mikeman715

So i currently ride fixed gear,and I am in the process of selling it so that I can buy a roadbike...Next summer I want to do the Trek 100,now my question is what should I do to train for it?I think ill get a trainer since I live in Wisconsin and the winters are harsh.I have done about 35 miles on my fixed gear in a ride.Thanks

P.S.-i know 100 miles is nothing for alot of you,but this is something I really want to be able to do.so any help would be great.

ILUVUK

I can't really comment on training for it, but from being a fixed gear rider it sounds as if you have a base to build from. You can certainly do it. This year for me......I started off doing 10 to 15-milers, graduated to 25-milers, then I did a 33-miler with some other riders. My next ride was 87 miles. My legs were a little sore, but I wasn't dead. Since then I've done a few 50-milers with relative ease. I'm doing my first century in 3 weeks. As long as it isn't heavy on the long climbs, then I don't think you'd have any problem completing a century by next July. I realize each rider is different though.

Az B

If you can ride 35 miles pretty much every day, you can probably ride a century. I ride about 32 miles 4 days a week with a longer 50-75 mile ride one day a week on my fixed gear, and I had no problem riding a 125 mile ride a couple weeks ago on my fixed.

Although the heat was pretty bad.

Az

skanking biker

i plan on doing my first full cent. next summer as well. I currently have 2 fixed gears and recently finished my first metric century. i plan on doing a few more metric centuries this season and then getting a trainer in the winter. What I have been doing is trying to do as much variety as possible. One day i'll do loops of hills, the next I'll do flat sprints, then a "take it easy day"; and then 30-40 miles hard on the weekends, etc. I could be going about this all wrong, but given that 4 months ago i was smoking a pack a day, i must be doing something right.

Where do you live in Wisconsin?

Sage23

If you're riding your fixed gear a lot, or if you're in shape from other activities, you should have any problem with the Trek 100.

Three of my neighbors did the full 100 route this year. Two of them had NEVER ridden more than 20 miles in one ride, and the third had some experience (primarily mountain biking), but none of then did any sort of bike training for the ride. All three are in decent shape from other activities (3-running, 1-swimming). One did it on a Trek Sport Urban (hybrid), one on a nearly brand-new Trek 1000 and the last on a borrowed roadie that might have been a touch too big for him. All three finished without difficulty.

The nice thing about the Trek 100 is that they have frequent and really nice rest stops (one of the stops this year had the Famous Dave's trailer passing out food). The frequency of the stops really helps you if you're feeling a bit tired at any point.

That said, a little actual training will be useful. Here's the training guidelines for the Trek 100 (.pdf file). The key -- just get out and ride. A trainer on the really bad days this winter will help. I stil try to get out a much as I can even though its cold (snowy or wet roads and I stay home -- black ice SUCKS!). By May, you should be able to start getting out regularly which you should do to get ready.

Where in Wisconsin are you? Perhaps some group training this spring (I and my neighbors will all likely do it again next year).

CardiacKid

There is a grat deal of information on this forum and the Internet generally on Century training. Just Google "century training". www.livestrong.org has some training information.
Basically, you want to start out doing a distance you are comfortable with, at the pace you want to ride the century. Do this on Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday, do intervals. Rest on Friday. Saturday, you want to do a long ride. This should be at least twice as far as your normal ride. Sunday do a little shorter ride than Saturday. Monday do a recovery ride. This should be a little shorter than your normal distance, at a lower gear than your normal ride. Increase your distance by 10% every week. When you can do 75 miles on Saturday, you will definitely be ready. If you are in any kind of shape, this shouldn't take more than 3 months.

NotAsFat

I'd also recommend doing at least some group rides. Learning to ride in a paceline/pack really helps on the long rides.

Sage23

True, but unless you are in the "fast group" with all the local racers, about the biggest "pack" I saw at the Trek 100 was maybe 4 guys.

Either way, a good skill to have.

fprintf

Should be relatively easy to do 100 miles in a day with almost a year of training time. I went from 6 mile rides to multiple days of 70 miles per day in a few short months. The next 30 should come easily once I get the motivation. I'd say I am less strong and less motivated than most here - so if I can do it, you can too!

Grasschopper

Don't sell the fixed gear...riding the fixie will be better training for the ride...hell if you get strong enough you could do the century on the fixie (though I don't know the elevation profile of this ride so maybe not).

Get the geared roadie as an additional bike.

skanking biker

elevation isn't a problem on a fixie---its the descents that kill you.

grahny

Lots of info in the long distance forum:

https://www.bikeforums.net/long-distance-competition-ultracycling-randonneuring-endurance-cycling/

PhatRoadie

Fitness wise you should do fine, especially if your main goal is simply to finish strong. It sounds like you have cycling experience and a few miles under your belt so you're in better position than most. An untimed century is more of a tactical exercise than anything else. Pacing, nutrition, hydration and bike fit will be almost as important as your fitness level.

You have lots of time to prepare so you shouldn't have a problem. Have fun.

skanking biker

Bring your fixie to this on sunday and do the metric century.

https://www.creamcitycycleclub.com/century.htm

stapfam

Metrics are good training for a real 100. I cannot see the sense in doing a 100 mile ride in preparation for a 100 miler. At the start of the season- I do 40 mile rides- Uphills and plenty of them. Don't push myself too hard but the main thing to get used to is sitting in the saddle. Do a 4 hour ride taking in a few hills non-stop and attune the butt.

On the Actual ride- remember eat and drink for the whole of the ride. Drink and eat before you have to. Not enough food and you will bonk- Not enough water and you will bonk. Only problem you may find is at the 70 to 80 mile mark. That is Bonk time- so take a break around 60 miles-couple of minutes only- to stretch the legs- Eat a bit more carbo-hydrates and drink a bottle of water.

vic32amg

I did a century with in 5 months of my first time stepping on my road bike. I found it rather easy. Also had some very steep climbing in the loop. But if you are unsure of your current fitness level, what many suggest on here is very good. getting off the bike and stretching and making sure you eat enuff is key. I've a had a couple high intensity rides that are 60-80 miles that have put me into serious difficulty. So it really depends on the route, climate and etc.. alot of things come into play. but if you keep it mellow and stay with in yourself, youll be fine.

DocRay

If you're doing 100km already, you'll be fine to 100 miles (only 60% more). The question is not if you can ride the 100 miles, but how fast you want to do it.

Keep on a trainer in the winter. but do long rides early. Hills and weights help, but nothing beats just long rides.

Make a plan with goals, but make the increase steady. If you've been on ciggies, you'll need to take it easy, and I would recommend a checkup with cardio workup if you are over 35. Use a HRM to make sure you aren't pushing it too hard, too fast.

Lucky07

Just keep riding and start thowing in at least one distance ride a week. Build up to a 75-80 mile ride in the weeks before the Century and you'll have a pretty good idea of what that distance will be like.

myclem

I commute to work in Seattle 4-5 days per week on my beater fixie conversion.
It's about 38 miles round-trip. Without any real extra training, I was able to do my first century no problem.

mikeman715

I already sold my fixie..to help pay for a road bike...Im located in Racine.and thanks to everybody for the help,hopefully i will see some of you there next year!