Road Cycling - Training for first Century - need advice.

I'm hoping to ride my first Century in May. I have never ridden over 60 miles before - and even that was over 3 years ago before my children were born. I've spent the last 2 months working out on a trainer in the garage. I ride for 60 minutes trying to keep the cadence at about 90-95 as I've read here so many times and do this 3-4 times per week. I use a reasonably big gear - one gear up hurts after 5 minutes at that rpm and one gear lower is reasonably easy. The weather is getting a bit better and I hope to start riding outside regulary by March or so.

I'm not looking to break any records, but I'd like to finish the ride the same day I start it! Any advice on the best way to prepare for this? Or should I be realistic and try for a ride later in the year? Due to my commute (100 miles per day) I will rarely be able to get a road ride in during Monday - Friday to train.

Cheers,
MacMan

With a commute like that, you probably won't even need to train.

edit: I'm retreaded. You drive your commute, right? I'm going to leave my comment up as an extreme example of abject idiocy.

With a commute like that, you probably won't even need to train.

edit: I'm retreaded. You drive your commute, right? I'm going to leave my comment up as an extreme example of abject idiocy.

LOL! It made me think for a second though :D But yes, the commute is driven ... driving me mad too.

I'd say do what you can. Aim high, but be prepared to accept reality. Some points to consider....

If you aren't trying for a land-speed record, it's my opinion that if you can ride 65 miles, you can ride 100. The difference being logistics. Stay aerobic, and eat, drink, and rest. Does the century have course options? A lot of centuries let you make the choice between metric (64 miles) and full century 20 or 30 miles into the ride. So, ultimately you can delay the decision, and go for the metric if, e.g. the day is super hot, you just don't feel up to it, etc, etc.

Meanwhile, build miles gradually on week-end rides, and do what you can during the week. That'll keep you from losing your week-end gains. Listen to your body... trying to rush conditioning usually delays it.

Just my $0.02.

I'd say do what you can. Aim high, but be prepared to accept reality. Some points to consider....

If you aren't trying for a land-speed record, it's my opinion that if you can ride 65 miles, you can ride 100. The difference being logistics. Stay aerobic, and eat, drink, and rest. Does the century have course options? A lot of centuries let you make the choice between metric (64 miles) and full century 20 or 30 miles into the ride. So, ultimately you can delay the decision, and go for the metric if, e.g. the day is super hot, you just don't feel up to it, etc, etc.

Meanwhile, build miles gradually on week-end rides, and do what you can during the week. That'll keep you from losing your week-end gains. Listen to your body... trying to rush conditioning usually delays it.

Just my $0.02.

The ride does have options - I can decide what route to take on the morning of the ride and the century is based on combining two loops, so I can bail if I need to!

I was once told and I later found to be pretty accurate, that if you can do a 50-60 miler by yourself and feel pretty good afterwards, (I.e. not slobbering and passing out on the couch) you will have no problem doing a century with other riders.

Keep building the solo miles and if you can't do the real long rides, raise the intensity of the shorter one's.

Good luck.

Dave

One of the books I have (Edmund Burke's "Long Distance Cycling") recommends the following training schedule starting 10 weeks before a century:

wk 10 77 mi total, 30 mi max ride
wk 9 86 mi total, 34 mi max ride
wk 8 98 mi total, 38 mi max ride
wk 7 108 mi total, 42 mi max ride
wk 6 119 mi total, 47 mi max ride
wk 5 131 mi total, 53 mi max ride
wk 4 143 mi total, 59 mi max ride
wk 3 153 mi total, 65 mi max ride
wk 2 155 mi total, 65 mi max ride
wk 1 70 mi total, 25 mi max ride (leading up to the century itself at the end of this week)

This assumes a base mileage of 45-50 miles/wk, which is probably roughly where you are with your 1 hour, 3-4x/wk on the trainer.

Before I sucessfully completed my very first century ride about a dozen or so years ago, the longest ride I've regularly done to that point was only 50 miles. And this was the Solvang Century, not an easy one at that, with a huge climb at the 80 mile mark. Being my first century, I managed to complete this ride well under 7 hours including stops at all sag stops. I'm sure you'll have no problems. Good luck.

George

To be a true "century" is it necessary to ride the 100 miles without stopping? Or is it acceptable to take rest stops? I have always wondered this.

To be a true "century" is it necessary to ride the 100 miles without stopping? Or is it acceptable to take rest stops? I have always wondered this....who cares...?..... :)

I made my first attempt at a century on my mountain bike with slick tires, and 35 miles being my farthest training ride. I opted to stop at 75 because my back was hurting, but my legs felt fine. I know I could have finished but I did want to limp accross the line I wanted to finish strong. I have a few centuries coming up this year which I hope to do well in. I would say go for it. I think it sounds a lot scarier than it really is. Just make sure you drink a lot and eat during the ride.


You have plenty of time to be ready.

Don't go out too fast at the start. Find a nice comfortable pace. For me, miles 60 to 75 were the toughest. Once I got past that point I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

To be a true "century" is it necessary to ride the 100 miles without stopping? Or is it acceptable to take rest stops? I have always wondered this.

I've never heard someone claim you didn't do a century if you used any of the rest stops provided.

I HAVE seen advice that you want to limit the time you spend at those stops, though, so you don't get cold/stiff. But some stretching, potty stops, and bottle refilling is probably necessary at one or more of those stops.

I did my first and (so far) only century about 18 months ago. My longest training ride was 53 miles, albeit in the mountains.

I had signed up for a tour from NYC to DC and figured I had undertrained. I did 82 miles the first day and 127 the second. I was OK. It was hard, but I managed. This was also on a MTB with slick but fat tires.

I say go for it.

Cool! Thanks for the replies. I've already filled out the form and will send it off tomorrow! I figure I have nothing to lose as I can combine loops to do the century and it's Northern Illinois - no (real) hills!!

Now I'm all fired up ... feeling like a silly child at the thought of it!

I completed my first century about a month ago on my own. I had never done more than 70 miles before. I just keept fueled (PSP22 & jelly babies - 80% carbs, although I am not sure what countries they are avalible in?) and stayed aerobic.

I found it sufficiently easy that now I try to do one a week! Just have confidence and make shure that you prepare everything the night before so that you only have to worry about getting up and eating in the morning.