Rode my first Century Saturday 5/8/2010

[dd74]

Completed my first Century on Saturday. It was the Crusin' the Conejo, where I learned first hand the benefits of putting training climbs into my legs and electrolytes and bananas in my gut. I still cramped up around mile 80, but overall, finished feeling very good. A helluva a lot of fun.

Special thanks go to Don and the boys at Bicycle John's in Burbank, for helping me get my act together for this ride.

Here are some pics:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs295.snc3/28434_1371385997566_1019241542_31053286_7264148_n. jpg
Early morning, looking fresh and getting warm for the first big climb.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs325.ash1/28434_1371386037567_1019241542_31053287_5416854_n. jpg
Me and the boys, Gary, Jason and Bob (I'm on the far right). After this shot was a very steep and technical descent where you really had to swing the bike around like a motorcycle. At one point, we noticed a lot of dirt and rocks on the road as if a hill slide occurred. But no, a cyclist had slid off course and careened into the hill, causing major debris and cutting himself up pretty well.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs295.snc3/28434_1371386317574_1019241542_31053294_4305485_n. jpg
There was no way this grade was just 7%, and no way that we were going to climb it. (We descended it, fortunately, which was scary enough). I would need a compact crank, and at least a 29-tooth gear to get up this thing without breaking my spine.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs325.ash1/28434_1371386557580_1019241542_31053299_1890861_n. jpg
Ah, finally some flat land, but damn if the headwinds weren't a killer...
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs295.snc3/28434_1371386637582_1019241542_31053301_2984898_n. jpg
Last rest stop - mile 80 or so: I don't know why we looked so happy here as we were pretty fried by this point.
http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs295.snc3/28434_1371386157570_1019241542_31053290_6547864_n. jpg
Depending on your personality, you either love or hate signs like this.

[Steve in SLO]

Congrats on a nice milestone.
Looks like you had some good buddies to ride with, too. Suffering is always more manageable that way. Next stop the Death Ride :beer:

[henrypretz]

Hey nice work! Looks like you guys had fun. When's the next one?

[pbbob]

congrats.
still have the patch from my first century, the 1977 redbud century in Muncie, In.
your ride was considerably hillier but mine had more cornfields. :)

[rpm]

Congratulations. Great pix. Sitting here in 40 degree rain, I'm jealous.

[Jack Brunk]

Nice job on the century! I live at the top of that climb and it's one of Ventura counties hardest climbs. It averages 12% and has 3 different parts that are 15-17%. It's a hard grind for little over a mile. A compact crank is a useful tool on the way up.

[Ray]

Congratulations!!!

The first century is a hugely satisfying achievement. I remember almost every detail of mine, though it was a dozen years ago or so. I haven't done one in a few years and may or may not again, but riding centuries was a big part of proving myself (to myself) as a cyclist. Enjoy the feeling!

-Ray

[SoCalSteve]

Congrats!

Its a great feeling!!!

Glad you enjoyed it!

I hated my first one (wrong saddle). They eventually got MUCH better.

Steve

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . and GREAT for you! Congrats! :beer: :) :banana:

BBD

[dd74]

When's the next one?
I'm thinking of either the LA River Ride or the Ojai Century or Double Metric.

Anyone have experience with these two rides?

[MattTuck]

Well done!


The longest ride I've done is around 70 miles. Maybe I'll try to do a century this year!

[Karin Kirk]

Well done on the ride and thanks for posting the pics and description. It's always fun to hear about other people's rides. Congratulations on your accomplishment and I hope it leads to many more! :hello:

[Hai H. Ho]

You will always remember your first.

[znfdl]

Congratulations......

[sg8357]

Bravo

Now on to the next ride..... :eek:

http://www.rusa.org/pbp.html

[cleavel]

Hello dd74,

I hadn't heard about that ride approaching. Looks like a good time. Congratulations on the first century.

[Blue Jays]

Congratulations and hopefully many more in the future!

[Ray]

Well done!


The longest ride I've done is around 70 miles. Maybe I'll try to do a century this year!
In my experience, once you can do 60-65 miles comfortably, you can do a century. If you're dying with every pedal stroke for the last 10 miles of that 60-65, maybe not. But if you finished the 70 feeling good, like you could keep going, you could probably do the whole thing. Its just a matter of being very conscious about pacing yourself and eating and drinking enough. In fact, my first century was a mistake. I'd done my first metric century the week before and felt good. I went back out for another organized ride, planning to do another metric. But I missed the turn-off for the metric and realized at about mile 45-50 that I was doing the whole thing. I just ramped down the hard efforts, made sure to eat and drink enough, and did fine - even finished pretty strong. My prior longest ride had been just over 60 miles the week before and I'd only gone over 50 a few times in my life. But I got through a century pretty easily. If I could do it, probably just about anyone can.

-Ray

[rugbysecondrow]

In my experience, once you can do 60-65 miles comfortably, you can do a century. If you're dying with every pedal stroke for the last 10 miles of that 60-65, maybe not. But if you finished the 70 feeling good, like you could keep going, you could probably do the whole thing. Its just a matter of being very conscious about pacing yourself and eating and drinking enough. In fact, my first century was a mistake. I'd done my first metric century the week before and felt good. I went back out for another organized ride, planning to do another metric. But I missed the turn-off for the metric and realized at about mile 45-50 that I was doing the whole thing. I just ramped down the hard efforts, made sure to eat and drink enough, and did fine - even finished pretty strong. My prior longest ride had been just over 60 miles the week before and I'd only gone over 50 a few times in my life. But I got through a century pretty easily. If I could do it, probably just about anyone can.

-Ray

Ray, are you interested in doing the civil war century this year? Maybe even a metric?

[CaptStash]

Congrats on the first century. It's my favorite distance. Now about that sign...

[Peter B]

Congrats on the first century. It's my favorite distance. Now about that sign...

Back side of Ebbetts?

[CaptStash]

Sonora Pass.

[Ray]

Ray, are you interested in doing the civil war century this year? Maybe even a metric?
Possibly the metric - when is it?

-Ray

[chuckroast]

Congratulations from here also!

Hey, a somewhat related question for folks. Every century I've ever done, I've noticed that the 80 mile mark is kind of a moment of truth. If I'm feeling bad, that's when I'm feeling the worst. If the voices in my head say quit, that's when they are the loudest. If I'm feeling a little gastric distress....well, you get the picture.

Usually, if I ignore it all, by mile 85 my mood improves considerably. Maybe, it's because at 80 miles, there's still 20 to go. By 85, it's not even another hour. Maybe it's all psychology.

Do any of you ever experience this?

[SoCalSteve]

I'm thinking of either the LA River Ride or the Ojai Century or Double Metric.

Anyone have experience with these two rides?

Ojai Century is a great ride! You get a whole lot of everything with that ride. Climbing, mountains, lakes, the ocean and you even get to ride on the freeway!

I recommend it highly! But, I'm very partial to Ojai anyway. I'm planning on retiring there.

Enjoy!

Steve

[Tom Byrnes]

Ojai Century is a great ride! You get a whole lot of everything with that ride. Climbing, mountains, lakes, the ocean and you even get to ride on the freeway!

I recommend it highly! But, I'm very partial to Ojai anyway. I'm planning on retiring there.

Enjoy!

Steve

I agree with Steve. The Ojai Century is a wonderful ride.

Congratulations on finishing the Conejo.

Tom

[Dekonick]

Congrats on the first century. It's my favorite distance. Now about that sign...

Yikes!

:help:

[Ralph]

Congrats....nice pics.

[dd74]

Thanks guys. I'm very much looking forward to the next Century. Maybe it will be the Ojai ride. If so, I'll post more photos. :)