Hi Autumn Breez (great name)- If you have a bicycle club in your vicinity, I highly reccommend you join. I started riding in August 2003, joined my local club and began riding with them twice a week in October of 2003. Since than I have done 5 centuries and many metric centuries. I am no spring chicken either. What I have learned over this time has been that a lot of your training is learning how your body handles being on the bike.

Every time I do a century, I learn something else about my body. I did one this past Saturday (March 5th) and started cramping at 60 miles. (Fortuneately I wasn't far from the next rest stop where I could start hydrating like crazy which helped). One of my bike club buddies (who rides about 200 mi a week and is older than I am) said that your body can usually keep hydrating until that 60 mile mark and then if you haven't been drinking the cramps will show up. Other centuries I have learned about hot feet, camelbacks, back pains, etc. So I take them as lessons learned for the next one. I am doing another century this Saturday, the first time I have done 2 centuries with 6 days inbetween. We'll see what gifts from Mother nature I get this time!

RE training- I started out doing hills. If you can find a hill near where you live, (Utah-right?) and master that hill, it will make a big difference. I often choose a hill of about 1/4 mile and do it about 3-4times. I start in low gears and gradually go to higher gears. I also practice spinning on the hills as then you learn to get to the top with the least amount of effort.

Why ride with a club? One of the most wonderful things about riding with a club is the social aspect. Fortunately for me, the guys in my club were willing to spend some time coaching me on efficient ways to ride- I had no idea of what spinning was, how to gear down in advance of a hill climb, how to draught, etc. Generally speaking the guys I know are thrilled to have women ride with them As you get stronger (from all the hill work you do on your own) you will start to see that you also get faster. A year ago I was in the back (yes they waited for me but I didn't like being last all the time)and now I am somewhere in the middle. In fact on some hills I now challenge some of the guys just for fun! It's been a wonderful year of riding for me.

One other piece of advice- I have granny gears on my bike and I wouldn't trade them for anything! I switched out shortly after I got my bike as I wanted to do a ride up Mount Diablo (about 3300ft of climing in 13 miles). I'd driven up the road (steeper side) and knew it would take a lot of strength to get up there on a bike. I did the climb last summer thanks to those granny gears. My back cassette is 11/34 and of course I have three chain rings on my front. (Shimano XT Derailleur- a mountain bike set up). This gearing has allowed me to literally walk up (standing on the bike) almost vertical pieces of road.

One other comment- 1st long ride- 20 miles. Then keep increasing- 25-30, 35-40. After you can do 40 miles, you can now do a metric century (63mi). After you do a metric century you are on your way to a century!

I forgot to mention- I joined a gym this year for endurance and a woman who I ride with set me up on a program to increase my strength, etc. That has also helped with speed!

GOOD LUCK and welcome to the road addicts!
Nancy