Road Cycling - 1st long road race

So I have been road biking for about a year now and in the summer months get somewhere around 100 miles per week. My longest ride so far is a 30 miler. In about 1 month I'm doing a 56 mile ride....and I'm a bit nervous. How do I train in the next month so I don't die in that distance?

Hello, I'm new here, been lurking for a while. I'm interested in this one too, mostly because I don't have an answer for you and it's always been a question I've had.

Based on experience from other types of racing I'd say the most important thing will be finding a pace for yourself. At the level you currently ride I'd expect you to have no trouble making the distance. It's just knowing how hard you can go. Too hard and, like you say, you die before the finish. -More common (for me anyway) is coming across the line and feeling relatively fresh, meaning I didn't give it everything I had.

Maybe the answer is a heart monitor so you can get a quantifiable level of exertion, rather than just how it "feels" and then know if you're going all out or not. -Even then, do you know how long can you ride at 70%, 80%, 90%? Well, that you can find out on training rides.

I'll be watching this space for the experts weigh-in.

I don't know too much about long distance races not having done one my self. But I do know that you should be training a few miles more than what you are going to actually ride. You say your going to ride a 56mile race, then train by riding 60miles or something like that.

Good luck with the race!

question is: How do you ride?
Your longest ride being 30 miles, do you ride solo or with friends, groups, clubs etc?
Do you ride an avg of 30 miles each time you go out or does it vary?
As for myself, I ride solo, or I take my son along.
When training for a 50 miler for my son I started him at his usual 20, we rode this 4 days after work for a week, and come the weekend I pushed him to 30.
The next week we did 30 4 days for a week and he had no problem doing the 40 on the weekend.
and then we did the 40 for a 4 days and he did 50 on the weekend, My son is 11 and he did this with no complaints or problems, in fact he was very proud of himself as was I.
We did the 50 miles for one week and then on the weekend we did 60 , again he had no problems, and not to mention he kept an avg speed of between 17 and 20 mph
(Now when I say we rode every day I mean basically we rode 4 days Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs and then on the weeken usually Sunday)
I am currently working him up to a century but I think it will be more towards fall as I have had asthma problems and am getting a late start this year...(excuses excuses)
When I ride solo, I usually just get on my bike and ride, I do keep an eye on my computer distance because I know I have to pedal back, so at 30 miles for instance I start to slow, I turn and head back, giving me a total of 60 for the day. I also keep a weekly log, because there are days when you dont feel like doing the full 60, you may even do more than the 60 or it may rain or some other thing that may prevent you from your ride (excuses excuses).. While riding I always keep my mind busy, looking at scenery or thinking of things to make the miles pass, so if you ride with a group at least you can have some conversation, not to mention the guys you ride with are there to help you, if you fall back they will help you catch up and push you a little harder. You will be getting a lot of different training techniques from everyone here, Each of us have our own styles and have our own training methods and goals...
Best thing I can say is: "just get out and ride, have fun while doing it, dont give up, and dedicate yourself to it"...
Good luck, hope some of what I said may have helped...
Ride safe