It is finally here. My first century ride is Oct 10th. I am looking for any tips/advice anyone is willing to share. Also any stories of your first century. Thanks for your thoughts.
Wendy
Wendy
Century tips
- Thread starter Wendy
- Start date
It's just a ride, so go out and enjoy it. Eat, drink, and be merry; don't forget fluids just because it's cool. Don't hammer, but ride your own ride. Keep with a paceline if you can, but don't forget to take a pull now and then. If it's an event with support, don't linger in the aid stations....stay too long and you'll spend the next 5-10 miles warming your legs up all over again. But really, just enjoy the ride.
My first century was a two-man event; my riding buddy and I had done much riding over the spring, but as summer was threatening we decided to map a route around the county, connecting a bunch of the routes we used on our weekday / weekend rides. The route was about 85% paved and 15% gravel which, on 23C tires, was a little rough, but we sped through regardless. I think it was an 8 hour ride, after which I found a six-pack of Modelo Especial and a bag of Cheetos
- Thread starter
- #3
I am thankful this has limited gravel as well. My husband is considering riding too and I know he will not maintain the same speed as me and he will want to hang at rest areas. I have politely told him I will not stop and hang out which he believes he will have to do to recoup.
Make sure you stay fueled and don't go anaerobic. Good luck!
You might suggest more active recovery - soft-pedal when required, and stretch legs on the bike rather than letting the muscles cool down.
Break the ride down in segments; since it is your first ride having fun is the main goal as is making a a strong ride. Figure out your nutrition intake and fluid intake and stay away from anything heavy.
Nothing to say in terms of how to do it except "Good Luck"
- Thread starter
- #8
I finally looked at the map where we will be riding. We will have 2-4 stops that are mandatory, meaning we have to take a ferry across into Illinois. To get into Illinois from the side we are coming in on you have to take one or two ferry rides each way. I guess I can not talk my way out of that.
So are you saying no huge plate of pasta?? LOL
+1. Have fun and let us know how it goes.
hey some cyclists do. I use to pack boiled potatoes to eat when I was doing 100+ of hard riding.
your 100 sounds like a scenic trip. it being your first maybe pack along some chamois cream for unwanted saddle soreness. also ease off too much sugar at the rest stops till later in the ride. it's this sunday so hope you have a good day
- Thread starter
- #12
You are a trooper, boiled potatoes? No way I could eat such a thing.
There will be no 100+ here. My brother told me just to ride my bike there to the starting point instead of bringing my car. I say he is crazy, it is not too far for a regular ride about 10 miles each way but that is committing to 120 miles. This is coming form the brother who I had to beg and almost bribe to do a 50 mile ride with me.
You are a trooper, boiled potatoes? No way I could eat such a thing.
There will be no 100+ here. My brother told me just to ride my bike there to the starting point instead of bringing my car. I say he is crazy, it is not too far for a regular ride about 10 miles each way but that is committing to 120 miles. This is coming form the brother who I had to beg and almost bribe to do a 50 mile ride with me.
Good luck Wendy and congrats on 1000 posts!
1000 posts!!!!!!!!!!! awesome. soon it'll be 1000 posts and 100 miles. best wishes
So how'd it go? Did you get to the weird-breakthrough-moment of "oh, is that all there is?"
(If you didn't, it's still there, waiting for you when you're ready...and it's pretty cool when you find it. Heed azmark's advice and try boiled potatoes....small new potatoes work well, with some butter and S&P. Also good are Alan Lim's rice cakes; there's a video somewhere on either Garmin-Chipotle or CycleOps' website)
i too am looking for some news on your ride. hope you had good weather and no mechanicals
- Thread starter
- #17
Sorry this took me so long to get back to. Well after all of the excitment and looking forward to this event I sat at home. 
After admittiming my Mom in the hospital I still planned on going. Then my husband had to leave town on very short notice. Still no big deal, I was going. Next I get deathly ill, (7 pound weight loss in a couple days) still I was determined to ride. By late Friday I could not talk even a whisper.
Saturday morning I headed out for my morning ride. On my ride my cleats came apart, my repair bag ripped off my bike and I lost a bar end. By this time I was starting to think it was just a sign to stay home so I was determined even more to go. So off to the LBS I went. I went to the closest shop and walked out in a hurry becuase they were wanting a mortgage payment for these few small items. I headed to my favorite shop a little hike from home. When I arrived the lights were off, he closed early.
I then was headed back to the thief shop to let them take my wallet for a ride.
So with all my new stuff I headed home. When I arrived home I spent a great deal of time making sure everything was perfect. I detailed my bike and lubed it, made sure I had everything in case of flat etc. Then it happened the dreaded call, my babysitter backed out. I was blown away. I thought it was a joke for a split second then realized she was serious. I had planned this for 5 months and you would have thought I just beat someone up for all the trouble that came with it. Sunday came and it was the best riding weather ai could have ever asked for. I stayed home bummed all day. Not to mention I had to back out on my friends at the last minute also. My bike is still hanging pretty in its spot.
After admittiming my Mom in the hospital I still planned on going. Then my husband had to leave town on very short notice. Still no big deal, I was going. Next I get deathly ill, (7 pound weight loss in a couple days) still I was determined to ride. By late Friday I could not talk even a whisper.
Saturday morning I headed out for my morning ride. On my ride my cleats came apart, my repair bag ripped off my bike and I lost a bar end. By this time I was starting to think it was just a sign to stay home so I was determined even more to go. So off to the LBS I went. I went to the closest shop and walked out in a hurry becuase they were wanting a mortgage payment for these few small items. I headed to my favorite shop a little hike from home. When I arrived the lights were off, he closed early.
I then was headed back to the thief shop to let them take my wallet for a ride.So with all my new stuff I headed home. When I arrived home I spent a great deal of time making sure everything was perfect. I detailed my bike and lubed it, made sure I had everything in case of flat etc. Then it happened the dreaded call, my babysitter backed out. I was blown away. I thought it was a joke for a split second then realized she was serious. I had planned this for 5 months and you would have thought I just beat someone up for all the trouble that came with it. Sunday came and it was the best riding weather ai could have ever asked for. I stayed home bummed all day. Not to mention I had to back out on my friends at the last minute also. My bike is still hanging pretty in its spot.
I'm sorry Wendy. That sucks.
Wow Wendy, sorry to hear about that.
- Thread starter
- #20
I am more upset that I turned down the cycle for the cause ride the day prior where all the funds stayed here in stl area for Siteman cancer center and Barnes hospital. I could have actually made that one. Well with a few parts falling off or missing from my bike. My brother and I are going to give them hell tomorrow and work off a litte rage. My poor bike will not know what happened.
