Solo century tips

Plantpowered89

Hey guys. I’m a newer cyclist. I’m a distance runner adding cycling in hopes of a triathlon next year. I’ve been riding 50 Miles at a time a few times a week. I’m adding distance and I’m planning my first century ride the first of September. Why solo? Well, it’s just the way I prefer to train. My life is very hectic with kiddos and work. Running and cycling is my “me” time. On to my question. I cash my two bottles on my 50 mile rides. I need more water. Where I live there are tons of trail systems and most of my rides are done there. Including my planned century. I’m not sure I want the weight of a hydration pack on me. There are fountains along the trail. Not sure how good the well water they’re pumping is..... Wondering if anyone else is a lone rider and how you prepared. I feel like buying a camelbak is the easiest solution but I’m not sure I want the weight on me for a hundred miles. Thanks for any input.

mrb123

viewtopic.php?f=40003&t=13093177

Detailed discussion here of all possible opportunities for water replenishment (and a very entertaining read)

Matthewfalle

Just go on your bike and ride and when you see somewhere that sells/supplies water top up.

You're going for a ride on your bike, not taking on the Tora Bora caves armed only with a spoon.

Jeez Louise ....

peat

Break it up into 4 quarterish sized chunks, preferably stopping each time somewhere you can replenish supplies quickly. Don't stop for too long, crack on.

StillGoing

Matthewfalle wrote:

Just go on your bike and ride and when you see somewhere that sells/supplies water top up.

You're going for a ride on your bike, not taking on the Tora Bora caves armed only with a spoon.

Jeez Louise ....

Agreed. You don't need to do multiple stops. I stopped just the once on my first, to buy a bottle of water from a shop to top up the water bottles. If there's no shops around, I'm sure there'll be farms where they'll gladly fill your water bottle up.

fenix

Its all about pacing and nutrition.

Don't go too fast or you'll tire. Start taking on calories early on . Maybe put energy drink in your bottles and set a timer on your watch so you swig some every 15 to 20 mins.

No idea on what your water is like but if its drinking fountains then presumably its fine ? Otherwise they're not drinking fountains. You need to do your own research there.

Surely somewhere on your 100 miles you can arrange to ride past a shop in a safe location to leave the bike outside whilst you nip in for more energy drink ? I did 140 miles when i was 16. Think I stopped just the once. I'd keep riding.

Don't get a camelback - they're nasty for that kind of riding.

trek_dan

No idea where you live but the well water is likely to be absolutely fine to drink.

pblakeney

Depends on whether this is serious trading, or for pleasure.
If for pleasure have a couple of planned cafe stops and maybe additional improvised if required or desired.

Plantpowered89

Training. Not casual. I don’t want to stop at stores etc.

cougie

Stopping at a shop is better than the other options. Even pros stop on training rides.

BikerGroveish

Pubs and cafes tend to be helpful as places to ask for a water top up. Some people find it awkward to ask without buying anything. So buy a cake or a soft drink or a pint of something or a G and T whilst you’re there. It will give your legs a few minutes rest as well.

Matthewfalle

Plantpowered89 wrote:

Training. Not casual. I don’t want to stop at stores etc.

why not? you aren't Boonen.

a minute here or there won't hurt and as this is your first long ride you'll probably need to.

dinyull

Depends on how much you drink, how hot it is etc, but for the centuries I've ridden I've only ever needed 2 x 750ml bottles and not had to top up.

I'm similar to you, as in not wanting to stop mid ride.

But yeah, if you need more water - pub, cafe, shop etc.

chippyk

100 miles last weekend, it was hot, had drunk 2 750ml bottles by 40 miles, stopped at shop, filled them up and had a bottle of Coke and a pasty, stopped again at 80 miles to buy more water at a petrol station and that was it. Odd nibble on a bit of flapjack in my back pocket. Same tomorrow, different route, stop at 45ish at a cafe, fill the bottles, probably stop to fill my bottles at a shop at some point. Training for an Ironman I’ll do nothing different. Ride that non stop at a faster pace but I’m not bothered about not stopping on a training ride. What’s the point? You’re going to stop at a junction, traffic lights or whatever, might as well be 5 minutes at a shop or a cafe.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

https://www.refill.org.uk/get-the-refill-app/ might give you some places to plan to top-up your bottles.

Personally I'm finding the heatwave a bit of a bind now, because even I by some miracle I manage to get out by ~0730 like this morning, there is no guarantee of temps significantly below 20C. Consequently, even on a moderate effort ride like this morning (more because my legs weren't interested in 300W+ efforts up cat4 hills), my two bottles totalling 2 litres (including an old 1250ml squash bottle) just about lasted me for a three hour ride.

I've got a Halfords order to pick up, including a bar/seatpost cage mount, so I can take another bottle out into "the sticks" around Warnford.

Moonbiker

Ride at night it will be cooler, ot start very early morning.

Grave yards often have taps.

Theres an app for that:

https://www.refill.org.uk/get-the-refill-app/

In italy villages have public water fountians in the village square so move & live in italy.


Get two extra bottle holders tthat fit behind saddle:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=saddl ... 80&bih=916

Buying water from shop is bad for the eviroment as come in SUP (single Use plastic) bottle.

StillGoing

Moonbiker wrote:

Buying water from shop is bad for the eviroment as come in SUP (single Use plastic) bottle.

Like one person is going to make a difference when the product is already on the shelf. :roll: Water is also sold in glass bottles if you're that anal about the environment.

cougie

The sooner people realise it's a bloody ridiculous thing to buy water in plastic bottle the better. Tap water is fine. Why ship water round the country. Even in glass bottles it's a huge waste of resources.

I think we've reached peak stupidity and we need to start thinking and acting more responsibly.

sloppyschleckonds

cougie wrote:

The sooner people realise it's a bloody ridiculous thing to buy water in plastic bottle the better. Tap water is fine. Why ship water round the country. Even in glass bottles it's a huge waste of resources.

I think we've reached peak stupidity and we need to start thinking and acting more responsibly.

Wait til someone tells you about motor cars

N0bodyOfTheGoat

cougie wrote:

I think we've reached peak stupidity and we need to start thinking and acting more responsibly.

Sadly, I think you are a bit optimistic, the world has become all about profit and convenience long before many of us become hippies trying to save the planet.

Why do cucumbers need to be wrapped in plastic?
Why are goods in tubs with decent lids sent in the post inside cardboard boxes?
Why are people frequently driving cars distances less than five miles?
etc. etc.

cougie

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

cougie wrote:

The sooner people realise it's a bloody ridiculous thing to buy water in plastic bottle the better. Tap water is fine. Why ship water round the country. Even in glass bottles it's a huge waste of resources.

I think we've reached peak stupidity and we need to start thinking and acting more responsibly.

Wait til someone tells you about motor cars

At least cars get you from one place to another pretty easily. I even have one myself ! But really - paying companies like Nestle and Coca Cola for water when it's perfectly drinkable from a tap ? We should knock that off.

Remember when Coca Cola managed to take Tap water and actually contaminate it before selling it back to us for a 1000% profit ? How we laughed.


http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php ... ty-ensued/

mab2444

Here is my simple psychological tip which worked well for me on a recent ride from Tarifa, Spain to Nordkapp, Norway. On a hundred mile ride 40 miles still feels like 40 miles ie a decent ride. The thought that you have only done 2/5 of the ride can be quite daunting. Break the ride into chunks, enjoy feeling good on the bike for the first 20 miles, then comes a bit of a slog to 50. At 50 miles all you have left is a 50 mile ride and in another 10 miles you will be 3/5 of the way there! For some reason I found this way of thinking about the ride helped a lot!

pblakeney

Mab2444 wrote:

Here is my simple psychological tip which worked well for me on a recent ride from Tarifa, Spain to Nordkapp, Norway. On a hundred mile ride 40 miles still feels like 40 miles ie a decent ride. The thought that you have only done 2/5 of the ride can be quite daunting. Break the ride into chunks, enjoy feeling good on the bike for the first 20 miles, then comes a bit of a slog to 50. At 50 miles all you have left is a 50 mile ride and in another 10 miles you will be 3/5 of the way there! For some reason I found this way of thinking about the ride helped a lot!

Exactly the same as climbing. Don't think about getting to the top, just the next corner.

haydenm

philthy3 wrote:

Moonbiker wrote:

Buying water from shop is bad for the eviroment as come in SUP (single Use plastic) bottle.

Like one person is going to make a difference when the product is already on the shelf. :roll: Water is also sold in glass bottles if you're that anal about the environment.

That is a bit like saying vegetarians should eat meat if it's already in the shops. Why is it in the shops? Because people buy it. If fewer people buy it then there will be fewer bottles in the shops in future. Simple. Luckily it's not sure one person who is trying to reduce their single use plastic consumption

DavidJB

philthy3 wrote:

Moonbiker wrote:

Buying water from shop is bad for the eviroment as come in SUP (single Use plastic) bottle.

Like one person is going to make a difference when the product is already on the shelf. :roll: Water is also sold in glass bottles if you're that anal about the environment.

The stupidity of this post is astounding.

fenix

We need a recommend button here.

orraloon

NitrousOxide wrote:

Why are people frequently driving cars distances less than five miles?

5 miles? Round here there are people who drive 400 metres / yds to get to the local shop.

pblakeney

orraloon wrote:

NitrousOxide wrote:

Why are people frequently driving cars distances less than five miles?

5 miles? Round here there are people who drive 400 metres / yds to get to the local shop.

Less than 200m here. Takes as long to find a parking spot at the other end. :?

chippyk

PBlakeney wrote:

orraloon wrote:

NitrousOxide wrote:

Why are people frequently driving cars distances less than five miles?

5 miles? Round here there are people who drive 400 metres / yds to get to the local shop.

Less than 200m here. Takes as long to find a parking spot at the other end. :?

There’s a campaign around here for more parking and a one way system to cut congestion and pollution. I suggested more locals walk or cycle to the shops and I was met with laughter and bowls of whataboutery, the disabled, the pregnant, the elderly and best of all the overweight. I see people getting in their car when I walk to the shop and I often meet them getting out of their car. I’m seen as a super hero for cycling 18 miles to work, I don’t know how you do it, you must be mad, it’s a lazy arsed society these days.

cougie

My PE teacher would drive 200 metres to the cake shop at lunch. Then stand around in a warm tracksuit and a layer of blubber and try to encourage us to play rugby in the depths of winter. I wasnt really getting the enthusiasm tbh.