2 weeks to train...
 

I got two weeks to prepare for a 30 mile ride. It's our family's first organized, lengthy, ride together. We all did 20 miles on Saturday. My wife, two sons in trailer, and I did it in about 1.5 hours. Afterward we were tired, but weren't "shot". My butt didn't hurt nor my legs! So the question is....what should our training schedule be for the next two weeks? Should we do 30 this weekend? or just smaller rides daily. Let the opinions fly!..

I'd recommend riding 5-6 times per week with only one day off the bike. I think this will be the key.

Exactly how the rides are made up probably won't matter as much as riding every day, but if you need it, I'd say do the rides like maybe: long-short-short-long-short-off-short and then repeat. A long ride being 1-hour or more, a short one, say 30-mins or less. The short ride immediately following the long one should be nice and flat, small gear so you can spin easily, 15-20 mins. Doing this, you should have absolutely no trouble with 30-miles.

if you just did 20 I think you'll be fine...

stop every 10 or so take a break...

I agree with RatedZeroHero, you'll be fine. Every year my youngest brother organizes a family & proximates bike ride. This is the ONLY time all year that my oldest brother ever gets on a bike... a really cheap junky "mountain" bike. He rides in jeans and no-one wants to be behind him due to the um, "plumbers butt". This year he made it about 30k/20 miles before his wife shovelled him into their truck and took him back to the picnic site. So, if he could do 20 miles, someone who has actually been riding will have no trouble doing 30. :)

As someone once told me, don't think about it as a 30 mile ride (ok, maybe it wasn't the same mileage, but roll with me on this one [yes, the pun was intended! ;) ] ), think of it as 3 10 mile rides, or 2 15's, or a 20 and a 10.... well, you get the picture. But in all honesty, you've done 2/3rd's of that distance already, I'm pretty sure you can get the other 10 done without any major difficulties.

In the meantime, I'd say keep doing what you're doing. Sounds like you're riding fine. If you really want a training schedule, I'd recommend a 15-20 miler 3 days a week until the event, making sure you take a rest day or a real light ride the day before the 30 miler. On the day of, have fun! That's the most important bit right there, the distance, that's just bragging rights, and nowhere near as important, imho.

If you can do 20, you can do 30. I did my first metric century a few years back. The longest I had ridden before then was 35 miles.

Just take your time and be sure to eat and drink. You'll be fine.

thanks everyone!

Going from 20 to 30 miles is just mental. If you can ride 20 miles... I am sure you could ride 40 miles. If I were you, I would just add some extra mileage during the two weeks. Good luck...

If you can drag your wife and 2 kinds in a trailer 20 miles in 1.5 hours, you can easily do 30.

I would have to agree with all the other posters. You've done 20, 30 isn't much more, especially if you weren't sore. I've found bike set up really becomes noticeable to me on any ride over 20 miles. Your knees and butt will go before your legs otherwise. I tried a 35 miler a while back and felt awful both during and after the ride. Turns out my saddle was too low. Raised it a little over a centimeter, did a few 15-ish mile rides in preparation and then tried the 35 miler again after three weeks and nailed it. This without the burden of a trailer, of course, so you're one up on me. Just go out and tear it up!

You'll be fine. Everyone has their distance barrier and it always goes up with training, a lot of it is also mental. Don't let your brain stop you....lol