I made the Century!!!!

[Bike Goddess]

1st- CONGRATS ON YOUR 1ST CENTURY! DESPITE THE ELEMENTS YOU PERSISTED! GOOD JOB!!!!

Now for some suggestions to make you more comfortable:

We don't talk about it much and I don't see much on organized or other rides, BUT, I highly recommend that you do some stretching at rest stops. It doesn't have to be much, BUT it will make a big difference.

Stretch those quads- I just do it for 10 seconds on each leg a couple of times while holding on to a tree, fence, table, whatever. (This may be a little painful at first so don't overextend the stretch.After a few repeats you should feel much better!) I never stretch before I am warmed up- just during rides. I also do this stretch after the ride and when I get home and am in the warm shower.

Ditto for your hamstrings- I don't do this one as often as I should, but it does help.

Back stretching is good if your back is bothering you on a long ride. I've also discovered that by strengthening my ab muscles, my back doesn't hurt anymore on long rides. I just did a double metric (actually 127.5 miles) and didn't have any problems with my back at all! (I have, at times had to take Ibuprofren to ease the pain). The only thing I've done differently is ab exercises.

[Deanna]

Congrat's on your first century. I remember how great it felt to finish my first. I'm a "cautious descender" so I get the hand and forearm thing on any steep twisty downhill--not just on centuries.

[bikerchick68]

WAY TO GO!!! I am tickled pink for you too! sounds like you fueled and rode it very well... 9 hours is great for your first century... especially with a headwind!

descending gets easier and more comfortable the more you do it... like everything else! great job...

and JoAnn... I'm excited for you too... be sure to tell us how it goes OK?

[Starfish]

Thank you so much for posting! Congrats! I really appreciate all the enthusiasm and energy and encouragement from the group. There is a century in my town next weekend, and although my training isn't where I would like it to be this year, I am thinking about doing the ride anyhow. I have done a century, but not since last year, and it was a very flat one. This one has a lot more climbing, so I'm nervous. But, reading all these posts, I remember what a triumph it is to try hard things and see how it goes, and maybe even succeed!

Good going, everyone. We are all stronger than we know.

[Lise]

Excellent work! I don't remember--what kind of bike do you have? Any pix?

[betagirl]

Fantastic! Congrats.

[short cut sally]

100 miles...Isn't that amazing to think a person can go 100 miles with 2 legs and 2 wheels? I find it amazing and congrats on a job well done..Do you have more planned? shelly

[hirakukibou]

Congratulations! I am hoping to do a century ride sometime this summer, but we'll see. Did you train for it specifically? I am impressed!

[Jo-n-NY]

I just wanted to say that Bike Goddess is so right and I just kind of took it for granted about the stetching. I am just in the habit of doing a few stetches every time we stop during a ride. Rest Stops that is even riding solo. It just feels good to keep flexible.

Thank you bikerchick68. As of now I am hoping that this band for rain that we are getting now and should linger into the beginning of next week is out of here for next weekend and no other bad weather conditions begin. You bet I will report.

~ JoAnn