Is this a dumb choice?

[OakLeaf]

If the metric beat you up that badly and you haven't ridden anything longer since then, I'd be very hesitant. But I think if you can do an 80-85 mile ride between now and next weekend and feel okay, then go for it...

[roo4]

No, you are not crazy for thinking about it.

Why do you want to do the century? The challenge of completing something tough? Because it is local and you ride and you "should" do the century? If it is the latter, eh, skip it. If you are jazzed about 100 miles and looking for a challenge (and don't mind too much if it kicks your butt), then do the century.

Can you sign up for the metric and decide about 40-50 miles in to the ride?

[Crankin]

Oak, my body falls apart from an immune system kind of thing. It happens after every tour/hard effort I do, not always in the same way, though. It depends on what else is going on, how rested I am, etc. It just so happened that DH got sick a few days after my last metric, I caught the germs, and I probably was in a little bit of a depleted state. If I come back from a tour and it's nearer to the end of the summer, it often just shows up in a decrease in my average speed. Funny though, that didn't happen when I went to Spain, when the trip was the last week in May. I did do a lot of training very early in the season, for that, and a lot of nordic skiing that winter, too. I didn't have any physical problems, i.e. back or hips, or anything during the last metric, either during or after, so all my PT paid off.
I want to do the century because I want to do another century. I just want to finish, and I probably will be the slowest , as from what I see more of the "racer" types sign up for the longer distances at these kinds of lower key events. I don't feel that I "should" do it because it's local, but more that I always feel more relaxed when I know where I am, the nature of the roads and the climbs. I like knowing what to expect. I had a serious anxiety attack on a very steep climb on the last metric; it was on a road I usually do in the other direction... that way is hard, but this was worse. Despite this, I passed some of the racer boys on that one. That has never happened to me. Usually I get "angry" at the hill and it motivates me!
I cannot sign up for the metric and decide to do the century, as they start 2 hours apart. I can sign up for the century and decide to do less there, though, because I'll always be in a place where I will know how to get back in a shorter distance.

[Catrin]

Whatever you decide to do Crankin, we are cheering for you I can certainly understand wanting to do a century because you want to do a century! I REALLY want to do one this summer myself, but that isn't going to happen. Nothing wrong with being the slowest - but you already know that. I also doubt you would be the slowest Your knowledge of the area is a real advantage should you decide that you need to take a different route back. Whatever you do, have fun!

[roo4]

Sounds like you're doing a century then. Enjoy!

[ny biker]

I'd say try for the century, since you know you can shorten it if you need to.

Good luck!!

[shootingstar]

Do what psychologically makes you "enjoy" this ride. You proved to yourself several wks. ago what you're capable of.

There will always be rides just as challenging or even more next time for you to tackle.

[Susan Otcenas]

No, not dumb, provided that you pace yourself well. Start easy and stay easy. Start well hydrated and stay well-hydrated. Start with a good breakfast, and stay fueled up thoughout the day. Don't set yourself a time goal, but instead, set yourself an EFFORT goal. You want to keep it easy and steady all day. Keep the gearing comfortable, keep your breaks to a minimum (unless you are overheating, in which case a break in the shade with your feet in a creek is a lovely thing :-) ) Expect your average pace on your century to be less than your average pace on your metric. And that's OK!

Increasing from a metric to a full century is a 50% increase in distance, so pacing is important. But you have a solid base, so it's definitely doable.

In randonneuring, we ride a spring series that consists of 200K, 300K, 400K and 600K. Most of us who do this year round, do a ride of a minimum of a 200K (125 miles) every month. Some of us do that 2-3 times a month. But over the winter, we rarely ride over 200K in one go. But come the spring series, we ride a 200K, then a 300K a few weeks later, then a 400K a few weeks after that, then the 600K a few weeks later. But we don't ride "interim" distances to prepare us from the step up from 200 to 300, or 400 to 600. For example, I don't ride 250 to prepare for the 300. Rather, I use all of the pacing and fueling strategies listed above to keep me at a low steady effort for an increasingly long time.

In my case, this is what my riding has looked like since January. Note that I do continue to ride between each increase in event distance.

KM Date Elapsed time
130 1/5/2013 8:15
114 1/13/2013 5:58
207 1/22/2013 9:36
112 1/25/2013 5:37
202 2/2/2013 10:35
100 2/3/2013 6:05
200 2/17/2013 11:18
200 2/24/2013 11:27
208 3/3/2013 11:28
200 3/9/2013 10:58
200 3/23/2013 10:16
114 3/31/2013 5:18
300 4/6/2013 16:07
213 4/13/2013 12:23
200 4/14/2013 11:30
300 4/20/2013 13:29
400 4/27/2013 21:20
365 5/3/2013 24:00
211 5/18/2013 12:40
202 5/19/2013 13:27
600 6/1/2013 38:26
204 6/15/2013 11:53
600 6/22/2013 34:50
201 7/6/2013 11:50

My point here is that the body is generally capable of much more than we think it is, provided we don't over-exert. I've read in SO many places that the "safe" or "typical" way to increase mileage is by no more than 10% per week. I'd have to call BS on that though. As long as you pace yourself and fuel yourself, and you are healthy, you'll be surprised what you are capable of!