Tandem Cycling - Chico Wildflower Century training

Ugh. Help! We have been off the bike for months and have the Chico Wildflower Century coming up in a little over 2 months. Any tips for getting in reasonable shape (e.g. training schedule) within this window of time?
p.s. anyone else Wildflowering on a tandem?

We love the area that the Chico Velo folks use to put on their series of rides. We enjoyed their early season Rice Valley event last year but missed the Wildflower....Not going to let that happen again, we plan to be there this April (will actually be riding the Mildflower - 65 miler). Can't wait!

Sorry I can't help much on the training, can only suggest that you stay away from the heavy mileage and big gears for the first month or so. Build progressively based on what you know your bodies can give you injury free. Have fun...hope to see you there.

Bill J.

The training depends on what sort of base you are starting from.

General rule of thumb, try to do one long ride a week. Increase the distance of your long ride 10% each week.

During the week on shorter rides, build in some intensity. By raising your threshold power, you also raise your ability to ride below threshold for longer periods. So some interval training one or 2 days a week will help.

Make sure you build in rest days and or recovery rides. And the last week before your event cut back both mileage and intensity.

And have fun.

Years ago we had a 'Wildflower Century' in the Tucson area.
Out tandeming today and some wildflowers were already a-bloomin', including the Mexican (or Calfornia) golden poppies.
Training? Just keep riding and gradually increase speed/mileage.

I've done the Wildflower probably a dozen times - but only once on a Tandem. I'd suggest putting in progressively longer distance rides and start adding in some mid distance climbs. While the three climbs in this ride aren't that difficult - Table Mountain can bite you if it's hot out and they run out of water at the top. Honey Run is one of those climbs that gets a bit steeper at the end - but you can get in a good rhythm and just pound it out. Then there's the wind at the end - sometimes its a tail wind but most of the time its a cross/headwind. Also the descent down from Table Mtn is fun but the road wasn't in the greatest condition.

It's a great ride and with all the rain - the wildflowers at the top of Table Mountain should be awesome.

Hey - let us know what you did to prepare for the ride, and how you did! I'm riding it, too. (I didn't bother with a lot of training for it, so I expect to be happily exhausted by the end. I put in 32 miles and 2500 feet of climbing today. I'm ready.)

Maybe ride you @$$ off for the next 8 weeks?

Hey - let us know what you did to prepare for the ride, and how you did! I'm riding it, too. (I didn't bother with a lot of training for it, so I expect to be happily exhausted by the end. I put in 32 miles and 2500 feet of climbing today. I'm ready.)

See you there!

Thats exactly what we do, ride our asp off 4 2 weeks. If your base is good, shouldn't be a problem. Takes 70 days 2 peak. We rode it for the 17th time ina row. This year it was on a Co- Motion, poison ivy color, shade shifter type paint. left at 6:30 to beat the traffic. 5hrs., 11min ride time. Had fun, didn't lolly gag for a change and got back at the hotel @ 12:15 in time for a shake at the place on 7th st.

Thats exactly what we do, ride our asp off 4 2 weeks. If your base is good, shouldn't be a problem. Takes 70 days 2 peak. We rode it for the 17th time ina row. This year it was on a Co- Motion, poison ivy color, shade shifter type paint. left at 6:30 to beat the traffic. 5hrs., 11min ride time. Had fun, didn't lolly gag for a change and got back at the hotel @ 12:15 in time for a shake at the place on 7th st.

We finished in 6 hrs 45 min. Loved it. We left at 6am, so you probably passed us somewhere along the way. We were on a red Burley. Yellow helmets. We trained for two months: road nine times a total of about 300 miles. The last two rides were 50 each with 2,000 feet of climbing each way. We climb on our smaller rides as well - so we felt pretty good on the Wildflower hills, just took it slow.

Funnest dang ride we've ever done. Can't wait til next year! We went to the Sierra brewery after - then slept great at the Diamond Hotel. Shakes? Gotta try that next year. One thing we'll change next year: We had the tent too close to the go-karts Saturday night, BAD idea.

Reports were true - the food at rest stops was AMAZING.

See you next year!

Nice thread in the road forum with pics. One of a tandem.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=535633

This year was much nicer than last. Left at 6:30 to beat the crowds. Honey Run closed to automobile traffic was a nice touch. We were kinda on a mission as the D.D. is around the corner. Chico was a fitness test. Wife tells me she can't push that hard for 200. She can, she has before although we are now both over 50. Gotta go while you still can

I saw so many tandems this year - the backs of a lot of tandems as they rode past me on my single. I'm glad to hear how muchfun people on tandems had on the ride. I plan to return next year, too.

After the ride, I suggest ice cream at Shubert's, on 7th, downtown.