Nubie

So the big THREE ZERO is coming up this April and I'd like to do thirty miles to commemorate the occasion. There was a time when I didn't think that I would make it this far, that I would lose my battle with cancer for sure. But despite all odds, I'm still here, so I'd like to do something special. My longest ride is only 20 miles, and I was really pooped out after that. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for training/route/anything at all?

Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks!

eskimo85

This is 50% longer than your previous max so i suggest to bring a candy bar with you even if you dont think you are going to need it.

jschen

You've got a bit over two months to prepare. You can do it!

I'll let others tell you about training. Pick a scenic route that you think you'd really enjoy. Take your time; it's not a race. And as some people told me recently about riding a really long distance, a lot of it is mental. If you're having a great time, you'll do great. Be sure to tell us how it goes!

Patriot

Just pace yourself, maintain a good aerobic heart rate, and you'll be amazed at how far you can ride.

I did 204mi in one day last summer. I hope I can do that when I'm 204 years old.

CPcyclist

Find some BF buds to do the ride with you. By April the Wisconsin BF'er should be doing a ride as a group the distance from the one last fall were about this distance. a few of us are around the 30 something age. Hip is up here to.

30mi is not to bad set aside the time bring a little food and eat well before hand, fill your water/drink bottles and go.

SesameCrunch

Some great suggestions from the other responses. Let me just add that if you want help building stamina and strength, spinning classes can really help, especially now when the weather isn't the greatest. They really helped me when I first started riding last year. Is there a gym near you where you can try one out?

burbankbiker

I am just getting better at biking distances. Previously, I just commuted by bike and biked around town - with my longest distances being measured in single digits. A few weeks ago I got my first actual road bike and went out for a 15 mile ride, which became a 24 mile ride when all was said and done. This weekend I decided to go further so I rode all the way to the ocean and back... a 48 mile trek. I can safely say that with a break, doing the 24 and the 48 wasn't THAT different. The break is probably key for you, though.

If you've got 2 months, you could train for that and still take it easy and STILL pull off your goal with glorious success. If all you did was ride your usual 20 miles on the first weekend, rest all week with shorter rides, then ride 22 miles on the next weekend, rest, 24 miles the next, rest, 26, etc. By your birthday it'd be time for your 30 mile ride and you'd hardly notice the extra 2 miles.

Good luck! Sounds like you've been up against tougher challenges and overcome them so I have no doubt you'll pull this off! Congrats.

lrzipris

A couple of questions/suggestions.

1. What do you eat before your ride? Are you eating and drinking enough during rides? As your rides get longer, refueling and hydration will become all the more important.

2. Do you mash the gears or spin wildly, or is your pedaling smooth and easy? That is, are you pedaling in the most efficient way for you or are you wasting energy?

3. Do you prefer riding with other cyclists or solo? For some people, the social aspect can be helpful.

4. Since you mention routes in your post, are you trying to tackle too hilly a route for your present conditioning? Since you will be extending the mileage so much, you might not want to also deal with serious hills--ie, face one additional challenge at a time.

5. How hard do you ride? Do you push yourself a bit to get stronger and faster? I like to see the scenery when I ride, but I found that when I just noodled along, I didn't get stronger. This doesn't mean that you have to get crazy-serious about training, but that if you push yourself a bit, you'll see the improvement in your strength and stamina.

Good luck, good health and happy birthday. There's a fellow around here who has done a century a month since he turned 70 about four-five years ago, with the exception of a couple of weather-enforced cancellations. So as you get older, your rides will get longer and longer and longer....

BIGAL68

Just keep riding, the more you ride the better your endurance will be. Try to increase each ride a little whether in miles or avg speed. But set goals each ride..

rufvelo

Brave girl newbie! All the best.

...you do realize if you keep this up you're going to have to do sixty miles when you're 60, 80 when you're 80....

Hipcycler

This is what I love about this sport, and the part that facinates me as well. We can all set goals, and those goals can be soooo different yet soooooo the same. There are so many levels of cycling that we can all connect at some mental/emotional level regardless of whether that goal is 30 miles, 30 miles an hour or a 230 miles.

You'll do the 30.

As for any advice, I'd say just make sure you get a 20 or two in again....just so that you are kind of used to that feeling. If you can do that, you'll handle the 30 miles on the big day. Enjoy the ride!

iamtim

Right on! Go for it!

Listen to the folks above; their wisdom exceeds the cycling ages.

Seriously, though, bring some munchies, enough water, and go at a comfortable but not killer pace.

rickkko

Thirty it just two 15's back to back. Plan a nice snack/lunch stop at the 15 mile mark. Enjoy the break, then pedal on home!

Not knowing anything about your physical condition here's what I'd say regarding eating.
Eat some spaghetti the night before for the carbs,
Drink a lot the morning of,
Have a cup of coffee just before departing,
Put Gatorade in your water bottle,
Enjoy your lunch stop.
Eat an energy bar for dessert,
Hydrate yourself before starting your ride home.
Drink along the way.
Vary this plan to your liking.

I did 60 miles on my birthday in Jan. Great ride! My lunch stop was at Subway (6" turkey breast sando).

Have fun!
..rickko..

Nubie

Thanks for all the advice - I knew you guys would be the ones to ask. My stamina is not what it used to be - I guess radiation/chemo does that to you. If anyone else thinks of anything, I'm all ears (or eyes, as it were). I'm planning on trying some spin classes and longer rides - hopefully the Chicago weather will cooperate. Depending on how well this goes, maybe I'll do 40 miles when I'm 40 . You never know right?

If any Chicagoans are up for a 30 miler in mid-April, let me know! I'd definitely love company.

big john

The fact that you are riding says a lot about you. I think if you do a few more 20 mile rides you will be ready for 30. I ride alone sometimes but I love riding with the right people. I think you might find the social aspects are some of the best parts of cycling. Good luck and keep at it!

gcasillo

Congratulations on your thirtieth lap around the sun. You are now worth something to the world.

Seriously, being a thirtysomething is wicked cool. Beats being a teenager or twentysomething with a stick.

PS - Congrats on beating cancer. Live strong!

cuda2k

Nubie - good luck, and like Rickko said, it's just two 15's back to back. Good luck!

Little Darwin

This is absolutely something you can do! If you want motivation, go read the messages in the 50+ forum and see how some of them accomplish it.

I rode a metric century in October 2004, and my longest ride before that was about 35 miles, so a jump of 50% is not as much as you might think. The trick is to pace yourself, ride slowly and leisurely. Drink lots, eat lots, and enjoy the ride.

You should also not ride hard (if at all) the day before (and perhaps two days before).

You may want to try to look at one of the plans that are online to prepare for a century and divide all of the mileage by 3 to give you a method to get to where you want to be physically... This should be a reasonable way to ensure your fitness is at the appropriate level to accomplish your goal.

And do not hesitate treat it as two 15 mile rides if you want... In fact, if it helps you mentally, ride 15 in the morning, go home and relax for a while, and then ride another 15 in the afternoon. However you find a way to do it (and I know you will) it will be a worthy accomplishment.

Also, one other comment... if it helps you, plan for a very flat route if it makes it easier (some feel that a flat route can be harder because it requires a more constant exertion), and plan on getting to a point of being able to handle a more hilly ride next year to celebrate 31.

lrzipris

One motivational trick a marathoner-friend taught me when I began riding centuries is to "dedicate" parts of your ride to your loved ones and call on them in your mind when you need a mental boost. For example, you could divide your ride into 3 10-mile legs, each for a different friend or family member, and think often of that person rooting for you during that segment.

One of the best tips people have given you, Nubie, is to pace yourself. Start out easily and slowly, and settle into a comfortable rhythm. When I've gotten into trouble on long rides, it's usually been when I have gone out too fast. This typically occurs when I'm riding with stronger cyclists: strong at the start, I keep up their pace, not even thinking about how much of my energy I'm expending that early. My mantra, when I remember it: "It's a ride, not a race."

Oh, and enjoy your ride. That's the most important advice of all!