Originally Posted by
Machka
... if you want a century to feel good ... do a double century.
it will give you a whole new perspective on how much cycling can hurt, and suddenly the pain of a century won't seem so bad.
Mostly I agree, except that some folks need to go more slowly, some folks don't have time to ride that much ... some folks need a lot more recovery time .... I think we can all increase our capacities, but patience and persistence are as bad as the discomfort.
The thing I would really emphasize would be
Originally Posted by
Machka
4) Do core and upper body work ... yes, weights. A strong core and upper body dramatically improves comfort over long distances. It also helps you sit on the bicycle with good posture.
5) Sit on the bicycle with good posture. The saddle is not meant for your full body weight ... only part of it. I couldn't tell you the percentages but quite a bit of my weight, when I'm cycling, is on my feet. This means I sort of perch on my sitbones on the saddle, and a strong core helps me do that. I really notice if I've let my core go a bit.
My legs ... who knows how far they could carry me? I won't know until i put an equal amount of time into my core and upper body, which went totally slack after almost three months of zero exercise while rebroken bones rehealed.
The worst part is, as my core fatigues I naturally put more weight on arms, which beats my weak shoulders, but I can't support myself properly with my legs with my weak stomach and lower back.