Long Distance Cycling - How much is enough?

If you are starting from scratch and wanted to be able to ride a 76 mile bike ride that is being held in 66 days, is that enough time to prepare?

I ride to work and with my kids but have never trained for a longer ride and was wondering what is the average/normal time to prepare for a 76 mile ride? What are some ways you use to train for longer rides?

I am pretty sure I can be ready for the ride if I set my mind to it and get riding but wanted to get the "expert" opinions from the long riders on this forum.

It depends entirely on your current fitness level. How far can you ride comfortably today? Is the 76 mile ride on flat or hilly course? 66 days is a plenty of time if you are reasonably fit today and the course is relatively flat.

The simplest thing to say is to just add 10%/week to your total weekly mileage, except cut it back every 4th week to rest a bit. Have one ride/week that's longer than the rest. You'll want to ride at least one 50-60 mile ride before the long one.

Whats your workout history?

Consult your PCM!!!

The simplest thing to say is to just add 10%/week to your total weekly mileage, except cut it back every 4th week to rest a bit. Have one ride/week that's longer than the rest. You'll want to ride at least one 50-60 mile ride before the long one.

+1


And ... I'm at the point now where I don't prepare for a 76 mile ride. I'm in a state of perpetual readiness to ride a distance like that. Keep it up, and you'll get there too! :)

Base, base, base, spin, spin, spin. Just get the miles in, once a week -- as has been mentioned -- go for a long one. Go close to your limit, and then get home and rest. Next week, try to exceed that limit slightly. I'm finding rando to be as much -- if not more -- psychological than physical.

Thanks for your advice. I am in okay shape right now but am setting up a plan that will get me ready, as I can be, by the time of the ride. I need to get some longer rides in as the longest I have done is 30 miles.

76 miles 9 weeks from now?

Work yourself up to it. Do a 25 mile ride weekend one. Then every weekend add 5 miles to it. On weekend 8 you'll have a 60 mile ride under your belt. For many people, they need to have their food/water strategy and bike fit figured out in order to do a 60 mile ride. But that's the "gateway" distance. Many people can take that same fit and food/drink plan and comfortable ride for 100+ miles.

If you are starting from scratch and wanted to be able to ride a 76 mile bike ride that is being held in 66 days, is that enough time to prepare?

I ride to work and with my kids but have never trained for a longer ride and was wondering what is the average/normal time to prepare for a 76 mile ride? What are some ways you use to train for longer rides?

I am pretty sure I can be ready for the ride if I set my mind to it and get riding but wanted to get the "expert" opinions from the long riders on this forum.

Yes, you can do it, depending on how hilly it is.

If you have some conditioning now, you need to be used to longer rides. Work up so that you can ride 2-4 hours at a time - and learn how/what to eat/drink - and learn how to use your gears so you can spin fairly fast (aim for about 90 RPM), and you will likely have no problem.

You will also likely be pretty sore and tired at the end.