Is it a big jump from 100km to 100miles?
Discussion
I completed my second 100KM ride yesterday since getting my first road bike about 8 weeks ago. My first ride took me 4hrs 50 minutes and yesterday I got this down to 4hr 4 minutes - I was really happy with this.
My question is, how much more difficult is it to make the jump to a 100mile ride? I want to achieve this before the end of the year if i can.
My ride yesterday wasn't as difficult as the first one and I actually feel fine today.
My question is, how much more difficult is it to make the jump to a 100mile ride? I want to achieve this before the end of the year if i can.
My ride yesterday wasn't as difficult as the first one and I actually feel fine today.
Tbh if you're comfortably doing 60+ miles now and your fitness is progressing quickly then you could probably do 100 before the end of the month, let alone the end of the year. Just take out double the food you would do for a 60 miler (just in case), plan a route that's no more hilly than you're used to, pick a nice day weather-wise, set off at a sensible pace and I'm sure you'll be fine.
The caveat is that I had a few years of mtb bike riding before I got a road bike. I was riding around 50 miles a week (2-3 rides) in the early part of the year before I moved to the dark side. My typical ride was around 22 miles over around 3 hours.
On the road bike my 3rd ride was 65 miles and my 4th was 106 miles. I didn't notice a huge difference. I took it easy, kept the speed to one I could maintain (15mph average for the ride)and stopped every hour or so for a quick food break. Energy was key as I had a bit of a low after lunch on the 106 mile ride - I'd been used to an energy bar an hour and I guess the cheese sarnie I got at a cafe took longer to digest!
What I have found since is that it's (for me anyway) not the miles that hit you, it's the hills. They all add up and sap your energy. Maybe try a route without too much climbing?
On the road bike my 3rd ride was 65 miles and my 4th was 106 miles. I didn't notice a huge difference. I took it easy, kept the speed to one I could maintain (15mph average for the ride)and stopped every hour or so for a quick food break. Energy was key as I had a bit of a low after lunch on the 106 mile ride - I'd been used to an energy bar an hour and I guess the cheese sarnie I got at a cafe took longer to digest!
What I have found since is that it's (for me anyway) not the miles that hit you, it's the hills. They all add up and sap your energy. Maybe try a route without too much climbing?
Gren said:
What I have found since is that it's (for me anyway) not the miles that hit you, it's the hills. They all add up and sap your energy. Maybe try a route without too much climbing?
Hills are only an issue if you go up them too quickly. Provided you don't over exert yourself the only limit for me is how much my contact points & neck can take. I've never felt like there's a distance limit as such.Easy
Keep the pace down, first few hours, throttle yourself back a bit
Drink loads
From 50 miles onwards eat something every 15 miles/hour ish
That's how I did my first 100, then 150 miles, was pretty easy, just held back a bit, particularly on hills and span a lower gear than usual. Wasn't even too tired at the end as just did a consistent pace with enough food and drink
Hills aren't too bad, Im odd in that I find 100 miles of hills easier than 100 miles of pan flat! Just take it easy up hills and spin for as long as possible as legs tire before lungs
Keep the pace down, first few hours, throttle yourself back a bit
Drink loads
From 50 miles onwards eat something every 15 miles/hour ish
That's how I did my first 100, then 150 miles, was pretty easy, just held back a bit, particularly on hills and span a lower gear than usual. Wasn't even too tired at the end as just did a consistent pace with enough food and drink
Hills aren't too bad, Im odd in that I find 100 miles of hills easier than 100 miles of pan flat! Just take it easy up hills and spin for as long as possible as legs tire before lungs
Pretty much what Roger said.
If you can stay on a bike without getting saddle-sore for 60 miles, you'll likely be able to stay on the bike for at least twice as long. Same regarding you legs. If you can ride 60 miles without turning to jelly, and can stand and walk at the end, provided you pace yourself, and don't overdo the speed early on, then you'll be fine.
Be self sufficient with regard to basic repairs/punctures, carry cereal bars and maybe an energy gel or two (I carry one as an absolute emergency backup) - and some cash! Then make sure you stop when you get the opportunity to refill bottles BEFORE they're both empty. Most corner shop type stores carry an energy drink of some kind.
Then crack on. I've done quite a few 80+ mile rides, and I'm happy to do an 'off-the-cuff' century with little specific planning, other than grabbing a few extra cereal bars and some lights (just in case I end up out after dark).
Go for it! And good luck...
If you can stay on a bike without getting saddle-sore for 60 miles, you'll likely be able to stay on the bike for at least twice as long. Same regarding you legs. If you can ride 60 miles without turning to jelly, and can stand and walk at the end, provided you pace yourself, and don't overdo the speed early on, then you'll be fine.
Be self sufficient with regard to basic repairs/punctures, carry cereal bars and maybe an energy gel or two (I carry one as an absolute emergency backup) - and some cash! Then make sure you stop when you get the opportunity to refill bottles BEFORE they're both empty. Most corner shop type stores carry an energy drink of some kind.
Then crack on. I've done quite a few 80+ mile rides, and I'm happy to do an 'off-the-cuff' century with little specific planning, other than grabbing a few extra cereal bars and some lights (just in case I end up out after dark).
Go for it! And good luck...
The distance won't be an issue, but the height gain may be.
Up to my riding the GF Conwy back in April, I was regularly riding 60 miles.
The GF nearly killed me primarily to the height gain over the course. Prior to that I was averaging 2-3k ft per ride. The GF was 9.5k ft and that was a massive step up.
Up to my riding the GF Conwy back in April, I was regularly riding 60 miles.
The GF nearly killed me primarily to the height gain over the course. Prior to that I was averaging 2-3k ft per ride. The GF was 9.5k ft and that was a massive step up.
Just a word of caution, all the advice so far seems to be "you'll be fine if you pace yourself ok". Remember it is half as far again as you have done, and your mind and body can start to play up on you once you take it beyond what you've got used to. I'd take cash and eat different types of food, energy stuff is fine for 3-4 hour rides, but I always crave something normal after that. Savoury stuff helps break up the monotony. Careful of stopping too long; it's always harder to get started again after a longer break.
You might find around 70-80 miles you have to give up on the intention of 15mph, your head will be saying keep going but the legs could have other ideas. Plan your route with a good weather forecast in mind, you really don't want to be riding into the wind at the end, especially if the wind speed is picking up. You may also want to take some lights as we get nearer the end of October.
You might find around 70-80 miles you have to give up on the intention of 15mph, your head will be saying keep going but the legs could have other ideas. Plan your route with a good weather forecast in mind, you really don't want to be riding into the wind at the end, especially if the wind speed is picking up. You may also want to take some lights as we get nearer the end of October.
I went along with my brother-in-law when he attempted his first imperial century. We planned a route that fairly closely followed a railway line on the way back, knowing that if it went a bit wrong, we could hop on a train relatively easily.
We didn't need the train, but he felt more confident knowing it was there.
We didn't need the train, but he felt more confident knowing it was there.
If you're already comfortable sitting in the saddle for 3 or 4 hours, don't think the jump from 100km to 100m will be that big.
As others have said, eat/drink and lower average speed (don't pull as high gears).
Likely to sweat, so eat something (sensible) that has some salt with it.
On big rides, it helps (me) Not to ride the total distance.
By that I mean, plan to stop every 40(?) miles for food and drink.
When riding, in your mind, do the countdown of miles to the next stop, rather than end of ride. Tired at 30 miles, knowing you've got a further 70 miles is demotivating, but tired at 30 with only 10 miles to stop is doable.
After rest, 40 miles to next stop is not achieveable.
If stopping for a long time, I know that I need to spin a lower gear to get legs working again, for a couple of minutes or so, to then get back into a comfortable rhythm.
As others have said, eat/drink and lower average speed (don't pull as high gears).
Likely to sweat, so eat something (sensible) that has some salt with it.
On big rides, it helps (me) Not to ride the total distance.
By that I mean, plan to stop every 40(?) miles for food and drink.
When riding, in your mind, do the countdown of miles to the next stop, rather than end of ride. Tired at 30 miles, knowing you've got a further 70 miles is demotivating, but tired at 30 with only 10 miles to stop is doable.
After rest, 40 miles to next stop is not achieveable.
If stopping for a long time, I know that I need to spin a lower gear to get legs working again, for a couple of minutes or so, to then get back into a comfortable rhythm.
I was in the same boat about 2 months ago... being nothing more than a 'when time is available' rider; 10-20 miles maybe 2 or 3 times a week and a longer 30-40 miler at the weekend (being a single bloke & no kids helps with time for tiding) and having completed a couple of 'metric centuries', I needed a reason to do the 100 mile ride.
So... there was a race meeting at Castle Combe and looking on Google/Strava it was pretty much 100 miles from Hinckley, straight down the Fosse, to Cirencester, and then down to Castle Combe... perfect!!
Bear in mind a couple of things, I am 95kgs (thus hills are not my friend!) and I smoke (not big or clever) and I am not using these as excuses/reason/bravado but purely to give you the confidence to go for the 100 miles. The week leading up to the ride I did a 25 mile ride each evening on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (Wednesday no cycling) and then fitted some new tyres and serviced/checked the bike over on Friday before doing a 10 mile ride to check it was all ok, ready the big ride the next day.
I had checked the route on Strava a couple of days beforehand and was aware that there were a 'couple' of hills, notably a large/long one heading up to Stow on the Wold for about 2 miles and I wasn't looking forward to it. So, I had planned to get to Moreton in Marsh (roughly halfway) grab a coffee and, ultimately, a nice slice of chocolate brownie before heading up the dreaded hill. I know the road relatively well but the perception from a car does change when on the bike, each change of level is definitely noticed in the saddle. However, as I left Moreton and headed onward I realised I was on a 'hill' but wasn't sure if it was 'the one' but a good rhythm was the key, nice and steady and no 'short spurts' and, as I rounded the left hander... the hill continued and I knew I was on it.
Steadily, but not quickly, I carried on and before I knew it I could see the traffic lights and the top were in sight... a massive feeling of relief as I didn't feel that it was 'that' bad.
For some reason I count in my mind the amount of pedal strokes and guesstimate how many it will take me to get to the top or a given point, not sure about others but taking my mind off the hill in front helps me and then trying to calculate how many strokes I was adrift and… before you know it you are there! I also tend not to stare longingly at any large incline in front of me, an occasional glance now and again just to pick a tree or a road sign to break down the hill into stages. (not that the fittest cyclists probably have any issue with going up such a ‘small incline’ but for me it was a mountain…!)
Out of Stow is a rather steep downhill, with traffic lights at the bottom and so with the aid of Google Streetview I had worked out that if they changed as I approached I could 'fork left' (not light controlled) and slow down, turn around and then carry on. As it happened they were on green, which was a good job really as looking back on Strava I had managed to go just over 50mph!!!! (I knew I was 'going some' at the time with a feeling of 'if I hit a pothole then I am f*cked!!).
I actually drove back to Combe a week or so ago (another race meeting) mainly to just see how big some of the hills were and I found it hard to believe that I actually made it up some of them, I am sure that some of you may know the route... and at Fossebrige there is a 15% hill (from memory) and half way up there I had to get off! I 'could' have made it up there BUT with about 40 miles to go I didn't want to end the ride there, so a slight feeling of embarrassment was better that than making a call for someone to come and pick up the pieces... however on driving the route I had noticed that there was a very large and steep hill about 2 miles before Fossebridge which probably zapped a bit too much energy out of me, so I congratulated myself on getting up all the others!
Since the ride I have purchased a different cassette (with a bigger #1 cog!) however to date I haven’t had the cause to use it, but in my mind I know it is there… just in case… but the mental arguments about do I use it or don’t usually remain unanswered before I have reached the top of the hill… mental diversion tactics help me.
Anyway…
After the hills and down towards Cirencester I knew that 'overall' the rest was downhill (as an average) but what I hadn't thought about was the reason that airfields are built where they are is due to wind... so the ride past Kemble and Hullavington was a bit of a headwind, but I was in no immediate rush, so plodded on.
I stopped again at a BP station to fill up the bottles and a 5 mins rest and then the final 15 miles (?) to the circuit.
The feeling of 'being near the finish' is a definite boost to morale and you can then pick up the speed as the end is in sight, however on arrival at the gate I had only completed 97 miles and so I continued past for 1.5 miles before heading back to the track to clock the magic 100 miles... then couldn't find my entry ticket! (but soon resolved). I was surprised that even knowing that I had to go ‘another 3 miles’ didn’t seem to affect me in terms of tiredness, I was almost on a high knowing that I had made it.
So, what did I learn from my 'first century'...
- take it steady (I actually averaged 14.5mph and took just under 7hrs to complete) but wasn’t aiming for a particular time or speed
- don't try to beat any records, just keep going at a comfortable rate and steady pace that you know you can maintain
- fluids (I think I did about 8 litres, sipping regularly as opposed to downing a bottle)
- food... different people do different things but I set off at 6.30am and so I had some breakfast/muesli (but wasn’t overly hungry) and then grazed on a pack of Haribos from my back pocket (I did read that if you find you feel thirsty or hungry then its too late…) I did have a couple of gels ‘just in case’ but didn’t feel that I needed them during the ride…
- clothing - when I set off it was ‘slightly chilly’ at 6.30am but the skies were blue and the forecast clear all day and so I decided on bib shorts (Assos for me are worth their weight in gold!) and short sleeve top (fat boys don’t feel the cold!) and thankfully the weather was kind (sunny) and I didn’t need a jacket but I would definitely consider the forecast for the length of the journey, perhaps I was lucky or just stupid (but I did take/apply suncream)
- I climbed just shy of 4000ft in the ride and I am simply not built for hills but to be honest they generally came midway so I already knew that after I had climbed the bigger ones the ride became easier… it’s a mental thing!
- slightly disappointed that I walked for about 300 metres, but better to do that than to have to stop at 70 miles, but I now know that I have to get used to going up hills routinely so that I get better/fitter (and obviously stop smoking!!!)
- enjoy it
I want to do John O’Groats to Lands End (or vice versa) but time constraints/commitment meant I couldn’t this year and so my next ‘step’ is to do a 100 mile ride on one day, followed by another on the next day… one step at a time... and then take my time for 9 days next year...
So... there was a race meeting at Castle Combe and looking on Google/Strava it was pretty much 100 miles from Hinckley, straight down the Fosse, to Cirencester, and then down to Castle Combe... perfect!!
Bear in mind a couple of things, I am 95kgs (thus hills are not my friend!) and I smoke (not big or clever) and I am not using these as excuses/reason/bravado but purely to give you the confidence to go for the 100 miles. The week leading up to the ride I did a 25 mile ride each evening on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (Wednesday no cycling) and then fitted some new tyres and serviced/checked the bike over on Friday before doing a 10 mile ride to check it was all ok, ready the big ride the next day.
I had checked the route on Strava a couple of days beforehand and was aware that there were a 'couple' of hills, notably a large/long one heading up to Stow on the Wold for about 2 miles and I wasn't looking forward to it. So, I had planned to get to Moreton in Marsh (roughly halfway) grab a coffee and, ultimately, a nice slice of chocolate brownie before heading up the dreaded hill. I know the road relatively well but the perception from a car does change when on the bike, each change of level is definitely noticed in the saddle. However, as I left Moreton and headed onward I realised I was on a 'hill' but wasn't sure if it was 'the one' but a good rhythm was the key, nice and steady and no 'short spurts' and, as I rounded the left hander... the hill continued and I knew I was on it.
Steadily, but not quickly, I carried on and before I knew it I could see the traffic lights and the top were in sight... a massive feeling of relief as I didn't feel that it was 'that' bad.
For some reason I count in my mind the amount of pedal strokes and guesstimate how many it will take me to get to the top or a given point, not sure about others but taking my mind off the hill in front helps me and then trying to calculate how many strokes I was adrift and… before you know it you are there! I also tend not to stare longingly at any large incline in front of me, an occasional glance now and again just to pick a tree or a road sign to break down the hill into stages. (not that the fittest cyclists probably have any issue with going up such a ‘small incline’ but for me it was a mountain…!)
Out of Stow is a rather steep downhill, with traffic lights at the bottom and so with the aid of Google Streetview I had worked out that if they changed as I approached I could 'fork left' (not light controlled) and slow down, turn around and then carry on. As it happened they were on green, which was a good job really as looking back on Strava I had managed to go just over 50mph!!!! (I knew I was 'going some' at the time with a feeling of 'if I hit a pothole then I am f*cked!!).
I actually drove back to Combe a week or so ago (another race meeting) mainly to just see how big some of the hills were and I found it hard to believe that I actually made it up some of them, I am sure that some of you may know the route... and at Fossebrige there is a 15% hill (from memory) and half way up there I had to get off! I 'could' have made it up there BUT with about 40 miles to go I didn't want to end the ride there, so a slight feeling of embarrassment was better that than making a call for someone to come and pick up the pieces... however on driving the route I had noticed that there was a very large and steep hill about 2 miles before Fossebridge which probably zapped a bit too much energy out of me, so I congratulated myself on getting up all the others!
Since the ride I have purchased a different cassette (with a bigger #1 cog!) however to date I haven’t had the cause to use it, but in my mind I know it is there… just in case… but the mental arguments about do I use it or don’t usually remain unanswered before I have reached the top of the hill… mental diversion tactics help me.
Anyway…
After the hills and down towards Cirencester I knew that 'overall' the rest was downhill (as an average) but what I hadn't thought about was the reason that airfields are built where they are is due to wind... so the ride past Kemble and Hullavington was a bit of a headwind, but I was in no immediate rush, so plodded on.
I stopped again at a BP station to fill up the bottles and a 5 mins rest and then the final 15 miles (?) to the circuit.
The feeling of 'being near the finish' is a definite boost to morale and you can then pick up the speed as the end is in sight, however on arrival at the gate I had only completed 97 miles and so I continued past for 1.5 miles before heading back to the track to clock the magic 100 miles... then couldn't find my entry ticket! (but soon resolved). I was surprised that even knowing that I had to go ‘another 3 miles’ didn’t seem to affect me in terms of tiredness, I was almost on a high knowing that I had made it.
So, what did I learn from my 'first century'...
- take it steady (I actually averaged 14.5mph and took just under 7hrs to complete) but wasn’t aiming for a particular time or speed
- don't try to beat any records, just keep going at a comfortable rate and steady pace that you know you can maintain
- fluids (I think I did about 8 litres, sipping regularly as opposed to downing a bottle)
- food... different people do different things but I set off at 6.30am and so I had some breakfast/muesli (but wasn’t overly hungry) and then grazed on a pack of Haribos from my back pocket (I did read that if you find you feel thirsty or hungry then its too late…) I did have a couple of gels ‘just in case’ but didn’t feel that I needed them during the ride…
- clothing - when I set off it was ‘slightly chilly’ at 6.30am but the skies were blue and the forecast clear all day and so I decided on bib shorts (Assos for me are worth their weight in gold!) and short sleeve top (fat boys don’t feel the cold!) and thankfully the weather was kind (sunny) and I didn’t need a jacket but I would definitely consider the forecast for the length of the journey, perhaps I was lucky or just stupid (but I did take/apply suncream)
- I climbed just shy of 4000ft in the ride and I am simply not built for hills but to be honest they generally came midway so I already knew that after I had climbed the bigger ones the ride became easier… it’s a mental thing!
- slightly disappointed that I walked for about 300 metres, but better to do that than to have to stop at 70 miles, but I now know that I have to get used to going up hills routinely so that I get better/fitter (and obviously stop smoking!!!)
- enjoy it
I want to do John O’Groats to Lands End (or vice versa) but time constraints/commitment meant I couldn’t this year and so my next ‘step’ is to do a 100 mile ride on one day, followed by another on the next day… one step at a time... and then take my time for 9 days next year...
... but don't stop for too long. If you stop for an hour or more for lunch etc, you'll stiffen up and in my experience feel a lot heavier than if you just snacked and paced yourself.
I think the science is something to do with the insulin your body releases which slows down the absorption of sugar into glycogen.
I think the science is something to do with the insulin your body releases which slows down the absorption of sugar into glycogen.
Thanks for all the responses - I appreciate it.
After reading all of them, I am confident I could do the 100miles. The time in the saddle isn't so bad, I can handle 5-6 hours no problem - but one thing I struggle with is pacing myself. My legs always seem to give out first, I love to power up hills etc.
I will give it a go
After reading all of them, I am confident I could do the 100miles. The time in the saddle isn't so bad, I can handle 5-6 hours no problem - but one thing I struggle with is pacing myself. My legs always seem to give out first, I love to power up hills etc.
I will give it a go
Granfondo said:
If you stop for lunch at half way for say 30mins isn't that 2 X 50 mile rides?
Now there's a can of worms! No right or wrong answer but the answer is yes, it is 2 x 50 miles rides. And if you set off at, say 9am and finish at 3pm, then it's taken you six hours. You can't say it took you five and a half because you stopped for half an hour! Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff