Little Red Riding Hood-Utah

[jobob]

Yep, what sulis said, you can certainly do the 64 miler if you start training now.

The key is to gradually increase the distance you ride over the next 6 weeks.

The general rule of thumb is to increase by about 10% or so each week. The other rule of thumb I've seen (where did they come up with that term anyhow?) is that if you can comfortably do about 75% of your target distance before the ride, you'll be fine. So you'll want to be able to do about 50 miles at one time by the end of May.

You say you're up to about 24 miles right now, so here's a sample plan (assuming you do your long ride on Saturday). It's not exactly a 10% increase per week but close enough.

4/21: 28 miles
4/28: 32 miles
5/05: 36 miles
5/12: 40 miles
5/19: 45 miles
5/26: 50 miles
6/2: LRRH

Also, during the rest of the week you should try to fit in two or three 5 mile rides (gradually increasing one or more of those to about 10 miles) so you don't do just one single long ride one day a week.

Hope this helps! - Jo.

[SadieKate]

The other rule of thumb I've seen (where did they come up with that term anyhow?) . . . .

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/307000.html

[jobob]

Thank you dear.

[Flybye]

hehehehe, here I am thinking that the post following yours with the link on it is more information about how to ease into the 10% per week and it is about "the rule of thumb" Oh, so funny.
Really, though, thanks for the chart with the weeks and amounts of rides. I have been riding TWO 24 mile rides per week and killing myself. Now that I know that it is okay to ride once, I should be in good shape.
I REALLY appreciate your advice.
I am so excited. I feel like a 6 year old on Christmas Eve - I hope this feeling stays with me the whole time, not just a newness thing.
I have registered for the ride and am now checking out hotels -
Thanks again, all of you!

[SadieKate]

No, no, no! That is the length of your longest ride of the week.

Also, during the rest of the week you should try to fit in two or three 5 mile rides (gradually increasing one or more of those to about 10 miles) so you don't do just one single long ride one day a week.

OK, someone needs to find all those links we've posted over the years about weekly training plans. Short and fast rides vs long and slow, etc.

[SadieKate]

Flybye, here is a sample 10 week training plan for a 100 mile century. Jo listed the longest ride for each of those weeks. Take the chart from this article, do some math and scale back for a metric (62 miles). You can amend the schedule down to 3 rides minimum a week. 4 is better.

http://www.kanbike.org/pages/training.php

The LRRH route is very flat but the home stretch can be a headwind all the way home. You need to spend time sitting on that bike. A good rule of thumb when training for such events is: train your legs if it's a hilly ride, train your butt if it's a flat ride. You need to spend time just sitting on that bike going for longer and longer rides.

You have plenty of time between now and then. On event days, your body will find a magical source of energy and take you farther than you expect, but the more training you can do, the more fun you will have on the ride. Be sure to taper the week before the LRRH.

[SadieKate]

Hmm, I just noticed where you live (sorta). You could just ride the route backwards. The 100 milers do their extra mileage in Whydaho.

Where do you live? Hubby was born in St. Anthony.

[jobob]

I have been riding TWO 24 mile rides per week and killing myself. Now that I know that it is okay to ride once, I should be in good shape.
I REALLY appreciate your advice

Err, except that wasn't really my advice.

Maybe I soft-pedaled the concept of doing more that one ride a week. I didn't say it was OK to only do just one ride per week.

I'll clarify: You really really really need to do more than one ride a week. If you're killing yourself right now doing two 24 mile rides per week, then you should consider doing three rides per week, one at the long distance, and two more at 5 to 10 miles.

You need to build up your stamina, and you'll really be doing yourself a disservice if you only do one ride per week.

[sulis]

I'm sure those of you registered got the flier but incase it hasn't arrived yet, looks like the LRRH gang is planning a huge dinner bash at the Bowery Park in Wellsville on Friday June 1st. The dinner is free for riders. If I can find reasonably priced accomodations (hopefully free through friend of a friend of a friend) than I will be up there on Friday. Otherwise, I'll drive up early Saturday.

[Lifesgreat]

I got the card in the mail last week. I like the wolf picture on it

Sounds like a lot of fun and I may even to the 15 mile Friday night ride. I will have to see what the others in my travelling group want to do.

[Lifesgreat]

AK, you aren't going??

I am riding the 70 mile option (advertised as a bit less, but after 65 miles, one does feel it ) and would like to know who else is going that distance?

I, too, will be at the park Friday night. Let's meet up!

Current forcast for next Saturday, right from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.