America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride

[Lizz]

I'm considering riding the AMBBR in June. This will be my first century and as a novice cyclist a pretty big accomplishment. I have been looking for some articles or books about training for a century and am falling fairly short. I've read a few on Active.com and thumbed through 100 miles in 100 days at the book store. Anyone have other resources to share? Thanks!

[Veronica]

Diablo Cyclists have some articles on their website about training for a century.

V.

[five one]

There's good advice at velogirls.com:

http://www.velogirls.com/resources/publications/century.htm

Tahoe was my first century. It's a great ride and the scenery is spectacular. You'll have a great time.

[maillotpois]

Team in Training does the AMBBR - provides a full training plan (you do have to fundraise, but it is a relatively modest amount for this ride as it's sort of local. There's an informational meeting at the Mill Valley Community Center on 1/20 at 10 am. :) The Redwood Wine Country team trains in Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties and is just a great group. I am a coach for the team, but not for this particualr evemt, so I am biased. ;)

[five one]

Tahoe was my first century. It's a great ride and the scenery is spectacular. You'll have a great time.

I did it with Team in Training (Silicon Valley) and can attest to it being a great program. I am also biased, but for a different reason. DH was a cycling coach for several years, but also an honoree as a lymphoma survivor (15 years in remission :D ).

[Rakekay]

Here's the training schedule I used to prepare for my first century. I thought it was great.

http://www.carbboom.com/education/century.php

[Pedal Wench]

Try this too: http://www.machka.net/century.htm

Machka does a bunch of randoneurring and brevets, and has some great opinions and advice.

[TrekJeni]

While this wasn't my even close to my first century, I'd have to say it was the BEST one. I too did it with Team in Training. There are some significant hills to it and I remember looking at my computer at mile 80 with the climb up SPooner that's 8 miles long thinking, "F*%#, I'm only doing 8 miles an hour, I have to F*$#ing climb this hil for AN HOUR!"

Thought about doing AMBBR again this year but don't have the time to fundraise and I'm concentrating my efforts on racing this season and getting upgraded.

Have fun and TRAIN hills!

Jeni