Pre-Century Bike Check
You've trained. You've prepared. Don't let a mechanical blow it all.
Going into a century without adequately checking your bicycle beforehand could result in a bad time, so we've put together a checklist for you to keep handy in the two weeks leading up to your event! Take a look.
Two Weeks To Go
Two weeks is enough time for you and your mechanic to solve any complex issues facing your bicycle. This is when you'd want to address systems that affect your bike fit because your neurology still has ample time to adjust to changes. Things like your shoe cleat/pedal interface, saddle position and choice, handlebar position and choice, and stem position are all interrelated parts of your bike fit. If you need to make a last-minute change to your saddle, seatpost, handlebar, shoes, pedals, crankarms, or stem, this is when you want to do it.
This is also a good time to wash your bike to get eyes on the frame. Steel can bend out of alignment, and aluminum and carbon fiber can crack. A good handwash will require you to touch every part of the frame, which will help you examine its soundness.
One Week To Go
One week out is enough time to address mechanical issues that have simple fixes. Things like a squeaky bottom bracket, rough bearings in your wheels, imprecise gear shifting, and squishy braking all typically have fixes that won't require a long turnaround time. This is also a great time to take a hard look at your bike's wearing surfaces, including its tires, brake pads, and handlebar tape. A week of riding is enough time to wear in new tires and bed in new brake pads, and one-week-old handlebar tape will still look brand new on the day of your event.
One Day To Go
Lay out everything you intend to pack. A lot can happen over 100 miles and in the no-man's-land between aid stations, so you'll want to be able to change and inflate a flat tire. A tire lever, spare tube, and a pump or CO2 tool (with cartridge) will get you there. Water in your bottles? Check. Helmet? Check. Shoes? Check. Set your alarm early, eat a reliable breakfast, stop at the portapotty, and off you go!
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