How To Complete Your First 100 Mile Bike Ride!

100 miles (roughly 160 kilometres if you don’t do imperial!) is an important milestone for many cyclists. It can feel daunting or difficult, whether you’re targeting a sportive, a charity challenge or just wanting to break that magic century mark on a weekend ride. Luckily for you, Hank knows a thing or two about long distance cycling, so here are his top tips to smash your first 100-mile ride!

0:00 Intro
1:08 Prepare Your Bike
1:48 Get Comfortable
2:21 Get Your Kit Right
2:43 Get Your Body Ready
3:38 Nutrition & Hydration
4:56 Know Your Route
5:37 Pacing Your Ride

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What’s the furthest you’ve ever cycled in one ride? 🚴👇 Let us know in the comments below! 💬

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[gcn]

What’s the furthest you’ve ever cycled in one ride? 🚴👇

[simonwoodthrillerwriter]

I do like how Hank said a century ride could take around 4hrs. Yeah, for us mere mortals, it's going to take 6hrs at least. Not many of us are averaging 25mph. :)

[mikesimek]

I’m a 50 yo male, 6’1” 255lbs 20% body fat, new to biking, been biking for a year. I’m doing an organized century ride tomorrow, I have done 60 miles at 16mph average. Wish me luck!

[kevin._.farren]

I recommend doing your first century as part of supported t-shirt ride. They have stops along the way with snacks, drinks, bathrooms and sag support. Plus, your entry fee typically gets you a t-shirt, lunch and beer. But, the biggest advantage is the energy you feel riding in a group. The last 25-30 can be pretty tough if solo and having other riders share the workload makes a huge difference.

[me_meraki_panta]

I've done several centuries by now and by far the most important advice from Hank is to pace yourself. When pacing, I ended my century sprinting to the finish and was ready for more. Another time I got excited and pushed hard at the 50-mile mark and the last mile was absolute torture. So now, I simply dial in the power I know is sustainable and just ride at that power level till the end.

[ianlaker]

Great advice. I'm doing RideLondon 100 at the end of May for Blood Cancer UK - which I am recovering from (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). I'm 62 and a cyclist for 40 years. I've done a couple of centuries previously. I started following the training plan they send out but then figured that 2 hourly gym sessions twice a week, weekly studio cycling stints and a long ride every week should see me through!

[jonathanvera]

i did my first century last year and it was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. i am 6-2, 280 pounds, i've had 4 knee surgeries, and had a herniated disc at the time. i was able to work through the discomfort, but when i hit miles 92 i was virtually dead. i did not bonk, but i was overheated, and felt like throwing up. i completed the 100 miles, had to crawl on all fours up the stairs, and could not enjoy my post ride celebratory meal. i had to eat my burrito one bite at a time for over an hours. but i am so happy i did that.

[Brookes]

I literally planned my first ever Century ride on Komoot this morning, infact it actually turned out being 101 miles, so at least I will be able to say I've rode OVER 100 miles. I will probably attempt it around September time, as my fitness usually peaks around Sep/Oct each year. I've also just bought a Ribble Endurance SL, so I can't wait for the epic rides to come in 2023.

[dmoore]

JUST did 61 miles and 7, 000 feet in preparation for a 106/12000 in June! Fueling was huge, and taking breaks. Towards the end after some killer climbs I had to rest for a few minutes but made it home safe and strong. 210 pounds is a lot to carry up big pitches lol.

[nickpethan]

Going to attempt my first century this year! Can’t wait 🤘🏻

[richcrompton]

Great advice Hank. I did an epic last summer and my advice to add is don’t do it on the hottest day of the year and expect it to go well! Even setting off mega early, we still ended up riding in blistering heat so dehydration was a real problem as the refreshment stops were a little sparse!

[Katelegarnett]

I just did my first century on Sunday! Was a great feeling. Can’t wait to extend it over this summer 🎉

[bjarne-zklx]

My charity cycling team and I will be doing Copenhagen to Paris in a week. With 6 centuries in a row. Training has started with 60 km and I am both excited and scared about the prospect of those many kilometers.

[derickcastillo]

When was younger and putting in 450 miles a week, I used to tell people that 100 miles is not twice as hard as 50 miles, it is much harder. I feel that it is important work up to a 100 miles by gradually increasing to that distance.

Seen a couple of these "100 mile" videos on GCN but this was my second favourite, after Connor's one, fun, informative and makes me want to just get out there and do it :)

[dougbailey]

My longest ride was 139.5 miles from west Knoxville, TN into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and back.

[johnrafael]

you guys have inspired me to make this a goal of mine, Love from Southern California <3

[YisroelSimcha]

Hmm… great tips. I am planning to do this as a bucket list item.

[johnwoodard]

I love the "It might take 4.5-6 hours" part. Who has done their first century in 4.5 hours? Who has done their first one in 6 hours?

[Sierra-bwgm]

I've only ever done 100 miles once last summer. I did it on my own, and had to cycle around my town at the end. As I had only done 99 miles by the time I got home. I was very tempted just to leave it a 99 miles on strava lol. Going to try it again this summer on my new endurance bike, as appose to my 15 year old Ribble 7005 audax.