Did my first 100k yesterday - totally chuffed!

Did my first 100k yesterday - totally chuffed!

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AmiableChimp

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

236 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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I have posted in this section sporadically over the past few years.

About 6 years ago I bought myself a hybrid to get back into cycling and do some commuting as my work at the time was suitable for cycling to.

I used and enjoyed the hybrid for the next 3 years or so and then thought about buying a road bike for evenings/weekends as the hybrid had full length mudguards, pannier rack, etc.

I bought a Triban 5 and ran that for the past 2 years and really enjoyed it (once I got used to cycling with drop handlebars having never owned one before).

I have always wanted to increase my annual mileage but work/life tends to get in my way, also being an IT contractor, I have been working in places that don't really work for me to commute - either distance, available routes, amenities like showers, lockers, etc.

So this year I decided to sign up for my first Sportive - I am doing the Tour O The Borders next Sunday. It's a 120km route, with around 4,800ft of climbing which I believe is quite a lot?.

Having signed up, I decided to try and raise some money for charity alongside so I have been getting sponsored and raising money for Marie Curie as they helped look after my mother in law for her last couple of weeks in January this year. The sponsorship has been a real help in forcing me out when the weather hasn't been the best and I have been pushing myself more and more.

Until yesterday, I had done 3 rides around 50-54 miles, and the bulk of my rides were all around the 30-40 mile distance for the past couple of months.

I wanted to break 100km for the first time so I set off yesterday morning, and managed to do 70 miles in 4hr 23m which I am really chuffed with. It was kind of lonely as the 3 guys I am doing the sportive with couldn't make it yesterday but a)I stayed dry and b)I managed to hit my target and then some.

I felt really chuffed once I got back home and checked the results.

My right thigh was twinging a wee bit over the last 10 miles or so, I am resting this week, with maybe a 10 mile run on Thu but that's it until next week when we do the Touro.

I know next week will be harder, I did roughly 3,000ft of climbing yesterday so next week will be worse, there are also around 2,000 people signed up so the roads are going to be quite busy.

Anyway, just wanted to share my good news, thanks for all the advice i've received in this section over the years, it does make a difference!

Oh, and so glad I bought some chamois cream last week biggrin

Kell

1,708 posts

207 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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Before anyone else says it - well done.

I'm still gearing up to anything like that sort of distance.

My last long (short to most people on here) ride was 27 miles in April.

But I put my back out.

Fugazi

564 posts

120 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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Well done!! Although once you've cracked the metric century, the imperial century starts to look very tempting wink

torqueofthedevil

2,068 posts

176 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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I did 100km for first time in spring and a few months later had done 120 miles. Once you've done that you feel like you could do anything! Just need to properly prepare before and during (nutrition and hydration) and be prepared for an entire day in the saddle. Well done.

Some Gump

12,671 posts

185 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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Well played OP, it's a great achievement!

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

151 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Pats on the back all round - well done, Chimp!

If you can do 70....100 is well within reach. Just to keep the motivation going...

rs4al

925 posts

164 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Well done, did my first 80k a few days ago, so aiming for 100k soon.

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Great work! It's a great feeling knocking off milestones, isn't it? smile

4800ft of climbing - it's hilly, but not terrible (it's not like the Alps). The secret is take your time, don't go off too fast, and remember to eat and drink!!

daddy cool

3,996 posts

228 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Congrats!
Sounds like you have already managed most of the distance, so you'll be fine on the sportive - the extra miles and the extra climbing will be offset by the general atmosphere and team spirit i expect.
I got myself a bit worked up about last years London-to-Brighton (having never done that distance before the day) but with some training before, and the fun of the whole day, i breezed it (we actually tacked a bit on to make it up to 62 miles/100km). Good luck!

Equilibrium25

653 posts

133 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Congratulations OP :-)

I am going through almost exactly the same process as you. After 4 years on a hybrid, without really pushing myself to improve in the last couple of years, I bought my first road bike in the Spring and almost 3 weeks ago I decided to sign up for a 100 mile sportive for some of the same reasons as you - a target, a challenge, and a little something for charity.

I broke 50 miles for the first time before signing up for the sportive and now have done 55, 68 and 74 miles on the last 3 weekends. All solo rides, and with some miserable headwinds over the last 25-30 miles.

Getting some classic mistakes in, bonking 15 miles from the end of the 68 mile ride was pretty horrible for instance - leading to a 10mph crawl home - and I had some dehydration induced cramp after one of the 50ish milers on a hot day.

I also only realised on Saturday that climbing is harder than it should be as my rear derailleur isn't selecting my lowest (28t) gear, but the bike is in for a service next week so will let the professionals sort that out. I'm hoping for a bit of easier climbing once that gear becomes available. Currently 36x25 is my lowest.

My sportive isn't as challenging as yours, just 1000 metres of climbing over 114 miles. My time for 74 miles/681 metres was 4hrs 34, so I do feel like I am getting there....

AmiableChimp

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

236 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Thanks guys.

I have been thinking about doing another sportive in September, this one "only" has around 1,200ft of climbing over 110km so I think it should be an easier proposition than this Sunday.

I fear this could get addictive biggrin

And yes, the imperial century is now my next mileage target - some day!

To all the others doing similar, best of luck.

Gren

1,947 posts

251 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Nice one. And yes it does become a bit addictive!

I've been a confirmed off-roader for the last 4 years but was tempted to the dark side by my missus over the summer. After 4 rides on my new bike I've managed a 100 miler and found the steps up in distance (25 miles to 50 miles to 65 miles) fairly easy by following a couple of rules :

- Go at your own pace. We've been riding at an average of 15mph which is slower than most but makes the ride so much more enjoyable and more of an outing than a chore. Cafe stops every couple of hours have a similar effect

- Eat regularly regardless of hunger. I'm putting away one energy bar an hour on top of the odd sarnie, fig roll and handful of wine gums. Mix it up too. A couple of times I've reached for a gel but only in the last 20 miles. One bottle out of two with an energy drink on top of that as well.

- Grind up the hills in your lowest gear. I'm running a compact chainset with a 32 ring out back so can spin up most hills in the saddle. It's the hills that get your legs and making them easy (even if you're crawling) seems to be the key, for me at last, to going for longer

106 miles ended up taking 7 hours moving and 8.5 hours in total but with an easy pace and lunch by the beach it rarely seemed a chore. And that was with over 5,000ft of climbing.

Nighthawk

1,757 posts

243 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Nicely done.

Not long until that 100k becomes 100 miles and more. biggrin

loudlashadjuster

5,081 posts

183 months

Monday 10th August 2015
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Chapeau!

I'm in a similar situation, I got myself relatively saddle-fit on a MTB over the last few years and got to a point where I was quite able to do 40-odd road km with about 4-500m of climbing without any stress (not knackered coming off the bike, no pains, able to do a similar distance the next day etc.).

After seeing my off-road miles drop and be replaced by road miles I recently bought a roadie and find 50+km rides at ~25kmh a doddle now and am keen to see how much further I can manage without expiring. I usually ride alone but know that I probably need to get myself lined up along other people to really put the distances in. The main issue with doing longer rides is just having a young family etc., but I find that if something is 'organised' then seems to gain SWMBO approval much easier wink

I'm doing a 50km Jaguar/Sky ride on Saturday and am looking at the Chenies Velo Classique for my first 'proper' sportive, but am wondering about the distances as they do a 50k (surely too easy!), 100k (probably where I should be aiming) and a 160k (too far?!).

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Monday 10th August 2015
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100k looks a good progression and good balance for you; not silly big (like 160k = 100miles), but a decent effort!

PorkRind

3,053 posts

204 months

Tuesday 11th August 2015
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Chamois cream is fantastic stuff !

Well done smile

AmiableChimp

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

236 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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Well I finally ticked the 100 miles box on Saturday!

Me and a mate left my house at 7.10am (just south of Ikea in Edinburgh) and followed mostly NCR1 from Peebles down to Coldstream where we lost it so did the final 12 miles along the A698 to Berwick Upon Tweed.

Moving time was 6hr 53m, total time bang on 8 hours - we stopped at 70 miles for a toastie at Floors castle.

Cracking weather for it and very happy to tick another cycling challenge off.

Unfortunately on the way home (his Mrs came and picked us up), a young lad drove into the back of us as we were sitting on the slip road to exit the A1.

Their 2 month old new car has a nice big BMW sized dent in the rear - the bikes were on the roof thankfully or they'd be gonners!

All inhabitants a wee bit stiff and sore but nothing major so all good.

Onwards and upwards...

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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Off topic but do you work for Tesco Bank?

AmiableChimp

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

236 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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R8Steve said:
Off topic but do you work for Tesco Bank?
No, round the corner at Aegon just now (Contractor)

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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AmiableChimp said:
R8Steve said:
Off topic but do you work for Tesco Bank?
No, round the corner at Aegon just now (Contractor)
Ahh right, just thought you might when you mentioned tour of the borders.

I did it's predecessor the 4 abbeys when i worked there.

Congrats on completing the 100k though, i'm currently working my way up to it as well.