I’m a way off riding 100 miles in a day, but it is on the horizon. Round the IoW and back home is a 100 miles. Possibly later this summer
I did my first 100 in 2022, it was a long day in the saddle, perversely I did really enjoy it. If you remember 2022 was the year we had that long hot summer, I was winding down for retirement and was mostly working from home/saddle, so I got lots of training in beforehand. I had hoped to do a century each year thereafter, unfortunately my spine had other plans for me. I hope to get back to that level of fitness/health as that's where I get my cycling enjoyment. I like long days out over short high intensity blasts or racing. There's lots of advice on Youtube re. doing your first 100, much of it is mental prep, I took it steady, lots of short breaks eat and drink regularly. Also, choose a day that's not too hot or bloody windy. Go for it...
My longest ride is 75, which I’ve done about that distance a few times. I generally stop every 6/7 miles for a couple of minutes and eat a couple of chewy blocks or half a graze bar. I drink about 500 ml per 25 miles depending on the temperature. I’m sure it will be achieved this year
If you've got your health then it's time to take advantage of it - partly due to instinctive optimism, we tend to forget what it's like when it's gone.
I’m exercising 40 hours a month, cycling, HIIT, yoga and swimming as soon as the outside pool opens. Turned 60 yesterday and I’m probably the fittest I’ve been since my early 30s. Gave up smoking NYE 1999/2000, I don’t drink excessively and we don’t eat badly, just too much, but that’s slowly improving. I’ve been Diabetic some years and started insulin about three years ago so it’s important I keep it up as long as possible.
Yoga/stretching is very important and really helps on the bike. Important as we get on to keep the thoracic spine as flexible as possible, basic cat/cow poses really help here.I'm really tight in this area, a career sat at a desk hasn't helped.
I used to do the ton regularly when I rode. I don’t think it’s too difficult once you build up to it. The hard bit’s pace. I much preferred a swift 40-50 miler. So did the wife. Doing the ton pretty much snaffles the whole day up.
Agreed Particularly the pace, you have to pace yourself knowing it's a long day ahead and not to burn all your matches early. It's an all day ride. I built up, lots of 50/60 milers then build to 80 milers. If you can do 80 and feel ok at the end, you can do a ton. Pace, food, fluid are the key imo. Century rides are satisfying to complete though.
We used to do a mid summer afternoon ride from Doncaster town centre to the Humber Bridge and back. We’d stop for a drink and a bite to eat when we got there then head straight back. Can’t have been far off 100 miles in under 6 hours. We’d have to crank on a bit due to failing daylight.
I didn’t like to get hung up on a distance/time limit unless it was an event I’d entered specifically for either. Just ride to enjoy the activity whether that be a short or long distance It is an impressive feat especially if you live in a particularly hilly part of the world.
A popular ton in these parts is over to Chepstow and back. Over a big bridge to a foreign country, so a proper adventure...
My cycling buddy’s daughter is a yoga instructor, one day we were riding along and he was telling me he was doing cat/cow whilst riding, so I immediately attempted it with disastrous consequences, I crushed my nuts and very nearly fell off.
that is terrible, if it was local i'd almost be tempted to try and find a billed address as good chance there's one amongst that lot. When i lived in Datsun City neighbours tended to dump rubbish at the end of my garden and tracked one back to an address once. The look on the householders face when i knocked on the door. These days I would have dumped the bag in her garden.
Much of this is people on FB asking for recommendations for someone/anyone to remove rubbish/garden waste from their property. The result is some random pikies (who do not have a waste carriers licence) offering a cheap price, the waste then ends up in a layby somewhere. I despise fly-tippers and litterers. From hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee...
