Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
I did my first century ride on Sunday, the Surf City Aids ride starting in Santa Cruz! It went really well!
The course wound down the coast at the start, which was beautiful in the early morning light. We stopped at a frame-builders for a rest stop where they also make the most beautiful bamboo frames (I definitely need a new bike). On for miles and miles through flat agricultural land and a short but really horrible stretch on Highway 1! Then we had a big climb out of one valley into the next - it was REALLY hot now, about 40C and it felt like I was climbing in an oven.
It was fairly flat for the remainder of the run - a few climbs but nothing notable. I felt great at this point and really ramped up the speed. (I was still slow, but less slow now). Got peach pie and the most amazing iced coffee at a rest stop and then dashed back to the start. Cycling time was 7 hrs 49 total (12.8 mph but the final 30 were 14mph). But best of all, I felt really good throughout the whole ride - I wondered if I'd drag myself across the line like a wreck but I was super happy!
Thanks to everyone who helped me on the Training forum - I'm really grateful for your patient answers and advice! I won't do another century for a while (it takes so much time away from my family commitments) but it was a great experience!
The course wound down the coast at the start, which was beautiful in the early morning light. We stopped at a frame-builders for a rest stop where they also make the most beautiful bamboo frames (I definitely need a new bike). On for miles and miles through flat agricultural land and a short but really horrible stretch on Highway 1! Then we had a big climb out of one valley into the next - it was REALLY hot now, about 40C and it felt like I was climbing in an oven.
It was fairly flat for the remainder of the run - a few climbs but nothing notable. I felt great at this point and really ramped up the speed. (I was still slow, but less slow now). Got peach pie and the most amazing iced coffee at a rest stop and then dashed back to the start. Cycling time was 7 hrs 49 total (12.8 mph but the final 30 were 14mph). But best of all, I felt really good throughout the whole ride - I wondered if I'd drag myself across the line like a wreck but I was super happy!
Thanks to everyone who helped me on the Training forum - I'm really grateful for your patient answers and advice! I won't do another century for a while (it takes so much time away from my family commitments) but it was a great experience!
told you you could do it
Awesome achievement,amazed you managed in such heat!
