dendawg

I'm signed up for a 100+ (107 miles to be exact, plus probably another 8 junk miles to the start and back) ride in 5 weeks. Been training since Feb, on the road or trainer depending on the weather. I've been riding 100+ miles a week for the last 4 weeks (some of them trainer rides), with my longest road ride being 63 miles. Think I'll be fit enough for this ride. There's a 10 hour time limit and I'll probably need all 10!

gcottay

You will have "made it" as soon as you start the ride. After that, just relax enjoy yourself. Take it very easy at the beginning. Avoid the temptation to ride with rabbit groups. Take advantage of stops. Drink steadily and eat a bit.

Ride as if the question is "Was it fun?" rather than "How many miles did I do?" With that attitude you may well finish the ride.

az_cyclist

What is your average speed for the metric? If you could get in an 80 miler, that would be a good test.

NOS88

I always operated with the formula - If I can do 75 miles with comfort in the same conditions (weather and terrain), I can do the 100 miler too. At 63 miles, you are real close, and I think az-cyclist makes a good point. An 80 miler would be a good test.

BluesDawg

You can do it. Just don't overdo it.

Pat

Well, you managed a metric. You should be able to do the century assuming you are faster than a snail. The main thing with long distances is to keep your pace to a level that you can sustain.

StephenH

Distance should be fine, the time may be an issue, depends on how you work things.

One thing I've learned in randonneuring is that the time you spend stopped can be deceptive, a few minutes here and a few minutes there and all the sudden 2 hours of your 10 hours is spent diddling around doing nothing. So get off and on the bike at stops in a hurry, be repacking or refilling water bottles while you chew your food, etc.

This also assumes you're not riding flat land for workouts and then doing a super-hilly century.

On a lot of rides that have a time limit like that, they can't actually make you quit riding; they may close down rest stops that you haven't come to yet or something, but they aren't going to tackle you to get you off the road.

doctor j

I agree with the 75 to 80 mile contingent. If you can do that, you can do 100.

Pace yourself and pay attention to fuel and fluids.

kr32

How long did it take you to do the 63? And how did you feel?

I think you can do it and will.
Drink before you are thirsty,eat before you are hungry, take it easy but don't fool around either. Be steady and it should be fine.
Best wishes to you on your first 100 miler.

BluesDawg

I'm not clear as to whether the OP is saying his longest road ride ever is 63 miles or if that's the longest so far this year. Have you done centuries before or will this be your first? Either way, I still say you can do it with the kind of riding you have been doing. Doing a 75-80 mile ride between now and the event would be ideal, but not necessary. If you have done a century before, you have a better idea of how to dole out your efforts to ensure that you won't bonk before the end. If not, you'll need to be more careful and a longer ride before the event becomes more advisable, but still not absolutely necessary. Long rides are all about using stored energy wisely.

dendawg

Well the 63, was actually 47, with 16 junk miles to and from the group ride. The 47 miles took 4:26, with 57 minutes spent at 2 rest breaks. My total time for the metric including my junk miles came to 5:47. This ride was my longest this year. The longest I ever did was 72 miles, and that was 2 years ago. I actually felt pretty good after the ride, though I conked out after dinner!

dendawg

This will be my first century and the 63 miles is my longest this year. My longest ever was 72 miles 2 years ago. I hope to do an 80 miler this week. I really need to work on the hills as there is around 5-6k of climbing on the ride. Last weeks ride had 1.6k of climbing on the 47 mile section I did with the group. I have a feeling this weeks ride might double that.

dendawg

I've been trying to keep hills in the mix though I sometimes do a longish flat recovery ride after a hard day out.
Today I did some easy laps in a local park, but added a bunch of hill repeats on the one short steep hill there. The ride has quite a bit of climbing

Rick@OCRR

Based on all of the above, dendawg,

I'm fairly certain you will make it! Of course, anything can happen, but you seem to have a very intelligent approach to the ride, so if I were you I would be feeling quite confident.

Rick / OCRR

Phil85207

You have some good advice here, but nothing said about hydration or nutrition. What have you done in that regard? You won't be taking long rest stops to chow down with a pizza. Nutrition and hydration on the run is not difficult and saves a lot of time but needs to be practiced a little. Staying nourished and hydrated is a very important factor. For instance, if you always drank water in your training rides and for the event switched to Gatorade, you may well get a sick stomach and not be able to complete it. Gels are a good source of nutrition and can easily be carried (some tuck them under the shorts just above the knee and are easy to get to) and consumed while ridding. Good luck

dendawg

I've been riding with 2 bottles of a protein drink mix (Hammer Perpetuem) and for last weeks long ride I added a hydration pack with 1.5 liters of water. I returned with all almost empty. I also carry a squeeze bottle of gel, which hasn't been working so well in the cold weather we've been having but should get better as things warm up. :-)

cyclinfool

You are already ready based on what I have read here - that is unless it is a century with a lot of climbing.
When I start doing centuries I an usually doing 100 miles/wk and am comfortable with a metric. I think you are at the right spot now.

My first century this year is in the first week in June and I have only been on the road twice, am I worried - not in the least. Although my last 12 mile ride felt awful, I have done this enough to know that within a month I'll be able to do a metric (although with some pain) and although that first century of the season will be slow and I will be spent, it can be done at about a 15 mph average.

scroca

I don't get what you mean by junk miles. If you rode 8 miles to the group, then 47 miles with the group, then 8 miles back home, that sounds like 63 miles to me.

Regardless, it sounds like with 5 weeks to go you should be able to bump that up around 75-80 miles before your century and still have time for an easy week before the century.

I think you'll do it.

DnvrFox

Have fun. A reminder. Do not change anything on your bike in the last couple of weeks before the century, or plan on eating/drinking or doing anything else new. Also check out everything on your bike to be sure it is tight, etc.

Today on my ride, my seat started moving back and forth - caught me off guard. It appears that the seat post had been slipping down and I was not aware of it, and when it got to where it had less diameter, it was simply loose. I fixed it, but it cost me some time.

dendawg

I consider the junk miles the easy riding back and forth to the ride start. I usually don't ride them at the same intensity, if any intensity at all. Also there tends to be some waiting time (last week 25 minutes) before the group ride starts, but yes they are still miles ridden.

dendawg

The bike had a full tune up 2 weeks ago, new chain, cables and brake pads. In fact I was amazed at how smooth it was shifting. Probably will just need some chain lube. Oh, I will be changing my shoes from my winter ones to my summer ones, and that usually requires a small seat adjustment as the winter shoes have thicker soles. I rode the lighter shoes today for the first time and noticed a bit of seat discomfort.

cyclinfool

Dnvr,
We are so proud of you - you took a wrench to your bike and it was still servicable afterwards, this is indeed a step forward.

kr32

I bet his car hasn't been worked on, those bikes just keep falling apart, I just don't get it either.

DnvrFox

Well, not exactly. The first "fix" didn't work, and it got loose and swiveled again. I had to stop and refix it to get home. I tried to call the mobile bicycle AAA, but they were out riding.

And, my cars are in great shape, thanks. But, truly, I haven't had any "mechanical" work done on the cars in a long time, besides regular preventive maintenance. OF course, my 2000 Neon has a grand total of 60,000 miles, and my Town and COuntry about 45,000 miles. But my Lemond has about 30,000 and I have had it in the shop a number of times for a variety of repairs.

TromboneAl

Hey, DenDawg, we are in a similar situation. I've got a century coming up on May 1. Here's my training schedule:



I've compared the hilliness of my rides with that of the century:



And I think I'm going to be ready enough that I'll enjoy it. I did a hilly 71 miler, and felt good. HOWEVER, I did a 56 mile ride recently in which my butt got very sore, and I don't think I could have ridden another 44 miles. But I think I'll have that fixed (with some careful adjustments and new shorts) by century time.

I think those junk miles count. Sometimes riding slowly can be more tiring that riding fast (more pressure on saddle, for example).