My First Century...

[Crankin]

I did it! Despite the fact that I didn't really train for this, yesterday I completed the Tri-State Seacoast Century in 6 hours and 40 minutes. This is a ride that can be done on either Saturday or Sunday (or both). Since Saturday was Rosh Hashanah, we had planned on doing the Sunday ride.
Well, all week the weather forecast was nice for Sat. and about 60% of rain on Sunday. I was not happy, but figured I could wimp out if it was pouring when I got up Sunday. I was packed and ready by 9 PM Saturday and fast asleep by 9:30. I woke up at 3 AM! (I did manage to go back to sleep until 5). We got to the start at Hampton Beach, NH around 7:30. Was I glad that I had not been there on Saturday. Another rider told me that there were around 1,000 people there, a 30 minute wait to check in, and heavy rain for the first 65 miles.

OK, so the first 15 miles are a loop back into MA. We started out slow (13 mph) to warm up , until we got in a paceline with a small group. We were drafting up to 22 mph (it's flat). Right before we passed the start point, they slowed down. I dropped my bottle with Accelerade and I had to stop to retrieve it. The other group stopped and on we went. The ride was uneventful and flat until we got into Maine. It was getting warm and the ocean was beautiful. We had to get off our bikes and walk across the bridge from Portsmouth, NH to Kittery, ME. The first SAG stop was at 40 miles, in Kittery. The food and stuff sucked (PBJ and I am allergic to peanuts), but I had come prepared with Clif Bars, Clif Shots, etc. I did eat their bananas. On we went. We rode up to the Nubble Lighthouse in York Beach. As we rode up the hill to the lighthouse, I thought something felt funny, but I didn't see or hear anything. We stopped to take a picture when Steve noticed my rear tire was flat! We changed it and went on. (now at 50 miles). I was feeling a little tired here, as there were some rolling hills; nothing bad, but I was fighting a bad attitude. Then at 53 miles I flatted again and there was a terrible noise, everytime I braked. We stopped and it started to rain...
Found a tear in my tire, used part of my ride # to fold up in there and changed the tube again. After a few minutes, Steve adjusted the brake pads and on we went in the rain. We put our jackets on only, since it was really warm and I thought if I put my rain pants on, i would sweat to death. Made it back to the SAG stop, now at about 60 miles. We ate more and went on. I knew that if I made it back over the bridge to NH, I would finish.
We started picking up the pace (we had really slowed after the flats, rain, etc) when we got into Rye NH. We turned off the main road about 15 miles from the finish when I noticed a very DARK sky... We ate, put our jackets on and BOOM. The skies opened up and there were wind gusts up to about 30 or more. Thankfully, it only lasted about 5 minutes. We turned off that road, it let up, but it was really cold for a while. When we got back on the main road, the wind was brutal along the shore. We passed a whole bunch of riders who were ahead of us most of the way. I think this is where hill training pays off, because it sure felt like we were going up, up, up, even though it was flat. I pulled my husband for awhile, going around 13-14. We finally made it back and I pretty much climbed into the car and could barely get my shoes off I was so tired. But, we changed and drove home and went out for a very nice dinner to celebrate this and my husband's 50th birthday in 2 days.
I feel a little sore in the quads today, but nothing horrible. My worst effect is the chafing I got from my sports bra because I didn't take it off when I changed and i scratched myself around the area where it was rubbing. I did wake up at 3 because I went to bed at 8:45.
OK, gotta get ready for work!

[Bicyclette]

Great report! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Sounds like you had a good ride!

Ready to do it again??

[massbikebabe]

Mazel Tov Robin...I am doing a happy dance for you !!!!!!

I belive the name of that bridge is called the Pisqataqua or something indian like that...isn't the view from there beautiful???




karen

[DebW]

Congrats, Robyn. If you don't mind, I'll describe the Major Taylor Century here also, since they were on the same day. And mine was also a first century (unless you count an accidental one 30 years ago).

This was a moderately hilly century starting in Whitinville, MA south of Worcester. We had better luck on the weather. Had a few minutes of sprinkles a couple times and some wind, probably gusts to 20 or 25, but no downpours or lightning. The ride started at 8 am, but I didn't set out until 8:05. I fell in with a group of about 12 all the way to the first SAG at 36 miles. We averaged 17 mph for this stretch. The group was nice and not too competitive. Though I did encounter some bike snobbery. Once as someone passed me I heard "That's an old bike." Another time we stopped at a light and a guy stopped right next to me and said "How much does that bike weigh, about 30 pounds?" I informed him that, without the extra gear I was carrying, it weighted 22 lb. He said "That's light for steel."

At the first SAG, I spent some time helping a guy adjust his rear derailleur and so missed leaving with the group. I did the rest of the ride alone with no help in the wind. There were only 2 SAG stops on this ride. I told myself that I was going to stop between SAGs for a snack, and I should have but didn't. The next stop was at 70 miles and there were some long steep hills in this section. I hit my lowest gear 3 times but was still climbing pretty well. But I was clearly getting worn out by the time I hit 70 miles. I took a long rest at the SAG and ate and drank. The rest of the ride was counting down the miles. My left calf was threatening to cramp every now and then. My left tricep was very sore. Surprisingly, I didn't have a big issue with back soreness or crotch soreness. I was reaching for my lowest gear more often towards then end, but still climbed every hill in half-decent style. I felt pretty wiped out for about 3 hours after the ride, but not too bad today.

Average speed 15.8 mph. Riding time 6:19, elapsed time about 7:15.

edit:
And a new max speed for me of 45.5 mph. Would have gone faster if I hadn't looked at my computer and decided that that was fast enough.

Correcting for the fact that my computer read 103 miles after 100 miles makes my average speed only 15.8 (not 16.3). Don't want to misrepresent myself. And I must correct my wheel circumference on my computer.

[Veronica]

Congratulations to both of you!

So... plans to do another?

V.

[Jo-n-NY]

Yea!!!! Congratulations to you both!!!!

~ JoAnn

[mtkitchn]

Great ride reports! Congrats to you both!

[Denise223]

CONGRATULATIONS ROBYN & DEB!!!!! Two awesome ladies, I admire you both

Robyn Congratulations to you on your first century ! It really sounds as if you did an incredible job.... I loved reading your report.

********************************************************

Deb Congratulations to you on your first century ! The weather on Sunday was better than Saturday, for sure. On the "bike snobbery".... just ignore them..... some people are ignorant! You did an awesome job, that area is very hilly - your time was excellent!


Ben & I were set to go to the Tri-State on Saturday, but the weather here was pretty crappy. So, we waited..... (we'd only planned on 35/40miles,) .....and waited... We drove up to get our tee-shirts anyway .
Talked with some riders who were riding in and leaving.... everyone looked pretty wet, muddy & miserable, but , they did it!
We're not ready to ride in the rain -- really don't want to -- It's not safe.

Peace & Love to you All,

Denise

[RoadRaven]

Super stories, Robyn and Deb

Thank you for sharing with us

You inspire me to get on and do something I have yet to do - a century!!!

[Geonz]

Bike snobs have to feel better than you about something... although in my Pollyanna perspective, I take "that's an old bike" or questions about weight as a compliment of my riding (and, in fact, it is often meant as such). They **wish** they could be so strong :-)

ConGRATS!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Robyn & Deb -
Congrats to both of you - it sounds like you triumphed in spite of our ever-wacky New England weather.

--- Denise

[Surlygirl]

Congrats to both of you guys.
Don't you just love the hills around here Deb. I live on top of one of them so its always uphill on the way back. I'm really impressed with your speed and time. I hope you enjoyed the Blackstone Valley.

[DebW]

Congrats to both of you guys.
Don't you just love the hills around here Deb. I live on top of one of them so its always uphill on the way back. I'm really impressed with your speed and time. I hope you enjoyed the Blackstone Valley.

I did enjoy your hills, or at least the first 70 miles of them. One long downhill was quite a blast at 45 mph. But that long uphill 3 miles before the finish I could have done without. Nice scenery out there. Even saw a few llamas. And the few busy roads we were on had very wide shoulders.

[maillotpois]

Congrats Robyn and Deb! Yay for you guys!

Great ride reports - thanks!

[wavedancer]

Congrats to you both Robyn and Deb! I don't know if I would have done it in the rain...Great determination and perseverence!

Linda