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| What is a Century Ride? |
A few days back in the bicycle saddle return to you a few years of your life. The exhilaration of the awakening world adds a snap to your legs. One mile ... two
miles ... three miles. Hmmm ... maybe that's enough for the first day. As you cycle back home, an idea flashes in your mind. What if I kept going? What if I
rode 50-miles to Ohmygoodnesston ... or 70-miles to Youvegottabekiddingburg ... or century to Areyoucrazyville? What if I rode for 24-hours straight? How
far could I go? The ultra cycling bug has bitten you! A drive to explore your Id ... your Ego ... your very self consumes you. A limit that has always been there
but never threatened has become a target. Perhaps you'll reach it. Perhaps you'll fall short. Perhaps you'll press up against it and shoulder it up a few
notches.
The Century Pages are for the bicycle rider who has just discovered a desire to expand personal experience by bicycle riding greater distances. Riding a
century in a single day may be quite challenging. Perhaps your goal is to ride a century every month. Or perhaps compete in the Century Division of the Ultra
Marathon Cycling Association Mileage Challenge. With careful preparation cycling a century can be fun and rewarding experiences. Each page
concentrates on a different aspect of preparing for and completing a century. At the conclusion of the series, there will be a brief discussion on moving
beyond a century to a double century. The leap isn't as large as you may fear. The key is simple: Get out there and ride your bicycle!
Let's start from the beginning. The first thing you must do is select a century. There are three types of century rides:
1. A self-planned, unsupported century,
2. A brevet and
3. A fully-supported century.
A Self-planned Century
A self-planned century has the advantages of freedom in scheduling and route planning. You don't have to wait two months for the century or drive halfway
across the state to reach the century. However, you do have to anticipate route problems on your century. Unfamiliar roads may be gravel or under
construction. You have to carry enough bicycle tools in case you have a mechanical mishaps with your bicycle. Unless you scrounged up a cycling partner,
you will bicycle the century alone. Also, don't expect to save money by planning your own century ride! The fee for an organized bicycle century is generally
minimal, often less than the cost of food for a long, solo century.
A Brevet
A brevets requires a minimal fee but provides a map of the bicycle route which usually includes information on supply stops along the way. There is no
mechanical or food support but there are other participants who can function as either companions or competitors. Brevets come in a variety of distances.
Century riders should start with the shortest option, the 200 km (125-mile) brevet.
An Organized Century
The best type of bicycle ride for new long-distance cyclists is the organized century. This century has one fee that covers all food and mechanical
assistance along the way. The route is well-established and a multitude of cyclists will participate, especially if the century has a good reputation and the
weather is favorable. However, you are at the mercy of the century organizers. If you don't like the food, you have to eat it or starve. If you can't make it to the
food stop in time, they will close it before you get there.
Now that you have selected the century or centuries you want to do, you need to plot a course of action and begin preparations. Mark your calendar! We have
a lot to talk about before those rides! .
miles ... three miles. Hmmm ... maybe that's enough for the first day. As you cycle back home, an idea flashes in your mind. What if I kept going? What if I
rode 50-miles to Ohmygoodnesston ... or 70-miles to Youvegottabekiddingburg ... or century to Areyoucrazyville? What if I rode for 24-hours straight? How
far could I go? The ultra cycling bug has bitten you! A drive to explore your Id ... your Ego ... your very self consumes you. A limit that has always been there
but never threatened has become a target. Perhaps you'll reach it. Perhaps you'll fall short. Perhaps you'll press up against it and shoulder it up a few
notches.
The Century Pages are for the bicycle rider who has just discovered a desire to expand personal experience by bicycle riding greater distances. Riding a
century in a single day may be quite challenging. Perhaps your goal is to ride a century every month. Or perhaps compete in the Century Division of the Ultra
Marathon Cycling Association Mileage Challenge. With careful preparation cycling a century can be fun and rewarding experiences. Each page
concentrates on a different aspect of preparing for and completing a century. At the conclusion of the series, there will be a brief discussion on moving
beyond a century to a double century. The leap isn't as large as you may fear. The key is simple: Get out there and ride your bicycle!
Let's start from the beginning. The first thing you must do is select a century. There are three types of century rides:
1. A self-planned, unsupported century,
2. A brevet and
3. A fully-supported century.
A Self-planned Century
A self-planned century has the advantages of freedom in scheduling and route planning. You don't have to wait two months for the century or drive halfway
across the state to reach the century. However, you do have to anticipate route problems on your century. Unfamiliar roads may be gravel or under
construction. You have to carry enough bicycle tools in case you have a mechanical mishaps with your bicycle. Unless you scrounged up a cycling partner,
you will bicycle the century alone. Also, don't expect to save money by planning your own century ride! The fee for an organized bicycle century is generally
minimal, often less than the cost of food for a long, solo century.
A Brevet
A brevets requires a minimal fee but provides a map of the bicycle route which usually includes information on supply stops along the way. There is no
mechanical or food support but there are other participants who can function as either companions or competitors. Brevets come in a variety of distances.
Century riders should start with the shortest option, the 200 km (125-mile) brevet.
An Organized Century
The best type of bicycle ride for new long-distance cyclists is the organized century. This century has one fee that covers all food and mechanical
assistance along the way. The route is well-established and a multitude of cyclists will participate, especially if the century has a good reputation and the
weather is favorable. However, you are at the mercy of the century organizers. If you don't like the food, you have to eat it or starve. If you can't make it to the
food stop in time, they will close it before you get there.
Now that you have selected the century or centuries you want to do, you need to plot a course of action and begin preparations. Mark your calendar! We have
a lot to talk about before those rides! .
| © Copyright 2007, Cristin Reichmuth, M.A.. Material provided on this web site is for educational and/or informational purposes only. This web site does not offer either online services or medical advice. No therapeutic relationship is established by use of this site. If you have comments or questions, please contact: info@bodyandmindsolutions.com. |
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