Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
Given that I've ridden in the areas that Catrin is speaking of in Southern Indiana, I'd add that, while there are exceptions, few of the hills are rollers such that you can use momentum to get up them.....

Catrin, check CIBA's calendar, along with the Bloomington Bicycle Club and the Bloomington Parks Department. The Parks Department offers a century (and shorter routes) called the Hoosier Hills Challenge the first weekend in October (I think) that hits many of the challenging climbs in Brown County. Depending on which brevet you set your sights on, that ride might be the best yardstick to use to see if you're ready. Beyond that, CIBA offers 5 or 6 weekend rides plus some GT rides that are hilly, some being harder and hillier than others. They're CIBA's most popular rides; I recommend them highly.
I hadn't thought on checking in Bloomington, that is a good idea! I have already picked some of the CIBA southern rides to check out. I will also check out the Hoosier Hills Challenge, that might be a really good idea - especially if I decide to do the November brevet in Nashville, TN rather than October in Ohio. Either way it would likely be a good idea.

Quote Originally Posted by maillotpois View Post
I liked what Indy noted - that you might work to get yourself up to a certain mileage level and spend some time getting used to that mileage before ramping up again........So you might want to build up to the 60 - 70 mile level and spend 3 weeks to a month riding at that distance just to get used to it before you increase again.
I have 4 months total to prepare in, but it makes sense to do this in some way. I might not be able to spend an entire month - ideally I would like to be reach a century by October 1 and then spend the next almost 3 weeks just staying with it/getting comfy with it for the next 16 days. I think this is where it will be important to listen to my body, carefully.

I am also thinking this might be a good time to finally get that book on nutrition for cyclists that I have seen recommended elsewhere on this forum. It is probably time to start eating to sustain endurance rather than to target weight loss - currently I am only on a 1500 calorie "budget" and it is probably about time to change that. I have been known to go as high as 1700 calories on heavy days - but the definition of a "heavy day" is likely about to change