A co-worker has coerced me to do some long rides with him. I am so not ready to ride that I'm wondering if I'm crazy. The target ride is a 200K brevet on April 5. Due to work, the holidays, colds that have been making the rounds at home thanks to my daughter's pre-K class, and a storage shed that I'm building, I've got essentially no miles for the last 2 months.

I've looked at several of the 10 week century training guides. Since a 200K is only 29 miles longer than a century, I added 2 weeks to the schedule. According to my calculations, if I begin now and can stick with the schedule I can be ready.

My concern is with a base of very little riding for the last couple months, and being way heavier than I should be, that I'm setting myself up for injury. Does anyone think it's realistic to try to make this ride, or should I set my target on something a bit later in the season?

As long as you can make riding a priority and do the training for the next 12 weeks and stick to the schedule, you will be able to complete the 129 mile ride. You may not set any world records for speed, but completion is the goal, right?

If you are not able to ride that often and keep coming up with excuses over the next 3 months, well, then, there is a good chance the 129 miles may be a bit much.

I rode my first MS150 last year and stuck to a century training schedule pretty rigorously, and we rode 100 miles the first day and 75 the second and it was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be because I had trained so well for it.

As long as you can make riding a priority and do the training for the next 12 weeks and stick to the schedule, you will be able to complete the 129 mile ride. You may not set any world records for speed, but completion is the goal, right?

If you are not able to ride that often and keep coming up with excuses over the next 3 months, well, then, there is a good chance the 129 miles may be a bit much.

I rode my first MS150 last year and stuck to a century training schedule pretty rigorously, and we rode 100 miles the first day and 75 the second and it was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be because I had trained so well for it.

Could you post up a link to the century training schedule that you used to prepare you for the MS150? Thanks

Unfortunately I didn't save the link, and a google search isn't pulling it up. Maybe if I search my posts from Jan-Feb 2007 I could find the link, but here is one similar to the one I used:

http://www.planetpedal.com/goals/century/century_schedule.html

My modifications were some days due to work/family conflicts or inclement weather I wouldn't ride, but then I would ride longer on other days, still trying to have the weekly milage be the same. Also, I always rode at a fairly constant, brisk pace. I cannot go out and ride "easy" because then I just don't feel like I am getting a workout.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about injury, but wouldn't obligate myself to do it until right before the event, either.

Here's one
http://www.maccfund.org/trek100/riders/train.pdf

Here's one of the best
http://www.ultracycling.com/training/century.html

Here's a 12 week plan
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/conditioning/a/aa052703.htm

These should be immensely helpful

A co-worker has coerced me to do some long rides with him. I am so not ready to ride that I'm wondering if I'm crazy. The target ride is a 200K brevet on April 5. Due to work, the holidays, colds that have been making the rounds at home thanks to my daughter's pre-K class, and a storage shed that I'm building, I've got essentially no miles for the last 2 months.

I've looked at several of the 10 week century training guides. Since a 200K is only 29 miles longer than a century, I added 2 weeks to the schedule. According to my calculations, if I begin now and can stick with the schedule I can be ready.

My concern is with a base of very little riding for the last couple months, and being way heavier than I should be, that I'm setting myself up for injury. Does anyone think it's realistic to try to make this ride, or should I set my target on something a bit later in the season?

I think you'll be fine if you stick to your schedule. I haven't been riding for the past couple of months either and I aim to be back on top of things by the end of February, middle of March. My clothes are starting to get tight so I have little choice though. :D

First and IMO the most important this would be making sure you are very comfortable just sitting on the bike, even after being fatigued. You're going to be on the bike for MANY hours and any discomfort in saddle, position, etc. will amplify itself. Also when you actually do the ride, go as slow as you possibly can and still finish the ride. Make sure you take all the available breaks you can. Best of luck.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Tom, it's amazing how many ways people can "spin" a century training chart. I merged info from the ones you provided to the very similar ones I had already.

Stephen, fortunately the ride is informal, so I won't need to commit until shortly before.

Yeamac, I hear ya. No more excuses. Stopped work on the shed this afternoon to be sure I could get in a ride. Supposed to be in the mid to upper 60s, maybe low 70s next two days, great chance for some miles.

Ciancando1, yup comfort is paramount. I'm still working on getting my fairly new bike dialed in for comfort. I've just about decided the seat has to go, but I need to get in a few longish rides first to determine if it's the ride or my lack of saddle time.

piper_chuck - I am in the exact same situation that you are. I just started riding in the last month and I want to ride in the MS150 in September. I've been trying to find some sort of training schedule for a few weeks now and now I've got a great go by.

BTW - I'm not too far from you so we'll have to compare notes and maybe meet up and ride at some point.

Brian

piper_chuck - I am in the exact same situation that you are. I just started riding in the last month and I want to ride in the MS150 in September. I've been trying to find some sort of training schedule for a few weeks now and now I've got a great go by.

BTW - I'm not too far from you so we'll have to compare notes and maybe meet up and ride at some point.

Brian

I know of a complete novice to bikes who worked his way up to a century in an MS ride by September. It ain't that hard. Trust me. :-)