three months enough to train for century?

[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.