Riding a century

Bob M <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because my ride this Sunday is
100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles instead of the 100km.
My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45 miles (two weeks
ago)... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20 miles a day. Is this
enough riding to ride 100 miles?

How hilly is the 100 miles? Most of the centuries around where I live have 6000 feet or more of
climbing, which could make them difficult for someone doing 50 mile rides with much less climbing.
If the century is flat, you should have no problem if you pace yourself.

I've done centuries accidentally just running diverse errands. A couple of 25-mile distant round
trips and there you are. It still takes a while though.

Numb butt or hands is the most likely indicator of having done one by mistake.
--
Ron Hardin [email hidden]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Ken said:

Bob M <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because my ride this Sunday is
100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles instead of the 100km.
My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45 miles (two weeks
ago)... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20 miles a day. Is this
enough riding to ride 100 miles?

How hilly is the 100 miles? Most of the centuries around where I live have 6000 feet or more of
climbing, which could make them difficult for someone doing 50 mile rides with much less climbing.
If the century is flat, you should have no problem if you pace yourself.

Good question. Unfortunately, I don't know. There's no route posted. I ride in a hilly area, in fact
my ride is pretty much all hills. I do know that we're starting on the coast of CT, so unless the
route is along the coast, there's going to be hills.

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

Bob M said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because my ride this Sunday is
100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles instead of the 100km.
My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45 miles (two weeks
ago)... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20 miles a day. Is this
enough riding to ride 100 miles?

Thanks.

Well, I've found out that the 100km ride is about 56 miles, with 4,900 feet of climbing, while the
100 mile ride is about 92 miles with 7,400 feet of climbing. I rode 55 miles last week, but I don't
know how much climbing there was, although there's a lot. So, I'll probably stick to the 56 miles,
especially if it rains.

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because

my

Quoted message said:

ride this Sunday is 100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles
instead of the 100km. My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45
miles (two weeks ago)... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20 miles a
day. Is this enough riding to ride 100 miles?

Cetaris paribus I wouldn't consider going from 55 miles to 100 miles too much of a leap if you're
comfortable at 55. [you're not completely exhausted and drained afterwards] But I'd still recommend
you leave the day free for recuperation.

--
'Sell your sin Just cash in' -Jewell

bgaudet0801 said:

"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because

my

Quoted message said:

ride this Sunday is 100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles
instead of the 100km. My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before),
45 miles (two weeks ago) ... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20
miles a day. Is this enough riding to ride 100 miles?

Cetaris paribus I wouldn't consider going from 55 miles to 100 miles too much of a leap if you're
comfortable at 55. [you're not completely exhausted and drained afterwards] But I'd still
recommend you leave the day free for recuperation.

--
'Sell your sin Just cash in' -Jewell

Thanks. I'm definitely thinking about the 100 miles, but it is (I found out) another 2,400 feet of
climbing. If it rains (which it's supposed to -- as of today, but this is New England, and the
forecast changes hourly), then I'll probably ride the 100km.

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

Bob M said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because my ride this Sunday is
100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles instead of the 100km.
My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45 miles (two weeks

ago)...

If these represent high-water marks for you, then I would be uncomfortable recommending that you
ride a century. I'd like to see you have some 75+ mile rides in your legs first.

If, though, the ride is fairly flat you might be OK. Your butt will be sore, as will your hands, but
you will be OK. If, on the other hand, it is quite hilly, you should consider seriously whether or
not this would be fun for you.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | We have a record of conquest, colonization and expansion _`\(,_ | unequalled by any people
in the Nineteenth Century. We are not (_)/ (_) | to be curbed now. --Henry Cabot Lodge, 1895

Bob M said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because

my

Quoted message said:

ride this Sunday is 100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles
instead of the 100km. My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45
miles (two weeks ago)... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20 miles a
day. Is this enough riding to ride 100 miles?

You might be able to complete it, but I doubt you would enjoy it. How did you feel at the end of the
50 miler? Could you have done it again when you got to the end?

Generally, you want to do several rides of >50 miles, and at least one around 75-80 miles before
attempting a century.

It seems to me that 100k (62 miles) would be the perfect ride for you at this point. Then maybe 75
miles the following weekend, and THEN 100 miles the weekend after that.

Good luck, Art Harris

"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because

my

Quoted message said:

ride this Sunday is 100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles
instead of the 100km. My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45
miles (two weeks ago)... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20 miles a
day. Is this enough riding to ride 100 miles?

Bob,

My training regimen for my first almost double century (100 miles day one, 75 day two, mostly flat
day one, rolling hills day two) was three months of one fast 30 miler every weekend added to my
normal daily commute. Keep in mind that I had been commuting for several years by this point and was
in good shape overall. The point is that you can probably handle it if you are in decent shape.

Good Luck, Buck

Harris said:

Bob M said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because

my

Quoted message said:

ride this Sunday is 100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles
instead of the 100km. My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before),
45 miles (two weeks ago) ... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20
miles a day. Is this enough riding to ride 100 miles?

You might be able to complete it, but I doubt you would enjoy it. How did you feel at the end of
the 50 miler? Could you have done it again when you got to the end?

Generally, you want to do several rides of >50 miles, and at least one around 75-80 miles before
attempting a century.

It seems to me that 100k (62 miles) would be the perfect ride for you at this point. Then maybe 75
miles the following weekend, and THEN 100 miles the weekend after that.

Good luck, Art Harris

Thanks, that was what I was aiming for -- I have a 100km this weekend, then a ride that's 55
Saturday and 60 Sunday, then I was thinking one more longer ride, then a century. The only problem
is that the centuries are basically over in New England in September. So, I'll have to ride one
myself (which isn't bad, but it's nice to have support and bathrooms).

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

Bob M said:

about 20 miles a day. Is this enough riding to ride 100 miles?

How old are you, what's your condition, and how does the hill-density of your normal ride compare
with that of your possible 100 miler?

I see you're from connecticut. Got any flat centuries? I'd like to do my first...

I rode 30 miles one weekend, didn't ride all week, then rode 65 miles the next (then I didn't ride
for a few weeks, so I blew that). I'm 23, so it's easier to ramp up sharply than if I was, for
example, 53.

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

--
Rick Onanian

"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

bgaudet0801 said:

"Bob M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask

because

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

my

Quoted message said:

ride this Sunday is 100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles
instead of the 100km. My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before),
45 miles (two weeks ago) ... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20
miles

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

day. Is this enough riding to ride 100 miles?

Cetaris paribus I wouldn't consider going from 55 miles to 100 miles too much of a leap if
you're comfortable at 55. [you're not completely exhausted and drained afterwards] But I'd still
recommend you leave the day free for recuperation.

^
(next)

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

Your welcome, for what it's worth. When I did my Bolton loop earlier this summer, it took
everything I had and I felt it afterwards, but for me the sense of accomplishment is worth it.

--
'Sell your sin Just cash in' -Jewell

Quoted message said:

Thanks, that was what I was aiming for -- I have a 100km this weekend,

then

Quoted message said:

a ride that's 55 Saturday and 60 Sunday, then I was thinking one more longer ride, then a century.
The only problem is that the centuries are basically over in New England in September. So, I'll
have to ride one myself (which isn't bad, but it's nice to have support and bathrooms).

And now for a dissenting opinion...

In general, I find that people are able to easily ride maybe 30% over what they're used to on a
reasonably-well-supported and popular (meaning lots of riders) century. Much of physical effort is
actually mental, and the fun/euphoria of riding with a whole lot of other people, and not having to
worry about running out of food & water etc., makes the miles pass by a whole lot more quickly and
enjoyably. Your mileage may vary, but as a general guideline, an organized century is not the worst
place to try and stretch your reach a bit.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Good question. Unfortunately, I don't know. There's no route posted. I ride in a hilly area, in
fact my ride is pretty much all hills. I do know that we're starting on the coast of CT, so unless
the route is along the coast, there's going to be hills.

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

Hey hey, i'm from CT. well, the coast is flat as is much of the central section of the state, as you
go north anywheres else there are hills. since CT is pretty small, it's going to be pretty hard to
make a flat century. The good part is that it's pretty hard to ride 100 miles in CT without it being
beautiful for most of it. there's a few ugly cities but proportionally more pretty stuff especially
in the northern corners (i used to live in Mansfield in the "quiet corner" very pretty and nice
riding). Where are you riding? Where are you from? there's a good chance you already are used to the
extremes of CT topographyif you're from here, it's pretty consistant once you get about 10 miles
from the shore. just as an offhand estimate you're probably looking at rolling hills maxing out in
the north at maybe 200 ft. vertical displacement and pretty steep. The hardest thing i've found
about riding long distances in those hills is that they just keep coming, one after another forever
and ever. as always the fight is mental, not physical. slap it in a low gear and spin up to the top
if you have to and take them in stride. best of luck Alfred

In article said:

Bob M said:

How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because my ride this Sunday is
100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles instead of the 100km.
My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45 miles (two weeks
ago)... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20 miles a day. Is this
enough riding to ride 100 miles?

Thanks.

Well, I've found out that the 100km ride is about 56 miles, with 4,900 feet of climbing, while the
100 mile ride is about 92 miles with 7,400 feet of climbing. I rode 55 miles last week, but I
don't know how much climbing there was, although there's a lot. So, I'll probably stick to the 56
miles, especially if it rains.

Picking nits:

100km = 62.093 miles 100miles = a century, not 92miles

Enjoy the ride.

Has anyone seen my Gore-Tex socks???

HAND

--
³Freedom Is a Light for Which Many Have Died in Darkness³

- Tomb of the unknown - American Revolution

Did my first century yesterday. It was a very flat paved trail (converted train "rail" track), but I did it on a fat tire offroad bike. My previous best distance wise was 60 miles. I read somewhere it's best to a 80 mile run before going to 100 but after 80 I could start to smell the 100 so I just bit it and did the last 20.

In article said:

Did my first century yesterday. It was a very flat paved trail (converted train "rail" track), but
I did it on a fat tire offroad bike. My previous best distance wise was 60 miles. I read somewhere
it's best to a 80 mile run before going to 100 but after 80 I could start to smell the 100 so I
just bit it and did the last 20.

So the big question: how do you feel today?

-- Dan

--
Dan Cosley ([email hidden] * cs.umn.edu~cosleyOpen ↗) GroupLens Research
Lab, Univ of MN (movielens.umn.edumovielens.umn.eduOpen ↗ * 612.624.8372) *** Just a foot soldier in the Army
of Truth ***

Rick Onanian said:

Steve McDonald said:

Best to slip by them silently, so they can't react until you're past.

Well, while this was posted in a very...strong way, it works rather well.

I sometimes say "On your left", "Passing on your left", or nothing at all; they are all about
equally effective. If I could guess which would be effective on which person...

The quiet pass works because either they don't know and don't react until it's too late to cause a
problem, or they do know and act properly.

I generally agree. One 1.5 mile path I use is frequented by lots of bikes and walkers. Walkers and
stollers seem to like it because it is along a stream, much of it is thru woods and has a park at
the midpoint. It attracts lots of bikes because it has shopping districts at either end, leads to
the only alternate access across an interstate aside from overpasses, goes under a very busy parkway
and provides an N-S route alternative to 3 very busy streets.

The seasoned walkers, of all ages, do walk on the right and leave plenty of passing room. On the one
hand, I've noticed the elderly cringe a bit when I call anything out, it is probably a natural
suprise reaction but looks like they are bracing for impact. Some even scrunch in as if my call was
a request for more room (it wasnt, I was just giving notice of my existance). The quiet pass would
work here because they do leave room, the question is which is more jarring for them.

On the other hand, a dog walker was well to the right once, and his canine was off the path to the
right sniffing along. The path was a bit narrow but I had plenty of room so I executed a quiet pass
on the grass to the left. The sound of my tires hitting the grass startled even the dog (it was
windy as I recall).

This is one of the seminal incidents which got me to thinking about this whole question. A different
dog could have reacted differently and agressively, perhaps even getting loose from the human who
was unprepared/unaware.

So, it seems situational to me. With those who are taking the entire width and you wish them to
yield some, most dog walkers and those with kids, a call seems in order. Less so with walkers and
strollers you see regularly and those well to the right and whom you can pass safely.

Quoted message said:

"Passing on your left" makes sense, but it's such a long phrase, you have to be going the same
speed as them for them to hear it; otherwise, you have to start saying it when you're far away, and
they only hear "ss n blphf".

"On your left" is shorter but confusing for some.

It shouldnt be. In countries where you drive on the right and pass on the left, it should be
somewhat intuitive. I mean why should each passing situation have to be reassessed and new rules and
reactions evaluated and devised just because you are not in a car? Even the moving walkways in
airports work that way (stand left, walk right).

I might try "bike" in cases where you just want to let them know and "passing" or "passing left" in
cases where I need them to yield some room.

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 18:11:40 GMT, Bob M <[email hidden]> wrote:

|On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 18:02:10 +0000 (UTC), Ken <[email hidden]> wrote:
|
|> Bob M <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
|>> How far do people generally ride before riding a century? I ask because my ride this Sunday is
|>> 100km, but I can also ride 100 miles. I'm thinking of riding the 100 miles instead of the 100km.
|>> My long rides have been 55 miles (last week), 50 miles (the week before), 45 miles (two weeks
|>> ago)... I only ride about 4 days a week, the other 3 days being about 20 miles a day. Is this
|>> enough riding to ride 100 miles?
|>
|> How hilly is the 100 miles? Most of the centuries around where I live have 6000 feet or more of
|> climbing, which could make them difficult for someone doing 50 mile rides with much less
|> climbing. If the century is flat, you should have no problem if you pace yourself.
|>
|
|Good question. Unfortunately, I don't know. There's no route posted. I |ride in a hilly area, in
fact my ride is pretty much all hills. I do know |that we're starting on the coast of CT, so unless
the route is along the |coast, there's going to be hills.

You're riding in the Harvest Rides, aren't you? I did the markers for a segment of the route
today. The 100k goes up into Bethel and comes back via 58, cuts in along the reserviors and back
to the coast via Redding Rd. THe 100 miler adds a 30 mile or so section up into Wilton on 33 and
then back down before doing the 100k thing into Bethel and back via 58 et al. Unfortunately you
can't decide to do the 100 miler in-route because the segment that makes it longer is added at
about the 8 mile point.

I think you do enough miles to do the 100miler but frankly I'm concerned about the weather. It looks
like it's going to rain some. Take both maps and see how warm it is. It's not bad if it's just
drizzling but if it's a little chilly too, that's not a great combination.

See how you feel. And good luck with the ride(even if it's not this one<g>😉.

-c.porter.