WooHoo! First Century!

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2008-10-12 9:29 AM

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Master
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Subject: WooHoo! First Century!
I did my first century ride yesterday, and it was a wonderful experience. After a couple of 60+ mile rides last summer and only a couple of 50 mile rides this summer, I was banking on frequency rather than total volume to get me through. My plan was to keep my cadence at 90 and my HR at the top of zone 1, and not to care about speed. Except for a couple of stretches when I rode with groups, when we pushed up hills and coasted and drafted on the flats, I stuck to the plan. It was interesting to learn how cyclists ride differently from triathletes. My legs definitely feel like they've been working, but there is not the acute soreness I get from really hammering during a spring or Oly race. Including rest stops, it took just under 7 hours on an uncharacteristically beautiful, sunny 75 degree Michigan fall day. It looks like I'll be needing to add a century or two to future event plans.

2008-10-12 9:39 AM
in reply to: #1736641

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Expert
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Subject: RE: WooHoo! First Century!
Nice job! With a century, before you do it you're always a little nervous. But after it's done you think "when's the next one!?!" Kind of like a tattoo :p
2008-10-12 10:52 AM
in reply to: #1736641

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Elite
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Alturas, California
Subject: RE: WooHoo! First Century!
WTG on the first Century, I will have to bang one of those out one of these days. Did they let you use a tri bike or were you on a road bike?
2008-10-12 11:14 AM
in reply to: #1736641

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Master
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Subject: RE: WooHoo! First Century!
My road bike has clip-on aerobars. I'd settle down in aero when riding solo and get into the drops when riding in groups. There were some tri bikes, but it was mostly roadies.
2008-10-12 5:12 PM
in reply to: #1736724

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Subject: RE: WooHoo! First Century!

Baowolf - 2008-10-12 10:52 AM WTG on the first Century, I will have to bang one of those out one of these days. Did they let you use a tri bike or were you on a road bike?

For the most part, the cyclists doing centuries are laid back.  I helped at a local bike race, and almost every bike was carbon fiber/dura-ace and all the "go fast" stuff.  I rode a century 2 months later, and saw lots of vintage bikes and a few that get rode a lot (bar tape in tatters, extra foam on the handlebars).  I rode my TT bike and wasn't scorned for it.  The big difference is racing is lots of packs with people in tight.  Centuries are much more relaxed and people are more spread out.  (We rode in a small group most of the day. )

2008-10-13 11:40 AM
in reply to: #1736641

Expert
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Subject: RE: WooHoo! First Century!
Congrats!  Great feeling isn't it?!!

2008-10-13 12:47 PM
in reply to: #1736641

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Master
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Subject: RE: WooHoo! First Century!

Glad you had such nice weather (perfect!!) and a great experience for your first century! 

You should plan one for spring, another for fall, to bookend your season next year with a nice long, aerobic base building ride.  That's what I think I'll do too.

Cheers, -Sunny

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