100 miles - Reassurance Sought

[Boris Bajic]

If you've been doing 70s and 50s, you will sail through it.

Do you mean riding for 100 miles, or pushing hard for 100 miles?

If the former, you will barely notice the difference between 70 and 100.

If the latter, you will feel a stretch and you will know when you have 10-15 miles left, but you will do it.

Keep hydrated and keep fed. Just as you would for 50 and 70.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

My first 100 was done with almost no training when I was cycling about 20 miles a month and seemed like a killer. My second 100 was done after a few months of doing a few hundred miles a month and to be fair it did have its moments, but that's because I did it with an 18.4mph average (thanks hugely to the support of MattHB of this Parish towing me round!).

 

[boydj]

Plenty of good advice here and you seem to have the base fitness to do it comfortably. My only reservation at this time of year would be to have a bail-out plan if the weather is bad. There's nothing worse than running out of steam when you're cold and wet and still miles from home. Make sure you're well equipped to stay warm and dry because you'll be cycling well within yourself for most of the run and should not be generating too much heat.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

[martint235]

Eat and drink. Then eat and drink some more. And enjoy yourself.

I went from never having ridden more than 40 miles (and that was years ago) to doing the 100 on a FNRttC and back a couple of years ago.

 

[Trickedem]

Take a couple of good stops for food and drink on the way round. Then the ride will be just 3 x 35miles. Enjoy it.

 

[growingvegetables]

Another way of doing your first 100 miler?

Set out for a 60 miler ... over confident that you know the route, get profoundly lost (cos you were so stupidly confident that you didn't bother trying to find/replace that map you'd lost 6 months ago).

Been there - done that. Bottom line - it was a longer day than I expected, but as good an excuse as any for an extra couple of Soreen loaves.

 

[dellzeqq]

give yourself permission to bale out

 

[SportMonkey]

I've done quite a few 50 milers this year, and two 70 milers. On Sunday I'm going to attempt 100 miles and I'm already a bit nervous! How was your first century? Did you build up more gradually or did you just go for it?

I did a 60 ish mile, then a 120 mile at 19mph. It's far easier in a group, but you just have to stick to a pace you can maintain.

 

[Nebulous]

I've never actually done 100, mostly because time available to me is generally compromised by work/ family, but I've signed up for one on the 9th of December. I may need the miles to hit my years target. I'm fascinated by LEL and am considering signing up for it, so I need to ramp up the miles anyway.

 

[BrumJim]

Longest ride was 75miles. Then did a 120 mile ride. Easy. With good company, good stops and a gentle wind behind you and not too many hills, you'll breeze it.

 

[Jefferson Meriwether]

My first century was the first long cycle ride that I'd done in a couple of years. A couple of years ago I'd done a few 60 mile rides and an 80 mile ride then nothing, just a daily 20 mile commute. I did start to flag a bit on the last 20 miles.

 

[billy1561]

I did a 60 ish mile, then a 120 mile at 19mph. It's far easier in a group, but you just have to stick to a pace you can maintain.

Terrific effort

 

[SportMonkey]

Terrific effort

I commute around 30 miles per day, and I was with a fantastic Cyclechat group. There are often groups you can tag on to the back of and you just have to put the miles in.

 

[billy1561]

I commute around 30 miles per day, and I was with a fantastic Cyclechat group. There are often groups you can tag on to the back of and you just have to put the miles in.

I did a 100 miler back in July at 17mph av but most of the route was me and a mate because although there were a couple of hundred on it a lot were quicker and they left us for dead.

 

[Hip Priest]

Reassurance sought, reassurance received! Cheers all.

I'm feeling quite confident now. Will definitely report back afterwards, hopefully whilst reclining on the sofa with a cold one.