Aravis
Putrid Donut
- Location
- Gloucester
It's taken me over 56 years to discover these. They're brilliant!
The story behind your first century ride (either Metric or Imperial)
- Thread starter steverob
- Start date
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I can't recall my first imperial century, which is strange because I've done very few of them. I also can't recall my first metric one, mainly because I have always calculated in miles, but I've done dozens of them.
As a teenager I cycled a bit on a big old Raleigh Wayfarer but 40 miles or so would have been the maximum. As a student I cycled a lot, as a form of transport, where distance didn't matter. I remember two of us going off for a whole day, but we dealt with a serious mechanical and climbed a prominent local hill within that, so I reckon mileage would have been around 80.
Coming back to cycling later on in life was a revelation, and the most significant ride was one where I did two days. I set off with a road bike and a backpack weighing over 8 kilos to cycle coast to coast, following the great highland fault line. Roughly Aberdeen to Stonehaven to Helensburgh. My wired Aldi or Lidl computer broke early on so I was gauging distance very roughly. I stopped overnight at a youth hostel in Pitlochry, went out for a meal, then set off again the following day. I remember bits of the second day being very difficult. Struggling in my lowest gear on the slightest incline at one point. Stopping in a posh coffee shop and devouring lots of cake. Very sore shoulders and upper back from my backpack. I was met by my family at Helensburgh and the photo of me with my bike is still probably one of my proudest moments bikewise. I calculated later that I had done high 190s milewise but don't think I broke a century either day.
A couple of years later I did a 300k, roughly the same distance, in one day but it didn't feel as significant.
As a teenager I cycled a bit on a big old Raleigh Wayfarer but 40 miles or so would have been the maximum. As a student I cycled a lot, as a form of transport, where distance didn't matter. I remember two of us going off for a whole day, but we dealt with a serious mechanical and climbed a prominent local hill within that, so I reckon mileage would have been around 80.
Coming back to cycling later on in life was a revelation, and the most significant ride was one where I did two days. I set off with a road bike and a backpack weighing over 8 kilos to cycle coast to coast, following the great highland fault line. Roughly Aberdeen to Stonehaven to Helensburgh. My wired Aldi or Lidl computer broke early on so I was gauging distance very roughly. I stopped overnight at a youth hostel in Pitlochry, went out for a meal, then set off again the following day. I remember bits of the second day being very difficult. Struggling in my lowest gear on the slightest incline at one point. Stopping in a posh coffee shop and devouring lots of cake. Very sore shoulders and upper back from my backpack. I was met by my family at Helensburgh and the photo of me with my bike is still probably one of my proudest moments bikewise. I calculated later that I had done high 190s milewise but don't think I broke a century either day.
A couple of years later I did a 300k, roughly the same distance, in one day but it didn't feel as significant.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
My first MAMIL era century was in September 2012 after a FNRttC to Bognor. I rode to Hassocks after breakfast and got the train home. I remember being scalped by a Miss Marple lookalike as I laboured into Hassocks, straining in bottom gear on a 0.1% incline, hallucinating monsters made of bread pudding.
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Gixxerman
Guru
- Location
- Market Rasen
I had been planning my 100 miler for a few weeks in advance. I had done many 50 milers and one 70 miler so I was confident that I'd manage it. So one Saturday I made the decision that it would be the next day (27th September 2009). It was going to be on my newly bought Trek 7.3FX. This was my first bike I'd owned as an adult. I started cycling again because I wanted to mantain my fitness levels into my 50's so that I could prolong my football playing days.
That saturday night I got my gear together, and had a large pasta meal. Apart from that, I really didn't do a lot of lead-up to it. I took some Trail mix and 2 flapjacks and had a single 1L water bottle. The route was planned using the bike hike course creator.
I set off about 10:15 on the back roads to Bardney. From Bardney it was the water railway (NCN1) to Boston. This section is very flat and follows the river Witham and very pleasent cycling it was too. I stopped en-route in Woodall Spa for some water. At Boston (at about 50 miles) I found a cafe and had a nice tosted sandwich, some coffee and a cake for my lunch. Then set off again north through the fens heading for the hills that are the Lincolnshire Wolds. As it turns out, this was a bit a of a mistake in my route planning as I left the hills until later in the ride. If I ever do the same route again, I'd probably do it in reverse. Everything had been fine until my stop for lunch, my legs felt very heavy after my stop. But in a few miles I was on it again. However, as I approached the 70-odd mile mark I was starting to tire. Then as I went up a hill near Cadwell Park at about the 80-odd mile mark, I bonked and got cramp in both thights simultaneously. I coasted to a stop, but couldn't unclip, so simply fell over on the grass verge. I lay there for a few minutes until the cramp passed. I had a drink and some trail mix (which I had not opened until now). I also went to a house opposite and asked for some water. After about 10 minutes I set off again. But within a very short distance, I could feel the cramp returning. I was quite worried now as I thought that I might not be able to make it. I even had thoughts about what I would do if I couldn't and maybe my sister could come and pick me up. Anyway, I relaxed my pace for few miles, after which I felt much better. I put this down to the trail mix getting into my system. I completed the route with no other issues. Now the really sad and angering part. I did not have a cycle computer back then. I used an app on my phone called Sports Tracker. My phone was tucked away in my bum-bag and as it was hassle to get it out, I didn't check it that often. When I checked it at home, I saw that it was only 97.07 miles. Bugger. When I planned it on bike hike, it had been 101 miles (or thereabouts). So no 100
. I averaged 13.2 mph which I thought was quite decent, for a then 44 year old who had only started cycling again that spring. My legs hurt, my bum was sore. I drank over 6 ltires of fluid that day and never had one wee on the whole ride. I have no idea how that happned. I was quite tired, but oddly not at all hungry.
That saturday night I got my gear together, and had a large pasta meal. Apart from that, I really didn't do a lot of lead-up to it. I took some Trail mix and 2 flapjacks and had a single 1L water bottle. The route was planned using the bike hike course creator.
I set off about 10:15 on the back roads to Bardney. From Bardney it was the water railway (NCN1) to Boston. This section is very flat and follows the river Witham and very pleasent cycling it was too. I stopped en-route in Woodall Spa for some water. At Boston (at about 50 miles) I found a cafe and had a nice tosted sandwich, some coffee and a cake for my lunch. Then set off again north through the fens heading for the hills that are the Lincolnshire Wolds. As it turns out, this was a bit a of a mistake in my route planning as I left the hills until later in the ride. If I ever do the same route again, I'd probably do it in reverse. Everything had been fine until my stop for lunch, my legs felt very heavy after my stop. But in a few miles I was on it again. However, as I approached the 70-odd mile mark I was starting to tire. Then as I went up a hill near Cadwell Park at about the 80-odd mile mark, I bonked and got cramp in both thights simultaneously. I coasted to a stop, but couldn't unclip, so simply fell over on the grass verge. I lay there for a few minutes until the cramp passed. I had a drink and some trail mix (which I had not opened until now). I also went to a house opposite and asked for some water. After about 10 minutes I set off again. But within a very short distance, I could feel the cramp returning. I was quite worried now as I thought that I might not be able to make it. I even had thoughts about what I would do if I couldn't and maybe my sister could come and pick me up. Anyway, I relaxed my pace for few miles, after which I felt much better. I put this down to the trail mix getting into my system. I completed the route with no other issues. Now the really sad and angering part. I did not have a cycle computer back then. I used an app on my phone called Sports Tracker. My phone was tucked away in my bum-bag and as it was hassle to get it out, I didn't check it that often. When I checked it at home, I saw that it was only 97.07 miles. Bugger. When I planned it on bike hike, it had been 101 miles (or thereabouts). So no 100
. I averaged 13.2 mph which I thought was quite decent, for a then 44 year old who had only started cycling again that spring. My legs hurt, my bum was sore. I drank over 6 ltires of fluid that day and never had one wee on the whole ride. I have no idea how that happned. I was quite tired, but oddly not at all hungry.Attachments
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Aravis
Putrid Donut
- Location
- Gloucester
Ah, I'd been hoping the discussion might move on to the first "modern era" century. At the start of 2015, 20-30 miles seemed like my limit and there was little joy in it. The first essential step was proving to myself that I could enjoy cycling again, and with the help of a 100km Audax I managed to make 50 miles feel normal. During the summer I began to wonder if 100 miles might be possible, and somewhat rashly signed up for the Tasty Cheddar 100km Audax which is held at the beginning of October.
A week before the Tasty Cheddar I was riding home across Minchinhampton Common, above Stroud, on a glorious Sunday evening. I could hear a very noisy digger on the road behind me, and I was damned if I was going to let him catch me and put me amongst the string of cars which were no doubt stuck behind him. Eventually he turned off - honour satisfied.
As I rode the final adrenalin-fuelled miles into Gloucester, it was obvious I could have gone on much longer. That was the moment I believed, and I'd already done the first 100 miler before the day of the Audax. This was a loop starting and finishing in Lechlade, with the final phase from Newbury along the inspiring Lambourn valley, a great favourite in my youth. In the next couple of weeks I added three more centuries and settled down for the winter contemplating what adventures the new year might hold, just like the old days.
One other key element in my rehabilitation that year was learning to accept that I'm 3mph slower than I used to be. This isn't going to change, and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
A week before the Tasty Cheddar I was riding home across Minchinhampton Common, above Stroud, on a glorious Sunday evening. I could hear a very noisy digger on the road behind me, and I was damned if I was going to let him catch me and put me amongst the string of cars which were no doubt stuck behind him. Eventually he turned off - honour satisfied.
As I rode the final adrenalin-fuelled miles into Gloucester, it was obvious I could have gone on much longer. That was the moment I believed, and I'd already done the first 100 miler before the day of the Audax. This was a loop starting and finishing in Lechlade, with the final phase from Newbury along the inspiring Lambourn valley, a great favourite in my youth. In the next couple of weeks I added three more centuries and settled down for the winter contemplating what adventures the new year might hold, just like the old days.
One other key element in my rehabilitation that year was learning to accept that I'm 3mph slower than I used to be. This isn't going to change, and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
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Indeed. In fact, when I did my 75-mile student ride home from Leeds to Liverpool, I didn't tell my folks I was coming - they might have been out when I got there.
I'd love to be only 3mph slower than I used to be
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I've no idea at all how fast (or slow) I used to be. I used to use 10mph for time planning estimates, but that was just because it made the maths easy. I never had a speedometer or anything like that, just a click click mileometer. I still use 10mph for estimating how long a ride will take, and it's not far off although the ego-flattering "moving average" that GPS aided technology gives says that I sometimes go at a mind-bending 20km/h. Which is about 12mph, and 12 is not far off equal to 10.I'd love to be only 3mph slower than I used to be
Hmm, thinking more about the old days before GPS, it struck me that I never cared much about how far each ride was... and I've just been recalling a few other longer rides.
I remember cycling from Leeds one day, past York and out across the moors, and in the distance I saw three big round domes that were not marked on my OS map. I had to go see them, though they ended up further away than they'd seemed... and they were the domes at RAF Fylingdales.
Looking at Google maps today suggests my day's ride was around 150 miles!
Alan
(Update: It's probably lucky I didn't have GPS, as I think I'd have decided it was too far)
I remember cycling from Leeds one day, past York and out across the moors, and in the distance I saw three big round domes that were not marked on my OS map. I had to go see them, though they ended up further away than they'd seemed... and they were the domes at RAF Fylingdales.
Looking at Google maps today suggests my day's ride was around 150 miles!
Alan
(Update: It's probably lucky I didn't have GPS, as I think I'd have decided it was too far)
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briantrumpet
Legendary Member
- Location
- Devon & Die
[OT alert]Haha, the good old days, before Google Earth, when Ordnance Survey pretended various 'sensitive sites' didn't exist. I remember getting a bit confused when a bridge over the M5 to an armaments store near Puriton wasn't on the map.
My first metric (though I only considered it my longest ride ever at the time) was in 1989 or so, I rode from Belfast to Bangor to pick up my friends and then we rode down around the Ards Peninsula through Ballywalter, Newtonards and back to Bangor. All with no food, and maybe one water bottle. Riding from Bangor to Belfast was horrible. I think I measured it on a map as around 65 miles. Stuck to rides < 30 miles for 20 years. The bike was a 1985 burgundy Raleigh Clubman bought new from Dave Kane's. I still have the frame at my folk's house, sprayed blue :S
Didn't do anything long like that until 2011 when a friend persuaded a group of us to ride the London to Brighton route, which from my place is almost spot on 100km. Then another friend persuaded me to have a go at the Dunwich Dynamo, but I said I wanted to ride it in the daylight first, so we did that. 117 miles. It was tough at the end (much harder than when I did it at night, but it was a very hot day). All on a bike with an alloy fork. The feeling in my hands returned in less than a week.
Didn't do anything long like that until 2011 when a friend persuaded a group of us to ride the London to Brighton route, which from my place is almost spot on 100km. Then another friend persuaded me to have a go at the Dunwich Dynamo, but I said I wanted to ride it in the daylight first, so we did that. 117 miles. It was tough at the end (much harder than when I did it at night, but it was a very hot day). All on a bike with an alloy fork. The feeling in my hands returned in less than a week.
Wonderful thread!
Started cycling in earnest in 2011 and after about 6 months with a maximum ride of about 50miles, tried to ride a century down to my parents place in North London. A lovely day with some issues with the route I'd taken but by the time I'd done 80 miles to Toddington, I needed food and drink but couldn't eat or drink anything without feeling very sick. Cue a call to my Dad for a lift home....felt dire.
Fast forward to last year and I was pretty reenergised in my riding aiming for a first tour. Was following Kajsa's record attempt with interest and when she posted about a valentines day century ride, I felt compelled to do it. The ride itself was wonderful, met some lovely people! At about 80miles, we were heading toward Lufbra and home which was horrid mentally as I knew the car was in Nottingham. Heading down Long Lane, I was really suffering and then to top it off, it started snowing so on goes the brand new jacket. Crazily tired by this point and heading through Beeston with 99.1miles completed, I got both wheels trapped in the tram tracks and came off heavily. Some thought from those with me that I may have dozed off momentarily. Still, managed to cruise gingerly to 106miles for my first ton.
Unfortunately, the fall really spoilt my day and any sense of achievement. Probably quite silly of me but it's how I felt. Managed another ton a couple of weeks later, also with Kajsa and now I can't stop riding to explore new places.
Started cycling in earnest in 2011 and after about 6 months with a maximum ride of about 50miles, tried to ride a century down to my parents place in North London. A lovely day with some issues with the route I'd taken but by the time I'd done 80 miles to Toddington, I needed food and drink but couldn't eat or drink anything without feeling very sick. Cue a call to my Dad for a lift home....felt dire.
Fast forward to last year and I was pretty reenergised in my riding aiming for a first tour. Was following Kajsa's record attempt with interest and when she posted about a valentines day century ride, I felt compelled to do it. The ride itself was wonderful, met some lovely people! At about 80miles, we were heading toward Lufbra and home which was horrid mentally as I knew the car was in Nottingham. Heading down Long Lane, I was really suffering and then to top it off, it started snowing so on goes the brand new jacket. Crazily tired by this point and heading through Beeston with 99.1miles completed, I got both wheels trapped in the tram tracks and came off heavily. Some thought from those with me that I may have dozed off momentarily. Still, managed to cruise gingerly to 106miles for my first ton.
Unfortunately, the fall really spoilt my day and any sense of achievement. Probably quite silly of me but it's how I felt. Managed another ton a couple of weeks later, also with Kajsa and now I can't stop riding to explore new places.
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
My first imperial century was with you lot. I don't know if anyone remembers it.
It was a bit of a long time coming. I had realised back in 2011 that the sort of mileages that I had thought impossible except for the super-fit were quite achievable. I had done 50 miles and survived, and then, I think, my first metric century on the Snowdrop Audax (Beacon Cycling Club) in 2012. Took a sip of imaginary champagne as I beat my previous longest distance, then another at 100km. I think I met @Banjo on that ride.
However in 2012 my aim was a more modest 13 and a bit miles, but without the aid of pedals. This took precedence over any attempt at a longer distance on my bike.
2013 arrived, and the first imperial century was long over due. So I signed up to the longer route of the Rutland Cicle Sportive. 2013 was a long winter followed by a cold spring, but the weather forecast was dryish, with a bit of drizzle. Don't know why, but I set off with my packable jacket in the car rather than the saddle bag. Which wasn't a good idea, as the dry with light drizzle turned out to be rainy, with occasional heavy patches. And I was only in shorts and t-shirt. I wasn't the only one who was badly prepared, as at the first stop there were two people in the village hall showing early stages of hypothermia, and with my uncontrollable violent shivering, people were keeping a very close eye on me too. So I pulled out.
Summer did arrive that year, and as a training ride for the big summer FNRTTC outing, a group decided to ride from Northampton to London. So I joined them, but had to get to Northampton first. Although it was in my head, decided the evening before to ride from Birmingham, rather than take the train. Almost exactly 50 miles, blue skies, slight tailwind, and 2hrs 45 minutes of riding non-stop before I met up with fellow Cycle Chatters. Don't think I have ever ridden so well since. Anyway, we set off from Northampton, and just short of London, the 100 mile mark was reached, and I let out a shout of delight that was unexpectedly loud. Clearly I was unaware of the subconscious frustration that had built up inside me, which came out in one massive exhortation. There is a photo of my holding up my bike in a victory salute to a milestone being achieved. Later on in the same ride, 200km barrier was broken, made it to London, and caught the train back home, after a very long and happy day.
Met some lovely people on that ride. Ring any bells on here?
It was a bit of a long time coming. I had realised back in 2011 that the sort of mileages that I had thought impossible except for the super-fit were quite achievable. I had done 50 miles and survived, and then, I think, my first metric century on the Snowdrop Audax (Beacon Cycling Club) in 2012. Took a sip of imaginary champagne as I beat my previous longest distance, then another at 100km. I think I met @Banjo on that ride.
However in 2012 my aim was a more modest 13 and a bit miles, but without the aid of pedals. This took precedence over any attempt at a longer distance on my bike.
2013 arrived, and the first imperial century was long over due. So I signed up to the longer route of the Rutland Cicle Sportive. 2013 was a long winter followed by a cold spring, but the weather forecast was dryish, with a bit of drizzle. Don't know why, but I set off with my packable jacket in the car rather than the saddle bag. Which wasn't a good idea, as the dry with light drizzle turned out to be rainy, with occasional heavy patches. And I was only in shorts and t-shirt. I wasn't the only one who was badly prepared, as at the first stop there were two people in the village hall showing early stages of hypothermia, and with my uncontrollable violent shivering, people were keeping a very close eye on me too. So I pulled out.
Summer did arrive that year, and as a training ride for the big summer FNRTTC outing, a group decided to ride from Northampton to London. So I joined them, but had to get to Northampton first. Although it was in my head, decided the evening before to ride from Birmingham, rather than take the train. Almost exactly 50 miles, blue skies, slight tailwind, and 2hrs 45 minutes of riding non-stop before I met up with fellow Cycle Chatters. Don't think I have ever ridden so well since. Anyway, we set off from Northampton, and just short of London, the 100 mile mark was reached, and I let out a shout of delight that was unexpectedly loud. Clearly I was unaware of the subconscious frustration that had built up inside me, which came out in one massive exhortation. There is a photo of my holding up my bike in a victory salute to a milestone being achieved. Later on in the same ride, 200km barrier was broken, made it to London, and caught the train back home, after a very long and happy day.
Met some lovely people on that ride. Ring any bells on here?
Having cycled everywhere as a lad but never measured anything just rode . My first official 100km was in mar 2015 . It wasnt until I restarted cycling in Sept 2014 and joining here I discovered what a metric century was . With encouragement from @ColinJ and @Supersuperleeds I attempted my first 100 km in Feb 2015 on a ridiculous windy day and aborted the ride and did just 59 miles and was gutted I couldnt force myself to do the rest but I was done in and it was stupid to be out on a bike . But strangely the ride gave me confidence I could do the distance and the route was retrace a month later and done with relative ease.
So then the target moved to an Imperial ton now with the aid of a carbon road bike instead of my hybrid and a few more 100kms under my belt the longest being 66 miles . I set off in Aug 2015 on the ton run . Headed out to the flatlands of the vale of Belvoir and got to the cafe stop with 75 miles in and 25 miles from home feeling still pretty good and sure I do it . The problem with the flatlands of the vale is you have to climb out of it . Did this straight after coffee and cake and up Stathern hill which about kill me and is the nearest I've been to getting of and walking before or since .But made it up and then made my way home getting slower as I went . Watched the odometer click into 3 digits half a mile from home and then the hill before home didn't seem so bad . Brilliant feeling . To this day I never riden an 80 or 90 miler if I past 80 I always pushed on for the ton . 7 100 miler so far ,4 this year for Imperial ton monthly challenge
So then the target moved to an Imperial ton now with the aid of a carbon road bike instead of my hybrid and a few more 100kms under my belt the longest being 66 miles . I set off in Aug 2015 on the ton run . Headed out to the flatlands of the vale of Belvoir and got to the cafe stop with 75 miles in and 25 miles from home feeling still pretty good and sure I do it . The problem with the flatlands of the vale is you have to climb out of it . Did this straight after coffee and cake and up Stathern hill which about kill me and is the nearest I've been to getting of and walking before or since .But made it up and then made my way home getting slower as I went . Watched the odometer click into 3 digits half a mile from home and then the hill before home didn't seem so bad . Brilliant feeling . To this day I never riden an 80 or 90 miler if I past 80 I always pushed on for the ton . 7 100 miler so far ,4 this year for Imperial ton monthly challenge
Racing roadkill
Guru
My first imperial ton, was done at the age of about 14. I went out on a ride, on a bike I was given as a birthday present. I got massively lost. I rode about for hours looking for anything remotely resembling a familiar road, or signpost to somewhere I knew well. I had an analogue clicker counter on the front forks / wheel. When I eventually got home, after well over 12 hours, I had covered 115 miles. I got a right chewing for that one, from my parents
. The bikes I've been riding lately are so much easier to ride distances on than the bikes I rode in the 1980s and early 1990s. I really doubt I'd have even considered a double imperial on a (relatively) heavy 6 speed, with centre pull brakes, and ( relatively) rubbish wheels and tyres, I've done a few double imperial tons on the bikes I've owned since about 2001. That was when I started to actually spend money on new bikes and kit, rather than make frankenbikes, from salvageable bits of bikes that had worn out. We're now in the age of Garmins and tracking software, but the battery life issue isn't satisfactorily solved as yet. I would like to fit an old school odo to the bikes ideally.
. The bikes I've been riding lately are so much easier to ride distances on than the bikes I rode in the 1980s and early 1990s. I really doubt I'd have even considered a double imperial on a (relatively) heavy 6 speed, with centre pull brakes, and ( relatively) rubbish wheels and tyres, I've done a few double imperial tons on the bikes I've owned since about 2001. That was when I started to actually spend money on new bikes and kit, rather than make frankenbikes, from salvageable bits of bikes that had worn out. We're now in the age of Garmins and tracking software, but the battery life issue isn't satisfactorily solved as yet. I would like to fit an old school odo to the bikes ideally.
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