First Century this Saturday !! *Completed*

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Comments

  • fat_cat
    fat_cat Posts: 566
    The hardest thing for me was about 50 miles in starting to feel knackered and realising I still had a long way to go. This is psychological as much as physical but takes a bit if getting your head around.

    Take your time, eat and drink little and often, and you'll be fine.

    Good luck
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Fat Cat wrote:
    The hardest thing for me was about 50 miles in starting to feel knackered and realising I still had a long way to go. This is psychological as much as physical but takes a bit if getting your head around.

    Fatigue can come over you in waves, I'm often getting periods when I think I'm going to fall off the bike if I go any further. 20 minutes later I'm powering up some climb feeling great.
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    100 miles, on your own in Essex? The hardest thing will be staving off suicidal boredom at the dull monotony of the scenery.

    Source: currently on holiday in Frinton
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    SecretSam wrote:
    Source: currently on holiday in Frinton
    The very definition of living the dream... :)
  • marcusww
    marcusww Posts: 202
    Read some advice recently on BC, the sky coach did not advocate filling up on carbs but just eat more the day before and drink a lot - I did this recently on a long sportive and found it helped a lot..
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    CiB wrote:
    SecretSam wrote:
    Source: currently on holiday in Frinton
    The very definition of living the dream... :)
    Could be wrse: taken kids to Clacton today:O
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • Sharkyssurfers
    Sharkyssurfers Posts: 767
    Last year i did my first century in Essex as well, didnt really have a time knew roughly a route and only took about five cereal bars, and two water bottles with juice. Only had to stop just outside of brentwood due to the cobbled high street losening my front crud racer guard and had to ditch it in the bin, managed mine in just over 5hrs 20 and that included north hill, although after a few rides of that it does get easier. Just take your time and enjoy the weather, scenery yes there is some!!
    Sorry its not me it's the bike ;o)

    Strava Dude link http://www.strava.com/athletes/amander
    Commuting, Domestic & Pleasure : Specialized Sectuer Sport Disc

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  • OverTheHillAt21
    OverTheHillAt21 Posts: 102
    Sharkyssurfers wrote:
    Last year i did my first century in Essex as well, didnt really have a time knew roughly a route and only took about five cereal bars, and two water bottles with juice. Only had to stop just outside of brentwood due to the cobbled high street losening my front crud racer guard and had to ditch it in the bin, managed mine in just over 5hrs 20 and that included north hill, although after a few rides of that it does get easier. Just take your time and enjoy the weather, scenery yes there is some!!
    That is way too fast. :shock:
    If I were to attempt a century this year I think 12mph average is more like it for me.
  • city_boy
    city_boy Posts: 1,616
    So, how did it go then?
    Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarves are not happy.
  • Tjgoodhew
    Tjgoodhew Posts: 628
    So I made it and I have to say from all the advice on here it wasn't too much of a painful experience.

    I did learn a few things which will def help me for next time.

    I used HR to keep myself fresh and ignored speed completely and found it really helped. My aim was to stay below 160BPM and achieved this for the majority of the time.

    I didnt take enough food with me. I had a bag of jelly babies, three gels and an energy bar and quite a bit of Gatorade but I found that I really needed an extra something at about 85 miles and had ran out. I think another gel would have got me through.

    Breaking the ride up into sectors really helped. I then rewarded myself after each sector with a gel or a short break which really kept me going

    The last 10 miles was into a head wind and was absolute hell - next time I will try and ensure this doesn't happen.

    Here is a link to the ride and I am pretty happy with 6.30 and now I know what to expect I will be targeting under 6 hours on my next one !!

    http://www.strava.com/activities/129483031
    Cannondale Caad8
    Canyon Aeroad 8.0

    http://www.strava.com/athletes/goodhewt
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    haha, didn't I say whatever you do don't arrange it so you're returning into a headwind? :D

    Nice and flat too! I did the same climbing yesterday but only did 45 miles.
  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    Well done!

    For a long ride I think you're better off with more solid fuel rather than gels. For a ride like that I'd probably take 5 or 6 cereal bars, perhaps a banana or two and maybe a few gels, but I wouldn't touch the gels until the last hour. If you're passing shops or coffee shops you can always drop in and grab a sandwich or some cake! Of course if you're pushing for a time you may not want to do that.

    Remember for next time, the conditions will make a difference so a faster or slower time doesn't necessarily mean you did better or worse even if it's the same route.
  • Tjgoodhew
    Tjgoodhew Posts: 628
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    haha, didn't I say whatever you do don't arrange it so you're returning into a headwind? :D

    Nice and flat too! I did the same climbing yesterday but only did 45 miles.

    Yep and i now know why. The thing is it wasnt a particularly windy day so i didnt think it would make too much of a difference. How wrong i was haha
    Cannondale Caad8
    Canyon Aeroad 8.0

    http://www.strava.com/athletes/goodhewt
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Tjgoodhew wrote:
    Yep and i now know why. The thing is it wasnt a particularly windy day so i didnt think it would make too much of a difference. How wrong i was haha

    If you were just doing a 30-40 mile ride it likely won't have made a jot of difference but it's a different world out there when you're approaching that sort of distance. You did a decent average for that distance too, nice job!
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    good ride...
  • motogull
    motogull Posts: 325
    Well played TG!

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