CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure

My first 100 miler... whoohoo

(20 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by primalgeek
  • Latest reply from Cyclingmollie

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  1. primalgeek
    Member

    I know this site is generally more about "city cycling" but I just need to share as I'm chuffed to bits at managing to complete my first 100 miler :)

    Yesterday I got round the 105 mile course at the Ken Laidlaw Sportive in 7 hours 37 mins moving time (8 hours and 10 mins total). As I've said this was the first time I've seen my garmin going past the 100 mile mark and for some reason I chose to do it on quite a hilly course. Before the ride I was worried that I'd have to get off and push up some of the ascents, but I managed to stay on the bike for the full ride.

    I felt slightly out of place at the start line as a large portion of people were in cycling club jerseys. The ride and scenery were great, but I found myself cycling on my own for about 80 miles!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. DaveC
    Member

    '...but I found myself cycling on my own for about 80 miles!'

    Ahh you left all the clubies behind then?? Great going. I've yet to get upto 100 miles, having only done one Aduax this year (and even then not spelling it right). I need more practice (and more cycling too) before I attempt something as long as 100 miles.

    Well Done!!

    Dave C

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    "I know this site is generally more about "city cycling" "

    Nah anything goes on here.

    One member currently cycling in Germany (still?) one doing PBP, at least two permanently in US - though one about to race in Ireland.

    Etc.

    Not even as though we only discuss cycling!!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. primalgeek
    Member

    @Dave: The only clubbies I left behind were the ones with the sarcastic comments about me not stopping to help a mechanical that one of them was having. Apparently having 4 cyclists and 2 event marshals fix a puncture wasn't enough for that guy!

    Unfortunately it was a local club that I was thinking of joining their social club run. I think I might continue my search.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Congratulations PGeek - just over a year ago I achieved my first 100 miler also on a hilly route (TTon) so know how you feel and the sense of achievement. I also wasn't in a club jersey and spent most of the ride on my own. But even now I'd probably do the same through choice.

    But yes. Good stuff. Are you enthused to do more and longer rides, or was that enough?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. primalgeek
    Member

    @kaputnik: "Are you enthused to do more and longer rides, or was that enough?"

    Def not enough! I've now entered the P4S 100 miler which looks to be a bit flatter so it will be interesting to see how I get on there! Not so sure about going further yet, but you never know...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Well done primalgeek. Yesterday's KLM was hard. The section into the wind from Ettrick to Langholm was awful. What did you think of the mass start?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. primalgeek
    Member

    @Cyclingmollie:

    The mass start was a bit mad with a lot of people trying to fight for position and trying to force their way to the front. I couldn't quite understand that given it was 100 miles and they could only have been saving a minute or so. Having said that it was a real buzz for me being in the peleton... I wasn't there for the rest of the route :)

    The Ettrick to Langholm section was a bit demoralising as that was the first time we had encountered the head wind properly.

    I found the climb out of Langholm a real killer as we were going along a nice flat section only to be diverted unexpectedly up a hill that starts at 10-12%

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    @primalgeek

    Yes, I can't say I enjoyed the start much either. Too many people trying to get ahead and getting bad tempered at people who could hardly be expected to have instantly acquired group-riding skills. I nearly hit a sheep coming down Woll Rigg so I was glad I was taking it easy. Others who passed me wouldn't have been as fortunate. That long downwind descent towards Newcastleton from the top of Cooms Fell was great though.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. DaveC
    Member

    Thanks form the top tip. Think I'll avoid all Sportives like the plague now. I hate Natzi peleton cycle types. I thought Sportives weren't a race?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    @DC I think it's a problem with group starts. Normally people go off at intervals or (best of all imo) individually. The Tour of Tweeddale in a fortnight is usually like that.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. primalgeek
    Member

    @Cyclingmollie: agreed, the long gentle downhill gradients were a joy. Before I forget... congratulations on your KLM!

    I've noticed some piccies going up here. I'm number 160 in DSC_7911.jpg

    @DC By no means was it the majority of people and don't let that put you off!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Sometime's getting in front of people isn't about wanting to race them, it's about wanting to ride at the speed you're comfortable at, or wanting to see the open road ahead of you. Or a bit of both...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. LaidBack
    Member

    Well done primalgreek...! You'll be back for more I'm sure.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. primalgeek
    Member

    @kaputnik: Agreed that it was probably not wanting to race them and is more to do with wanting to ride at your own speed. The way to do that IMHO is by arriving earlier to ensure that you are at the front of the start line and not by forcing your way to the front.

    However this was an extremely small part of what was an awesome day on the bike so we shouldn't dwell on it.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    The Bealach Na-Ba sportive was very much get your dibber then head out whenever you want (after a certain time). Not sure mass starts, when there are lots of people who have no experience of group riding (I'd include myself in that!) are involved!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. Puzzle
    Member

    Well done!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. amir
    Member

    Well done pg. You'll never look back.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. amir
    Member

    @cyclingmollie I quite enjoyed the mass start because it was communal. But someone fell off in the mass and it was lucky that there was not a big pile up. I found it offputting on the many huge descents in the first 20 miles as I have completely lost my nerve going around curves at speed and having folk flying past was not fun. However later the event settled down though I still had the frustration of going past folk on the UPS only for them to fly past me on the descents.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    @primalgeek: "However this was an extremely small part of what was an awesome day on the bike so we shouldn't dwell on it."

    Yes, a commentator, motorised support, people serving tea at three indoor feed stops, marshalls and even groups of people cheering and clapping along the route made it one if the most friendly and welcoming events I've ever taken part in.

    Posted 12 years ago #

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