Once You Ride A Century It All Changes!

[pll]

Just in case, 100 miles still seems daunting to me. But 100km seem very reasonable (in warmer weather than today!), by contrast. The last couple of years I have not done 100 mile rides: each of my centuries left me too tired, and took me too long.

[Crankin]

I've done one century; something has stopped me from doing one again. In fact, each year, I seem to do less and less longer 50+ mile rides, but yet, I have done more total miles for each year since.
Part of my problem is my refusal to "train" for such events. Most of my riding is pretty hilly and I use that as my training; anything else I know I can suffer through. I also don't want riding to become a chore.
I am thinking, though, that I will do a century again, this year. It's been 6 years.

[Catrin]

My first year cycling was 2010, and I had a goal of doing a 200k brevet at the end of October - in "training" for that I wound up with several over-use injuries that took me off the bike entirely for about 5 months - and the closest I ever got that year was 75 miles.

Last year I refused to "train". The furthest I rode on the road last year was 45 miles at one time and I didn't regret that, but I was also spending a lot of time learning how to mountain bike. This year I would like to do a couple of metrics along with my trail riding, but I've no goals for a longer ride than that - if it happens then it happens

I would LIKE to do a full century - but I've got to learn how to "train" for it without allowing my OCD tendencies to take over. I would like to think I wouldn't do that and would pay attention to my body but I know me. Perhaps if I had someone to do it with I could overcome that, but I don't see that happening unless I get faster - and with my riding position I just don't see that

[goldfinch]

My first year cycling was 2010, and I had a goal of doing a 200k brevet at the end of October - in "training" for that I wound up with several over-use injuries that took me off the bike entirely for about 5 months - and the closest I ever got that year was 75 miles.

Last year I refused to "train". The furthest I rode on the road last year was 45 miles at one time and I didn't regret that, but I was also spending a lot of time learning how to mountain bike. This year I would like to do a couple of metrics along with my trail riding, but I've no goals for a longer ride than that - if it happens then it happens

I would LIKE to do a full century - but I've got to learn how to "train" for it without allowing my OCD tendencies to take over. I would like to think I wouldn't do that and would pay attention to my body but I know me. Perhaps if I had someone to do it with I could overcome that, but I don't see that happening unless I get faster - and with my riding position I just don't see that

Wish I could ride with you and Owlie!

[Becky]

I agree that a huge part of long rides is mental. For me, the mental game starts somewhere around 80% complete, regardless of ride length. It happens with metric centuries, with imperial centuries....distance doesn't matter, I just want to be DONE.

No centuries last year...maybe I'll do one this year. For me, metrics are the perfect distance- long enough to be a "long ride" and short enough to leave me with energy for the rest of the day.

[murielalex]

Nice to see this thread as it interests me. I'm a new rider, and the longest I've done so far is about 40 miles. I have a 165-mile, two-day charity ride (100 day one, 65 day two) in November. I've been reading up on nutrition and training, and trying to get miles in as much as I can. I'm still in newbie no-knowledge=no fear mode, though I already get the mental piece. On the last couple miles of my longest ride, my left foot just didn't want to be clipped in anymore. It was entirely mental, with no pain, just the feeling of being trapped. I made myself crazy miserable in my head. I'm working up to do enough miles fast enough to start training with co-workers, who are also doing the Fall ride and have done it before. I'm open to any and all advice and would love hearing others' experience.

[marni]

I usually ride in the 50-70 mile ride several times a week but I agree that for some reason, 100 seems to feel a bit more daunting. The nice thing is that I got such a high the first time I did 100 miles that it makes a happy incentive each time I ride another. I think that there is a real feeling of self assurance and toughness that comes from riding your first long distance ride, as well as the insane sense of satisfaction that comes from having done your first multi thousand foot long slow climb. After having done Emerson pass in NM (8,000 feet in 15 miles-not horrifically steep but long), I fear no climb.

That being said, it helps me if I can breakany long ride such as a century ride down in to smaller parts. For example, for me a century is three units of 25 miles one of 15 miles and one of 10 miles mentally because the first 25 are what I usually do as an easy leg stretcher Sunday ride for coffee and to stretch my legs. The second and third units combined are what my normal training ride is, the next fifteen miles are an grit your teeth period at the end of a long training session, and the last 10 are from the nearest coffee shop to home. Hokey but it works for me.

Still there comes a point in any ride when you and your body are just ready for the ride to be over. Fortunately for me, I ride solo so if and when that feeling hits I know I still have to get myself home. Usually a stop and actually getting off of the bike and getting something to eat and drink and do a few stretches helps me to hitch up my big girl panties and get on the way.

marni

[zoom-zoom]

It's kinda funny...I ran 3 marathons and found them to be insanely difficult and sorta miserable, for me (I never could get beyond the 22 mile mark without horrid calf cramps). But riding across the state of MI (~147 miles) was challenging and fun. I have friends who run marathons on a regular basis and are totally in awe of my cross-state ride. I am in awe of people who run marathons with relative frequency and enjoy being on their feet for so many miles.

I love working up to century rides. Part of what I love is the sociability of it. I don't mind running alone for hours (with audiobooks on the iPod), but I really loathe riding for more than maybe 2 hours by myself. When I've done century rides they've all been with my hubby and friends...like a rolling party!

[Owlie]

Still haven't managed as much as a metric, though that's in the works this summer, if I can keep this abdominal muscle happy. I think a big part of it is mental. It took me a year to break the 30-mile mental barrier, then another year to break the 40-mile barrier. My brain is weird.
My own issue is that I ride alone, and that gets super boring after a while. I'm also a slowpoke and just having time for rides that are that long--never mind the training--is a little difficult, being a student.

[Catrin]

...I love working up to century rides. Part of what I love is the sociability of it. I don't mind running alone for hours (with audiobooks on the iPod), but I really loathe riding for more than maybe 2 hours by myself. When I've done century rides they've all been with my hubby and friends...like a rolling party!

I can see this! I think that, for me, the key of riding longer than a metric is to ride with friends...but my speed really does impact finding someone willing to ride that long at my average pace of 13 to 13.5. I am getting faster on my Gunnar but my very upright riding position limits me in that department, especially in the wind. Riding by myself a metric is plenty long enough for a solo ride and I want to do at least a couple this year.