New rider training for 50 mile ride at end of September - realistic?

[jenbug]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can offer some advice. I've been lurking on the message boards for a while but decided it was time to take the plunge and do my first post! (I love this website!)

I got my new bike, a Specialized Hybrid, a week ago. Very exciting. I'm completely new to cycling and haven't done it since I was about 7 years old, plus I have some extra weight to lose (about 35 pounds). I'm yet to get all the gear (apart from a helmet obviously) and have just been out riding around the neighbourhood so far (about 4 miles).

Anyway, my question is this - I've spotted a 50-mile charity bike ride taking place at the end of September. I'd love to raise some money for this charity and think it would be good to give myself a goal to work towards. However, is working up from 4 miles to 50 miles in 10 weeks an unrealistic goal? I'd plan to get out on the bike to train most days .

Any advice on whether this would be a good idea or not would be much appreciated! Cheers!

[Blueberry]

Welcome and congrats on the bike! I think it really depends on 2 things: 1) what's your fitness like now? Have you been doing other active stuff? 2) How comfortable do you want to be when you finish the ride? For someone who is already active, I think you can pretty comfortably work up to that. For someone who has been less active - you may be able to do it - but maybe not as comfortably.

Also what's the terrain like on the ride?

CA

[indigoiis]

I think it's very realistic.
Last year I went from riding in Spring 6-7 miles maybe twice a week to a century in September followed by a very hilly and tough metric century in October. In June I did another century and am now training for two hilly metrics and another September century.

Just take it slowly, and work progressively on your training and comfort level on the bike. You have 6 weeks til September. If you handle this right, 50 mile ride will be a joy.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You don't give your age or how hilly the ride will be. Have you been doing other activities like fitness walking, or were you a couch potato up until buying your new bike? All this has bearing on how you might do.

Why not just give it a try? Having a goal is always good motivation.

Remember that being sore will be a part of your training if you are trying to go from 0-50 in a short time period. ;)

[Zen]

Contact the organizers and see if they have training rides.
Or find someone who rides better than you and ask if they'd help you train.

[jenbug]

Thanks everyone,

In answer to your questions: I'm 29 and whilst not exactly a couch potato (I walk a fair bit and go to the gym a couple of times a week) I'm definitely lacking in the fitness stakes!

On the MS bike ride website, it classes the ride as "easy" so I'm assuming that it will be smooth, non-hilly-ish terrain. The local ride is in a couple of weeks time (definitely unrealistic!) so I'd be entering the one a couple of states across which is in September. Unfortunately I don't think I'd be able to find a cycling training group to join locally for that ride.

Thanks very much for your advice - which has made me think it's not completely unrealistic! As a new cycler, I'm a little worried that by taking this on it might take some of the enjoyment out of my new sport if I'm riding to discomfort. So I need to weigh this up in my mind.

Thanks everyone - really useful advice - much appreciated!

[Blueberry]

An "easy" MS Ride should be fine. I LOVE the eastern NC one - great support, folks cheering you on, good (and frequent rest stops). Of all the rides - I'd say go for it! And remember, your longest ride before the event doesn't need to be the event distance. I'd say 35-40 miles would be enough (as long as you can get comfortable with that). Event day will do the rest:)

CA

[makbike]

I think you can do it! Try bumping your mileage up by 10% each week. Have fun and enjoy your new bike.

[jenbug]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to go for it!

[jenbug]

Sorry everyone - I've just thought of a related question. What gear, additional to a helmet, would you recommend that I need for training and the race itself?

I'm going to invest in some padded capri pants, a water bottle & cage and probably one of those little computers (sorry - showing my inexperience - hopefully you know what I mean!). I'm trying to keep costs down as much as possible but don't want to skimp on getting equipment or clothing that will really improve the experience.

Thanks again everyone!

[Blueberry]

On longer training rides, you may want 2 bottles - most bikes will take 2. Bottles can usually be obtained inexpensively. Padded capris are good - shebeest makes some really nice ones.

A bike computer is useful to have - particularly on organized rides. It will help you follow the route - most tell you to turn ever x.x miles. However, on an MS ride, the route is usually really well marked, so it may not be necessary. I'd try to wear a wicking shirt - doesn't have to be a jersey. Just something to keep you comfortable (something you wear to the gym or walking should be OK for now).

You will also need a way to change a flat on your bike should you have one far from home. There are lots of flat clinics - and you tube videos - just make sure you at least have the equipment (pump or cartridges, spare tube, tire irons). You are pumping your tires up before every ride, right:)

CA

[BarbaraAlys]

A quick web search found this bike club in Racine:

http://www.krbikeclub.com/

I don't know anything about them, but if you contact them and tell them where you are (cycling wise) and where you want to be (50 miles in Sept) they ought to be able to tell you if any of their regular rides would be good for you. Also, they might have some people training for this or other rides in the fall that would like to have you train with them.

Good luck.

Barbara

[Lucky, Fabulous]

I started biking this summer and did my first 50 mile ride on June 1st. You can totally do it - though I think it's best to find people to train with. It makes it a lot more fun and gives you something to think about besides pedaling.

[Kano]

While I agree riding with people is great, but you gotta know......

there's nothing wrong with riding alone and thinking about pedaling!

We spend so much of life with others, and so many things to do, what I really enjoy about riding alone is that it's probably about the only time I'm totally in the moment, able to put all of the other demands of daily life aside. with only me, my bike, and the road asking anything of me!

The competitive thing that starts in my brain when I'm out riding with DH is fun too -- and when even more people are involved, that's its own kind of fun!

All three things have their plusses for improving my confidence on my bike!

Karen in Boise

[mimitabby]

please invest in a pair of gloves! your hands can really get torn up on a simple fall. And if you sweat, it's better in open fingered gloves than it is on bare handlebars.

Other than the helmet, sunglasses, extra tubes and pump I think that covers it (in addition to what others have said)

[Blueberry]

please invest in a pair of gloves! your hands can really get torn up on a simple fall. And if you sweat, it's better in open fingered gloves than it is on bare handlebars.

Really good point! DH took a tumble Sunday (a ride he always does - he just lost his respect for gravel momentarily). His hands had bruises through his gloves. I shudder to think how deep the puncture wounds would have been (he had a pretty good one on his arm, in addition to the usual rash).

CA

[MM_QFC!]

+1 on checking into your local bike club(s)...that way, you'll have some opportunities to ride with others, as your event ride is surely with a larger group. It's always good to have some experience in riding on roads, in traffic with others, learning and practicing correct road signals, stopping/starting up, crossing R/R tracks, even minor roadside maintenance, as in changing a flat tire ahead of time, so that it's incorporated into your preparation.

Most clubs have rides scheduled for new riders and are led by a trained (volunteer) ride leader, experienced in and willing to continue leading novices so that they won't ride off and drop you or go too fast or on difficult terrain either. Look for social-paced rides on easy/flat routes with low mileage to begin, then show up, learn from others and have fun!

Also, I had a couple of decades on you when I decided to participate in my first AIDS fundraising ride. It was for a 4-day, 50 miles/day (200 total with MUCHO hills!) ride and I had a big ol' heavy hybrid, sneakers/toeclips, tshirts...but I did invest in a helmet, cycling shorts, cycling gloves and water bottles as was wisely suggested here, plus I went to my LBS' free flat tire repair session, so I was all set. Yes, it was hard, but I trained well for it and it was an amazing experience (fyi: that was about 40k miles and $100k plus ago!).

Go for it!
Tailwinds!
Mary

[PscyclePath]

Jen:

You've got ten weeks... so yeah, it's possible, but you need to get out and ride. Bicycling Magazine has a ten-week schedule that's quoted quite often on how to ride a century, somewhere they have a similar schedule for a fifty mile ride or metric century. I know there's a copy of it in their Long Distance Cyclist's Handbook, from Rodale Press, not sure if they've got it on their web site.

For now, here's a century training schedule that we put together for a local ride at the end of September, you can basicaly cut the distances in half, and be ready for the fifty-miler: http://www.kidsarus.org/centennial/bikeride/schedule.pdf

If you can't ride 6 days a week like this schedule says, don't worry about it. Ride at least three times during the week, and on the weekend or a free day, do one "long" ride of at least 90 minutes at what you consider your touring, or event pace. Work up to the point where you can spend up to 3 hours in the saddle (with breaks, of course) and you should be good to go...

Tom

[jenbug]

Hi,

I just wanted to say thank you everyone for your advice! I'm definitely going to go for the 50 mile now! I'll let you know how I get on....

[DebTX]

I did what you're doing last year. Learned to ride mid summer (on a hybrid) and signed up for a 50 mile charity ride at summer's end.

2 things to reassure you:
1) There is so much "positive energy" at these charity rides that it keeps you going well beyond what you could do yourself just training on weekend mornings
2) I rode with my husband, who was recovering from cancer treatment, and worried that one of us might not be able to make the whole thing. The mentor assigned to us (because we were newbies) told me there's always a "sag wagon" along the route to pick up riders who've done all they can. So it's not like you'd get stuck in the middle of nowhere, with your bike. I would suspect this is common at most large charity events, but you could ask.

It was an *amazing* experience to do the ride. We're training to do it again this year. Only we bought road bikes and now I'm busy getting used to the difference!

Enjoy the experience :)

[tulip]

Remember that it's not a race, it's just a ride. Go at your own pace and you'll be fine.

Here's a training program that you might add to your collection:

http://www.ncsports.org/cncdetail1.php?id=23

[jenbug]

Thanks again. It's great to hear

Update: I've decided not to do the 50 mile ride... But to do the 80 mile option instead! This will be over 2 days 50 on the first and 30 on the second.

I'll be riding with my boyfriend who was keen to turn it into a 2 day event and bump up the mileage. I'm somewhat worried that I won't be up to this but I'm riding almost every day and doing a long ride on the weekends in preparation (I've halfed the century training schedule that PsCyclePath suggested).

I'm sending out my sponsorship email to my friends and family later today. They don't know that I'm doing this and it's not a "very me" thing to do so I'm looking forward to their reactions! I'm hoping that the extra mileage will inspire them to sponsor me more.

Any tips I might need for doing a this sort of 2 day rather than a 1 day ride are very welcome! Or in fact any further tips or shared experiences at all are welcome!

Thanks everyone - this forum is brilliant. You've really given me the confidence, that I wouldn't have had otherwise, to attempt this!

[Trek420]

Any tips I might need for doing a this sort of 2 day rather than a 1 day ride are very welcome! Or in fact any further tips or shared experiences at all are welcome!

Eat, sleep, hydrate :D because unlike your one day ride .... you gotta do it again.

www.aidslifecycle.org/training/index.html

Training program suggested by ALC, note that we recommend cross training. On a long and/or multi day tour this may avoid repetition overuse injury. You can take this idea shorten the time shorten the miles, play with the math ... oh heck .... just log off and ride :D Good luck and welcome to TE :D