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Who's done a century?

DirtMcGirk

<b>WAY</b> Dumber than N8 (to the power of ten alm
Feb 21, 2008
6,379
1
Oz
I went for a long road ride today, some 50 miles, and it felt pretty good.

Now I am thinking I'd like to try a Century. Give me something to train for, something to work towards.

Anyone done one?
Any training/ritual suggestions?
Any major problems you ran into?
Advice?

I am hoping to be on track to do this in late May or early June. Think it would be a good way to keep my mind off my mind for a time.
 

?????

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
1,678
2
San Francisco
I did a 4 mountain century a few years ago at the beginning of the summer as my 'get back into biking ride'... it was brutal. I don't get to ride much where I go to school.
 

loco-gringo

Crusading Clamp Monkey
Sep 27, 2006
8,887
14
Deep in the heart of TEXAS
It's best if you have stops planned at stores or stash locations. I do several a summer. I'd like to do one a month. I did my first one last year, and didn't find it terrible, but it did have a couple thousand feet of elevation. I have also done 75 miles with nearly 6000 ft and it is much tougher than any centuries I've done.

Good luck.
 

eric strt6

Resident Curmudgeon
Sep 8, 2001
23,185
13,440
directly above the center of the earth
if you can do a hard 50 you can do a slow 100 just pace yourself. now when you can do 75's when ever you want you can really have fun on a 100

now when you get really hooked you start doing back to back 100's and end up doing really sick things like riding down hwy 1 from the Oregon border to Santa Cruz, a total of 535 miles in 5 days with no days off. The biggie for me was Santa Cruz to Los Angeles down hwy 1 through Big Sur in 3 days 135, 105, 137 miles way too much fun
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
145 miles Hartford to Saratoga Springs.

I was on a serious training program too.
 

DirtMcGirk

<b>WAY</b> Dumber than N8 (to the power of ten alm
Feb 21, 2008
6,379
1
Oz
There is a ride from my house, down through Carson City, along the western shore of Washoe Lake, down to Gardnerville, NV, and then back up along the eastern shore of the lake. 99.75 miles total.

Its pretty flat, don't think there is more than 200' total in elevation change between there and here. Its along a couple of major highways though, which does not put a grin on my face.

Any training tips?
 

Sghost

Turbo Monkey
Jul 13, 2008
1,038
0
NY
I have a 100 mile loop through some mountains, just bring some food to eat rather than surviving on drinks/gels. Just work up to it by banging out some 50/80 mile rides.

If you could alter your route to avoid some major highways, even if you still have to ride or cross them, it lowers your exposure rate for cars and flats.
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,225
20,003
Sleazattle
Done a bunch.
Carry cash, a Credit Card and a cell phone.
Plan a route that goes by places you can refuel at.
Plan a route that starts with you facing into the wind and ends with a tailwind.
 

DirtyMike

Turbo Fluffer
Aug 8, 2005
14,437
1,017
My own world inside my head
There is a ride from my house, down through Carson City, along the western shore of Washoe Lake, down to Gardnerville, NV, and then back up along the eastern shore of the lake. 99.75 miles total.

Its pretty flat, don't think there is more than 200' total in elevation change between there and here. Its along a couple of major highways though, which does not put a grin on my face.

Any training tips?
I've done a fair number, this is your friend:


With what you just listed, your biggest thing you will need to do <ike loco said> if plan where you want to break, and you will need to know when to intake. Dont go balls out right off the start, remember its a century loop, remember you have to get back up that last little incline to get home. Take food that you can intake on a regular basis, plan at least one stop for a meal.

Food I like during the ride

Hammer Gels, the ones with Protein added
Snickers almond snack size
Bit O Honeys
Hammer Heed for your water
enervit tabs
peanut butter sandwichs, no jelly for me thats heartburn during a ride


What I like for lunch during the break

Pretty much anything after you hit the 40 mile marker is fine, the trick is to not eat too much of it. Its really easy to do at that point, your going to be hungry. Remember its a refuel, not dinner. When we do Newport down here, I will usually get a big ass breakfast burrito, eggs sausage, bacon and cheese. floowed by a half hour to an hour stroll through the city before heading back. Sometimes it will be a bacon burger, with chili fires. Pace yourself at lunch, its easy to pile away so much that you end up bloated and actually reducing your energy level. Eat, give it some time to be turned into slop for digestion, and head home.

Oh yeah, stay away from regular sodas on your break, HFCS is too hard to get processed, and will slow you down a bit.








If your down in Socal, bring your road bike, We can go hammer Newport









Oh yeah, be conservative on teh hotsauce and spice for lunch. If you need a sit down on the way home.... you may never forgive yourself
 
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Ian F

Turbo Monkey
Sep 8, 2001
1,016
0
Philadelphia area
Organized or solo? Big difference. An organized century with multiple food stops and groups of other riders to pace with is (IMHO) much easier than an unsupported ride where you're on your own (either solo or with a small group).

If you are in reasonably good riding shape, you should be able to do a organized ride w/o much training. At least all of the ones I did I never prepared for - was always "hey, are you riding the century this w/e?" "Um...yeah, sure... where?" The time I said that to an unsupported ride, I paid dearly for it (although I did finish it).

I love singletrack as well... but there are times when just rolling out your front door to ride has its perks... and since I can't ride to trails from my house, the road has to do.

I've mapped out a 70 miles hill ride from my house that I've done a few times. I also mapped out a 123 mile version I'm planning to do by the end of the season.
 
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JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
Done a bunch in my roadie days, havent done one for 10 years now or so. Take cash, take simple carbs, and dont be above icing down your bits and pieces afterwards.

Neosporin pain relief is good too, and Tylenol arthritis formula too.

Gonna do one on my singlespeed with high pressure slicks some day soon too. Maybe this fall.
 

sunringlerider

Turbo Monkey
Oct 30, 2006
3,573
6,267
Corn Fields of Indiana
I've done few in my roadie days even a few doubles. Have good food but mostly ride with good people that you don't mind being around all day; or should I say, that don't mind being around you all day. . . ?
 

Konabumm

Konaboner
Jun 13, 2003
4,383
87
Hollywood, Maryland, United States
I went for a long road ride today, some 50 miles, and it felt pretty good.

Now I am thinking I'd like to try a Century. Give me something to train for, something to work towards.

Anyone done one?
Any training/ritual suggestions?
Any major problems you ran into?
Advice?

I am hoping to be on track to do this in late May or early June. Think it would be a good way to keep my mind off my mind for a time.
I did one last year - alot of fun. I trained with a few 70+ mile rides then did the Century. Best advice I can five it hydrate hydrate hydrate - if you have a HRM set it to remind you to drink every 15 to 20 min. Around mile 85 I started cramping really bad do to dehydration.

Good goal - good luck
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
i've done 51 miles offroad at altitude, and a century on the road. the offroad mileage was much, much harder.
 

Heidi

Der hund ist laut und braun
Aug 22, 2001
10,184
797
Bend, Oregon
I've done both road and mtn centuries numerous times. It's totally different then any other race because you have to limit yourself to not go too fast or you'll burn out. Prudent advice would be to work up to it steadily so you don't injure yourself.
 

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,669
1,847
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
That's a hundred miles you know ;) (my standard reply when someone asks me to do a century). I get bored on my road bike so I don't think I could mentally do one...maybe if I had the right company.
 
There is a ride from my house, down through Carson City, along the western shore of Washoe Lake, down to Gardnerville, NV, and then back up along the eastern shore of the lake. 99.75 miles total.

Its pretty flat, don't think there is more than 200' total in elevation change between there and here. Its along a couple of major highways though, which does not put a grin on my face.

Any training tips?
For Christ's sake, it's just a bicycle ride. :clue: You don't need to train, you just need to get on and ride.
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
Done a bunch.

What others are saying about mileage vs. climbing is absolutely true. Shorter rides with more climbing can be harder than a relatively flat century, especially for relatively big guys like you.

From experience I can tell you that if you can ride around the lake you are ready for a century. Just pick a route with less climbing for your first. Consider checking out the Chico Wildflower, it's got a couple climbs but for the most part is pretty flat.

All the usual rules apply: Pace yourself, and consume enough calories and water. I find that frequent doses of smaller and more easily digestible food works best. Half a bar at a time, frequent Gu, that sort of thing. I also like a diluted sports drink on longer rides, a steady slow drip keeps my energy level fairly consistent as compared to lots of sugar highs and lows.
 

Biscuit

Turbo Monkey
Feb 12, 2003
1,768
1
Pleasant Hill, CA
I've done one, and it was awesome. At that time I had never really ridden more than 65miles straight.

It really wasn't that bad. Tour de Santa Cruz - 100 miles and 10,000 ft of climbing.. the feeling of persistance, mental clarity, and time to think are what I really got out of it.

I also did an 8hr solo on my ss which I did around 77 miles. That was waaaay more painful than the century.

For practice:
- get used to eating on the bike / riding while eating so you don't get gas/cramps.
- Hammer perpetuem mixed with HEED is your freind
- If it's hot, electrolyte pills are really your friend (but only if you've used them before.. otherwise they mess with your stomach)
- A couple of pepto-pills in your pack can save your day if/when you get a stomach issue. Thankfully I never needed them.. but some people look at you like you have a halo on your head when you say "I have pepto, do you want some?"

Just set your mind on finishing and do it. That is all.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
Rolaids. The minerals prevents cramping and it also keeps your s*** together after consuming multiple gu's.
 

Leethal

Turbo Monkey
Oct 27, 2001
1,240
0
Avondale (Phoenix)
F-ck all the gu ****... I have done many. I like unsupported rides way better, the best bet is to break out a map and find a good old state highway that intersects some little town every ten or so miles.. then all you need is a couple bottles and some cash. Leave in the morning and just go.. if you pick the right route there is a stop every 30 or so minutes if you need it.. hungry stop and get a hot dog... nothing like riding into a little gas station in some ****ty town eating a hot dog on the curb and watching people hectically pump gas to get to Wal Mart real quick while you are out enjoying the scenery at your own pace.
 

KavuRider

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2006
2,565
4
CT
Just set your mind on finishing and do it. That is all.
Everyone offered great advice in this thread.
But I think this is the best.

No matter how long or hard the ride, if you are committed to finishing it, you will.

As for the boredom...I like being alone with my thoughts for hours...its almost like meditating.
I will say though, that 5 hours into a ride, you think of the strangest things...
 

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
I've only done one and it's not too bad. It probably had a lot more up and down than yours will have if you do the route you mentioned above. I did a bit of training- basically more longer rides and a few in the 50-70 mile range. To be honest, it wasn't really necessary. The century was just like a normal ride but longer. I did it alone with no food/fuel stops (had a camelbak with me). Only real problem I encountered was that it didn't get much above freezing for most of the ride. That kind of sucked.
 

DirtMcGirk

<b>WAY</b> Dumber than N8 (to the power of ten alm
Feb 21, 2008
6,379
1
Oz
Think I am going to roll a slow 70 this weekend just to see how it shakes down.
 

DirtMcGirk

<b>WAY</b> Dumber than N8 (to the power of ten alm
Feb 21, 2008
6,379
1
Oz
This isn't so much about metal, I know I am chalked full of that.

Its more about the zen of 100 miles.
 

Craw4x4PH

Chimp
Feb 24, 2009
6
0
I don't know if what I did was a century, mainly because we use kilometers and not miles. But in my mind it was a century. What do you guys thing? 104.39km. Is that considered a century? Does it depend on where you live & what you use (km vs. mi)? The story is in my site/blog. It was around 50% road, 50% trail.

Anyway, regular rides would serve as training. I don't think you need a special training regimen to do your first century. Like what has been said just treat it like a normal/regular ride but longer and more stops.
 

eric strt6

Resident Curmudgeon
Sep 8, 2001
23,185
13,440
directly above the center of the earth
I don't know if what I did was a century, mainly because we use kilometers and not miles. But in my mind it was a century. What do you guys thing? 104.39km. Is that considered a century? Does it depend on where you live & what you use (km vs. mi)? The story is in my site/blog. It was around 50% road, 50% trail.

Anyway, regular rides would serve as training. I don't think you need a special training regimen to do your first century. Like what has been said just treat it like a normal/regular ride but longer and more stops.


1km =.625 miles
 

4xBoy

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2006
7,014
2,847
Minneapolis
Done many, I like to leave work and just go ride all day going everywhere.

Not many helpful hints on how to do it, either you can or can't imho.
 

DirtyMike

Turbo Fluffer
Aug 8, 2005
14,437
1,017
My own world inside my head
This isn't so much about metal, I know I am chalked full of that.

Its more about the zen of 100 miles.
Well yeah, the one your talking about you said had what....200 feet of elevation change?

Are you done yet?Thats an easy run, you shouldnt have any trouble whatsoever. that will be all about keeping a pace that you dont bonk too soon.


Here check this out, it makes grown men cry

http://www.cyclingpros.com/onyx.htm




Can Daddy say 12000 feet of climbing in 114 Miles!!!!! My balls ache just thinking about it



Oh yeah, take the look at jersey in detail link, the back of the jersey has the breakdown of the climb
 
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