INOX NYC

I'm 51 and been riding all my life. Longest ride was about 60 miles a couple of years ago on a heavy Raleigh Mojave and I was pretty shot afterwards. I knew nothing about hydration and fuel foods, was pretty much just winging it. I just built a light fixie and made up my mind to go for it. So I went online to research a training program for myself to get to that 100 mile mark by the end of next summer. Problem is I've read so many schedules and programs and they are all very different. I'm hoping some experienced long distance riders can put up some links for me to training programs that they think are best. Thanks in advance for any help.

tenzing211

You're gonna ride your first Century on a fixie? Sheesh, why are you so angry with yourself? In this day and age of internet and information saturation we can spend hours searching for the perfect training program for any event. However, what has worked best for me is to spend those hours on the bike, riding comfortably at a steady pace. That way when you ride your Century, you can ride comfortably for hours at a steady pace.

Homeyba

That's your problem right there. Stop reading! You can probably go out and ride a century tomorrow (even on the fixie) if you wanted to. Additional training is just going to make it easier and/or faster. Where people get into trouble is they don't moderate their effort or they don't eat and drink properly, especially someone who’s been riding all their life. Don’t make it a bigger deal than it is (unless you are planning on racing it). Go out ride, have some fun.

skiffrun

^

+1

INOX NYC

Actually, I just realized recently what a difference slowing down a little makes. When I did my 60 it was flat out top speed the entire way. Probably why I was so shot. Now I realize I don't have to always be at top speed. And I also have a freewheel cog on the bike so I might do it with that instead.

unterhausen

site search for "first century"

Pompiere

If you have been riding all your life, then endurance shouldn't be a problem. Training normally isn't an issue as much as not keeping up with food and hydration. You will be out there for several hours and that's a long time to go without eating. Follow the old adage: Eat before you're hungry and drink before you're thirsty.

downtube42

Whatever training program you go with, try to end each ride fully hydrated and fully fueled. If you manage that, then by the time you do your century you'll know what and how much your stomach wants, and how to stay hydrated.

The Octopus 

Re: the fixed-gear aspect of it:

--I've been doing long rides fixed for a few years now. It's tougher than a bike with a freewheel, but (shhh... secret here) it's not as tough as some people (who, of course, have never done it and who have probably never ridden a FG) make it out to be.

--Riding fixed, you have to deal with everything you'd deal with on a bike with a freewheel hub -- principally, being able to handle the saddle time, the pace, and maintaining your hydration, nutrition, and comfort -- plus you've got to consider the following unique circumstances:

1. You've got to consider the interaction between your gearing, the wind, and the terrain of your route. On a FG, those three things are all related. Picking the right gear is key to your success and comfort. When in doubt, err on the side of too low a gear rather than too high. You can always ride slower and finish. But fail a big gear on a hilly route (or into a big headwind), and you're ride may be over (and you'll have little fun and risk injury). If you're not running brakes (please, run at least a front brake), then this gets trickier as the descents become a problem with too low a gear. Most of my centuries and longer rides have been done in 72". Lowest I've gone is 70". I've done as high as 90" on flat stuff and have done 84" on routes with about 40ft of climbing per mile. I tend to be more of a masher than a spinner, though.

2. Comfort will be more of an issue on fixed. You can't stretch effectively on the bike. Flatter routes, interestingly enough, are tougher than rolling or even hilly ones. On a flat route, you're stuck in the same cadence for mile after mile, and that gets really old, really fast. Make sure you're taking preemptive stops for a minute or two every 15-20 miles to stretch and relax. It'll make the last few hours on the bike much more enjoyable than if you don't do this.

3. Pacing, interestingly enough, is not as big of a concern on fixed as it would be on a geared bike. Your pace will largely be determined by the gear you select. I find that the gear tends to "save me from myself." You can't do stupid stuff like honk it up at the start or ride hard with a big tailwind -- you'll just be to spinny and uncomfortable. Riding fixed helps you modulate your pace right from the beginning, which is key to a successful century or longer ride. Riding fixed will also give you a healthy respect for the hills. You won't hammer up them like you might on a geared bike. This will keep you well preserved for later in the ride.

4. Manage your expectations about your finish time, if you care about such things. Some people get all wrapped up in riding a 5- or 6- or whatever-hour century and compare these finish times with their friends. Forget it, if you're fixed. Even worse, if you're trying to ride hard with others -- even with others in significantly worse shapre that you -- you'll likely struggle if you're on a fixed-gear bike. Hill-climbing is totally inefficient, you'll remain anaerobic on the descents while your buddies get some recovery time, and you'll be working a heckuva lot harder on fast flat sections than you would be on a geared bike. I'm about an hour slower trying to ride for time on a fixed bike versus a geared one. And the 5-hour fixed century acutally hurt me more than the 4-hour geared. YMMV, but if riding like the wind is important to you, get your mind in the right place lest you be disappointed with your "finish time."

5. Riding fixed is just so much more fun. Enjoy!

Stinky C

Also, make sure you taper a week or so before the century. Going in fully-trained, but with fresh legs, makes a huge difference.

Chris516

+1

I did 60mi. back in 2004. But the advantage I had at that time, is that is was all on a state bike/ped trail. So if the road is part of the terrain(even the varying surfaces of the road being different), that you will be riding on, they all play into how well you do.