Metric Century Prep?

[Andy_K]

I've been commuting by bike for a little under a year, and now I'm looking to work up to riding a century -- hopefully sometime this summer. There's a metric century coming up in a couple of weeks that I'm hoping to do as a first step.

I had big plans for training in the weeks leading up to it, but between the rain and family commitments that hasn't come together. I ride between 80 and 100 miles a week at about 12-14 mph, 11 miles each way twice a day. The route for the MC ride is pretty flat. Will I make it?

I'm also wondering how I should prepare the week of the ride. I was thinking about trying to get out for a 40-miler the weekend before the ride and then using public transit to cut my commute riding down to about 10 total miles a day the week of the ride.

Am I overthinking this? Will it be easy or hard?

[spokenword]

My girlfriend did her first metric century last year and she didn't do a lot of special training aside from riding her regular commuting route (5 miles each way) and doing a 30 mile trip out to 'burbs.

I think that if you're regularly doing a 22 mile round trip commute, your fitness is probably at a decent level for a metric. Your plan of doing a 40 miler the weekend before that should be good prep.

The one thing to be mindful when being on your bike for multiple hours is to eat and drink properly. 250 calories per hour (or two long Fig Newton cookies) and at least 500 ml of fluid, I'd say. Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty and you'll be surprised with how far you can go.

[bobbycorno]

I think that if you're regularly doing a 22 mile round trip commute, your fitness is probably at a decent level for a metric. Your plan of doing a 40 miler the weekend before that should be good prep.

The one thing to be mindful when being on your bike for multiple hours is to eat and drink properly. 250 calories per hour (or two long Fig Newton cookies) and at least 500 ml of fluid, I'd say. Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty and you'll be surprised with how far you can go.

+1! And have a big, hi-carb dinner the night before. That's the same fuel and water strategy I've used quite successfully all the way up to a 1000k brevet (620 mi in 63 hours) last fall. It works. Oh, and don't make any changes in your bike setup or diet right before the ride - stick with what is already working for you.

Scott P
Bend, OR

[Andy_K]

[QUOTE=bobbycorno;6496772Oh, and don't make any changes in your bike setup or diet right before the ride - stick with what is already working for you.[/QUOTE]

Can I at least leave my pannier and laptop at home? ;)

Thank you both for the tips on eating. I was wondering about that too, but forgot to ask.

-Andy
Beaverton, OR