Manda's Century

Tiger ears. . . 

If you follow my blog, you might have figured out I'm into this cycling thing. Biking, as I call it. I'm not super into all the terms and equipment and eating but, I do enjoy it. After being sick for 15 years, you got to rebuild somehow.
A while ago I decided I would do a century ride and I have been booking the miles, while battling my Adrenal Fatigue, and slipping in posts about it here and there. Now, I have this page which will have a collection of these posts which I will drop in on weekends.

I signed up for my first century - the MS City to Shore Century ride on on September 29th 2012 - and since then, I have been signing up for more and more events. This page and pages here document what I went through, the good, bad the ugly, getting ready for my first century.

Also, since I recently moved blogs, please don't be alarmed if you get transported to another site. I'm working on fixing all the links!

My Biking Thoughts

No one can ride a century, it's impossible. However, someone can ride 1 mile 100 times in a day. 

• Cars are bigger than you.
• Cars go much faster than you - don't try to outrun them.
• Get out there.
• You need to carry water on every ride.
• Find a mentor - better yet, a bike-buddy!
• Carry mace or something and be able to get at it quickly.
• Make sure you have identification.
• Never underestimate the power of a good dinner.
• Food is your friend.
• Cadence is more important than speed.
• Know your cycling laws.
• Padding biking shorts are your friend.

Soul > Miles

• Power gels are your friend.
• Hydration tablets are your friend.
• Rouge squirrels are not your friend.
• Stretch.
• Take breaks on long rides.
• Dress warmly.
• You create you own wind-chill, see previous point.
• Always have light.
• It is polite to let others know you are passing - unless they are runners jamming to tunes, running in the middle of the path and completely unaware there is a world around them. 
• Car headlights are 100% brighter when seen from a bike.
• Always light your bike and body at night.
• Keep your tires inflated - check before every ride. 
• It's you and the bike - no one makes you go, no one makes you stop but you or the bike.
• All endurance athletes are trying to escape something.
• Eat.
• You will have to replace your gloves.
• Investigate all numbness.
• If you get clips, you will fall. It's ok.
• Take pictures whenever possible.

My biking posts:

• Manda's Century: Breakthrough
• Manda's Century: Columbus Day Post
• Manda's Century: 40%
• Manda's Century: Winter Chills
• Manda's Century: Night Rides and Snow
• Manda's Century: Fear and Adjustment
• Manda's Century: The Ghost and the Darkness
• Manda's Century: Back and Forth
• Manda's Century: Now Turkey Fueled
• Manda's Century: Intervals
• Manda's Century: It's Official
• Manda's Century: Training Begins!
• Manda's Century: Miles and Fear
• Manda's Century: Addressing Things
• Manda's Century: Focus
• Manda's Century: The Push and the Pride
• Manda's Century: Rain
• Manda's Century: Rise and Shine
• Manda's Century: Welcoming the Plateau
• Manda's Century: Hangover Cure Found
• Manda's Century: Two In One
• Manda's Century: Get It Together
• Manda's Century: Farthest Distance
• Manda's Century: Makin' and Breakin' Records
• Manda's Century: The Heat!
• Manda's Century: To Bonk or Not to Bonk
• Manda's Century: Clips and Crash
• Manda's Century: Maybe I'm an Athlete?
• Manda's Century: Sum of All Fears
• Manda's Century: Back to Business
• Manda's Century: By My Bootstraps
• Manda Century: Ppphhbbbtttttt
• Manda's Century: About September
• Manda's Century: The End

Achievement Unlocked: Century Completed