buehrert

New to this forum, and a fairly new-but enthusiastic-rider. I've read through the stickies at the top of this forum and haven't found the answer to this question: I'm about 3 weeks away from my first century ride. Training has been ongoing for five weeks so far, riding 3-4 times/week, shorter rides mid-week with one weekend ride getting longer each week. Yesterday it was supposed to be ~70 miles, and I figured next weekend to do my longest pre-century ride, about 75-80 miles. Well, yesterday's ride ended up at 78 miles owing to some road closures and a car accident that required some detours on our part. I felt great and seemed to stay hydrated pretty well. Question: with 3 weeks to go, do I need another longer ride (~80 miles) in my training next weekend or is it time to start reducing the length of the long rides these next two weekend? Thanks!

dual650c

If you have already ridden 78 miles, you can surely do 100.

With 3 weeks to go, I'd continue what you've been doing but NOT increase the long ride mileage any further than a ride of ~70 miles. It's simply not necessary.

You should concentrate on hydration, fueling and pacing at this point. Fine tune what keeps you fueled and riding with energy. (Are you feeling drained at any point? At the end of the ride? If so, you need to eat/nibble a bit more.) Work out a regular drink/sip routine. Is your cadence regular or sporadic? Are you currently riding through with no breaks or is a break necessary? Consider adding or not taking a break at some point - how will doing so affect your pace, endurance and/or feeling at the end of the ride?

These are the things to consider now that will make the century more enjoyable and less stressful.

Go through your on bike load and pare it down to what is necessary and/or non-necessity but lightweight. There's no point in carrying more than you need to; but if you need it in an emergency, you want to have it with you! This list varies for everyone. Focus on emergency repair and replacement equipment first, food/snacks second and anything else last.

Good going so far. Keep it up.

jwalther

You don't *need* a longer ride, but one or two more leading up to your century won't hurt. The last 20 miles are more mental than physical. . .

brianmcg123

If you felt fine after the 78 mile ride your doing fine. Cycling isn't like running where you need to taper for 3 weeks. Just reduce your mileage the weekend before and you'll be fine.
This is what I would do (I'm not adding weekday mileage)
1. 78 miles (ride you did)
2. 70-80 miles
3. 40 miles easy (weekend before century)
The rides the rest of the weeke no more than 15 miles easy. Get a massage on Thursday .
4. Century!

ThermionicScott 

+1 to the above. You could do the century tomorrow if you wanted to. They're mostly mental.

buehrert

Thanks for the helpful advice, everyone. Looking forward to the ride!

Richard Cranium

Whether or not you have a successful and or enjoyable "first century" has little to do with your ideas about "training" the weekend before.

In fact - what you have been doing is more accurately call "conditioning." And it is the sum total of all the miles you have ridden in the last four to six months that results in your ability to cycle a 100 miles or more in a single outing. You are over estimating the importance of individual, incremental ride distances.

If you had presented a specific time-goal, or ride pace for your Century attempt - then you would need to "train" your muscles to perform at a given intensity. However, in your case all you need to is "condition" your body to ride a bike all day long. it sounds like you have already done that.

Have a good ride.

Giant Doofus

I'm at about the same point as the OP in terms of getting ready to ride a century. The heat in my area has been holding me back from rides that go much past 11:00 AM though. (It's hitting 95-100 degrees with very high humidity every day.) Given how slow I am, I figure I'll need at least eight hours to complete 100 miles. My thinking is to hold off on the century ride until I get a cooler day or until fall if I must. Basically, I want to be able to head out the door and do the century ride on any day that the forecast looks good. But I've been confused about how to approach something like this.

Your distinction between training and conditioning was a real eye-opener for me. It makes me think that if I just keep riding the way I have been (120 miles or so per week, with one ride in the 50-60 mile range), I'll be okay to hit the road on any promising day. Does that sound doable?

OP: Sorry if this is taking your topic off in the wrong direction. Good luck with your ride!

Hypno Toad

You've heard everybody else say it "you're ready!" You need to post an update after the ride, I'd like to hear how it goes - Enjoy the ride!

My first century for 2015 was May 15, the longest training ride was 3 weeks prior was 60 miles (hard/fast ride). Then on June 13 I did a 150 mile day with nothing more than a 50 mile ride after the May century. I find daily riding and riding hard/fast gets me in condition for a century. Getting your bike out on at least one 60 to 75 mile ride is important to make sure you don't have any fit issues - many of these fit issues will only be obvious on a long duration ride.

ksryder

Can't say it any better but I'll expand on it anyway. I used to train all summer for one century ride -- then I started doing century rides as training for a longer ride. Nothing changed but my perception.

buehrert

Update from OP: Talked myself into another 70-mile ride this morning. Rode with a friend who is a much more seasoned and stronger rider than me (think legs like tree trunks...him, not me). I knew he'd probably push me, and he did (or I pushed myself to stay with his faster pace and less-frequent stops). I've been told that's a rookie mistake. It was a fun ride, and on the one hand I think it'll benefit me in the long run, but right now I'm not feeling nearly as well as I did after last weekend's long ride. Lots more climbing on the route today, and I'm feeling it. With two weeks left before the century, I'll definitely be scaling back the ride lengths (and hoping the numbness fades in my left pinkie!).

Richard Cranium

My remarks about the terms "conditioning" and "training" were an attempt remind anybody attempting a Century - that your "total amount of miles ridden " or exercise volume is probably the best indicator of whether or not your really long ride will be comfortable. Specific ride duration is still of importance. But I was trying emphasize that a cyclist without a specific Century time-goal will prepare just as well, by simply riding a lot.

The importance of specific training-ride length becomes important when the a time-goal and or ride-intensity level is supposed to be met or surpassed.

To put it simply - if you want to ride a long ways - then prepare by riding a lot.

Giant Doofus

Good point. I was trying to work on time and distance at the same time and decided that's not working for me. So, for now, my goal is simply to ride 100 miles, but not worry about how long it takes. I'll do that solo. Eventually, I'd love to do organized rides with a time goal. Once I've got the conditioning for the distance, I'll start working on training for the time goal.

HBCruiser1

Very sound advice and put in a way I hadn't thought of. It is total fitness that will enable you to successfully complete the century which is really, barring any catastrophe, completely doable physically at your present riding level, it's the mental part that fails people. When I wonder if I can do it, I often remember there have been fairly young children that have completed the Palm Springs century held locally every February. If a young child can do it, any of us can do it. From there it's, "in what time-frame do I want to do it", and that's what your training is for.

Recently I was surprised at how well I did a 125 miler after several weeks of only getting in 40 mile rides on the weekend but overall I did remarkably well so Richard Cranium's sound advice of "total miles ridden" really seems to be on the mark.

Lately this year I've been doing at least one century or farther per month with weekend rides in between anywhere from 40-80 miles and doing 100-140 miles now is almost seamless, just a few more hours, a few more breaks on the bike!

Take breaks, stay hydrated, eat at least one solid meal, snack along the way but more importantly enjoy the ride. If you've had fun you'll want to do it again, which is the point.

WNCGoater

I'm fairly new at road biking having just bought my bike in May. I had a 44 then a 50 and 60 with numerous shorter rides in the 20 - 30 mile range. I was looking at it like the OP, hoping to ride 70 maybe 80 then trying for 100 on Labor Day weekend.

I started out early on July 25 and picked a long route that would end up at around 70 miles when I got home. I was feeling pretty good and kept going instead of heading home. I ended with 102.7 miles. I didn't set out to ride a century that day, just conditions were such and I felt strong and just kept going.

My point is, though this is my first one and being a newb I'm certainly not in a position to offer advice, I will say several points have been made in the above posts that I would agree with.

If you can ride 50-60 then there is little difference between that and 75 or so. I just couldn't discern much difference. Real fatigue didn't set in until after 80 but especially the last 10 and the last 5, omgosh.

The last 20 are the toughest mentally, but especially the last 10-15. You're going to question your ability, what's the point, why do this, I want off this bike, etc. Prepare yourself for the negative thoughts and just plan to pedal on through them. I wasn't quite prepared for this.

Your butt WILL be sore. Start trying to put that off early on by spending some time out of the saddle from the start. Early in the ride and throughout use gravity when given the opportunity and coast to conserve energy and get your butt out of the saddle. Use whatever advantages to conserve energy and your body during the whole ride anticipating the last 15 miles.

Either resupply or have some support to resupply so that you don't run out of water or snacks late in the game. Don't think you can finish that last 10 with no water thinking, "its only 10 miles". You're going to burn a lot of calories. If you bonk, you won't finish.

Careful on the end, I got sloppy. Sloppy with posture, pedaling, hand position. My neck was sore, shoulders, legs, butt, everything. I just wanted to finish. It's difficult to stay alert at the end, and stay diligent with safety. Try to stay aware of where you are and aware of the traffic around you.

Take breaks. A century is 100 miles in a day. No rules say breaks are forbidden.
The only other thing I would offer is IF you run into a problem, excessive heat, dehydration, cramps, some pain, etc. There is no shame in trying again another day. When I finished it was satisfying that I did it, but it certainly wouldn't be worth pushing "through pain" and ending with an injury just to say I did.

Anyway, again, I'm no one to be offering advice, this is just a few of my observations of what I learned that seem to agree with some advice given by those more experienced. So when the day seems right and you feel good, just go for it!
Good luck!

ThermionicScott 

Congratulations! I think in a lot of ways, it's the newbies who are in the best position to observe the challenges of doing a long ride, as many of us sort of take it for granted that we can pull off a century. And by not planning to do a century, you kept from psyching yourself out, which is a huge thing.

buehrert

Update #2 from OP: Someone in this thread asked for an update after the ride. The century was on Saturday. I had a blast! Great day, smooth ride, and I felt fresh and energized all day. By the end there was some butt soreness and the legs were tired, but nothing that I hadn't experienced in my training. This was an organized, fund-raising ride (Pelotonia, in Ohio) and there were plenty of rest stops built in that I took full advantage of. Total moving time was about 6.5 hours. I was very thankful to have spent 800+ miles in the saddle this summer and thankful for the good advice I received here!

Giant Doofus

@WNCGoater - Thanks! Very helpful. @buehrert - Congratulations!

ksryder

Great job man and looks like a nice average speed, awesome! Now to start planning the next one, right?