How Long Should I Wait To Do First Century

[backinthesaddle]

I am so excited about having my bike. I have been all over the web checking out triathlons, charity rides, and other biking events. I am eager to do something more with this bike than just go on mere trail rides around my apartment. But I don't want to push myself too fast. I have signed up for the TD 5 Boro Tour in NY. Its 42 miles, and I am riding with the 2010 Bike 2 Rmember team which supports Alzheimer's (I lost my grandfather in 2006). That is May 2. Right now, I have only gotten out twice with my bike. One ride at 5 miles, this past weekend I did 18. That was for a classification ride for the cycle club I joined. They wanted to guage riders to see where they would fit in the group. I did the 18 miles in 1 hour, 20 minutes, though I have no perspective on how good or bad that is. Over the next 8 weeks in the class I am taking, we'll learn about bike maintenance, riding in groups and take part in some serious mile long rides. The group is also sponsoring a century ride in September. I signed up and now I am nervous I wont' be able to complete it. Should I wait a certain length of time to get involved in tours and group challenge rides?

Regina
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2010 Bike 2 Remeber Team: http://2010teamb2r.kintera.org/regina

[Biciclista]

your timing sounds great actually. do a 25 mile ride this weekend.. do a 35 mile ride the following weekend...

[chicagogal]

your timing sounds great actually. do a 25 mile ride this weekend.. do a 35 mile ride the following weekend...

I agree!
Good luck and have fun :-)

[annielynn]

Just keep adding on the miles. I did my first metric century about a month ago and it was a lot of fun. I am ready to do 75 so that by the end of summer I can do my first Century. It sounds like you are well on your way! Enjoy every minute of it!

[redrhodie]

Hi Backinthesaddle! A friend of mine who lives in NYC sent me this link to an organization that hosts some nice sounding rides in your area you may be interested in:

http://www.bicycleshows.us/

I have no affiliation with the organization, and haven't gone on any of their rides, but I came close to doing the farm ride last year.

[Bike Chick]

I agree too. Just keep adding the miles and you'll be ready by September--that's 6 months away.

[backinthesaddle]

Hi Backinthesaddle! A friend of mine who lives in NYC sent me this link to an organization that hosts some nice sounding rides in your area you may be interested in:

http://www.bicycleshows.us/

I have no affiliation with the organization, and haven't gone on any of their rides, but I came close to doing the farm ride last year.

Thanks for the suggestion. I checked out their site, they have some pretty cool rides. I heard of the Montauk one before. That seems like it might be cool too (for next year), don't think that I'd be able to tackle two back to back century rides.

[ny biker]

The group is also sponsoring a century ride in September. I signed up and now I am nervous I wont' be able to complete it. Should I wait a certain length of time to get involved in tours and group challenge rides?

Is this the NYC Century? I did that ride in 2003 -- it was my first century ever and I loved it. It started in Central Park (northern part of the park), went south, over the Brooklyn Bridge, on a trail along the Belt Pkwy, up into Queens, past Shea Stadium, north on a trail next to the Cross Island, over the Triborough into the Bronx, back down into Manhattan and into Central Park. It was great. I cried tears of exhausted happiness at the finish line.

They had several distances to choose from -- I rode with a friend who did an80 mile route. Most century rides are like that, so you can choose a shorter distance if you feel like you're just not up to a full hundred miles.


As for the 5-boro ride, I also did that in 2003 and I agree, it's very crowded. But I think you can still have fun as long as you know what it will be like.

[Holstein 100]

As I read through the replies I can't believe what great advice you are getting. I like that you have found support and a rider group. That makes it alot easier.

The best plan is to listen to your body as you ride and then adjust the plan, nutrition and/or bike when you finish that day's ride. If you sign up for your first century and your body tells you "maybe" then you might enjoy the half century that day.

It sounds like you will be ready for your scheduled September ride. You might come to California for a great charity ride August 21, 2010 that is just north of San Francisco, near Petaluma: Holstein Hundred Charity ride for West Marin Senior Services. It has rolling hills and a 35 and 65-mile route which might be manageable. The century has 6000 ft. up and down along the picturesque coast.

Keep up the good work, no, I mean fun!