Your first century is a rite of passage. It's also where a lot of riders make the same preventable mistakes and end up either DNFing or crawling across the line swearing they'll never do it again. So let's make sure that's not you.
The number one error is pacing. Everyone goes out too fast. The adrenaline is pumping, you're surrounded by riders, and 20 mph feels easy at mile five. But a century is an endurance event, not a race — unless you're actually racing, and even then pacing still matters. The energy you waste in the first hour is the energy you'll be desperate for at mile 80. Start at a pace that feels almost too easy. If people are passing you in the first 30 miles, let them. You'll be passing them back later.
Fuelling is the second piece that catches people out. Your body can only store around 90 minutes of glycogen at moderate intensity. After that, you're running on what you put in. Start eating from the very first hour — 60 to 80 grams of carbohydrate per hour is the target for most riders. Gels, bars, bananas, rice cakes — whatever you can stomach. But test it all in training first. A century is not the time to try a new gel brand.
Mentally, I break it into thirds. The first third is about discipline — hold back, eat, drink, stay calm. The second third is about finding your groove — you should be settled into a rhythm now and feeling in control. The final third is where it gets real. Your legs are tired, your backside hurts, and you've still got 30 miles to go. This is where the mental work happens. Break it into 10-mile chunks. Focus on the next feed station. Talk to the rider next to you. Stay present.
One more thing: sort your comfort before the day. Chamois cream everywhere it matters. Shoes that don't pinch. A saddle you've done at least 60 miles on. Small discomfort at mile 20 becomes agony at mile 90.
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