training for a metric century or century

[kiwi girl]

I know this must have been asked before but my searching skills are letting me down

can anybody recommend a training schedule for a metric century and/or a century that are available online

I am planning my riding over the next few months with these in mind

http://www.graperide.co.nz

http://www.aroundbrunner.co.nz/

I haven't done a century for nine years so would be looking for a novice schedule

[jobob]

Hi - go to google and type in the words

century training plan

or

metric century training plan

and it will bring up a number of training schedules.

Have fun!

[MillieNZ]

Hi Kiwi girl :)

I'm coming down for the Grape ride too :D :D Friends live in Nelson so planning a week trip & lots of cycling !

If you look up the Lake Taupo cycle challenge, they have a good training plans (I used one for Taupo training) Also Amy Taylor from Kinetic Edge has just brought out a book for training, should be able to get one in your LBS

See you there ;)

[Pip]

That will make three of us! I'm based in Wellington and the Graperide was my first metric century (my first race) ever this year. I followed that up with a heap of other races around the wider Wellington region and then did Taupo. Now I'm looking forward to returning and cutting a big chunk off my time.

Sorry I can't really help you with a programme though. I train with a group of people from my gym and just do what I'm told!

[hilldweller]

Maybe four of us! I'm new here. Santa brought me a bicycle for Christmas :D Sadly it must have been damaged in transit and it came out of the box with a cracked fork so need to get that sorted asap. Last time I rode a bike was Taupo in 2000 :eek: Contemplating the Graperide but not sure I'll be able to get fit enough by then:confused: Would be great to have an end-of-summer event to aim for though.

This site is fantastic! Last time I did any biking everything was soooooo male dominated :mad:. It seems there's been a huge shift during the time I've been off my bike which is just awesome :D:D

[kiwi girl]

It will be great to have a group of Team Estrogeners at an event. I did Taupo 9 years ago but have been a bit sporadic in my cycling since then. I need some motivation to stick to it

[Pip]

Four months should be enough to get you ready for the Graperide! I hadn't done a lot of cycling before starting my training for it. I signed up to a seven week programme and my longest ride before the race was only about 60km. I wouldn't recommend that approach - an injury limited my time on bike halfway through the training, but it shows it can be done. I was already reasonably fit from running, but the Graperide's not too hilly, so I think you can do it!

It would be great to meet up with some other TE members down there. I tend to mostly lurk on here so it would be a good way to force to be myself a bit more social.

[Pip]

Oops - make that three and a bit months!
:o

[hilldweller]

How far are you guys riding at the moment?

[RoadRaven]

Whoa! This thread is an EnZedGirl convention!

I won't be doing the Grape ride though it is an event I am interested in "one day"... but will any of you be coming over this way for Tour de Beautiful? Its much smaller of course, and based from Waipukarau but still a lovely ride to do with a range of distances. Its on the 25 January.

[Pip]

I haven't heard of that race, but I like the name. I'm doing the Yarrows 150km race in Taranaki on the 24th of January, so won't be there sorry!

[MillieNZ]

I never realised there were some many kiwi's on the board.......... I've been slack since returning to work and tended to lurk quickly each day for catch ups but not enough time to post........

I think we should do a team entry for the Grape ride :D :D plenty of time for training between now and then ;)

RR - any website or anything for the Tour de Beautiful ???? tempting and that's dorkland aniversary weekend .......... :) :)

Hilldweller - where abouts are you based ???

<---------- turning the wheels up Hautepe hill :)

[crazycanuck]

It's nice to see the Kiwi contingent coming out of the pohutukawa trees!

[Pip]

Here's my own top of Hatepe shot from this year (my avatar). It was 34 degrees and you can't really tell from this photo but I was sweating like crazy!

As for how far I'm riding at the moment, I'm ashamed to admit I haven't clocked up more than 100km on the road since Taupo. So yeah, Yarrow might hurt a bit. My physio gave me permission to run again and I got a bit carried away. I had to stop for two months until Taupo was over because I was having knee issues and I was enjoying being back in running shoes so much I kinda neglected my poor Cleo (my gorgeous Genius). I've been doing a couple of spin classes a week and, provided I've managed to solve some mechanical issues I've been having with Cleo, I'm going to go out for a nice long ride tomorrow.

Are any of you Graperiders still looking for accommodation?

[RoadRaven]

RR - any website or anything for the Tour de Beautiful ???? tempting and that's dorkland aniversary weekend .......... :) :)


I'm doing the 50, one of my sons is also doing the 50, another son is doing the 100, and my partner is going to help out with marshalling. Would be great to meet you Millie if you can make it down.

http://www.centralhawkesbay.co.nz/TourdeBeautifulCHB.shtml

The courses on this years Tour de Beautiful head south of Waipukurau and take on ocean views amongst stunning countryside.

This has been a great year for CHB Bats with the club reaching record numbers - so come along and help make this event even more powerful.

The 100km Course - $35.00

The 100km course starts at 9am from CHB College on Tavistock Road, Waipukurau along into Farm Road, Porangahau Rd, Hunters Road through to Porangahau Township, returning Middleton Rd, Farm Road and finishing at Tavistock Road, Waipukurau.

Anyone can enter if you're up for a challenge!!

The 50km Course - $35.00

The 50km course starts at 9.10am at CHB College and leads onto Porangahau Road, similarly to the 100km course, with the turn around 25kms out. Cyclists return on the same road.

The 10km Course - $5.00

This course starts at 9.15am. It is especially suited to primary school children. Parents and caregivers are welcome to ride with their children. No late entry fee.

The Women's Only Ride - $15.00

The Women's Only ride will cover approximately 25kms. This ride has a different course, taking them out on Porangahau Road, Middleton Road, Farm Road then finishing at the CHB College, Waipukurau. This ride caters for all abilities, so come along and enjoy the day.

[RoadRaven]

How far are you guys riding at the moment?


At the moment I'm doing "time on the bike" rather than aiming for kms (although I am recording those as well).

I am aiming for 8-9 hours/week in December and 10 hours/week over January.

That has equated to150-200kms per week in December (this last week I did over 9 hours and clocked up 211.73kms). I'm doing "base-training" at the moment and not racing. The Tour de Beautiful will be my first 'race' (even though its a fun ride) for 2009.


EDIT: I see this post has started a new page. Millie, the Tour de Beautiful details are at the bottom of the previous page...

[kiwi girl]

Pip
I'm still looking for Grape ride accommodation - I've sent you a PM in case (as I hope) your posting implied you know of something (If its one spare bed in whatever you have I could leave BF behind and make a girls weekend away of it)

[hilldweller]

Accommodation? Haven't even thought of that LOL but would be grateful for any suggestions.

New bike (well new second-hand bike) :D, complete with cracked fork :mad:, is in pieces on the living room floor while bike shop tries to sort out insurance and a replacement fork over the holiday period. And I haven't been on a bike for so long I've got no idea how far I can actually ride :confused::confused: 5km? 20km? 30km? Definitely not 100! If I can get bike and body together in time though I'd love to meet up with other TE bods:)

MillieNZ - Otago :D

[Pip]

Hey Hilldweller, whereabouts are you based in Otago? I'm going to be down there in April - my FIL has a vineyard in Bannockburn and we're trying to time our arrival with the grape harvest. Will be taking my bike with me if you're nearby and want to ride together.

I hope you get your bike issues sorted. How frustrating.

[MillieNZ]

Pip - we must have gone up that damn hill around the same time, I swear the air stopped moving at the bottom ! We also haven't done much cycling since Taupo (crappy auckland winds), today Crazycanuck passed us slogging it out up the Hunua hills this morning ... got a Sarah Ulmer ride in five weeks so training time again ;) YA !

RR - Will talk to Hubby about the Tour de Beautiful..... will keep you posted ;)

hilldweller - you can do it :)

would be good to met up or even if we all ride different speeds/distances, catch up for a wine afterwards :D:D:D

I met fellow 'downunder' boardie Crazycanuck today :) Very nice to put a face to the name & seems they enjoyed the hunua mountain park .... i just enjoyed a rather large chocolate muffin and their company !

[Pip]

Crazy Auckland winds .... :D

As a former Aucklander now living in Wellington, and having spent this afternoon slogging it around the Bays into a wretched Northerly in a tiny gear and struggling to maintain 20kmph (at one point I was down to 13kmph - I suck at riding into the wind), I'm smiling gently at your Hunua ride! It must have been lovely out there today though.

I'm keen to catch up for a drink afterwards and I'm sure we'll all keep in touch over the next few months. Perhaps this thread really belongs in the New Zealand forum. I'm wishing now I'd posted something in there when I was training for Taupo and we'd all hooked up sooner.

The Graperide is a good first metric century ride because people of all levels of ability take part so it doesn't matter how fast or slow you are. Other than the false flat up the hill to Picton there's only one real climb - Mahikipawa Hill on Queen Charlotte Drive. QC Drive itself is quite undulating but with the bush and bellbirds and gorgeous views I wasn't noticing the pain last time! Plus they throw a great party afterwards.