17 The 100-mile century ride is a pivotal milestone in cycling. It is the distance that millions of recreational cyclists hope they will one day be able to reach. And for those who go beyond that distance, seeing “100� on the odometer remains a key indicator of progress, whether it measures how far we have ridden in a week, in a day, or in the last five hours.
rides, and look forward to the warmer and drier months of the year, when I can commute to work. As my cycling progressed, I began to set goals to ride centuries during the summer months, and I typically made it to two or three. In an average cycling season, I logged between 1500 and 2000 miles. Given that I was raising a son, coaching soccer, and trying to become established in my industry, I was quite pleased with my accomplishments on the bike.
Can you imagine riding two centuries in a single day? Hundreds do it in the annual Seattle to Portland double century. How about riding five back-to-back centuries, going without sleep, so it can be done in less than 48 hours? Scores of accomplished riders attempt it every fall at the Furnace Creek 508, an ultra marathon cycling race held in Death Valley, California.
The lure of long distance cycling I have been riding road bikes for more than 30 years. Like a lot of roadies, I belong to a club. I participate in weekend
Beautiful, as long as you are physically prepared to enjoy it. Many simply are not. They, too, shared the goal, but did not prepare adequately. Seeing riders sprawled out
Planning for Cycling Success
Just a few years ago, the thought of participating in events like these seemed out of reach. Now, I realize they are all within reach physically. But the question is, is the payoff worth the effort?
About three years ago, I decided that I wanted to step up my cycling, not just in terms of miles ridden, but I had begun to think about event rides that would challenge me. The one that caught my attention was the Torture 10,000. Produced every August by the Portland Wheelmen, the Torture 10,000 was arguably the toughest century in the Pacific Northwest. Originally, it featured 10,000 feet of climbing across 100 miles of winding roads in the Mt. Hood wilderness area, hence the name. Over the years, the total altitude gain crept up to more than 13,000 feet. The event attracts hundreds of riders from California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho who come to test their fitness, endurance, and climbing abilities in an alpine landscape that is almost too beautiful for words.