How to plan your first 100 ?

Now that you’ve got your bike and do some 10–12km on a daily or weekly basis. You’ve got that kid or colleague in your circle who rides some crazy kms and you are planning to do the same. So what’s your fear ?

• I might have to give up midway ? Don’t thing about any backup. There is no way you won’t be able to do it. Just keep some emergency numbers ready and inform them about your ride.
• What if the bike breaks ? Keep a puncture kit ready with you. If it breaks beyond a point where you can’t fix it, you can easily take a taxi and come back home.

Preparations for your first 100:

100kms in cycling is nothing. Your first 100 need not to be a time based one. Feel free to take the whole day. Go easy on wheels and just enjoy the ride.

Ride partners: Join a group who can go on ride along with you. Usually even if the group has pro-riders, the group will try to match your pace. Try not going alone.

Route: Pick a route which is known to you and does not have busy traffic. I usually prefer some state highways, as they are full of trees and not very secluded. You would usually find some tea / sugar-cane stalls or fruit vendors along side.

Riding Gears: Following are the must have gears:

• Helmet
• Front and back lights (in-case you start early morning)
• Cycling padded shorts.
• Allen keys and a puncture kit
• 2 water bottles. 1 can be attached to your bike and other one can be carried on a very small bag-pack (1–2L), in case you’re not riding in a jersey.
• Electrolytes. Drink lot of fluids
• Some dry-fruits or chocolates.
• Bike air pump

Just go with the flow, you’ll be able to do it.