My first century

[limewave]

Most people are surprised when they find out I have not ridden a century. For some reason, people think I bike a lot. Which I do, but with my schedule, I am lucky to get out for a 90 minute bike ride.

So, Saturday we have a "Couples" century planned with some friends. Although I have a feeling we won't be riding as couples and the guys will take off like they usually do (always a competition!).

110 miles. I have not ridden more than 42 miles this season.

I have a dilemma. I'm a much stronger rider than the other women that are going. My fitness is going to be a closer match to the men. The women are planning on 65 miles. But I really don't want to ride with them as it will be a slow pace--for me, at that distance, it's uncomfortable for me to ride too slowly.

But, I am not sure that I can hang with the guys for 110 miles! Especially through the hilly farm country.

My one advantage is that the guys tend to under-fuel. If I can fuel properly for the ride, I may be able to maintain enough energy to power through and hope that the guys fade some towards the end.

We will see what tomorrow brings . . . . A good portion of success is mental, so I'm thinking like the little-engine-that-could.

[AnnieBikes]

Congrats on doing your first century. I think you will do fine if you do not try to keep up with the guys at the beginning. That could zap your strength for doing the whole thing. Unfortunately, you will want to go faster than the wives 65 mile group, so you might find yourself riding alone for a while. Are there no other people who want to ride it a bit slower (or faster, as the case may be) to do the whole distance?

However, if there are any guys who are less conditioned and try to keep up with the "fast pack" then they will fall off the pace later on and you can catch them by going your steady pace. I think that since you recognize your nutritional needs and your hydration needs that you will do great and probably catch some of the faster guys. The trick of a century, and it really is no trick, is that it is a mental game. You are doing four 25+ mile rides. Separate it into those segments and you will be fine. Don't look at the BIG picture of 110 miles or you could get discouraged after say 60-70 miles with 40 to go.

I was on a state ride a few years ago with a century option and at mile 45 told my husband that there was "no way" I could do the century...just didn't feel right. We stopped at a rest stop that was kind of a lunch stop, and I fueled and hydrated and suddenly, I was feeling like I could ride 150 miles! Only you will know what you can do on that day. I DEFINITELY would suggest NO riding for at least 5 days before the big ride. I cannot tell you how much better I have ridden some "event" rides this season when I have taken the full five days off before I ride the "big" one, especially if you are training hard in the weeks prior to the century.

Good luck and please let us know how it went!

[Tri Girl]

Sounds like fun!! I say do your own thing and ride your own ride. If that's faster than the slower women but slower than the faster men- then so be it. Chances are you'll catch some of the men towards the end anyway.

Count me as one of the ones who is surprised that you haven't completed a century- I know you're on your bike ALL the time.
I hope your ride goes really well- please report back this afternoon when you're finished to tell us how it went.

[AnnieBikes]

So...how did it go? Inquiring minds want to know!

[limewave]

I did it! We (there were 4 of us total) ended up taking a shortcut at the end so it wasn't 110 miles, but it was still over 100 I'm actually feeling guilty I didn't pull more than I did, the guys did the majority of the work. I was still feeling really good at the end. I think I did nutrition well, I ate something every 20 miles and drank Endura and water throughout. The weather was PERFECT: low 70's, sunny with fluffly white clouds, mild breeze. We averaged just over 20mph.

The ladies did a 70 mile route and ended up finishing at exactly the same time we did, so it worked out perfect. Finished it up with dinner and then a campfire and s'mores. I've eaten a lot of s'mores this year.

[pll]

Wow! Congratulations. 20mph average is amazing.

[jessmarimba]

That sounds like fun! And yum on the s'mores. I haven't had any in forever..might be time to get the fire pit going again.

[AnnieBikes]

Congratulations!!! That is awesome! Sounds like you had a wonderful day!!! Makes about any ride look doable now!!

[Tri Girl]

WOW!! You smoked that century!! Congrats on your longest ride EVER and at a blistering pace, too. Woo hoo!
And s'mores... yum....

[zoom-zoom]

Dang, not only was that fast, that was a relatively hilly ride! NICE work, missy! Now you HAVE to do ODRAM next year!

[Veronica]

Dang, not only was that fast, that was a relatively hilly ride! NICE work, missy! Now you HAVE to do ODRAM next year!

I'll agree that was fast. Amazing what you can do with a pace line. But hilly... I guess it depends on where you live.

Congrats on your first century Limewave. Glad you had a good time.

Veronica

[limewave]

"hilly" is relative. Zoom-Zoom and I are flatlanders. Really, though, the course wasn't as hilly as I thought it was going to be. Thankgoodness!

I didn't think I would like riding for 100 miles, but the time went by rather quickly. The route was very scenic. I would totally do it again. Maybe even ODRAM . . . Maybe.

[redrhodie]

Wow, that was great time! You had a plan and made it work. Good going!