycle. Hope to get there one day!

**Trekhawk** · 03-09-2006, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by allabouteva

I remember that Giant Rocking Horse! It was there when I was a Uni student and went to a student convention in Cudley Creek, and we toured around (about 25 yrs ago). I confess my SA geography is not so great, even though my brother lives in Uraidla in the Hills. Oh so pretty! Visited there last year about August... Adelaide and SA is a place I wish I visited more, have been only 3 times. Clare Valley is supposed to be a great place to cycle. Hope to get there one day!

SA is a great place. I was based there for ten years and its where I met my husband. We laugh about it because Im from Perth and he is from Cairns so its like we met in the middle. Uraidla is a very pretty spot , how lucky you are to have someone to visit there. The Clare Valley is very pretty I wasnt cycling when we went there but Im sure it would be a good spot and you could nip into a winery or two along the way.

**Lise** · 03-09-2006, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by allabouteva

Lise, I'm a bit embarrased to admit, that I accomplished only a metric half century, so still have a ways to go. But considering I only started cycling seriously last Oct, I'm pretty thrilled with my progress!

Embarassed? No! I nearly croaked on the metric century I did--before that the longest I'd ever ridden was 26 miles in a triathlon. I wish I'd done shorter distances first. Be thrilled! It's thrilling!

Take care, L.

**allabouteva** · 03-09-2006, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lise

Embarassed? No! I nearly croaked on the metric century I did--before that the longest I'd ever ridden was 26 miles in a triathlon. I wish I'd done shorter distances first. Be thrilled! It's thrilling!

Take care, L.

You went from 26 miles to a metric century!!

I'm not worthy !!
<getting off the floor after bowing down on hands and knees>

You're a legend, Lise.

eva

**Runnin Rat** · 03-09-2006, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Nanci

- if I'm doing a 110 mile ride, an additional four miles is really going to kill me.

I have to laugh at this one! It is so true it is 95% mental! I had a simular experience with a training run for a marathon. My friend mapped out a 18 mile run. When I arrived at her house she said "Well, it is actually more like 19" hehe. I didn't find it funny! I planned for 18, that was all I was going to do, like the extra mile made any big difference!

**Lise** · 03-11-2006, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by allabouteva

You're a legend, Lise.

eva

Well, in my own mind, at least!

**allabouteva** · 03-12-2006, 02:29 AM

So Lise,

How come you went from 26 miles to a metric century? Were you confident? Or nervous?

Yesterday, one week after my 50kms organised ride, I did 44kms just casually with DH, and then backed it up with a 19km MTB ride in the afternoon, so I know I've got stamina to do more. But 100km

dunno!

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