crustedfish

Im thinking about giving the Ides Ride a shot...Chicago to Milwaukee, about 100 miles, with sag vehicles.

I've been riding fixed for a year or so, maybe 100 miles a week, mostly commuting, leisure, some sprinting and high-speed stuff...

I have 30 days to train for a century. Can someone point me in the right direction? For instance, is there a rule of thumb, where, if, you ride 25 miles a day, 5 days per week, you can ride 100 miles in one day????

The most mileage ive completed in one day is around 30 miles. Im 25, pretty fit, healthy, dont smoke, blah blah blah....

thanks,

randy

bradw

Last year I did a solo century while hauling about 30 lbs of stuff on my bike. My training consisted of daily bike commuting (12.5 mile round trip, 3-5 times a a week) with a Sunday ride of about 50 miles. I did the ride on a very flat route, but it was a hot day (over 90F in the afternoon) and I took it easy, but I finished without killing myself.

This year I started riding in February at about 50 miles per week, working up to 100-125 miles per week. This was commuting and a 50 miler on Sundays. Last weekend I did a solo tour, carrying about 25 lbs of stuff, and covered over 150 miles in two days.

All of my riding is at a relaxed pace. I'm not really training, just enjoying the ride and the scenery.

And I'm 46 and kinda chunky.

My point is this: you can probably do the century right now if your goal is just to finish it. It sounds like you've put in enough miles to handle a day long ride in the saddle. On the other hand, if your goal is to do it in a respectable time, you may need to do some more structured training with intervals, etc.

Maybe try a longer ride of 50+ miles. Learn to eat and drink regulary and pace yourself.

sm266

Just go out for a ride one day, and see how far you can go without torturing yourself too much. Then, use that as your long weekly ride, and add mileage per week to it. Work up to about 70 or so miles, and you can finish. I'd argue that you could finish a FLAT or slightly downhill century today, but you may suffer.

DanFromDetroit

A rule of thumb that I have used before is three times your daily mileage should be able to be completed comfortably. How far past three you go depends on how much you can suffer and still keep moving.

Hills, wind, and weather will of course be a factor. This is only a rule of thumb not a hard and fast thing YMMV.

Dan

Moonshot

For my first century of the year I work up to a moderately paced 80 mile ride, then can do a leisurely paced century with no problems assuming the terrain and conditions are similar. But that's just me.

Eat and drink early and well throughout the century ride.

Good luck.

crustedfish

thanks for the great info everyone..

Yeah, if you are unfamiliar with the Ides Ride, it seems super laid back, not really a dine and dash deal...

We are going Art Museum to Art Museum, and have Bike Polo on Sunday, and most likely will be crashing on Milkwaukee's fine couches Saturday night.

Did I mention something about support vehicles? And taking Amtrak back to Chicago on Sunday night?

So, if I have to "kill myself" It wouldnt be the end of the world..just maybe need several days recovery, which is cool..

It's hard to put lots of miles on in Chicago, without running into people, stop signs, lights, dogs, cabs, lakes, blah blah blah..maybe I'll take an extended ride this weekend up north..

thanks again, all..
randy

Guest

Sounds like a laid back ride, which shouldn't be so bad. However, training for a century with only 30 days to go.... it's not really feasible at this point. All you can do is see if you can build up to 50 miles or so in a day, then hunker down and pray for daylight when it comes to the day for the ride. Make sure you're fully hydrated and have lots of carbs in your system for energy, then make sure you are eating and fuelling adequately throughout the ride. Definitely the day before, scale back on riding.

Ooops, I'm over my 2 sentence limit in the Training and Nutrition section. I have more to say. PM me if you want additional info.

Koffee

P.S. And you are right, it's downright difficult to get in a century in Chicago. Much easier if you live up north or out west or even down south, but from Chicago itself, there's too much urban sprawl to make it easy.

juciluci

this thread makes me think of a song
There's nothing like a hundred miles
Between me and trouble in my mind
There's nothing like a hundred miles
Show me the yellow line
There's nothing like a hundred miles
When I'm only passing through
There's nothing like a hundred miles

what i did the first time out, was ride til i thought i was tired but still able to ride back... that was 90 kms.. the next day i tried a little further.. within a month i was riding 160kms regular on the weekend.
good luck- do not push it, listen to your body and make sure there is someone you can call when/if you do bonk out.

stapfam

I,ve been training for a 100mile offroad for10 months. Ever since I did the last one, and it is two months before I do the one I am training for.

You will not know if you can do one until you have done it. Enter now, but take a couple of extralong rides each week. If you can do 40 miles now, and still feel refreshed at the end you will be ok.

Couple of tips for the ride though. Uphill will be the only place you will use energy, so don't race them, take them sensibly, and push on the flat and downhill. Carbo load before the event, in fact start now. On the day drink water, and then a bit more water, and then a lot more water. At least 1 litre per hour. You may have to stop for the loo, but I can assure you that this works

Go out and enjoy yourself, remember, it is not a race, it is just a couple of long rides, strung back to back.

Machka 

Check my Riding A Century article.

https://www.machka.net

It was written for riders who are new to centuries, and will provide you with a number of tips for a successful century.