Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Is this too ambitious of a goal for a new rider?

I was hoping to get some input on a goal that I have made for myself. The preface to this story is that I am a moderately out of shape individual (6'0 200 lbs according to my physical a few days ago, not very much muscle when compared to fat). I just bought a used Trek 7000 that I will be outfitting for the 10 mi round trip commute.

I decided that I would probably ride harder and more often if I set myself a goal - something that I can accomplish by the end of the summer. Living just west of Milwaukee and being native to the suburbs of Chicago, I got it in my mind that I might be able to bike the whole way down. I figured it would take hours of planning, scouring maps and websites looking for potential routes and paths.

Then I found this site that already did it: http://www.wgtd.org/trailhome.htm It actually kind of took the fun out of it.

The whole trip one way works out to almost 100 mi. exactly. I would like to do it in one day. I've been weight training for a few months and plan on biking to work at least four times a week with extended trips on the weekends and some weeknights when I can. I'll admit that I'm a pansy and won't be riding to work until it hits about 45-50 F, but I've been riding the bikes at the gym for my cardio.

I know that I can eventually get up to a 100 mi. trip, but my question is: can it be done by the end of summer? One of my co-workers (a downhill MTB rider) was skeptical, but I like proving people wrong.

By the end of the summer? Yes, if you are in good health. I trained someone to do a century in September starting the first week of JULY. Don't increase your mileage too much at one time. Maybe 10% a week.

I started cycling in May 2006 and finished the year with over 2000 miles which included three centuries. It definitely can be done. Like anything else..start slowly and increase gradually. Just don't make the classic mistake of doing too much too soon.

heck, by then you could be in shape to go and back in the same day. It's a great goal, and a good one to achieve to get you really hooked on the sport :D

Just ride your bike regularly up until go. Do a few 50mil rides just to get a feel of riding long distance. During the summer you get like 15 hours of daylight. Even if you average 10 mph riding (you'll probably be better), it can be done in 10 hours of riding. Easily enough daytime for several hours off the bike to eat, relax, or even take a nap.

It's a good goal and one that is certainly achievable. But set some intermediate goals along the way to help keep yourself on track.

It's a good goal.

What's your goal for commuting? 1x a week, 5x a week? Your commute is short, but if you do it every day it'll get you in great shape.

Choose a day when you have a nice 20mph tailwind going south. I was in Chicago 2yrs ago when there
was a rare spring day with temps in the upper 60sF at the end of March and got blown down the lakeshore trail on the bike. Not much fun coming back but I only had 15mi to do. 100mi into a headwind
can be a real bummer.

It's a good goal.

What's your goal for commuting? 1x a week, 5x a week? Your commute is short, but if you do it every day it'll get you in great shape.

The goal is 5x a week, weather permitting. Once I get some rain gear, though, I hope to ride every day.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement so far. :) I'm getting more excited about this the more I think about it.

Well, I've ridden the stretch from Kenosha to downtown Chicago, Millennium Park. It's an easy ride.

Whether or not you can do it - isn't the question. It's whether, you'll end up doing something stupid and end your day, hurting and pissed off.

Typically only fat people have trouble riding all day. So as long as you are normal and pace yourself, have a good time!!!!

With a 10mi round trip commute, you'll need to be doing long rides on the weekends (or take the LONG way home) to make sure you're up for the extra time in the saddle. Five miles is barely a warm up. Start your weekend rides at 20mi, and up each week by 5 or 10mi. You'll be ready in no time :)

Looks like a good plan and some good advice. I used to plan some kind of death march every year and work up to it. It was a good thing. Keeps you focused, keeps you from getting complacent.

Don't knock your 10 mile commute - just doing something everyday will make a lot of difference. Check your gear - if you feel any problems, fix them - with 5 miles, you can handle anything, but as the distances increase, small irritations become big ones.

I'm with superdex. Get to where 20 miles don't bother your legs or rear. Then try to ride 30+ miles and make sure your body isn't complaning loudly. 100 miles at that point is nothing if you ride in a conservative fashion and eat/drink/rest properly. You may be surprised how far your body will take you.

Michael,
Like you I've also got a 10mi round trip commute that I'll be doing most days.
Like you I've got a challenge coming up (mine is a 62mi ride in just under 8 weeks).
Unlike you, I'm a lard and unfit.

Last year I rode a 35mi bike ride with little preparation, at the end I'm sure I could have gone another 10miles. The biggest problem was the saddle. It sounds like you're much fitter than me, so I think once you're used to the saddle you'll be fine.

My plan is to do the 10 mile commute most days (I started this week) and then longer rides at the weekend (25mi this weekend), increasing the weekend rides by 5 miles each week until I'm somewhere near 50 miles with a week or two to go.

I have no doubt that I'll make the 62 miles in May...


Typically only fat people have trouble riding all day.

Nuts!

oh, forgot to say, I'm doing the ride with a friend and we've found that by having a training log on www.mycyclinglog.com (http://www.mycyclinglog.com) has given us a friendly competition on who can do the most training miles. It's been great at keeping me motivated to cycle into work when the car looks so warm and comfy.

You're welcome to join our group as long as you promise not to outshine us too much.

100 miles on smooth paths and not too many big hills- No problem. Will not be doing it this year but I do a 100mile ride with 10,000ft of climbing in one day. Just to make it difficult- I do it on a Tandem- and it is offroad.

Only thing I suggest is that you find a few hills- and get out and ride them. My training is a 30 mile hilly route and I do it twice a week in the evenings and a 40 miler at weekends. It is pointless doing 100 mile training rides for a 100 mile ride. And if possible- do it on a dry day- I didn't last year and failed at the 65 mile mark.

And as to the Downhill rider- get him to lighten his bike and join you on the training.You won't beat him when gravity takes over- but when you start beating him on the uphill slopes- you will know your training is right.

i started cycling on the 29th may 06, just clicked over 10,000km around 6200 miles i believe

Anything is possible with the right outlook

http://ultracycling.com/training/century.html

The whole trip one way works out to almost 100 mi. exactly. I would like to do it in one day. I've been weight training for a few months and plan on biking to work at least four times a week with extended trips on the weekends and some weeknights when I can. I'll admit that I'm a pansy and won't be riding to work until it hits about 45-50 F, but I've been riding the bikes at the gym for my cardio.

I know that I can eventually get up to a 100 mi. trip, but my question is: can it be done by the end of summer? One of my co-workers (a downhill MTB rider) was skeptical, but I like proving people wrong.

Michael, without knowing your age and present fitness level it's hard to say. But it is possible. I would try this method.

Do the ten mile commute to work three days a week. With a rest day in between. Ride moderately on the way to work. On the way home ride as fast as you can and push yourself hard after about a five minute warmup.

Train your upper body core on non riding days by doing sit-ups and push ups and jumping jacks or the weights at the gym. Stay off the legs with anything heavy between rides to allow your legs to recover.

Then on the weekend do one long slow ride of 30-50 miles. Working up to 50-60 miles by the end of summer. This is meant to be a slow endurance ride of 3 - 6 hours at a slow pace. If you can do this you can easy do 100 miles in about 8 -10 hours in one day with a few rest breaks and food stops.

Best of luck.

Thanks for all the tips, everybody. I appreciate the advice. After reading up on the boards a little bit and getting some input from hardcore cycling guys I know, I really believe I can do it. Expect a victory thread by October!

Also remember that one of the biggest challenges to overcome with any kind of distance is the mental preparedness for completing the task.

You seem to have the right mindset as you stated your goal, are working towards your goal through your commutes and weekend trips, and you will succeed.

Staying positive about completing your goal will carry you through many miles without the proper training, and training will just decrease the amount of pain that you will experience during and after the event.

You can do it! (serious)

We're pulling for you Michael H. Seriously, you can do it -- I was similarly ambitious when I first started out and now guys who've done the Race Across America want me to ride with them this summer. Keep on riding!

Good luck, I just started training for my first Century after riding for 9 months now. Take a look at this site as it has a 10 week program to get you ready for the 100 miles. http://www.diablocyclists.com/RiderTips/EasyCenturyTrainingProgram.htm (http://www.diablocyclists.com/RiderTips/EasyCenturyTrainingProgram.htm)

By the way, I am riding a Trek 7300. I just replaced the front fork with a steel rigid and it made a huge difference in the feel of the ride, much more comfy. I just did my first Metric last Saturday and probably could have easliy gone another 20 miles, but had to make an appointment.