How many have completed a Imperial Century?

Srode · Jun 18, 2013

I've done 3, all during a Strava 60 hour endurance challenge and 2 were on back to back days. All 3 were solo and within a 10 day window. I couldn't have done them in a group because of the pace, but solo it was really pretty easy and I felt pretty good after 2 of them, the 3rd my legs were pretty toasted by the time it was done.

To the OP, sorry to hear you and your family are dealing with MS. That's a tough disease and the treatments are just as tough. I will ride an MS ride when I get the chance, it's a great cause.

Dave1442397 · Jun 18, 2013

joshhan said:
Haha, I was planning on crossing via the Benjamin Franklin. I grew up in the 'hood and my uncle had a shop in Camden we would visit often for many, many years so I'm not too worried about it.

Thanks again!

You're welcome! Have fun, should be a nice ride.

Dave1442397 · Jun 18, 2013

NJBiker72 said:
Very cool. I have done that ride a few times and am starting a new team at my new company this year. I always want to go both ways but no one else wants to. So it is just an easy ride and then a beach day with the kids. Still good.

For a double in NJ have you considered The Longest Day? Want to do that one of these years.

I did consider The Longest Day, but the logistics are a pain in the ass for me. I'd have to get to Highpoint, which is a long drive, and have a way to get home from Cape May (or a place to stay). I decided I'd rather just do a big loop around South Jersey instead.

I still might do The Longest Day next year...we'll see!

nOOky · Jun 18, 2013

I've long ago lost count of how many centuries I've done. I do remember the first, about 25 years ago. It was my easiest, because it was one of those days in my youth when I felt like I could ride forever. I still have those days, but they are few and far between. The only one I've done this year was on a cross bike with lots of gravel, it was hard.

I don't do many centuries as they don't fit in with my training. I mainly do 100 mile mountain bike races, and it's rare to actually go that far training for one.

tvJefe · Jun 18, 2013

The key to longer rides is fueling and hydration. You say all the fun was gone after 80 miles and you were exhausted. It could be that you were simply dehydrated and low on sugar to burn. For 100+ mile rides, it's important to be drinking 1 bottle per hour (more if it's hot) and getting a good blend of carbs/protein/electrolytes.

For my own centuries and beyond, I prep my first 2 bottles of the day with both Hammer Sustained Energy powder and Skratch Labs electrolyte powder. Sometimes I will bring another baggy of the Skratch for bottles 3 and 4, especially if it's going to be a hot day. I also bring 1 Gu gel for every 15 miles of road. And start the day with a blend of simple and complex carbs yourself. A banana, a few strawberries and old fashioned oatmeal!

Keep drinking. A century can take over 6 hours - that's 6-8 bottles of water. You can't do a century without refilling your water or eating along the way. And you are going to burn 3000-4000 Calories on a 100 mile ride. You should be consuming at LEAST 1500 during the ride, if not closer to 2000.

matfam · Jun 19, 2013

The "fun" was gone for me, not due to nutrition or hydration but due to simple conditioning. My longest previous ride was 74 miles then 1 metric, a few 30s and a bunch of 20-25 mile rides. With family and work I rarely have time for anything over 1-2 hours. My body just wasn't prepared for the distance.

To top it all off the Tuesday after my century I played softball (I suck at it) hit the ball and took off for first....5-6 steps my quads locked up. The first baseman was so in shock to see me hobbling that he missed the easy play and I got on base. I think I tore something in my quads that night, over a week ago and I am still sore. I have been spinning around town with my wife, really slow short rides, and that is starting to work the pain out. I feel like I am back at zero again.... Oh well it's not like I get paid to ride and riding 10 miles is still riding.

brad.stark · Jun 19, 2013

I am kind of interested to compare a marathon to a century... I ran 3 marathons (with more hopefully in the future) It was amazing how different the experience can be. The first marathon my fastest 10K was the last 10K, and I felt great afterwards. The 2nd one I tried to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and ending up hitting the wall horribly. The last one I got cramps in my gut from gu and it wasn't very fun either.

BlazingPedals · Jun 19, 2013

My first imperial century was in 1985. Man, that was a toughie! It seemed like I spent all morning and half the afternoon in first gear. But, I got in better shape over the years, and now those same hills are a lot easier. Now that you've gotten a taste, you'll probably be back again; and next time it'll be easier for you, too.

ExChefinMA · Jun 19, 2013

matfam said:
The "fun" was gone for me, not due to nutrition or hydration but due to simple conditioning. My longest previous ride was 74 miles then 1 metric, a few 30s and a bunch of 20-25 mile rides. With family and work I rarely have time for anything over 1-2 hours. My body just wasn't prepared for the distance.

To top it all off the Tuesday after my century I played softball (I suck at it) hit the ball and took off for first....5-6 steps my quads locked up. The first baseman was so in shock to see me hobbling that he missed the easy play and I got on base. I think I tore something in my quads that night, over a week ago and I am still sore. I have been spinning around town with my wife, really slow short rides, and that is starting to work the pain out. I feel like I am back at zero again.... Oh well it's not like I get paid to ride and riding 10 miles is still riding.

Matt,

First off, congrats on your accomplishment! That was a great job! I am sorry to hear that your wife has MS.

From what you’ve said, I can understand where you were during the ride. That was not about improper nutrition/hydration but completely conditioning. You did a good amount of prep training, but didn’t increase your distance enough to be within “striking” distance of your end goal. One of the guys I ride with regularly is a cycling coach and he has been pushing me to get my distances up on my longer rides to be within 10 – 15 miles of my daily goal for the ADA 150 I’m doing in July. I’m still a bit short of it, so am trying to push it out more.

What’s worse than the distance conditioning, it sounds like your mindset dropped, which is harder to overcome than physical conditioning. When I was doing the SeaCoast Century last year (planned metric), I missed getting my foot on my pedal on an uphill start and went down on my knee. Needless to say, this started messing with my head because the pain was knocking me out of the “zone”, physically I could have done 100 miles I think, but barely finished with 75 (we took a slightly out of the way detour early on).

Be proud of your accomplishment and know that you can reach the distance and will do so easier and easier as you modify your training goals. Oh, and every turn of the pedal counts!

EEC

nealric · Jun 19, 2013

brad.stark said:
I am kind of interested to compare a marathon to a century... I ran 3 marathons (with more hopefully in the future) It was amazing how different the experience can be. The first marathon my fastest 10K was the last 10K, and I felt great afterwards. The 2nd one I tried to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and ending up hitting the wall horribly. The last one I got cramps in my gut from gu and it wasn't very fun either.

Having done both, I think the century is MUCH easier. After my first century (which was on a full suspension MTB), I was still pretty functional. I rode another 70 the next day. My training consisted of 3-4 30 mile rides starting as a non-cyclist. My first marathon destroyed me. I slept for almost 16 hours straight afterwards and could barely walk the next day. I had trained hard for 4 months after running 15 miles a week for the prior two years.

Len J · Jun 19, 2013

brad.stark said:
I am kind of interested to compare a marathon to a century... I ran 3 marathons (with more hopefully in the future) It was amazing how different the experience can be. The first marathon my fastest 10K was the last 10K, and I felt great afterwards. The 2nd one I tried to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and ending up hitting the wall horribly. The last one I got cramps in my gut from gu and it wasn't very fun either.

Like anything, it depends on effort.

That said, at the same effort levels, a marathon will beat your body up more than a century. I've run sub 2:30 marathon and close to 4 hour century btw.

Len

deltarocketscientist · Jun 19, 2013

So I came to the site to ask a question and I see this... I did my first MS ride in 2000, I was a little younger at 43 but it was still tough. I did the "Ride to the Shore" just to have a supported ride. Just like the initial post, this is an MS ride, I paid my entry and paid the required fundraising, all together it was like $250. I was riding with a partner and we got a late start which lead to us missing a turn, which resulted in about another 10 miles of riding in the hot Florida Sun. Just to be clear, it was "fun" and the money went to a good cause, but after the last stop I ran out of water and I was crashing, I was "praying" for a SAG vehicle, as luck would have it one arrived just in time. I made it to the end for the day and the next day was uneventful.

Roll forward to this year, I was riding in the "Citrus Tour", which was again an MS 150 Ride, it too was well supported and things went ok, till I missed a turn that cost me another 10 miles. So my question, I dont think I have ever done a long ride that I did not miss a turn, or get diverted the wrong way. I would say it was me, but on a training ride for this year's "Ride to the Shore" I got directed the wrong way by a policeman, the folks following me figured it out, but by the time I did I was a mile and a half down the road and they had turned around.

Alfonsina · Jun 19, 2013

Is it impossible for you to carry a map of your route, or download int to your phone navigation etc? I know I carried something for my first couple of centuries but the reality is you can make mistakes because you might not be thinking clearly or using your herd mentality of thinking other riders will know the way. In multi route rides especially, nothing more unnerving than hordes of riders going in a totally different direction. In centuries you might be 75 miles in but the short course riders are still nice and fresh and perky LOL.

deltarocketscientist · Jun 19, 2013

In the first case I did not have the map. In every other case I did. A map assumes you have local knowledge of the area. I used my Iphone, obviously it showed me where I was, but it was impossible to relate to the map. I have a gps watch, but I think I am getting an Edge, alot of rides download to the Garmin app, but its not compatible with the phone. Getting to the point where the gadgets weigh more than the weight I lose riding the bike

) In reality, the solution is there, I was really just trying to calibrate how much of an idiot I am when I put on the lycra and the jersey

Mad One · Jun 20, 2013

its on my list

Mr. Versatile · Jun 23, 2013

I don't know how many centuries I've done but if I had to guess I'd say around 100 or so. I've done 2 so far this year & have 2-3 others planned.

One question...what's an imperial century? From what I've read in this thread it seems like you mean 100 miles.

banosser · Jul 1, 2013

I did 105 mi solo today (S Skagit Hwy, Darrington, Arlington, up Hwy 9 loop).. Everything went well except for a 30 mi stretch were the temps hit 97 (before starting that stretch I had downed 2 bottles of Gatorade and left with a full botlle of cold H20).. a store I was counting on about 22 mi down was closed

so for fear of over heating I pulled off for about a 20 min break in a shady spot, downed the last of my water and after recouping a bit set off for the next store about 8 mi down the road.. I sat in that ac'd store for at least 30 min cooling down and re-hydrating.. The last 25 went surprisingly well, and there was quite a bit of shade (as well as another bottle of Gatorade) which helped..

Total fluid intake was 3L of H20 (4 bottles) while riding and 6 bottles of Gatorade during 4 stops.. Needed 2 bottles H20 during that 30 mi stretch..

FYI it was only supposed to get to 85 today..

jlwdm said:
Don't be apprehensive. STP is an easy 200+ miles because it is so flat. Try to get in a couple of longer rides. 100 and 120 would be good.

I did the one-day when I was 41 and 61. I have 15 more years to get ready for 81. I have a Spectrum in Seattle so I might start doing STP a little more often.

Jeff

How many have completed a Imperial Century?

Srode

Dave1442397

Dave1442397

nOOky

tvJefe

matfam

brad.stark

BlazingPedals

ExChefinMA

nealric

Len J

deltarocketscientist

Alfonsina

deltarocketscientist

Mad One

Mr. Versatile

banosser

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