100 MoN Race Report #2: Stationary Bike in the Philippines Edition
Last year’s 100 Miles of Nowhere was the first century I had ridden. Last year I was in much better cycling shape than I am this year. I have been on an international assignment in the Philippines for my job since August of last year.
I’ve contemplated buying a bike here but this is a country where traffic laws are more like best practices and just crossing the street feels like playing a live game of Frogger.
So how do you ride 100 miles of nowhere without a bicycle? I came up with the genius (insane?) plan to ride it on a stationary bike.
For several different reasons I decided to ride a metric century (100 KM) instead of actually riding 100 miles.
I rode my 100 KM of Nowhere on Sunday, May 15. I did this alone on a stationary bike, so there’s not a lot of exciting news to report from my ride. Some knowledge I gained on my ride:
- The stationary bikes at my gym count mileage (kilometerage) at the same rate regardless of how hard I pedal or even if I stop pedaling
- If you are reading a good book, 4.5 hours goes by really fast
- The 1 hour limit for use of exercise equipment in my gym is not enforced.
– Stephanie M
Comment by Angie | 06.6.2011 | 11:31 am
Good job, for doing the ride, and for finding a way to get through the boredom!
Comment by Mark J. | 06.6.2011 | 11:42 am
One thing I learned from my ride on Saturday, there is NO WAY I could have done 100 miles on a stationary bike or indoor trainer. You have my respect. Good job.
Comment by Dan in Sac | 06.6.2011 | 11:44 am
Wow, so according to the stationary bike, you can coast 100 miles to….. nowhere. Congrats on your ride.
Comment by Whit | 06.6.2011 | 12:05 pm
Holy crap, your bootie must be busted now from sitting on that bench of a saddle! Dayum! My congratulations and kudos to you — you are a tougher woman than I!
Comment by MattC | 06.6.2011 | 12:36 pm
Big time Kudo’s for doing 100m on that contraption Stephanie! It takes a LOT of commitment to do 100miles on any kind of non-moving bike (indoors is the worst too). It sounds like you won the PI div…way to go!
Comment by grizzlyadam | 06.6.2011 | 12:59 pm
On a stationary bike? Well done!
At least you had a view to boot.
Comment by Bryan (not that one) | 06.6.2011 | 1:14 pm
“where traffic laws are more like best practices”
Sad, but for some reason I laughed when I read that… and again at the “live game of frogger” line.
Comment by Christina | 06.6.2011 | 1:23 pm
“The 1 hour limit for use of exercise equipment in my gym is not enforced.”
This cracked me up. Excellent report and congratulations!
Comment by Liz | 06.6.2011 | 1:47 pm
Wow, impressive, Stephanie. That is not an easy way to do a century. Congrats.
Comment by Scott R | 06.6.2011 | 1:52 pm
The third piece of knowledge is my favorite as well :-)
Comment by Dan | 06.6.2011 | 1:58 pm
Fortunate for you on the lack of enforcment. Great job on winning the 110 KoN, Phillipines Stationary bike Division!
Comment by Mediumtriguy | 06.6.2011 | 2:06 pm
Well done! I can barely tolerate a 1.5 hr ride on a trainer. Incidentally, did you have an explanation ready in case someone tried to enforce the one hour time limit?
Comment by Maggi | 06.6.2011 | 2:06 pm
Way to go, Stephanie! Major kudos for staying on that saddle for so long.
Comment by Jo | 06.6.2011 | 6:39 pm
Good job! Glad you could stay safe out of traffic.
Comment by lynn e | 06.6.2011 | 7:21 pm
Great job for not letting those “reasons” put the brakes on what you needed to do.
Comment by Jim B | 06.6.2011 | 7:22 pm
I would find it utterly demotivating if the bike wasn’t giving me credit for working harder. Good for you Stephanie for staying motivated.
Comment by Kevin | 06.6.2011 | 7:38 pm
Wow! Great work. It was hard enough riding 100 miles outside. I can’t imagine doing it on a stationary bike! Glad you had good book :)
Comment by Patrick #4091 | 06.7.2011 | 1:42 am
What book were you reading?!
Comment by Debi | 06.7.2011 | 7:18 am
Congratulations! Nice to know you were riding in a place you felt was safe; you found a way to deal with the boredom; and the gym didn’t enforce the 1 hour rule. But, I bet there were times you wish they would have. ;-)
Comment by Roses | 06.7.2011 | 9:25 am
Stationary bike?? That is ultimate suckage! Great job on getting through that 100 KM.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.7.2011 | 10:54 am
Like: Comment by Patrick #4091 | 06.7.2011 | 1:42 am, I think we would all like to know what the book was….in case we ever decide to sit on a stationary bicycle for 4.5 hours. Did you finish the book?
And ….International Assignment? ….live game of Frogger? Wouldn’t ‘Whack a Mole’ be a more apt description of your tradecraft? Especially since you can even make a bike record mileage without pedaling. I’m thinking Ludlum, Clancy, or John LeCarre.
Well done on the ride!
Comment by Stephanie M | 06.8.2011 | 10:14 am
Thank you for posting my write up! My mom is so excited that I’m now a “published” writer.
The book I was reading is A Feast for Crows, I highly recommend it. Thanks to everyone for all of the kind words.