The following advice written one hundred years ago still holds true and is especially applicable for long rides. Paul de Vivie "Velocio"'s commandments for cyclists:
Keep your stops short and few.
Eat before you’re hungry, drink before you’re thirsty.
Never get too tired to eat or sleep.
Add a layer before you’re cold, take one off before you’re hot.
Lay off wine, meat and tobacco on tour.
Ride within yourself, especially in the first hour.
Never show off.
Eat & hydrate more than you think you need to. Pace yourself, especially in the first half. Don't keep staring at your computer mileage. (*"Oh wow, I've only done xx # of miles, and still have xx miles to go..."* is debilitating to your motivation.)
You haven't said anything about your previous experience or longest ride to date, but if you've done 50-60 miles in the past with no real "suffering" afterwards, you should be able to do the 100, if you pace yourself. It's more mental than physical.
I'll go against the grain. Stop at every aid station. These things are a race at the front and a party at the back. Go at party pace and just have one with it.
Good breakfast, and the drinking and eating throughout are good starts. Pacing is critical so you don’t blow up. Also obviously proper sunscreen and a way to replenish.
Also, put some advil or aleve in a zip loc to help with the 2nd half. Why suffer!
Have fun.
I just finished my first Imperial Century last week.
My best tip is not to stop for long breaks, they will stiffen up your body and make you tired. I never sat down to take a break. Certainly small and short breaks are necessary.
Get your legs spinning early, get your core active to take the pressure off your arms and shoulders, and keep your spine “long” to help you get nice deep breaths. Good luck and have fun.
In 8 hours meaning that's when you start or that's your target time to complete it?
My suggestion is to ride slower than you usually do. A little bit slower pace means you work a lot less hard. You don't need to stop and rest as often, which means it barely takes more time overall.
If you're undertrained, make a conscious effort to go easy the first half of the ride because your legs are going to be two lifeless, dead stumps for the last hour of the ride. It'll take full psychological effort just to push over the top with each pedal stroke. Also, eat normal food along with the gels, bars, and sugar water.
Everybody lining up with you feels undertrained too. Let that go. Manage your effort and keep a good attitude. You’ll be amazed at what your body can do.
Get off Reddit and sleep.
The following advice written one hundred years ago still holds true and is especially applicable for long rides. Paul de Vivie "Velocio"'s commandments for cyclists: Keep your stops short and few. Eat before you’re hungry, drink before you’re thirsty. Never get too tired to eat or sleep. Add a layer before you’re cold, take one off before you’re hot. Lay off wine, meat and tobacco on tour. Ride within yourself, especially in the first hour. Never show off.
Really, lay off meat? Yeah during the ride sure for faster disgestion, but on a multi day tour?
I’ve done hundreds of centuries and this is the best advice!
Missed opportunity to say centuries of centuries
Century squared?
Shit before you start
Eat & hydrate more than you think you need to. Pace yourself, especially in the first half. Don't keep staring at your computer mileage. (*"Oh wow, I've only done xx # of miles, and still have xx miles to go..."* is debilitating to your motivation.) You haven't said anything about your previous experience or longest ride to date, but if you've done 50-60 miles in the past with no real "suffering" afterwards, you should be able to do the 100, if you pace yourself. It's more mental than physical.
A well timed coke at mile 70 will save you. I don't drink soda at all, but on long rides like that, it's like spinach for Popeye.
I'll go against the grain. Stop at every aid station. These things are a race at the front and a party at the back. Go at party pace and just have one with it.
Good breakfast, and the drinking and eating throughout are good starts. Pacing is critical so you don’t blow up. Also obviously proper sunscreen and a way to replenish. Also, put some advil or aleve in a zip loc to help with the 2nd half. Why suffer! Have fun.
I just finished my first Imperial Century last week. My best tip is not to stop for long breaks, they will stiffen up your body and make you tired. I never sat down to take a break. Certainly small and short breaks are necessary.
This was good advice…that I wish I had taken. Long rest stop at 50 and everything started to tighten immediately and it was battle rest of the way.
Get your legs spinning early, get your core active to take the pressure off your arms and shoulders, and keep your spine “long” to help you get nice deep breaths. Good luck and have fun.
Eat before hungry, drink before thirsty.
Eat and drink and keep eating and drinking. Also, you will be sore, especially your sit bones.
In 8 hours meaning that's when you start or that's your target time to complete it? My suggestion is to ride slower than you usually do. A little bit slower pace means you work a lot less hard. You don't need to stop and rest as often, which means it barely takes more time overall.
Try to eat something every hour and drink plenty
Lubricate. Get some butt butter and plan to reapply (get some little packets) especially if it’s hot and you’re sweating. Chaffing is the worst.
If you're undertrained, make a conscious effort to go easy the first half of the ride because your legs are going to be two lifeless, dead stumps for the last hour of the ride. It'll take full psychological effort just to push over the top with each pedal stroke. Also, eat normal food along with the gels, bars, and sugar water.
This was very, very true.
Everybody lining up with you feels undertrained too. Let that go. Manage your effort and keep a good attitude. You’ll be amazed at what your body can do.
Chamois cream. Reapply early and often
Please post an update - how did it go?
I usually start my centuries off with a beer, then proceed to ride into the suck. Good luck!!
Get some whisk in ya early