Tried my first metric century...and failed :(
#26
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Tried to do my first metric century yesterday. The plan was to ride 70km to my old hometown, then 30km out to the local lake and back. But by the time I had done the 70, my legs were done. Hopefully I will be fitter/stronger/lighter next time I try and I can make it.
https://app.strava.com/activities/48253137
The other road users were really nice and left heaps of room when overtaking. I have two flats. I think next time I will take some co2 as well as a pump.
All up it took me 4 hours at 17km/h.
https://app.strava.com/activities/48253137
The other road users were really nice and left heaps of room when overtaking. I have two flats. I think next time I will take some co2 as well as a pump.
All up it took me 4 hours at 17km/h.
My wife attempted a 100k last year, got to about 80k and had to bail because her knees were causing her a lot of pain. She was gutted at having to quit the ride but a few months later we did another one and she completed it with plenty left in the tank. Even though she didn't make her 100k the first time the 80k she did was a new personal best by a fair margin, and the conditions were so bad it was quite an achievement for her to get that far in the first place.
I was going to go around this corner so much faster than 90kph but since I saw this sign I slowed down.
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I do have reasonably smooth tires on my mountain bike, not the regular nobblies.
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No such thing as failure... always consider it a learning experience and training for the next time.
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Congrats on your ride!
70km is certainly a great ride, and you finished it on a MTB, I wish I could do that on my road bike!
You even had your own support vehicle, how cool is that!
70km is certainly a great ride, and you finished it on a MTB, I wish I could do that on my road bike!
You even had your own support vehicle, how cool is that!
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My wife and daughter dropped me off at the start point and then dropped some bags with food/water at agreed spots by the side of the road and waited for me at the end. How awesome are they?
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There is no way that your ride could even be considered a failure. First off you got on the bike to attempt a significant ride and you rode it to a point of setting a new goal for yourself. So many say "I'm going to...." and never do but you got out there and did it. As many have already mentioned you far exceeded what many of us could do on your mountain bike so Congrats on this accomplishment.
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I'm going to go out on a limb and say this much; by going with a good hybrid tire for your MTB, it will have you could easily second-guess ever needing a road bike. By upgrading to these tires on my MTB, I will honestly say that the performance of the MTB on street kind of renders my roadie useless. Simply put, I'm faster on the MTB with hybrids than I am on the roadie.
Wait a minute here, i'm much lighter than you TC, have slicks and bike shorts, did you have the shorts? I'm going to swap out the fork, but the most I've done is about 70km as well, DOH!!
The kicker is i've been riding for over a year and never really pushed myself! That's really impressive with knobbies i have to say.
The thing is you start to get zapped and think you have nothing left, with water and food you can catch a second wind.(It's weird how that happens about 3-4 hours into a ride)
I'm going to try my metric really soon.
With a roadie you would have made it for sure
The kicker is i've been riding for over a year and never really pushed myself! That's really impressive with knobbies i have to say.
The thing is you start to get zapped and think you have nothing left, with water and food you can catch a second wind.(It's weird how that happens about 3-4 hours into a ride)
I'm going to try my metric really soon.
With a roadie you would have made it for sure
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Awesome man, like others have said its not a failure at all! keep those pedals turning.
#38
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I'm going to try a metric century here in a few weeks. I know for certain I have not built up to it so I may not make it as well. You can call it "fail" if you want and I'm the same way but what that words means is up to you. If you see it as "I failed but I'm not all depressed about it" then you can use the word "fail". I do as well. If you get down about it then use a different word.
I use the word "fail" here and there in a "I failed for sure but next time I may or may not". It's all in the meaning you attach to it.
I use the word "fail" here and there in a "I failed for sure but next time I may or may not". It's all in the meaning you attach to it.
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Build up to it. You will be there before you know it.
Don't listen to the guys that say you need a road bike.
It is the engine not the bike.
But if you have knobby tires, some smooth tires would make a big difference.
Don't put yourself down.
Practice doing 50 km.
Tank up with water before you go, and drink lots on the ride.
Eat about a powerbar per hour.
Track your progress.
My son is a triathlon coach, and this is what he tells his athletes.
Don't listen to the guys that say you need a road bike.
It is the engine not the bike.
But if you have knobby tires, some smooth tires would make a big difference.
Don't put yourself down.
Practice doing 50 km.
Tank up with water before you go, and drink lots on the ride.
Eat about a powerbar per hour.
Track your progress.
My son is a triathlon coach, and this is what he tells his athletes.
#40
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70kms on a MTB !!! .... and you failed how ?
Where about in Australia are you ? if you don't mind giving out the info
Where about in Australia are you ? if you don't mind giving out the info
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I live in Toowoomba, Queensland. I wanted to ride into Inglewood, Queensland because of this long story... 17 months ago I told my dad that I was thinking about riding again and he offered me his old hybrid bike. It was an ok bike but the tires were crumbling so I asked if he wanted to give me new tires for Christmas. He did and when I opened them on Christmas day my grandma made a snarky comment that I would never use them. She was kind of right because I had spoke issues with the hybrid so I got a mountain bike with different size wheels but she was kind of wrong because I have done over 2000km since. She lives in Inglewood so I wanted to do the long ride there to show her how wrong she was.
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I'm going to try a metric century here in a few weeks. I know for certain I have not built up to it so I may not make it as well. You can call it "fail" if you want and I'm the same way but what that words means is up to you. If you see it as "I failed but I'm not all depressed about it" then you can use the word "fail". I do as well. If you get down about it then use a different word.
I use the word "fail" here and there in a "I failed for sure but next time I may or may not". It's all in the meaning you attach to it.
I use the word "fail" here and there in a "I failed for sure but next time I may or may not". It's all in the meaning you attach to it.
#43
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I am more a commuter than a long distance rider. Probably should have done more prep than 10km trips to work and one 40km ride. Will give it another try another day.
I live in Toowoomba, Queensland. I wanted to ride into Inglewood, Queensland because of this long story... 17 months ago I told my dad that I was thinking about riding again and he offered me his old hybrid bike. It was an ok bike but the tires were crumbling so I asked if he wanted to give me new tires for Christmas. He did and when I opened them on Christmas day my grandma made a snarky comment that I would never use them. She was kind of right because I had spoke issues with the hybrid so I got a mountain bike with different size wheels but she was kind of wrong because I have done over 2000km since. She lives in Inglewood so I wanted to do the long ride there to show her how wrong she was.
I live in Toowoomba, Queensland. I wanted to ride into Inglewood, Queensland because of this long story... 17 months ago I told my dad that I was thinking about riding again and he offered me his old hybrid bike. It was an ok bike but the tires were crumbling so I asked if he wanted to give me new tires for Christmas. He did and when I opened them on Christmas day my grandma made a snarky comment that I would never use them. She was kind of right because I had spoke issues with the hybrid so I got a mountain bike with different size wheels but she was kind of wrong because I have done over 2000km since. She lives in Inglewood so I wanted to do the long ride there to show her how wrong she was.
Have to get up there to go for a ride with you one day , i ride a MTB and commute to work as well Makes going to work worth it .
#44
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+1 on the hybrid tires! Just putting hybrid tires on your bike will make WORLDS of difference! I HIGHLY recommend Continental "Town & Country" tires if you have a 26er and most DEFINITELY recommend Continental "Tour RIDEs" if you have a 29er. I have nothing but EXCELLENT things to say about both of these tires! I've owned both and I've used both. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that with my Continental "Tour RIDES" my MTB is just as fast as my road bike on the pavement. They are not only fast on the road but they are very puncture resistant, which is a plus.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say this much; by going with a good hybrid tire for your MTB, it will have you could easily second-guess ever needing a road bike. By upgrading to these tires on my MTB, I will honestly say that the performance of the MTB on street kind of renders my roadie useless. Simply put, I'm faster on the MTB with hybrids than I am on the roadie.
I couldn't agree more! Amazing how a few good swigs of water really give a boost; nitrous oxide for the soul!
I'm going to go out on a limb and say this much; by going with a good hybrid tire for your MTB, it will have you could easily second-guess ever needing a road bike. By upgrading to these tires on my MTB, I will honestly say that the performance of the MTB on street kind of renders my roadie useless. Simply put, I'm faster on the MTB with hybrids than I am on the roadie.
I couldn't agree more! Amazing how a few good swigs of water really give a boost; nitrous oxide for the soul!
#45
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I live down in Logan , i knew those roads where familiar was up in Toowoomba a few weeks ago in the car , passing though to head out to leyburn
Have to get up there to go for a ride with you one day , i ride a MTB and commute to work as well Makes going to work worth it .
Have to get up there to go for a ride with you one day , i ride a MTB and commute to work as well Makes going to work worth it .
https://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/co...ng-club-ride-1
#46
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If you want to go for a ride in Toowoomba, this one is pretty cool, although I have never done it with the official group:
https://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/co...ng-club-ride-1
https://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/co...ng-club-ride-1
5 Bucks says i get lost and end up at crows nest !
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#48
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True . Once my bike is back at 100% i will have to try and get up there to do that ride, nice and early in the morning ... i am sure my partner will love driving me up there !!! ( no i am not riding from logan to toowoomba )
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well done other than the fact that you clearly need to learn to ride on the correct side of the road
#50
just pedal
I will echo a ton of what the other guys have... 70km on a MTB is a BIG deal and a huge job especially with minimal support (although huge props to your family for helping out like hey did)... figure out your weakness and work on fixing it
I did my 100k a few years back on a 29er that I'd modified a bit for road use (this is a pic of me after I finished... if you can't tell I was excited)
riding with some other guys helped me out tremendously, even in the un-aero position on my MTB getting into a pace line was night and day difference... I month later I built up an older trek road bike, it had a fairly upright position to deal with my unflexable self but it was still so much more comfortable and faster to ride. Sadly I never had a chance to get it on any real long rides before I ended up having to sell it.
I'm just now getting back into riding after a few years off and hope to do another 100k this year... and perhaps the ms150 next year but that will def be on a good fitting road bike, not another converted MTB (which is what i'm riding right now)
anyway good job... use it as an encouragement and move forward with that
I did my 100k a few years back on a 29er that I'd modified a bit for road use (this is a pic of me after I finished... if you can't tell I was excited)
riding with some other guys helped me out tremendously, even in the un-aero position on my MTB getting into a pace line was night and day difference... I month later I built up an older trek road bike, it had a fairly upright position to deal with my unflexable self but it was still so much more comfortable and faster to ride. Sadly I never had a chance to get it on any real long rides before I ended up having to sell it.
I'm just now getting back into riding after a few years off and hope to do another 100k this year... and perhaps the ms150 next year but that will def be on a good fitting road bike, not another converted MTB (which is what i'm riding right now)
anyway good job... use it as an encouragement and move forward with that
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