Tomorrow is my first attempt at a Century Ride...

[BiggJawn]

100 miles on a bicycle. Can he do it? Will his ass fail him? Will his legs and lungs hold up?
Can he get to the finish line and a free spag dinner before they stop serving at 5PM?

Stay tuned.....

[DS1]

1. Don't forget to bring a spare tube!

I was within 2 tenths of the 500 mile mark on my odometer and PT-TSSHSHHHHHHH

FUCK!

[BiggJawn]

5. Tube, Patches AND a pump...

Paris-Roubaix has NOTHING on White County when it comes to rough-ass tyre-busting roads....

Tyre irons, too, don't forget the tyre irons....

[Trailrider1951]

2. Go Jawnny go!

I've done several century rides myself, usually for charity (MS 150). Just go at your own pace, draft when you can, drink plenty of water or sports drink, and take advantage of the rest stops, if only to get off the bike and stretch. You'll do just fine!
:yourock:

[BiggJawn]

7. Have you ever tried the "frozen bottle trick"?

I freeze a bottle of Gator-Aide and put it in the other cage. After about an hour, when it's about 1/2 melted, it tastes SOOOOO GOOD on a hot day...

[Trailrider1951]

12. Actually, I have a camelback

Into which I put ice cubes along with the water. The insulated cover keeps it cool for as long as it lasts, which here on the Texas gulf coast isn't very long in August! Have fun on your ride!

[krkaufman]

3. Good luck.

I quit riding, but it wasn't my legs or lungs failing me that prompted it.

[BiggJawn]

8. knees? n/t

[krkaufman]

11. Nope.

Suffice to say that I tried a variety of seat types, to no avail.

As for the knees, the left one has since gone bad, adding to the excuse pile.

[ze_dscherman]

4. You can do it

My 11 year old son did 70 miles a day with me, exactly two weeks ago - on a 24" bike carrying all of his personal gear for our two weeks camping tour. We had a GREAT day!

Just go your pace - and try to enjoy it as much as we did ours!

[BiggJawn]

6. Where'd you go?

My ESSO is afraid I'll "blow up" or something,says "I know how hard you like to push yourself"...I told her "this isn't a race, ANY time i put in for 100 miles will be a new 'Personal Best', y'know..."

2 week tour...Sounds like HUGE fun!

[ze_dscherman]

10. Bicycling tour through the German heartland

Up the Werra river from where it unites with the Fulda river to form the Weser river, through Hessia and Thuringia to it's source, crossing the Thuringian Mountains to Coburg in Bavaria, then along the Main River to Bamberg, Schweinfurt, up into the Rhön Mountains to their highest point (just a humble 950 meters), finally down the Fulda river from its source to the starting point of our journey. All in all, 855 kilometers, which we did in just 12 days.

HUGE fun - the area we went through is mostly very rural, in some parts still "fairytale" country with timber-framed houses and tiny villages. Also, there were some impressive castles, churches and museums to be seen - which my son also enjoyed very much. We even saw the first bicycle ever with pedals. Some major tourist attractions are on that route as well.

We went with full camping gear, my son had to carry all of his clothes, sleeping bag, insulating mattress and water. Kitchen, food, tent, repair kit and other stuff was with me. So I was pretty loaded with 4 carriers, handle bar bag, and tent bag. But I'm still in good shape - have been to the corsican mountains this spring ...

We were staying on campgrounds or on some meadow or in the forest if no campground was available. For the most part we used some cycle routes that use minor or unpaved roads with little or no traffic. Germany has lot's of these - it's a great country for bicycle holidays - if the weather is o.K. We were very lucky, since we had foul weather before starting, and after coming back - but on our trip it was very good, even too hot.

O.K., gotta stop that rant - you'll probably feel how much we enjoyed it. Also, it was a beautiful father-son bonding experience - and we both look forward to our next trip.

[BiggJawn]

14. Did you got through Schweighausen?

My family came from there, back in 1847...At least I think they did. there's several places called Schweighausen in Germany, one on the Main not far from Coburg, I think...

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Bavaria looks wonderful in pictures.

[MadHound]

9. You can do it, just pace yourself, drink plenty of water

And don't try to get too greedy on the time. If you're feeling that you're doing good with ten-twenty miles left, then you can start pushing for time. But don't knock yourself out in the beginning or middle stages, you'll die before you cross the finish line.

Good luck, have fun, the feeling of accomplishment on a 100+ mile run is great!

[Ron Green]

13. My advice: Don't sit down and get comfy halfway through.

I did that once, and the last 50 were MUCH harder than they needed to be.
x(

On edit: that is, don't get off the bike and sit down (eat, nap, drink beer)

[BiggJawn]

15. That's what I've read...

Don't dawddle, roll in, hit the "Oui-Oui", grab some pastries, fill the bottles, stretch, rub your ass, and roll out to the next sag stop. Eat on the roll.

Sounds like the Master Plan to me...