Century: done

[Spats]

Never done that much distance before in a day, wanted to do it. My rigorous training regimen consisted of occasionally going 25-30 miles a day instead of my usual 12-15. Also I picked what is probably the flattest century in the West, the Bike Around The Buttes.

They're not actually buttes: they're just a small covey of 2000' mountains that somehow got lost and ended up north of Sacramento.

[Spats]

Had a terrible start: barely made the 8 AM cutoff, and got lost for about three miles when I didn't see what they were using to mark the course. Fortunately, that was the last bad thing to happen to me. Managed to hook up with a 19MPH roadie group at about mile 10, and stuck with them through a couple rest stops. Went on ahead when they started slowing down.

A long section in the middle goes along the canal, up and down the levee several times. It kept threatening to rain, but we only got about 5 minutes around lunchtime.

[Spats]

The weather was perfect: mostly cloudy and about 65 degrees, except for the two minutes of hail at lunch and the half hour of 80 degree sun just after.

Riding on "Moroni Road" caused a few flashbacks to last year in SLC.

Sadly, there's very little excitement to report: I helped a guy pump up two flats, but abandoned their group by the third: charity has its limits. (He had to get sagged in after the fifth because they ran out of tubes and there was obviously something wrong with his wheel.) No action shots because my friends flaked at the last minute.

And that's about it. Lots of pedaling (circles, dammit: circles!), great ride support from the local Diabetes Society (including Mardi Gras beads at the final aid station), and no puke or sunburn stories. My computer claims I averaged 17 MPH, with just under 6 hours of seat time (not including rest stops). Just over a third of it was in any sort of pack or drafting situation, and the final 40 miles was entirely solo.

102.2 miles later, with the Rocket Lounger.

[gonzo]

century on a recliner! schweet! i have never ridden one. i bet your ass feels way better now than every roadie that did it. wtf is that file box on the back?

[Crinkle]

Originally posted by gonzo
century on a recliner! schweet! i have never ridden one. i bet your ass feels way better now than every roadie that did it. wtf is that file box on the back?

cooler of redbull and vodka?

congrats spats, quite an accomplishment.

[Spats]

Originally posted by gonzo
century on a recliner! schweet! i have never ridden one. i bet your ass feels way better now than every roadie that did it. wtf is that file box on the back?

That "file box", as you call it, is my patented Light-Weight Waterproof High-Capacity Cycle Luggage. Fits exactly in the wind shadow of my torso, carries two bags of groceries, weighs less than any single pannier (much less a pair), and costs $9.95 at Staples.

The looks I got from packs of Lycra-festooned roadies on Colnagos and Treks when I pulled up next to them were priceless.

My ass, as you might imagine, is just fine. People were surprised that I had rode the century because I wasn't walking like a cowboy.

Recumbents are the best: I never rode for fun until I got one. Plus I'm faster than I ever was on an upright!

[Telenater]

Sweet, congrats.

[Arty50]

Nice work, sir!

I probably would have quit/puked/died at mile 101.

[The Reverend Floater]

I didn't know John Stockton took up biking! ;D ;D

Great job, Spats.

[mushmouth]

sounds like fun!
so how are they going up hill??

also, is it difficult pedalling with three knees in your left leg?

[Grange]

Congrats. 102 miles is a lot of time on a bike not matter what type of seat.

[Spats]

Originally posted by mushmouth
sounds like fun!
so how are they going up hill??

also, is it difficult pedalling with three knees in your left leg?

You need three knees to pedal the four-dimensional cranks I use.

Although it's hard to measure exactly, current wisdom is that the fastest recumbents are slightly less efficient than uprights for long hill climbs. At least part of this is because they weigh more (my bike is 30 lbs.) Features like a soft, comfy mesh seat will make things worse.

However, recumbents have a big advantage on flats and downhills due to aerodynamics. All major land speed/distance records (faired or unfaired) are held by recumbents, and I found that my daily commute (mostly flat, with a few rollers) was about 13% faster on a recumbent than on my upright (which had Conti GP road tires).

The most important factor for me is that riding a bent is FUN. I see the world as I ride, instead of just my front wheel and a few feet of road; I'm sitting in this really comfortable lawn chair instead of a tiny piece of leather-coated plastic shoved up my hoo-ha; and instead of just riding for transportation, I am motivated to get out after it and do things like ride centuries.

[ak_powder_monkey]

Damn I thouht my 55 miles in the 24 hour race was a lot great job man!

[shmerham]

What's it like bombing down a hill on one of those? Do you feel in control? I've never been on one (obviously).

[teledave]

Nice one Spats!

Wow, I've gotta do another century sometime. It's been way to long. The last one was on a tandem with my wife when she was (barely) expecting our first child. Gonna have to dust off the old Bianchi and get started for the season.

[Spats]

Originally posted by shmerham
What's it like bombing down a hill on one of those? Do you feel in control? I've never been on one (obviously).

I've had it up over 50 MPH in the Sierras with no problems. At that point I'm more worried about not having disc brakes.

Here's where I was last week just before going to Kirkwood. Yes, they climb hills!

[Theodore]

I'm toying with the idea of just lapping a relitivly flat trail in my neck of the woods to do my first century. I think it'd end up being about 14 laps

[Big E]

Wow, nice work Spats! When you getting a MTB version??