First century

[nickyboy]

Unless there is a really good reason not to, plan your route with the easiest riding at the end, ideally with a tailwind. You will cope fine with climbing and headwinds in the first 50 miles. But I wouldn't want to be doing that after, say, 80 miles

Despite my best efforts to pace myself on centuries, I always feel very tired towards the end. A flat run in with a tailwind is a strong motivator

 

[Annieshaf]

Wow - so many responses - thank you all for your input and thanks to Dogtrousers for posting the route properly. My preference would be to do the route anticlockwise due to the very flat section at the end which is very familiar to me and should get me through the last few miles. However I do get what you mean about the wind direction Globalti and this could be something to change on the day.

To those who rightly noticed the route is slightly short this is because I have taken off the first and last mile from my house to the start point and back so overall it should be just over rather than just under.

I am hoping that I won't be on my own on the day as I have a friend planning to do it with me so hoping we can take advantage of drafting each other.

Thanks for the cafe recommendations and also for all the tips about food. It seems I will have to think this through a bit more carefully.

I have ridden parts of the route before - well at least the first bit to Settle and the last half from Halton onwards, the bit in-between will be unknown and is probably the hilliest part.

Speed on my only 2 rides which went over 70m were about 12.5mph and 14.5mph. The slow one included lots of bike paths rather than roads which did slow me down and the faster one was a sportive so lots of adrenaline and drafting opportunities helped me along. This is my logic for thinking I should aim for about 13.5 overall but just a bit worried about overdoing it early on and then lack of energy catching up with me as I run out of glycogen.

 

[Globalti]

Have you tried putting maltodextrin in your drink bottle? Buy it from myprotein.com and pour about an inch into the bottle then fill with water or squash. It's pure carbohydrate so it will keep your energy levels topped up all day. Only two downsides: you'll feel hungry if you don't eat anything solid and if you're in your fifties or older the pure carbohydrate will make you windy. Mind you that might help towards the end of the ride....

 

[Brandane]

@Annieshaf ; you could go on an organised ride which means you would be sharing the pain with others. For some reason it always seems easier that way.
Ride to the Sun is a 100 mile route, overnight on the shortest Saturday night of the year, from Carlisle to Edinburgh. I did it last year and it didn't seem like 100 miles. We were lucky that we had ideal weather though with a slight tail wind.

 

[si_c]

Another option if you fancy a group ride would be @nickyboy's excellent Manchester to Llandudno ride in May. It's a very easy pace (~14mph for the faster riders), with three stops and dinner at the end. This has been the first 100miler for a few forum members, myself included, and if you've already done a 70+ mile ride, then this would certainly be doable for you right now, with a similar route profile to your existing planned ride.

In addition there are plenty of bailout points along the way should you feel like you want to cut it short. Definitely worth considering, details can be found here.

 

[Annieshaf]

@Ajax Bay Thanks for the tip about rerouting the decent into Ingleton. Had a look on google maps and the road I chose does look a bit rough so have done as you suggested

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

I haven't done many miles this year so far mainly commuting to be honest, the few decent rides out have been 50-60 miles at a steady pace. I normally stop every 2-3 hours for a quick 5 minute break, I'll have a bite of a banana or flapjack that kind of thing. I'm no sprinter I take my time but I think if you keep the body fuelled up and plenty of liquid you'll be fine

 

[Spinney]

@Ajax Bay Thanks for the tip about rerouting the decent into Ingleton. Had a look on google maps and the road I chose does look a bit rough so have done as you suggested

I've ridden both those routes into Ingleton, the one you had is more scenic with less traffic but (from memory) also has cattle grids etc. The B road can be busy, but it's fairly straight and relatively easy for cars to overtake you, and (touch wood) I haven't encountered any idiots on my few ventures along it.

 

[Annieshaf]

Thanks Dogtrousers. I would love to but unfortunately other commitments get in the way of having the time to do one a month. Most of my long rides have to be fit into a school day hence the reason I haven't managed a century yet. 60-70m is about the most I can do on a regular basis.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I have few further comments on your route.

1) After Ingleton, the minor roads to Wray are fine. But then I'd do a mile on the A683 and slip off left through Caton rather than cross the Lune, and recross it back (to get onto the A683). Alternatively cross it (as per your route) but then stay that side, stay off the A683 and go through Halton and cross the Lune in Lancaster. Both have less climb. You'd need to find a few more miles if you adopted either of those options.
2) Rather than routing through Lancaster, which is a bit of a pain, consider heading SSW from Caton, to make your way to Cockerham. Have a look at the first 50km of the 2018 Mille Pennines route for the idea: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24491995

 

[GuyBoden]

Just see the century ride as preparation for your first 200 miler..........

 

[Ajax Bay]

Just see the century ride as preparation for your first 200km.

FTFY
How about the Tan Hill 200 - nice easy one with which to start.

 

[DCLane]

If you're still looking for cafe's there's two which will be open in Horton-in-Ribblesdale; a small tea room just after the railway bridge into the village and then the walker's cafe after the pubs. Any in Settle will be fine but the Naked Man one has space outside for a bike.

You'll be going past my parent's old house in Horton as well!

Ingleton to Ribblehead can be busy with motorbikes and walker's cars, so I'd suggest you avoid early afternoon on that bit. The road to Horton's and then Settle's a nice ride though.

 

[GuyBoden]

FTFY
How about the Tan Hill 200 - nice easy one with which to start.

Then, just see the 200km ride as preparation for your first 200 mile ride.........

 

[Annieshaf]

Hi
Thanks to everyone who helped me plan this. Tomorrow is the big day- not quite what I planned weather wise. Was hoping for a nice day but not this hot.

Bike cleaned. Chain oiled. New tyres fitted. Garmin route uploaded. New HR sorted. 2 water bottles in freezer. Snacks packed. Sun cream and outfit ready. New lights charged and fitted (probably totally unnecessary but done anyway) Spares and cafe lock squeezed into tiny saddle bag (2 brand new tubes no dodgy repairs!). Pump checked. Sunglasses cleaned. Lots of carbs eaten. Anything I might have forgotten?