three months enough to train for century?

[Elrona]

Hi folks. I've been taking spinning classes 3x per week this winter and working on abs/arms. Not in tremendous shape but not terrible either- I have a visible six pack, can keep up w/folks in class, etc. Also relatively new to biking- clipless are a challenge and still have to master getting in and out, although I'm much better than I was a month ago when I first got my new bike (Trek Madone 5.0 WSD).

Anyway, my question is this: there is a century in Santa Fe NM on May 20, which gives me three months to train. Do you think this is enough time for someone in my circumstances or should I sit this one out and wait for one in the summer? I don't want a bad experience to spoil my enthusiasm, you know?

Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, I have learned much from these discussion forums already- very happy I registered!

[lacyliz]

My guess - and I do mean guess - is that a Century in the summer or even Fall (when there are usaully many) would be better. I have known a couple of people who did more than they should have and felt a little turned off to cycling.

I just started cycling a year ago and skipped the Empire State AIDS ride in August for the same reason (It's 560 miles in 7 days) - I love (an understatement) cycling and didn't want to be turned off. So, I'll be doing something like it this year instead and I feel pretty confident now.

I don't know about other riders - but spinning class is not the same as road riding for me - I do take spinning classes in the winter months here - just to keep the same muscle groups active - but climbing a real hill is different for me.

However, if you do decide to do it - It's recommended (from vereything I've read and trainers I know) that you train by riding 5-6 days per week, increasing your mileage by about 10-11% a week, working your way up so that you can ride at least 80 or so miles. Maybe the club you're riding with would have a recommended training schedule for the century.

Since I've only been cycling a year, it will probably be good to see opinions from some more experienced riders on the forum, too. Good Luck!

[TrekJeni]

Everyone is different. Not recommending the way I jumped into it but it was doable for me. I was a 5 day a week gym rat getting bored with being inside. Saw a flyer for the local MS150 charity ride and said, "Hey I can do that!" Got out my Kmart front suspension Mongoose and off I went to train. Hmm, "I think I'll get me a new saddle for this thing!" The bike had sat, rusting in the garden shed for the last few years. Headed off to LBS. Owner of bike shop kind of looked at me in disbelief when I told him my goals. He did not however try and sell me a new bike. He said I could give it a go on the department store bike.

I think two weeks went by and I went back to the shop for something. Looking at the bikes I went into sticker shock. "Holy crap! Who would EVER spend $600 on a bike?" Little did I know, little did I know.... (the new bike I'm saving for is $4k!)

I was graduating with my degree and was supposed to pick out a saddle for horseback riding. Picked out a road bike instead. (never did get that saddle and that was in 2005.)

Did the MS150 and had a blast. Fast forward to now, less than 2 years since purchase of bike and have done countless centuries and more, a time trial, road races, and now have a MTB too. Oh and I now date the LBS's owners son!


"IF" you're in good enough shape, I would say go for it. It's plenty of time.

Jeni
disclaimer - if you don't have fun , don't blame me. It's just an opinion!

[maillotpois]

I would also suggest waiting - not so much from a fitness standpoint, but simply because you don't have a lot of time on the bike under your belt.

Being completely comfortable riding outside, among other people, etc. is going to be very important for an outdoor century ride. You may be in good enough shape to do the ride in three months, but will you be comfortable enough using your pedals, riding next to other riders, climbing, descending, etc.? My recollection is that the Santa Fe century has at least one quite notable climb. Will you have enough time practicing eating and drinking on the bike so that you are comfortable doing that? It's critical to be able to drink while riding.

So I'd suggest getting more time in riding outside, at least 5 months, before you do a century.

BUT - if you start riding now and you pick up these skills quickly, then you can probably do it. I just think that the bike handling is the critical component here that you may be lacking in such a short lead time.

[mtkitchn]

I'm thinking about doing that ride, so let me know if you decide to go for it so I can say hello!

[emily_in_nc]

I think you can do a flat century in three months training, I've done that -- but a hilly one may be a different matter. Sounds like you're in good shape, though, so if you're really motivated, and especially if you're young (or relatively so) and willing to put the training time in, it's certainly not out of the question. But you need to start training outdoors now, I think, if that's at all possible. If you can't get outdoors until April, it's going to be much, much harder, and you risk injury by doing too much, too fast.

Let us know what you decide to do! Is there a shorter option on the same ride, say, a metric century or a half-century, you could do to start with? Most new riders start with a metric, or even a half-metric, before doing their first century. It helps to gain experience with a shorter distance on an organized ride before heading out on a century. You'll be riding with less experienced riders like yourself on the shorter routes, and will probably feel a lot more comfortable during and AFTER the ride!

Good luck,
Emily

[melissam]

Well, Elrona, it depends.

Take a look at some of the Century Training schedules -- they're usually 10 week programs to get you ready for a century. Are you up to doing a schedule like this right now? Or do you need to get into shape to do the schedule?

Here's a sample schedule: http://www.diablocyclists.com/RiderT...ingProgram.htm

Are there hills on the century route? If so, you want to incorporate hill climbing into your training.

Do you want to put in the time & miles in order to get ready to ride a century? (This has been my major hurdle during the past couple of years.)

Maillotpois brings up some good points about bike handling skills and comfort with your bike on the road/with the clipless pedals. But don't despair! Are there bike clubs in your area where you could go on group rides? Anyone from your spin class who's an experienced road rider? Maybe they could take you under their wing and give you an accelerated course in road riding.

Does the ride you're considering have other mileage options? A metric century (100kms = 62 miles)? 30 miles?

I live in the SF Bay Area, and we have the infamous Cinderella Century in March. It's an all women's metric century. Several bike clubs in our area have training programs to get women ready for the ride (they teach bike handling skills as well as go on training rides.) They're generally 10 week programs, and they encourage beginners to join. The Cinderella Century is a pretty flat route. But still, it just goes to show you that you can go from being a relative newbie to riding a flat metric century in 10 weeks.

And then, you have these prodigies like TrekJeni! 'nuf said.

Good luck with your decision!

-- Melissa

[TrekJeni]

Well, Elrona, it depends.
And then, you have these prodigies like TrekJeni! 'nuf said.

Good luck with your decision!

-- Melissa

Hey there! Enough!

I'm no prodigy, I think I fall more into the stoopid catagory and should be the poster child for "this is the way NOT to do (insert action here)". I'm just crazier than most folks.

Just today a friend called up and jokingly said we should get the MTB's out and ride the paved bike trail. Well the paved bike trail is lost under inches of snow/ice/snow crap. I told him to saddle up! We fell a few times but learned REAL fast how to deal with sheets of ice. JUST GO STRAIGHT! NO BRAKES! My dog had a blast too.

Looking at the OP's first post on the "getting to know you thread" she lives in New Mexico. Lists running as a hobby. She's able to get outside and ride right now versus having to wait for all this white stuff to melt.

If there are other options on this ride, like the others said, I would train for the 100 but not feel bad about choosing one of the lesser mileages if need be.

After I responded, I wondered how many hills would be on this century. My first wasn't too bad. And Maillotpois brings up an excellent point about being comfortable with others. That is a biggie when riding organized rides.

Good luck!

[Celeste]

Just my opinion, but I say go for it! It sounds like you are in really good shape.

I just signed up for my first Century ride this year too. Signed up and then bought a bike!

So far I feel great! But I also am training with experienced biker Coaches and Mentors. They give us techniques to work with and how to do them with each training session. They also say to ride at least 10-15 miles split up into two other days during the week and then our big weekend training ride.

They tell me that if I do this, that I will get to the finish line with a smile. I am riding twice during the week and one weekend longer training ride and I know that I will finish under my own power on the bike.

Ever since being diagnosed with Leukemia last October, I don't like to hesitate to do things. Jump in, go for it, don't put it off...I mean, for me, I no longer like to say "someday" or "when I am in better shape". Jump in and go for what you want; it is how we learn and grow as individuals in my opinion. Live life; don't wait for someday. You can do this!

I signed up in January, bought a bike in February and will ride 100 miles on May 5th. It is do-able. No I am not in great shape, but I am dedicated and love being on my bike. I can't go more than a day with out getting on it.

Good luck to you!

[Crankin]

While I might give the same advice of starting with the metric, if you train right and learn the road skills, you can do it. Set a realistic time expectation, learn how to drink and eat for long distances, and practice the hills.
I did my first century last fall. Although i have been riding for 6 years, I didn't really train for it, in the sense of doing a specific training plan. However, I chose a flat century for my first one. I knew I could do it, even though my longest ride previously was about 70 miles and it wasn't even during that season. In fact, I don't think I rode any rides longer than 55-60 miles last season, except for the century. But, I do ride hills all of the time and I think that prepared me for some of the difficult stretches we encountered, due to wind and a torrential rainstorm at about mile 85. A lot of the preparation was mental. I set a realistic time of 7 hours, slower than my normal average and was happy when I did it 6 hours, 35 minutes.

[mimitabby]

I say go for it. I trained for 4 months for a double century; and was in nowhere near as good a shape as you are.
(I'm still not)
I didn't enjoy the ride as much as i would have if i'd been in better shape, but it was doable, and i've done more rides since then like it.

[CycleSeashore]

Thanks so much for posting this. I, too, want to train this year for a century, sometime in August or September. I live in New England and it's just way too icy/cold/miserable out there to ride right now. I've been spending lots of time on my trainer with a general program out of the Sidwells book (7-wk Cycling for Fitness). Once it warms up, I'm hoping to do some 40 and 50 mile group rides and it sounds like that will be good training.

We just don't have the cycling community where I live for women's clubs, but our local bike shop is trying to step up and get a bunch of us (male and female) out riding together. Do you all have clubs that you belong to, that you train with?

Thanks!

http://knitseashore.typepad.com/she_cycles/

[Elrona]

Thanks for the advice, folks! You guys are great!

I rode 25 miles yesterday, incuding a great big hill, and it was not really a problem (wow this carbon bike is GREAT!). Melissa M- thanks so much for directing me to the Diablo Cyclist Century Training schedule- pretty sure I can follow it. Weather has been beautiful here in southern NM- clear and sunny, in the 60s during the day. Windy season is coming up, but I've been pelted w/sand when running, I s'pose I can learn to deal w/it when biking.

I have no problem riding w/out hands, eating and drinking on the bike. You are right that my biggest hurdle will be riding in a group, so my next project is to track down a group of people to ride with. I heard about a group made up of mostly retirees- "the "Chowder Club"- that rides here on the weekends. Maybe they'll be patient w/a newbie and willing to share their biking wisdom and experience.

I'll go to Santa Fe one way or another... if something goes wrong (ie bad weather, still don't feel comfie in a group, etc) I'll just do the 50 mile.

I'm just too excited not to go.

[mimitabby]

Thanks for the advice, folks! You guys are great!

I rode 25 miles yesterday, incuding a great big hill, and it was not really a problem (wow this carbon bike is GREAT!).
I have no problem riding w/out hands, eating and drinking on the bike. You are right that my biggest hurdle will be riding in a group, so my next project is to track down a group of people to ride with. I heard about a group made up of mostly retirees- "the "Chowder Club"- that rides here on the weekends. Maybe they'll be patient w/a newbie and willing to share their biking wisdom and experience.

I'm just too excited not to go.

I like your attitude. I've never ridden without hands, it is not a prerequisite for a century!

[CR400]

That's the spirit. You are only really limited by what you think or don't think you can do. Often what you believe about yourself is far more real to you then reality. So a lot about cycling is really about what you truely think you can accomplish not what others think.

I rode my first century 2 years ago in May. In April I had done a 50 mile ride. The Saturday before I did a 55 mile ride with 3 monster hills and a few smaller ones. Anything but flat is the point. The next week I went out and road my first century solo, no support. But then I don't ride to feel all comfortable and happy when I am done. I ride to feel spent and looking for a 12 hour nap. I usually ride not for comfort but speed and the thrill of going fast under my own power.