gauging progress

[Trek420]

Lynne drools..."back to back centuries! I think I'd really love that...that's a great goal after Cycle Oregon."

The rule of thumb in training for the AIDS ride (similar distance to yours, 7 days, 585 miles) is you should be able to do back to back centuries *before* going on the ride....I never did that.

My training rides were mostly 30 milers with one metric centruy, the Cinderella and I'd say I did pretty well for a 48 year old gal with "if I was a horse they'd shoot me" knees.

And I'm training similarly again this year except with a road bike right from the start.

"As for the drinking..I really don't drink much...it'd likely be only a beer or two, but still enough to relax and enjoy the "spoils" of the day. Oh! And thanks for the advice on eating and drinking before I feel it. As a woman, I always try to make sure I never eat unless I am truly hungry-it will be a weird thing to reverse that life-long training. "

well, they don't allow alchohol on the Lifecycle although I'm sure many just went into town since I don't drink that was no problem

but coffee dehydrates you so I went without all week and am just now waking up 6 mo later ;-)

As for food I think you don't just train your body for a ride of this length, you train your stomach; what do you like to eat what can and can't you eat to keep going. Have fun, experiment with different energy drinks, you're an athlete, think of it as fuel. Also women's sports nutrition needs are diferent than mens, ask the nice ladies on TE!

You don't put cheap gas in a Porsche, and if you run out of gas the Porsche just stops, right? Oatmeal (the real stuff, not instant Quaker is best) for me is key, with oatmeal for breakfast I'm not hungry or tired clear to the lunch stop. Ate that every day on the ride as well as anything else in reach.

here's a good article about nutrition for women cyclists

http://www.velogirls.com/fuel.html

"I have to say, Friday (the 40 mile trip) was SO much fun! It sucks so much having to wait out the rest of the week...bleh!"

You're doing 40 mile rides at this point? You are doing fine! Do you cross train during the week?

"Oh, and thanks for telling me that all the people who will be "blowing past me" won't necessarily ride the whole day...I had no idea! I WOULD have tried to keep up, too. "

I bonked on day 3 of the Lifecycle, it was not fun. But did well the rest of the ride. But I got to talk to the others on the bus, get an idea of what happened, why they didn't complete the day. Ranged from mechanical stuff like they did not take care of their gear, never got a proper fit or first ride clipless (yikes). Most did not hydrate and or eat right and blew up trying to go fast. Take care of your body and stay out of the IV tent.

Speaking of which a lot of people take up rides of this sort with the best of intentions for the charity but without proper training or gear. You will probably like the AIDS Lifecycle ride have a mass start day 1, as your ride goes on you fall in with people who
a) get up and get going at the time you do and
b) ride your pace.
But your first day you probably all start together.

If so on the first day just stear clear of the "debris", people will be on their first day on a road bike, first time clipless, don't know how to signal etc. Just ride safe. and have fun!