2 prepare 4 a Century

General
1

Some of you (hi, Bil) have asked what it takes to prepare for and ride a
Century. Since my expertise is based on having ridden all of ONE of them
(plus .8 of one last year), I strongly invite Mark Cokerhead,6. P my
brother, other members of the EUT, and anyone else to chime in. But it IS
a good topic of discussion, and I certainly wish I’d known a bit more last
year. This time around, the ride was a lot easier.

Some basics:
UNI

  1. I’d recommend a Coker.
  2. …with 5" or 5.5" cranks if the area is hilly (I rode mine with 4.3"
    (110mm) cranks, and that was pretty tough at times). Next year, I’ll try
    the 5"s
  3. …and an extension (I have Paul W’s extension)
  4. …and a brake (I don’t have one bc I have the early Coker rim)
  5. …and an air seat for sure. I prefer a Sem seat with a 12" inner tube.
    Miyata air seats tend to shift around too much. Either way, get the
    inflation just right (I like it on the firm side)

ACCESSORIES
6. Patch kit
7. CO2 cartridge inflation system (so you’re not pumping up a Coker tire
in the event of a flat). You’ll need at least two cartridges (I ride with
3 but have never had a flat in over 3000 miles with just two tires).

NUTRIENTS
8. A Camel-Bak type water system, minimum 50 oz capacity (mine was 70 oz).
I drank a liter per 10 miles, and it was a really hot day. I was stil a
bit parched when the ride was over. In 12 hours of riding, stopping, and
occasionally walking, I only had to pee three little times, which shows
you how little water was making it all the way to my bladder.
9. Pasta up before the ride. The day before, and if possible, the morning
of. CARBS!
10. Bring or have access to enough fluids (as noted, and you are NOT
bringing any 12 liters with you, so make sure you can grab extra juice
when necessary), and the same goes for power bars. I consumed 6 power
bars, three bananas, two oranges, a watermelon, and a Krispy Kreme donut
(all but the power bars were handed out at stops, gratis). Last year I
definitely DIDN’T eat/drink enough, which is why I bonked at the 40 mile
mark.

PROTECTION
11. Wrist guards are a really good idea if you’ll be going faster than you
can run, or if there are dangerous areas on the ride.
12. …and a helmet.
13. …and lots of sun screen
14. …and sun glasses (and a cap under the helmet is a good idea, too).

ETC
15. A cell phone can come in handy at times, esp if you are with other
riders
16. Money (for the taxi home)
17. A camera, for those really pretty areas…like the finish line.
18. Cyclist cream (any good lubrication). I recommend smearing this on
your crotch and rear. If you need specifics, e-mail me privately (get it?
Private-ly?). Seriously – if you think you might want it later in the
ride, carry some in a baggy like I did – what a godsend! And you’ll know
just where to put it.
19. Some disinfectant towelettes. See #18
20. Sneakers WITHOUT LACES!!!

David Stone
Co-founder, Unatics of NY

2

David-

Odd, that’s what I take on my 5 mile commute to work every day. Congratulations to you and John for your incredible ride. Neither one of you have mentioned whether or not you were the only two unicyclists.

Did you get a chance to ride with Lars Clausen when he was in town? I’ll bet he didn’t get interviewed by Katie, did he?

3

OK here goes…from David’s list

  1. Yes
  2. Short cranks are good. 110’s or 125’s I wish there was something in between.
  3. No comment(haven’t tried)
  4. I tried one once but it was a poor setup.
  5. Any air seat with the proper pressure from experience.
  6. Always nice to have.
  7. I carry one but some people would say I don’t use it enough to warrant the extra weight(but hey,I weigh 240 anyhow)
  8. I drink tons of water and try to carry extra water just in case.
    9-13 Yes
  9. Something to soak up the sweat.
    15-16 Yes
  10. Good idea but I don’t do.
  11. Agreed, also good bike shorts
  12. Good idea.
  13. Laces are OK if you keep them out of the hub.
    Also…Practice practice practice.
    -Mark
4

Re: 2 prepare 4 a Century

harper.aru9z@timelimit.unicyclist.com writes:
>
>David-
>
>Odd, that’s what I take on my 5 mile commute to work every day.
>Congratulations to you and John for your incredible ride. Neither one of
>you have mentioned whether or not you were the only two unicyclists.
Actually, I did mention that there was one other unicyclist, a 15yo boy
named Andrew who has just joined the Unatics. He rode 31 miles on the 26"
Sem he borrowed from yours truly. It was his first major ride.

No one at Transportation Alternatives recalls anyone else ever riding in
the Century, and I am 99.99% sure no uni had ever ridden all 100 miles of
it. This is because the ride has a finish time after which they put you on
subways or whatever; before Cokers, few could realistically make the 100
miles on a uni, and since Cokering is fairly new, there is little chance
that anyone completed the Century Ride in NY on a uni until Sunday. That’s
not to say other unis haven’t gone the distance before – of course they
have.
>
>
>Did you get a chance to ride with Lars Clausen when he was in town? I’ll
>bet he didn’t get interviewed by Katie, did he?
Coincidentally, the only Unatic to meet Lars was Andrew (see above). I
think he met him twice.

Lars didn’t get to chat with Katie.

David
>
>
>
>–
>harper - Gearhead
>
> -Greg Harper

Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
1:30 start time after 11/1/01