I need a little training advice

[GLC1968]

I was just drawing up my training plan for the balance of the summer. Basically, I'm planning my weekend rides and I mostly let the week day rides be what I can fit around my schedule. I'm doing this now because I wanted to make sure that all my fun cycling events for this summer fit nicely enough into my training in order to complete the Six Gap Century at the end of September.

It all works out really well except for one weekend and perhaps someone here can offer advice/opinion about it?

On the 3rd weekend in September, I have my MS150 ride. I'll be doing a century on day one and then the 50 mile return trip on day 2 (it's actually 105 and 45...but you get the idea). The following weekend has no specific plans yet. And then the weekend after that is the Six Gap Century. What should I do in terms of riding for the interim weekend? Should I do a shorter hilly but not mountainous ride? Should I do a short mountain ride (less than 40 miles). Should I do a long flat-ish ride? Should I play it by ear (which honestly, makes me a little nervous...I'm a planner ;) )

What do you all think would be the best plan of action? My goal is to complete the Six Gap Century with enough energy to enjoy dinner and the drive back to NC. :p

Thanks in advance!

[ATL Laura]

The Six Gap Century :eek: ? You are my hero :)

Wish I could offer some training advice, but I’m relatively new to this. Best of luck to you! Please let us know how it goes

[skibum]

I usually do the metric option on a century ride in the Atlanta area the weekend before Six Gap. I would describe that ride as rollers/hilly -- definitely not mountainous. That seems to work well for me. It keeps my legs ready to do the work ahead without tiring them out excessively.

[Triskeliongirl]

I don't know anything about the six gap century (terrain, etc.) but I usually do a metric also the weekend before a full century, on similar terrain to the full century.

[GLC1968]

Six Gap is over 10K feet of climbing (you climb six 'gaps'), but I forget the exact number. For regular centuries, I'd probably do about 65 miles the weekend before (that's pretty much our typical weekend ride anyway) but for this one, I wasn't sure.

It's also my first true mountain century...so everything is a bit new to me. :o

[skibum]

There's a good write-up on the ride in this thread from last year:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=8675

It describes each gap and gives some strategies for conquering the ride.