Considering everyone here's minimum mileage per ride is at least a 100 miles.
So.
I'm getting my bike really soon, my roadie. Me and my friend decided we want to do a century, most likely just me and him(we actually did a 50 milers on our 35 lb walmart bikes to get the cycling merit badge back when we were 14), I had the stupid idea, and I really want to see if I can do it, I know he can. I'm just curious, any tips for training? I mean, I'd like to give myself maybe a month on the road bike before I go and do this. The majority of the ride will be flats, and gradual inclines/declines. We normally do 3-4 hour mtb rides, tons of climbing, so it's not like we're in terrible shape. He's going to be commuting to work 60 miles round trip 2-3 times a week, and I was going to try to get in 30 miles a day on the roadie. Is it a bad idea to try and jump in head first and just do it with little experience on a road bike?
Tips/suggestions appreciated.
ronjon10
06-12-07, 11:06 PM
Get used to your bike first, and you can do 100 miles if you're not looking to make killer time w/o much training.
Alternate easy days and harder days and ride an increasingly long ride on the weekend. Make sure you take 1-2 days off a week. Start tapering about a week before the century.
spingineer
06-12-07, 11:19 PM
Make sure you have a good and comfortable saddle. Saddle sores can really make the ride uncomfortable, so make sure you don't go cheap on the saddle. Everyone has different reaction to different saddles ... it's a bit of a personal thing.
rooftest
06-12-07, 11:28 PM
I did my first century after owning my road bike for three months. My advice is to work on hills - pay attention to how much elevation gain the century will have, and train for that. Almost anyone can ride 100 miles on flat ground. Once the climbs get thrown in, that's when things get tough. (that's why it took me 2 hours longer than usual to do the "Ride Around the Bear" century.)
t4mv
06-12-07, 11:57 PM
Make sure you have a good and comfortable saddle. Saddle sores can really make the ride uncomfortable, so make sure you don't go cheap on the saddle.
Saddle sores aren't always about saddles, sometimes they're about the chamois, right Ron? ;)
Have your DC bruises all healed up? :p
Pheard
06-13-07, 12:01 AM
Ok. Well not even sure what kind of saddle comes on the Giant, hopefully it'll work. I must admit I've not had alot of luck with saddles in the past. Mtbiking I constantly have pain in my nether regions from my saddle. Last time I was riding another fooster noticed the rails on my seat were bent and the saddle was leaning to one side.
As far as hills go, we were going to do PCH south starting in Montara. As far as I can think, practically all flat, any uphill is very gradual. I personally think we could do this with ease. I think our problem will be maintaining our hydration and having enough food for a 6-7 hour ride. :eek:
dauphin
06-13-07, 12:04 AM
my ass never hurts...it's that area underneath the jewels that drives me nuts....so to speak...usually starts around 50-60 miles...then I suffer up to 100.
t4mv
06-13-07, 12:09 AM
Hydration and electrolyte replacement are good places to start, as well as intake so you're not running on empty. I would venture to guess you could do the ride right now, so others' advice to get used to the bike is sensible. More specifically ya might want to get used to the descending and braking since it's a little bit different than mtb. Did you get fitted for the bike?
Pheard
06-13-07, 12:16 AM
Nope didn't get fitted for the bike. Well if you count a shop worker having me stand over a bike and tell me what would fit me best.
I tested 5-6 bikes, and got on a giant ocr 3 and loved the way it felt. Rode it for maybe 3 minutes, walked back in and told the people I'd take it.
I know what you mean about the braking though. I borrowed my friends roadie to go on a bike ride with some norcalers. The braking power is significantly less, and almost scary. I'm used to my disc brakes. :o
dauphin
06-13-07, 12:21 AM
I love my bike...I keep trying to think of a more expensive one to buy...but I feel like I'm being unfaithful..
t4mv
06-13-07, 12:25 AM
:) Welp...for the next bike you buy (because everyone needs n+1 bikes, where n=# of bikes you currently have), do yourself a favor and tell the people there that you're going to take whatever bike you're interested in for a long ride (longer than 3 minutes, for starters), and just bring your pedals, cleats, gear, whatever, and take the bike for a long ride, through as much of the stuff as you could see yourself taking it through. Based upon what I can see, you should even take it up the course for the San Bruno Hillclimb. :D The point is, you're laying down coin, and a short ride is selling yourself short when you're making an investment in future enjoyment from your bike of choice.
spingineer
06-13-07, 06:17 AM
Saddle sores aren't always about saddles, sometimes they're about the chamois, right Ron? ;)
Have your DC bruises all healed up? :p
Yea, they have. I've got a steel butt anyways.
big john
06-13-07, 06:58 AM
I did a 75 mile ride before my first century, I think you should try to do 65, at least, before you go for 100. Are there stores on your 100 route? If not, carrying enough water could be a problem, but you can use your Camelbak on the road, despite what a lot of roadies think. You probably know from your long climbing rides on the mtb how your stomach reacts to certain foods, just keep eating and drinking through the ride. Some electrolytes or Cytomax might help, too, if you tend to cramp. Some people take Ibuprofen or aspirin on rides, too.
bitingduck
06-13-07, 07:40 AM
Hydration and electrolyte replacement are good places to start, as well as intake so you're not running on empty. I would venture to guess you could do the ride right now, so others' advice to get used to the bike is sensible. More specifically ya might want to get used to the descending and braking since it's a little bit different than mtb. Did you get fitted for the bike?
This is excellent advice-- I tell people pretty much the same thing. If you can ride 30 miles comfortably, you can do 100 and it's just a matter of staying fueled and hydrated and getting in before dark. It sounds like you're fit enough from mountain biking that you shouldn't have much trouble.
And it's a good idea to do some moderately long rides first to make sure the saddle isn't going to kill you 50 miles in, or that your position is a little off and it will thrash some other part of your body.
Pheard
06-13-07, 10:22 AM
That's one of my biggest problems mtbiking so far, that area under the balls hurts alot from my saddle.
big john
06-13-07, 12:03 PM
That's one of my biggest problems mtbiking so far, that area under the balls hurts alot from my saddle.
Sore taint? You might try different saddles, maybe one with a cutout. Also, try changing the angle of the saddle until your weight is on the back of the saddle on your sit-bones. The right pants will help, too.