YEA TEAM MFP! GO Jadiagle, Steff, and familybugs!

PIZZA!! Alright! I hope they have pizza on my ride! Since I got those slicks, I'm considering going for a full century in October instead of the Metric.

But sounds great, Steff! How long did it take you? What was your average speed?

And congrats on that first Century! I read that they just get easier after the first one....yeah, right!

Ok I'll answer all that. But first: if you are comfortable as far as control of blood glucose goes, definetly and by all means go for the century! I tell you why: when you ride alone, you are on your own. Yes you can call hubby in emergencies But you need to plan the route, check the map constantly, make sure you have places to refill. In an event like this, that is all taken care off! All you have to do is get on your bike and pedal. And worst case scenario there is a SAG wagon. I saw a few people using that option.:ohwell:
After that ride yesterday I'd say a century is a nice and easy trainings ride where you don't have to worry about anything. You can do the metric part and just blast down the road as fast as you can. No worries.

It took me a little more than 8 hrs:embarassed: Average 13.2 miles. Slow!!!!! Turtle speed. But hey, this was after 3 month training starting at 4 miles a day working up to 100. I'll work on the speed in the off season and next year. I saw people blasting by with 20+ miles. At the end though, at about mil;e 60 or 70, those who were left got slower too.

How many breaks? 5. This ride was the 10 year anniversary of the Shorefire century. The local club organizes that extremely well. Really great job. There are directon arrows painted on the road at every turn, you do not even need the cue sheet. And the rest stops are organized and placed very smart. They have 3, but 2 of them you use on the fulll century twice, on your way to and back from the most distant point. So no rest stop was further than 30 miles away. You can do that on one big bottle of fluid. Food? Bananas, Watermelon, PB sandwiches, muffins, cake, Clif bloks... really good cycling food. And of course pizza at the last stop .

Again: if you pay the starter fee for a ride anyway look at it as just an other trainings ride and go for the longest distance. I will never be that easy on other rides! Are they getting easier after the first one? I guess so. You get more routine, you get more training and experience and you probably get faster. When I go on a long ride the first 40 - 50 miles seem to be really easy and fly by fast. I guess I can ride 60 miles any time right now. From there to 100 is really not as far as you think it is.

Wow! I am so impressed by everyone! Makes me wish I had a bike. :sad: Then again, it's been so long since I rode on a real bike, I'd have to teach myself all over again. :blushing:

Way to go Steff!! Can hardly wait to hear how jadaigle did and how familybugs will do!

Congratulations jadaigle. Great accomplishment. I could maybe learn to swim that distance, probably ride the bike ( ) but run 3.4 miles? No way!

I am very impressed. A Triathlon, any length, is probably the hardest competition one can sign up for.

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

It is the tenacity of MFP members like Jad and Stschulz that make my day and help me imagine the possiblities of my own life. ( Hmmm kitesurfing anyone? ) Congratulations to you both!!

Shorerider...many good wishes your way because you know how to be a good buddy to all!

~Namaste :flowerforyou:

~Mi

Gee thanks Carrie and Lavender.

Lavender, if you can imagine it, you can do it. I know it's hard to believe, but these long rides are more a mental thing than anything else. Least part of it is physical fitness.

And yes, Shore is a good buddy. That was really nice of her to start this thread. Made me faster for sure!

Go familybugs! Good luck; hydrate well and have fun!