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Thread: The Lounge of Terrestrial Wheelmen

  1. #1
    Consultant KillerB's Avatar
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    The Lounge of Terrestrial Wheelmen

    I'm still pretty out of shape, but approached 30 miles on my ride on Saturday. What's an appropriate time for a century? At first I thought it was the cycling equivalent of a marathon, but considering I'm averaging 12 mph, I realized that 100 miles is an 8 hour ride.

    I really have no idea how to approach this level of mileage. But my girlfriend is doing a half marathon, and running is too much for my knees. I feel like I need to do something equivalent on the bike, which I really enjoy. But I'd rather not die.

  2. #2
    What fresh hell is this? overpowered's Avatar
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    30 miles is not bad but it's not really adequate preparation for 100 miles. I did several 80 milers in the weeks before my first century. I couldn't believe how much harder that last 20 miles was.

    You want to at least be doing 50-60 milers every weekend for a few weeks before attempting a century.

    Keep in mind also that at around 60-70 miles, your muscles will start running out of glycogen. Hydration also becomes critically important. You can get away with some dehydration on a 50-60 miler. Not so much on a century. On the actual century, drink ridiculous amounts of water and carry some energy gels or some other energy replenishment and use them. I can't remember how many gels I used on my last century. It was something like 10-12 I think. They helped a lot.

    Also, go your own speed. Don't try to make an unrealistic time. You will bonk, bad.
    Last edited by overpowered; January 7th, 2014 at 09:24 AM.

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    Senior Member G'day Mate's Avatar
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    Got my first century planned http://app.strava.com/routes/124130

    Jan 24th

  4. #4
    What fresh hell is this? overpowered's Avatar
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    You've come pretty close already. I think you already have a pretty good idea of what you're getting into.

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    Jedi Cam's Avatar
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    I haven't ridden a bike since October 30. Looking forward to getting back into it.

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    What fresh hell is this? overpowered's Avatar
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    Bicycle Tracks and Lanes: a Before-After Study from Copenhagen Denmark (PDF)

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    The longest i've gone recently (in the last few years) was 41 miles and that was HARD.
    I just fixed my flat rear tire from a few months ago and rode 15 miles yesterday. I'm terribly, terribly out of shape. I think my goal will be to do a century by the end of the year.

    That's going to require me being able to do my 30 mile circuit regularly, with ease. I had better get on it.

    My target/ resolution is 250 miles a month.

  9. #9
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    The Aussie guys I'm riding with in NZ are ha4rdc0r3311!!1!1!!1!1 indeed. Oh, what I'd give to be in my early 20s again.

  10. #10
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    The guideline I've heard is that you should keep trying to add 10% to your distance. Right now, my longest is about 70 miles, so I should aim for 77 next. I definitely wouldn't make the leap from 30 to 100.

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