The first century

I started riding to support a friend in a MS150 ride. After 50 miles in one day I felt like that was the most any human could do. Now 50 is a Saturday afternoon ride.
During the first MS ride I did with a team (Team Maniac-RIP) one of our guys went on to do the Day One century while the rest of us only did 50. That bugged me the rest of the year. So the next year I wanted to train towards the century. I ended up only doing a couple of 65 milers before the MS ride.
I did do the century that year. Riding with a group helped. We encouraged each other. Another big help is that we didn't know where we were. We had to either keep going or stop, buy a house and start a new life where we stopped.
Good luck to you. If I can do it, you can do it.

Olasnah said:

My goal this year is to ride in some century events, but completing one on my own or with a small group is what I have to do first. I know I can do it, but I'm curious how others dealt with the experience of riding their first century. Was it something you had pretty much ridden all but the final 10 or so miles of, having built up to it slowly? Or was it a leap from a base of say, 50 or so miles? (therefore, a big effort that left you absolutely depleted?). To me, it looms like a tall mountain. I know it's just a number, mere miles on the road, but like any goal, can intimidate quite a bit. I'd love to read of some experiences like the one I am about to undertake.

I did my first century last fall. Prior to that I had done a 65 miler in the spring, an 80 miler about a month before the century and several 50 milers in between. These were all solo events.

The day I finally did the full 100 I set out with the intentions of only doing 50 but I still felt pretty fresh and it was a beautiful day so I kept riding. At 63 (metric century) I still felt pretty fresh. Took a quick rest break and got back on the bike. At 80 miles I started to feel pretty sluggish as I wasn't really prepared (mentally, snacks, gatorade) to ride that far. However, I kept going albeit at a little slower pace and eventually got my groove back during the last 5 miles.

The thing that shocked me is after a couple of days I was ready to get back on the bike again. I felt fine. However, that 65 miler I had done in the Spring left me wiped out for four days! The difference was in the amount of conditioning.

So the moral of the story is be prepared. Ride, ride and then ride some more. Be sure to have plenty of sports drink and eat during the ride. I had eaten plenty for a 50 miler but no where near enough to do 100.

Ahhhh....a century is serious business but definately an accomplishment! Have you ridden any 1/2 centuries yet? This is how I began building up the stamina to do a full century. If you haven't, I'd suggest that you start with that goal in mind. Once you do a few 50's, it will be so much easier on your body and your mind.

My very first century was solo and I'd planned to ride a nice flat course on a early spring morning when the wind was practically nonexistant. The ride was great for the most part; I stopped at the 50 mile mark for a few minutes to enjoy the view and then turned right around to finish the other half. Around the 75 mile mark, I took a wrong turn and ended up riding what we call old Route One around here...famous for it's HUGE hills. Just riding the 10 or so miles along this road is an accomplishment in itself. Riding them after 75 miles was, well, character building. At first, I cursed myself for not watching the signs which would have allowed me to take the 'easy' way home, then I just kinda laughed to myself and went for it. It took me a little longer than I'd planned, but I did finish it without bonking or going crazy from lack of stimulation!

Yes, 100 miles is a bit daunting if you've never ridden that far, but it's also very exciting, too. Go for it. Don't think too hard about it, but do be sure to put in your base miles. Be sure to have plenty to eat and drink with you. Don't try to do it in X amount of time...just enjoy and look forward to a real sturdy accomplishment. Oh, and watch the road signs very, very carefully.

Robin

Olasnah said:

My goal this year is to ride in some century events, but completing one on my own or with a small group is what I have to do first. I know I can do it, but I'm curious how others dealt with the experience of riding their first century. Was it something you had pretty much ridden all but the final 10 or so miles of, having built up to it slowly? Or was it a leap from a base of say, 50 or so miles? (therefore, a big effort that left you absolutely depleted?). To me, it looms like a tall mountain. I know it's just a number, mere miles on the road, but like any goal, can intimidate quite a bit. I'd love to read of some experiences like the one I am about to undertake.

Why do you want to your first century on your own, or with a small group? Suggest it's better if sign up for a supported century ride. If the course has shorter options, rest stops, and SAG wagons, you'll have an opportunity to go as far as you care to and then quit. Other riders, either veterans or first-timers, can be a great source of support. Plus, the rest stops are important as you'll need quite a bit of nutrition and fluids throughout the day.

Our local club century has 23,50, 63 and 90 mile options. Probably about half of the entrants do the 50 mile and metric options. Some are happy just at that level, others are training to work up the the full 106 mile route. Ours has a total elevation gain of 6000 feet; obviously a flat ride would be easier to start with if that is available in your area. Good luck next season.

Riding a SAG supported route is a great idea. You can ride alone, with friends or make new friends along the way. Plus, the broom wagon is always there is you push toooo far. And they are usually marked pretty well. We've all gone right when we "should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque." (Bugs Bunny-1953)

Start drinking well before the ride and don't forget to eat during the ride.

AND, train for the terrain. During my first MS charity ride, I only rode on the Silver Comet Trail here in Georgia. It's a straight, usually flat, multi-purpose trail. Then, during the ride, some schmuck went out and put hills in the road.

Olasnah said:

My goal this year is to ride in some century events, but completing one on my own or with a small group is what I have to do first. I know I can do it, but I'm curious how others dealt with the experience of riding their first century. Was it something you had pretty much ridden all but the final 10 or so miles of, having built up to it slowly? Or was it a leap from a base of say, 50 or so miles? (therefore, a big effort that left you absolutely depleted?). To me, it looms like a tall mountain. I know it's just a number, mere miles on the road, but like any goal, can intimidate quite a bit. I'd love to read of some experiences like the one I am about to undertake.

There is some good advice here for sure, but just to pair down the physical/training side of things a bit...
Assuming a realistic pre-existing level of conditioning, your biggest concerns for completing a century are pacing, food intake and hydration. If you start slowly and eat and drink consistently (carbs, water and salt), you would be amazed at how far you can push beyond your current boundries on any given day.
IOW, you don't *have* to slowly creep up by 5-10 miles over several months doing painfully slow rides until you get to 100; this is often not realistic given overall time contraints, nor is it necessary when *performance* (i.e.: racing) per se is not the goal. Rather, if you do many consistent shorter rides at a slightly higher intensity (e.g.: 50-60mi at 140bpm and 15-20mi at 150bpm), you will be able to ride much longer at a lower intensity (e.g.: 100mi at 120-130bpm)....just made up numbers btw!...if you are rested and eat and drink properly on the goal day.

Smartt/RST said:

There is some good advice here for sure, but just to pair down the physical/training side of things a bit...
Assuming a realistic pre-existing level of conditioning, your biggest concerns for completing a century are pacing, food intake and hydration. If you start slowly and eat and drink consistently (carbs, water and salt), you would be amazed at how far you can push beyond your current boundries on any given day.
IOW, you don't *have* to slowly creep up by 5-10 miles over several months doing painfully slow rides until you get to 100; this is often not realistic given overall time contraints, nor is it necessary when *performance* (i.e.: racing) per se is not the goal. Rather, if you do many consistent shorter rides at a slightly higher intensity (e.g.: 50-60mi at 140bpm and 15-20mi at 150bpm), you will be able to ride much longer at a lower intensity (e.g.: 100mi at 120-130bpm)....just made up numbers btw!...if you are rested and eat and drink properly on the goal day.

I ride about 30 miles each day on the weekends, and I'll do anywhere from 30min to 45min on a trainer daily. Had the weather cooperated this weekend, I was going to put in a 50 mile run, but it's only going to be in the 40's,,,too cold for what I have to wear. So I'm stuck on the trainer for now, but it will start to warm up by the middle of February. The trainer has helped me a lot. I'm sure I will be able to do 50 pretty handily by March and beyond.

planning on riding the "Rouge Roubaix" on March the 7th. its a century race that is set on smooth pavement, dirt paths, gravel roads, and some creek crossings and i cant wait. but i also have that wonderful feeling of it looming up in distance like a tall dark tower of pain. though the fact that ill be riding with people should make it easier and there is a lot of trees in the area which should effectively block out most of the wind

frequentflyer said:

planning on riding the "Rouge Roubaix" on March the 7th. its a century race that is set on smooth pavement, dirt paths, gravel roads, and some creek crossings and i cant wait. but i also have that wonderful feeling of it looming up in distance like a tall dark tower of pain. though the fact that ill be riding with people should make it easier and there is a lot of trees in the area which should effectively block out most of the wind

Good luck. I had a tower of pain myself the other day. I went out with the group on a Saturday ride, we did 37 miles, but in the early part of that, we hit 3 of the biggest hills I've ever seen. I wasn't ready for the first one, and I had to get off the bike 2/3rds of the way up. I just barely managed the other 2, even though the 2nd was tougher than the first. Granted, it's still early in the season, and I hadn't been outdoors on a ride for a while due to the cold. I've been stuck on a trainer the last few weeks, but after this weekend, I realized that the trainer is keeping me in enough shape to ride about 40 smooth to rolling hill type of miles before I start getting tired. I guess I'm ready to do 50 once I get out more.

I did my first century while touring. I had taken a week and was riding through the Adirondacks, camping at night. I was riding so much that by the end of the week I had lost almost 7 pounds, even though I was eating like a pig. The last day I decided to just get home and ended up doing just over a century so that I could sleep in my own bed.

It's just a number. Think of it not as going 100 miles, just going for a few extra hours. Once you've done it, the barrier is broken, you just want to do it faster the next time.

I'm thinking: rest up for a couple of days before you try it, but only a couple of days. Go for it with fresh legs, but try to be out on the bike regularly before that "before century break".

Just drinking water ain't gonna make it. You'll do and feel much better with some gator or power ade, or some other sports drink, also. I drink gatorade at about half strength in all my bottles. Don't over-hydrate either. Drink lots, but if you're having to urinate all the time, you're overdoing it.

Enjoy yourself. If you're not having fun, it's not worth it, try it again some other time. Of course, "fun" takes on many different forms. Pain can be fun. But there's fun pain, and there's hurt pain.

I've decided my next century will be sometime in May ... and I'm going to do it on my CycleOps Fluid 2!! 😄 Ya just gotta love the process.

I am wondering if I can ever do a century.

The most I have done is 60 and while I was worn out the problem I had was my in my neck. I have some degenerated discs in my near C4 and C5 and by the end of a 50 to 60 mile trip I can barely lift my head and the pain becomes intense.

I am kind of bummed about this, but maybe there is a way around it.

One thing that helps is sitting up at periods and riding with no hands if it flat grade, but my handless riding skills are not that great and the relief is very temporary.

Anyone else have a similar issue and found a way to overcome? (without surgery)

I think my first century was actually 120 miles, before that I had done may 80 to 90 mile ride but never crossed the 100 mile mark... But since then I have done a number of 100+ mile rides and most of them were by myself... The key is make sure you drink and eat enough, just like everyone else said...

This year I am hoping to do the "longest day" which is a ride in NJ from High Point to Cape May in one day, 200 miles...

Felt_Rider said:

I am wondering if I can ever do a century.

The most I have done is 60 and while I was worn out the problem I had was my in my neck. I have some degenerated discs in my near C4 and C5 and by the end of a 50 to 60 mile trip I can barely lift my head and the pain becomes intense.

I am kind of bummed about this, but maybe there is a way around it.

One thing that helps is sitting up at periods and riding with no hands if it flat grade, but my handless riding skills are not that great and the relief is very temporary.

Anyone else have a similar issue and found a way to overcome? (without surgery)

I've seen guys in the RAAM wearing orthopedic neck braces. Doesn't look real cool, but whatever works.

If you're not worried about speed, you could just get another bike, one that lets you sit more upright. You can buy good quality comfort bikes that will sit you a little more upright and I would think that it would take tons of strain off your neck. Then there's always the recumbant bicycle.

Dr.Hairybiker said:

... If you're not worried about speed, you could just get another bike, one that lets you sit more upright. You can buy good quality comfort bikes that will sit you a little more upright and I would think that it would take tons of strain off your neck. Then there's always the recumbant bicycle.

That's a good idea actually. I was at my favorite LBS yesterday and asked if the chopper styled bikes were really selling. He said that they couldn't keep them on the floor. I was shocked. I asked him why and he said because they were so comfortable. He was right. I sat on the darn thing and felt like I was sitting in one of those larger comfy office chairs! Well, not exactly, but it was certainly more comfortable than an aggressively styled road bike. The seat was plush and my legs were more in front of me so my thighs didn't rub on the saddle as they would on a road or MTB. Also, my head and neck were straight up.

I had to get the heck out of there because I get a case of the wants everytime I stop in the place! 😄

Doctor Morbius said:

That's a good idea actually. I was at my favorite LBS yesterday and asked if the chopper styled bikes were really selling. He said that they couldn't keep them on the floor. I was shocked. I asked him why and he said because they were so comfortable. He was right. I sat on the darn thing and felt like I was sitting in one of those larger comfy office chairs! Well, not exactly, but it was certainly more comfortable than an aggressively styled road bike. The seat was plush and my legs were more in front of me so my thighs didn't rub on the saddle as they would on a road or MTB. Also, my head and neck were straight up.

I had to get the heck out of there because I get a case of the wants everytime I stop in the place! 😄

I started riding last June with the goal of doing the 111 mile El Tour de Tucson. I trained 5 days a week and by the second month did my first metric century and two months later a solo century. Managed to finish the El Tour in 5:55, well within my goal.

Yeah, I agree, check out those crazy riders in RAAM. Many of them end up with supports to hold their heads up for them, taking all the pressure off their neck and upper back. While you certainly wouldn't want to do it every time you ride, it seems like a feasible option if a century is a real goal for you.

Dr.Hairybiker said:

I've seen guys in the RAAM wearing orthopedic neck braces. Doesn't look real cool, but whatever works.

If you're not worried about speed, you could just get another bike, one that lets you sit more upright. You can buy good quality comfort bikes that will sit you a little more upright and I would think that it would take tons of strain off your neck. Then there's always the recumbant bicycle.

Not that I wanted to add more weight to my bike, but I would if clip on aero-bars would help for longer rides.

Do you think leaning over and resting on the aero-bars is helpful?
Just giving me another riding position option that might ease the neck pain?

Felt_Rider said:

Not that I wanted to add more weight to my bike, but I would if clip on aero-bars would help for longer rides.

Do you think leaning over and resting on the aero-bars is helpful?
Just giving me another riding position option that might ease the neck pain?

I wouldn't think so. Aero bars are great for taking upper body weight off your arms, and making you aero. I find that they ease a lot of pain in my hands, elbows, and maybe a little in my shoulders, but I don't see that they would help with neck pain. Might even make it worse.

Are there strength building exercises you could do in the weight room that would help? Have you talked to a doc or physical therapist or someone?