So, it has happened. I can finally say I have biked 100+ continuous miles in one day!
If there's one thing I've been consistent about in the past, it has been saying that I could really care less about riding a century. 100 miles. Not 100k, that is a normal weekend ride.
I didn't care, I really didn't. I didn't see the point. I don't do well in the summer sun and I am not in century-worthy shape until summer time anyway. So, what's the point? Go out and get heatstroke and a sun-induced migrane? For what? I had meant to do a century several times in the past few years, just to say I had done one so no one would ask anymore. Everything fell apart every time I legitimately tried to ride one though - whether it was me being sick or hurting my knees / IT bands. Each time I missed one, I was not disappointed either.
So a few months ago, when Jim asked me if I wanted to do a century ride with him from a Brewery, to benefit the Tour De Force ride he does every September, I knew it was my time. We were going to be up in NY, and the choices were to sit around and wait for him to finish, or to get off my butt and finally do this thing.
I think anyone can fake 50 miles, but much after that and it becomes a mental game, and a keen awareness of your (my) lack of a true core. Below is the rundown of my thoughts at different mile markers:
Mile 0: Awesome, it's overcast and mild out. My ideal weather! Let's do this thing!
Mile 11: Oh hey, we are climbing kind of a lot. I'm feeling good, I'm gonna sit back and crank these out. They are Strava segments after all! Gotta get all the girl Strava stuff!
Mile 20: Wow, the Chasm is pretty impressive!! Oh, Jim is throwing up into it, gross.
Mile 25: Rest stop! Down about 4 orange segments, refill water & mix my self-carried skratch hydration packets. Wait, there is no port-a-potty here?! Where am I gonna pee??
Mile 27: My saviour, a Stewarts gas station with a restroom! All the women on this ride are in line here with bladders about to explode.
Mile 34: Cruiiising along, easy peasey.
Mile 40: Not bad at all, slight downhill pitch here I think? Or false flat.
Mile 50: Lunch stop, halfway point, feelin' good! Cram down some food, don't sit around for long. We see a storm on the horizon over Lake Champlain. Blinky lights go on.
Mile 52: Oh it's raining, awesome! I actually would prefer the rain to the sun. Nobody else does, but this is my weather right here! Feelin' great!
Mile 58: Everything hurts and I want to die.
Mile 58.2: Seriously, I'm noticing every tenth of a mile tick by now.
Mile 59: WTF.
Mile 60: Headwind, forever.
Mile 61: Cornfields.
Mile 62: Why am I still on my bike?
Mile 66.6: I am going up a hill, this suuuucks, I want to be off my bike saddle now.
Mile 67: Ermehgerd that is seriously the most scenic thing ever! I need to take pictures of this sweeping farmland landscape. I make Jim stop and get off the bike to take a few snaps. Feels good to get off the saddle for a minute.
Mile 68: SERIOUSLY. WTF. HEADWIND.
Mile 69: Still noticing the mileage at this point....
Mile 70: Woooosh! It's the Dark Side Cycling paceline! Other cyclists, what a sight for sore eyes! We jump on for a short reprieve from the wind. We are now averaging 18 mph easily! We got out of the headwind and turned right, nearly at the border of Canada. Everyone is happier now.
Mile 73: Well that was fun, but they are gone now. Oh, are these sprint points? Well, might as well half-way try...
Mile 75: Rest stop! We re-group with the Dark Siders and roll out as a big paceline with the intention to roll in together. I take down an Untapped maple syrup packet in preparation.
Mile 77: Dropped like half the paceline immediately because we are pulling 18-20 mph. Jim and I still on with the Goshen dudes, about 6 or 7 strong at this point.
Mile 78: Feeling STRONG, got my second wind. Taking pulls off the front with slight inclines at 19-20 mph! I am pulling 20 mph and feeling great!
Mile 80: Still crankin'! This is my previous longest ride mileage from circa 2013. Everything from here on out is new territory!
Mile 85: I drop back from my pull and tuck in tight to the back of the paceline noticing Jim is not there. Whoops. He is going to be mad I think, but I honestly didn't hear him yell that he was off. I drop back and collect him.
Mile 86: Ok Jim and I are back together in the land of cornfields, cruising along the Western shores of Lake Champlain on our own now. We drop the pace down. The sun is back out and we are beginning to dry off in earnest.
Mile 90: I am cramming a protein bar down my throat because I know I'll get a headache if I try to subsist entirely off of sugar. It is thick, I am using lots of water to get it down bite by C4 textured bite.
Mile 95: Oh MAN, this is going to HAPPEN!!! I'm gonna see 100 miles pop up on the odometer soon!
Mile 96: Still stuffing energy snacks in my face, because I know I can't possibly eat enough today to fill the calorie deficit. Also, that was a good effort back there...
Mile 98: Wait for it....wait for it....
Mile 99: Rolling back through town, eyes transfixed on my Garmin to see the moment it pops up with the "100" number. I look around for landmarks so I can tell everyone where exactly I hit my first 100 miles.
Mile 100: YUUUSSS!!! Victory!!!! I roll by the Plattsburgh Chamber of Commerce building and watch my Garmin tick from 99.9 to 100 miles! No decimal points anymore on the display once you hit triple digits!
Mile 101: The track I loaded said the course was 101 miles. We still seem to be a ways from the end. What gives?!? I want to be done.
Mile 102: WTF WTF WTF
Mile 103: The novelty of 100 miles has worn off and I just don't want to be on my saddle anymore!!
Mile 103.4: We roll through the giant inflatable "Finish" banner. It is anti climactic in a way as I skid through the dirt and have to unclip a foot to regain my balance.
Mile 103.6: We bike up the ramp right to the door, get off our bikes, and go in our room for the night at the Valcour Brewing Company. Sweet sweet victory! I am out of my kit immediately. Time to shower and get beer and food!!!!
30 minutes after finishing: Yeah I'm NEVER riding 100 miles again.
Next day: Wow, that was really awesome. I'm so glad I finally rode 100 miles, 6 hours on the bike! What an accomplishment, to finish strong too! I was thinking this wouldn't be a big deal, but it kinda was! Maybe I will do this again someday, if the stars align...
So my advice? Definitely ride 100 miles at least once in your life. It's an awesome experience.
