24 July 2011 Ride: Anatomy of a 100 Miler

The century ride yesterday was only the second 100 miler I have logged in one day but, as I am sure others can identify with, there were other rides that felt as if they ought to qualify as a 100 miles.

The path to a century ride has been a very rewarding one.  I can remember when I got back into biking a few years ago and I logged 10 miles on my mountain bike; there was a great sense of accomplishment.  A couple of years later I switched over to a road back and the miles just kept amassing.

My first century was back in the fall of 2009.  Interestingly, its route was not at all flat like yesterday's ride was for the most part.  Starting in West Fork, that ride included several climbs, the biggest being the nine miles out of Mountainburg to the top of Mt Gaylor...and with a slight head wind, no less. 

But other rides that felt like centurys were the 75 miler where I was loaded down with 45 pounds of gear on the trip to Georgia.  The long Alabama hills came unrelentingly one after another like huge waves on the ocean. 

Then there was the 85 mile ride from Ft. Scott, KS to Overland Park, KS where I only had 30 pounds of gear but I had a head wind of 25mph most of the way.  Sometimes the wind would gust up and stop me in my tracks and almost brought me to tears. 

Or the oh-so-close 92 miler on the Katy Trail.  The day before I rode 75 miles and, even though the crushed limestone is not the same as asphalt, I still moved rather freely along.  But, during the night, it rained.  The next day I felt as if I was expending twice the energy to go two miles per hour slower than the day before.  The only way I was able to get through that day was that I followed the asphalt for 30 miles of that ride.  92...so close.  Given those conditions, surely that was equivalent to a century.  Maybe, but that magic 100 number was not recorded, did not roll over and show itself, so, no.

I pondered yesterday what magic number riders shoot for in Europe where they follow metric.  Surely not 100 kilometers which would only be 60 miles.  Rachel suggested 150 K.  Maybe.  It's all so arbitrary but there is indeed something special about watching the odometer roll from 99.99 to 100.00. 

On the other side, I still remember and cherish those small milestones and, thus, when someone tells me with pride that they rode 10 miles I can sincerely delight in their achievement knowing that wonderful feeling of accomplishment for such a seemingly small number.  10 or 100, they both have their magic.

Today's Ride: 1hr 42mins.  20.43 miles.  75-80 degrees.  Miles YTD:  4,768.70

To see older postings, search the Archives listed on the right had panel.

To see postings before 11 June 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike.blogspot.com

23 July 2011 Ride: 100 Mile Ride

I wasn't planning a century ride today.  In fact, I was feeling so nauseous and dizzy last night that I doubted I would end up doing more than the minimum.  But, just in case, I prepared my gear last night in anticipation of riding from home to the starting point of the Roadies 15 miles away.  I thought I might take some pictures and wish them well as they headed down Hwy 71 and took on the climb up Mt. Gaylor and perhaps beyond.

I woke up still feeling a bit queasy and, thinking it might be a parasite, I took a couple of cayenne capsules.  This might seem counter-intuitive but I have had this work in the past and it seemed to help this morning.  I arrived as Dorothy was giving her talk to the group.  And what a group!  At least 50 riders.  I stayed back, watching from a distance.  I still wasn't sure of my biking plans as the group headed down the road.  I thought I might ride the 5 miles to West Fork and do a loop back making a trip of about 50 miles.

Somewhere along the way to West Fork, the idea of doing a century ride entered my mind.  After all, the morning was relatively cool, there was a bit of a cloud cover and the body felt good.   Seeing the sign, the literal sign, cinched the deal. So, with only 80 more miles to go, off I went.

The good thing about going solo is that it's easy to change plans or course in midstream.  Off of Hwy 71 I saw County Road 45 (not to be confused with State Hwy 45).   I was fairly certain it turned into gravel before long but I wanted to give it a gander.  Besides, I needed to rack up the miles.  It did only go 1.5 miles before the pavement ended but it was a very pretty ride in a small valley.

A few miles south of West Fork.

West Fork Creek

 Up until about 10:00 and the first 50 miles, the weather stayed relatively cool thanks to a light cloud cover. By 11:00, the heat was starting to become intense and I dealt with some severe cramping at mile 75.  Fortunately, a store was nearby and I gulped down a bottle of Gatorade which seem to do the trick.  

I managed to keep the ride mostly flat but the last five miles contained a few hills.  Nothing that normally would bother me but today their slight rise was enough to get my heart really pounding.  With only 3 miles to go I thought it best to pull over in the shade until the pounding in my helmet eased.  I tried pouring water from my water bottle on my head but the 100 degree water offered little relief.   Once back on the bike, the last 3 miles went well, including a 1.5 mile stretch on State Hwy 45.  I do know that if I do the 24 hour ride, I will wait till it cools down.

I took an ice bath when I got home but I am BEAT!

Today's Ride: 7hrs 27mins. (Actual time: 8hrs 5mins).  100.26 miles.  78-98degrees.  Miles YTD: 4,748.27

To see older postings, search the Archives listed on the right had panel.

To see postings before 11 June 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike.blogspot.com