Once You Ride A Century It All Changes!

[itself]

I would love to do the RAGBRAI. It sounds like a hoot with a lot of fun people. That being said, I have other interests such as hiking, kayaking and guitars. So as much as I love to ride, I don't want to spend all day on my bike every Saturday as some do. It's moderation and life balance for me!

[Jo-n-NY]

I am in the same boat as many. I have 5 centuries under my belt. The last 2 yrs the longest ride were metrics. That is the perfect distance for me where I have to push a bit from mile 50 but don't feel knocked out at the end. It is mile 75 where I have had more than enough time on the bike.

This year I signed up for yet again a century Ride to Montauk since the way it is set up it is too inconvenient to ride the metric. However, for the first time in years I am excited about it. I completed my sub challenge and rode the bike 100 consecutive days (full challenge is 300 for the year no less than 10 miles since some rides are on the trainer). I feel stronger and hope to do the century in less time.

Like Marni said, part is mental and I have it in my head that it is a day to be on the bike and stopping to take a break every 25 miles. After that 75th mile I will stop to stretch and enjoy the scenery if need be. Now lets hope it works.

[Jaclyn]

I rode about a dozen or so centuries every year for a couple of years until a few years ago. It also felt like a challenge and I was usually concerned about an upcoming century.

Then I entered my first 24 hour ride five years ago. The goal was just to do longer than I'd ever done (108 miles). Managed 252!

Since then I've become a randonneur and did the super randonneur series in 2010 & 2011 (200km, 300km, 400km, 600km). And the first 1000 kms of PBP (sadly dnf'd at second to last control). "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."

For me, breaking thru the barrier of a century was the hardest part. Most "long" rides that we see and hear about are a maximum of 100 miles. I thought that was the limit. Once I learned that I could ride beyond 100, the long rides have been much easier. Now riding a 100 miles is just a ride like any other. (I rarely even think "I'm riding xx miles." I think "I'm riding 42 miles to the next control.")

[nscrbug]

Wow Jaclyn...your cycling distances are admirable! For that last 4 years that I've been seriously cycling, my riding buddy and I have aimed to ride a 100-miler each month from May to Sept/Oct. I have tried to treat each century, as just another ride...but I still struggle with that. Centuries don't come easy for me, so I will always consider them to be a challenge...no matter how many I've done.

Linda

[azfiddle]

I did my first century in November 2011- also El Tour de Tucson. In January I rode a 200k brevet, and in February I rode another century (under very windy conditions!). Having done one, the next one definitely seemed less intimidating.

Actually, I think the thought riding to the top of Mt. Lemmon (over 60 miles and 8000 feet of climbing, in one day was more intimidating, but now that I have done it once, I don't have any doubts I can do it again.