century ride

I have three questions that I am hoping someone will be able to answer. #1 - Is it possible to ride a century on a hybrid bike? #2 - Short story is I was a good rider (for me) @ 40+ mile rides. I fell ill. I have not been riding for 2 years. I am back at square one. Is it possible to train for a century ride - metric or mile - in 3 months or is that overshooting it?:eek: Lastly, #3 - can anyone suggest a great site for how to train for a century/metric century. I googled it, but I am getting sites that are very vague. I need something that is specific. Thank you everyone!

Regarding the 3rd question - you say you want something specific. What, specifically, do you mean by specific? :D

The sites I am seeing say - up your mileage each week - numbers please? They may say have a good snack during and after the ride - examples please? I guess I am a gal that likes specific examples and plans since this would be my first real training for something. All of the other rides were just for my personal enjoyment so I wasn't really "training" per say. I am sure I was probably doing things incorrectly as far as speed and eating and I am open to any tips that anyone has to offer.

I have three questions that I am hoping someone will be able to answer. #1 - Is it possible to ride a century on a hybrid bike?
Perfectly fine to ride a century on a hybrid. If it's comfortable and it fits you- then go for it. I've seen people riding centuries on everything from fancy tri bikes to heavy mountain bikes. Ride what you have that's comfy.


#2 Is it possible to train for a century ride - metric or mile - in 3 months or is that overshooting it?
I think that's plenty of time to get ready to ride a century. Big difference between a metric century and a mile century, tho, so your training will be different for each.



Lastly, #3 - can anyone suggest a great site for how to train for a century/metric century. I googled it, but I am getting sites that are very vague. I need something that is specific.
This site:http://bicycling.about.com/od/traini.../a/century.htm
has specific mileages for each week for 10 weeks. It just tells you the long ride and the total mileage. Good info.
This site: http://bicycling.about.com/od/traini...ntury_tips.htm
also has some good info on nutrition.
If it's an organized ride, they'll have food/drinks at regular rest stops. Stop at each and grab something to eat. They'll usually have things like: granola bars, gatorade, oranges, bananas, pickles, etc. Eat some food and refuel at every chance. I like to bring mini Payday candy bars (peanuts for protein, salt, sugar), but that's my personal preference.

1) Certainly you can do it on a hybrid. Obviously make sure whatever bike you choose is in good working order and fits you well (you might find some interesting new pains around mile 75-80, but you certainly don't want ones you know are there nagging you from mile 25!)

2) I would guess 3 months is adequate. I never really trained for (and didn't even plan to ride) my first century. There is quite a difference in a metric vs. a mile century. I ride a metric almost every weekend now (after a few months of consistent riding) and think nothing of it (sometimes I ride two!). Going 100miles is still a mind over matter (muscles) experience for me though, but I can do it if I put my mind to it.

Still, I think you have time to achieve either if you get a good training schedule going.

3) No help there; I just ride :o

I think one of the most important things is going to be planning the ride out. Is this a supported century you are aiming to ride in or unsupported (on your own). If it's supported you'll likely have rest stops and water refills planned out for you. If you are doing it on your own you should think about things like that as well as what route you want to take (doing a climbing intensive century would be no fun, if not near impossible, if you don't normally climb on your rides). Planning a route with safe places to pull off to the side and stretch/eat, especially in the latter half, as well as places you can stop and restock your water/food is probably wise.

For reference last weekend I went through 4 water bottles with one being a sports drink (so that's at least 1 refill stop, I stopped twice) and 3 1/2 powerbars. After mile 75 or so I stopped to stretch every 10-15 miles for a few minutes. You may not have to stop just to stretch; I was hitting some hills and the mental game was getting harder ;)

Good luck, and have fun :)

My first century ever was on a very heavy, very low end mountain bike with platform pedals and a bent rear derailleur. My next century was on a hybrid. So, absolutely you can do a century on a hybrid. And three months is plenty of time as long as you get some base training miles in.

Hi gystme -

Here is a detailed training plan chart, with respect to mileage. There's no way I'd be able to fit all that biking in, personally, but this should give you a rough idea of how to build up your mileage over time.
http://www.actc.org/train/first_century.php

Here's a site I happened across (while I was looking up info on back strengthening using yoga) which isn't super-specific (I take that back, it does get pretty specific in parts!) and seems to give lots of good pointers
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2009/05/2...y-ride-part-1/
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2009/06/1...y-ride-part-2/

Good luck and welcome to TE.

you ladies rock! Thanks for all of the good info! I can't tell you how happy I am that I don't have to drop a couple of thousand for a bike! My hybrid is a good Trek so it fits well. I am so excited to be back riding I am delerious! :D

Of course it's possible if your schedule and the weather participate. You might do a search--I got great advice last year. Where's our coach from Arkansas? I'm pretty sure I followed his plan.

Here is a link that goes to a great article here on TE:).

http://www.teamestrogen.com/content/asa_century

I'm training for my first one too. This article is the only thing I've read specific so far. I kinda thought it pretty much covered everything I really needed to know:o:D. I'll be looking up your reply links posted here too though;).

I have the general idea for mileage etc. figured out. I need to work on the food and rest. A lot of that if you ask around to other cyclists who hold the century badge is "personal preference". What works for YOUR body, fitness level, etc.

I have a simple paper journal I bought at the drug store for $5 to write down all my century related stuff. How I felt after a ride, anything else happening in life that could be affecting my riding performance, etc. Nice to be able to look back at as you progress.

Sounds like you have your event pick out. But, I also asked around to those same cycling peeps on which local centuries might be best for a first time. I then also contacted the club president of the century I am training for out of town via E. He was helpful w/info and encouraging.

FWIW, good luck!:)

#1 - Is it possible to ride a century on a hybrid bike?

Sure. I'm not sure I would want to, but I see people doing it!


#2 - Short story is I was a good rider (for me) @ 40+ mile rides. I fell ill. I have not been riding for 2 years. I am back at square one. Is it possible to train for a century ride - metric or mile - in 3 months or is that overshooting it?

Yes, it's doable, but probably not easy, and will take committment to get all the miles and time in.


Lastly, #3 - can anyone suggest a great site for how to train for a century/metric century.

Last month's Bicyling magazine had a 10 week training program for centuries included in it. It also had a shorter one for shorter distances (metric century). The plan looked like it would be adequate to me. Here's the plan reprinted online:
http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...9050-1,00.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jobob

Hi gystme -

Here is a detailed training plan chart, with respect to mileage. There's no way I'd be able to fit all that biking in, personally, but this should give you a rough idea of how to build up your mileage over time.
http://www.actc.org/train/first_century.php

Here's a site I happened across (while I was looking up info on back strengthening using yoga) which isn't super-specific (I take that back, it does get pretty specific in parts!) and seems to give lots of good pointers
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2009/05/2...y-ride-part-1/
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2009/06/1...y-ride-part-2/

Good luck and welcome to TE.

---

This looks close to what I did. I rode 4-5 days a week, with a long ride on the weekend. I added 10% or 5 miles to my long ride each weekend up to 60-65 (35, 40, 45, 15, 50, 15, 55, 15, 60). Add recovery weekends in as your long ride builds, so you don't burn out. If you're century will be hilly, you might want to make a conscious effort one day a week to ride a hilly route or ride portions of the actual course, if possible.

My BIL's longest ride was 50, but he rides 20 miles pretty-much every day.

Woohoo! I'm already riding a metric half-century! Well, almost. I'm a couple miles shy, but I could do it.

Okay, I had to go look up a conversion table to see how far a metric century was in relation to miles...62.something...so if I ride 63 miles, that's a metric century, and I can already do 30 miles.

I think I can add a few miles each week as the training programs here suggest. I'm on a mountain bike with mtb wheels...that's slowing me down, but I like the stability. (This from the woman who's wrecked the thing - hard - at least twice since October.)

There's a metric century as part of the Tour of Poway coming in October. That's the ride where DD, age 10 at the time, and I road the 18 mile course, which included the 3-mile-long, 8% Poway Grade. I was hoping we could do the 26-mile course this year, but that's my light training ride these days. Not really much of a challenge, except for my favorite training course doesn't have an 8% grade in it.

Hmmm...could I do a metric century by October? Mebbe.

Roxy

I'm aiming for a metric on my hybrid in September... I have NO idea if I'll make it because I'm not halfway there yet, but it is a goal, all the same :)