Cheese Head

This past Saturday I completed my very first century ride. Back in March when I first starting riding my goal was to complete a metric century this year and then a full century next year. Well the ride I decided to participate in had a 56 mile, 72 mile or 100 mile option. So in July I figured I would ride the 72 mile course. As time drew closer I convinced myself to push towards the full century. What's another 28 miles right?

After months of riding and stressing Saturday finally came. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. But once on my bike things calmed down and I began to get into a groove. At about the 20 mile mark I met up with another rider who was going about my pace. So we rode and talked for the next 30 miles where we had to turn around and start heading back. We made it to the next rest stop to fill up on water and use the rest rooms then continued on. At mile 60 was another stop. But this time I told the gentleman I was riding with I was going to continue on to the next stop and see him there. I seemed to get my second wind and with a tailwind I didn't want to stop and lose my momentum. So I continued on. Well with the tail wind I rode past the next 3 stops until I had about 13 miles to go and had to make a turn south on the course to head back to the finish line. Still feeling good I continued to push on. After about 5 miles heading south I ran into a fairly strong headwind. Feeling determined I pushed on. Although at this point my speed decreased due to the headwind but I pushed onwards to the finish.

Prior to this century my longest ride of the season or my life was 65 miles. So I really felt a sense of accomplishment after completing the 100 miles. Considering back in March I struggled to ride 2.5 miles gasping for air and coasting as much as possible.

I had so much fun doing the century I already have another ride picked out for late October. This time I'm thinking of doing the metric century. But who knows.....maybe I'll go the full century again. I think I've been bit by the ride bug!!

Jarrett2

Congrats!

RubenRubicon

Nice congrats on the century.

PhotoJoe 

And people don't believe us when we tell them that they WILL gain the stamina! Congrats on the first 100, and here's to many, many more.

Cheese Head

Thank everyone. It really is amazing how much you can increase your stamina if you just keep at it. This site has been great for support.

Fangowolf

Congrats

glider54

Way to go!

volosong

That's awesome! And, you already have your metric with the 65 miler. Ya gotta love those tailwinds at the end of a ride, and curse the headwinds in turn. Way to go.

dr_lha

Going from struggling in a 2.5 mile ride to a Century in one season is a major achievement. Congratulations!

SpikedLemon

Congrats! That's well done.

bassjones

Congrats!

qandaappraisals

Did you do the Apple Cider? I did the 37 mile route and the wind coming home was not fun. But the weather couldn't have been better with the overcast skies.

chriskmurray

Congrats! I am slowly working my way back up to a century as well after way too much time working and not enough on the bike.

Cheese Head

No. I rode in the Angel Ride. It started in Big Rapids, Mi. followed the white pine trail up to Reed City the east to 3.5 miles past Farwell and back.

And thank you all. It was a great milestone to show me how far I have progressed this year. A lot of emotions ran through my head during this ride. I'm already planning my ride schedule for 2016!

bgraham111

That's awesome! Very impressive. Next year.... a 200k!

jeneralist 

Yippee and yahoo!

NYSteve

Outstanding, very inspiring.

I can only imagine how good it felt to cross the finish line. Kudo's to you!

Cheese Head

Maybe by the end of next season. I want to work on increasing my speed first!