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Congrats Jackman on the Century. Sorry to hear about the crash. How did you manage to do that?Simply the Edge 500 is not a navigation tool. Period.
I attempted to do my first century this past weekend at the Hotter N Hell 100 in Wichita Falls, TX but had to quit at the 100K mark due to leg cramps. Otherwise I felt fine. I think I stayed hydrated with Gatoraid and water but maybe I needed more. Any advice from those who have dealt with leg cramps?By the way the Hotter N Hell 100 was an awesome event and ride. Somewhere around 15,000 riders.
Congrats on the 100K ride in such a hot climate. 15000 riders!???? That sounds like a blast. I've done two century rides so far this month (and signed up for one in September) and learned the following (I'm far from an expert so I hope more experienced cyclists chime in!): 1. Stay hydrated - you should stop at every rest area and drink isotonic beverages. Also keep both bottles on your bike full and bring an extra bottle or two to put in your jersey pockets. I bought a dry mix isotonic and used about 1.5x the suggested dosage. It didn't taste good but it seemed to keep me well hydrated. If you dehydrated you will cramp up. 2. Pace yourself - I was riding with a fast group of riders during my first century. They were in much better shape and kept a pace I could not sustain after the 50 mile mark. I paid the price on the back fifty because I was out of gas around the 75 miles in. The last 25 miles were brutal, but thankfully it was not 100F like yesterday's ride. 3. Ride in a paceline - my group of friends (from my regular cycling group) helped maintain a paceline throughout the ride. Riding in a paceline is much more efficient and more fun (IMO) because you can maintain a higher speed for longer stretches. 4. Make sure your bike is tuned up properly. I threw a chain on the last century (going up a hill) and had problems with my brakes. It sucks losing a chain while climbing a hill on rubbery legs. 5. Get fitted properly. I experienced really bad pain (IT Band) on my first century and almost could not continue. After 80 miles, my right knee was on fire and started to swell. My local shop made some adjustments to my cleats and (thankfully) the pain went away. It's funny because I never experienced any pain until mile 80 of the century. Before that, I had literally logged thousands of miles on the bike (with the bad fit) without any issues. Best of luck to you on your next century. To be honest, sometimes there is nothing you can do. One of my closest friends is a very strong rider, much stronger than I am, and probably stronger than I will ever be. He experienced cramps and heat exhaustion around mile 97 yesterday and was unable to continue. Thankfully the organizers had cars picking people up who were injured or unable to finish. Cheers,Jack
Jack,Thanks much for the response. I am now thinking that one of the main factors may be undertraining for the ride. I found a good article on cramping here http://www.roadbikerider.com/cramps.htmThanks again,Tony
A few of my thoughts on making the Century club:* Eat before your hungry. You might not be hungry, but don't use that as an excuse not to eat. Hard to say what will work for you, some eat every hour, some only every 30 miles or so.* Drink before your thirsty. Lots!* Don't start out too fast. Maybe 40-50% of what you are accustomed to. Your sense of speed will be skewed based on what you normally ride, so everything will feel slow, but you'll be thankful when you don't bonk at mile 70.* Move around on the bike (change hand positions, relax your shoulders, move your arms, keep from getting in one position for too long or stiffness will set it).I generally have a can of coke right around the 70 mile mark to give me a good boost to the finish.I also bring tums incase of an upset stomach from the ride, heat, food/gels, ect.Also take advantage of any rest stops if the ride has them or calls for it. Getting off the bike for a bit can do wonders for your mental and physical state.Oh and lastly, don't forget the chamois butter! Sunscreen too if the day calls for it.
I did the NYC Century this past Sunday and it was a blast! My garmin goofed on me and decided to add @983 miles. Needless to say, I had a great time finishing the NYC Century feeling fresh. Transportation Alternative did a great job with the route selection for this year's event. It rained late in the afternoon and saw some crashes. The streets suddenly became slippery specially those manhole covers which I was quickly reminded. Almost wiped out on a turn but managed to recover. What a great feeling. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/48763284
