My First Century!

[upandover]

Yesterday, from S. Birmingham to Cambridge, 108 miles.

I'm delighted, exhausted and sore! It took ages as I couldn't push as hard (my back was playing up), but it's my first big ride on my new bike and I'm delighted with it. 38 miles further than I've ever been before.

My favourite part is that I started in the West Midlands, then passed through Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and into Cambridgeshire!

So much harder than the 70 miles I did on the B'ham-Oxford. Partly perhaps because I did it on my own.

I learnt loads though, and now I'll be researching on what to eat to keep up energy over that time period! Any suggestions?

Big smile on my face. (as they're the only muscles not aching!)

Steve

 

[ianrauk]

well done on that milestone. Great effort.
Once you have one under your belt, you will want more...and they get easier.
I have done 6 so far this year, including one today.

As an incentive how about joining the Cycle Chat Cyclogs team here..

As to keeping up energy I munch on dried fruits, nuts & cereal fruit bars... seems to work for me. But you can get a hundred and one types of gels and bars wtc

 

[marinyork]

Well done. I don't have any tips about energy except that your body somehow seems to slowly come accustomed to longer rides, so sometimes you don't eat anywhere near as much as you think you will.

 

[upandover]

I'm delighted. I really hit a wall at 65 miles, and I thought that might be about lac of energy. I do have cold through, so I thought that might have influenced it.

I like the idea that my body will become more acustomed, I also love the idea of fruit and nuts, it may be just what I need.

Going into and out of Northampton, it felt like is just kept going uphill. I eventually stopped at the top of a hill at 65 miles, feeling very dispirited, and haveing had two people shout from cars, and one jump out going 'blurgh' from the pavement in the last 15 mins. I was laying down on the pavement though, next to th everge, whena white van stopped, and a guy came out to check I was OK. A cyclist who wanted to see how I was doing/check I was ok. I was amazed how much it perked me up, and soon I was on the way to bedford again!

I'm astonished how much mindset plays a role in energy!

Steve

 

[upandover]

Oh - and I'll have to try Cyclogs

 

[yenrod]

Godamit up what a 'go' man - you need 1 fk of pat on the back here lad !

Congratulations !

 

[Norm]

Great achievement solo. I'm just thinking about the route you took in my head, and that is a long way.

I'm astonished how much mindset plays a role in energy!

That's true. I did about half your trip last week, although it was mostly off road. About 40 miles in, I was visited by the p*nct*re fairy. It took me about 30 minutes to fix it (I was in no hurry ) and at least a dozen peeps / groups rode past, each one asking if I had everything, if I wanted a hand, it was a real pick me up.

 

[Panter]

Well done

I did my first (and only) Century last year and was chuffed as a very chuffed thing

Non-cyclists are amazed enough at even a sinle figure journey on a bicycle. When you tell them about those sort of distances you just get an immenseley satisfying look of utter disbelief