One good trick is to break it into sections... don't think of yourself as riding 100 miles in one lick, but do four 25-mile legs, or five 20-milers, real close together with a break at the rest stops in between. Pacing yourself is important. If you go out a little slower than you intended, you can always pick up the pace toward the end of the ride depending on how you feel.

You can generally ride about twice your longest distance on guts and determination alone. You'll be sore afterwards, but you'll have that hundred on the record books to ease your pain ;-)

Use group dynamics... find a group of friends, or make allies out on the road who are riding the same pace as you, and work together. Where there's a wheel to follow, there's a way! Remember that when drafting, you're saving almost a third of your energy, so either bring friends or make friends on the road, and suck wheel shamelessly. You'll make those friends a lot more easily if you're willing to share the work. Swap short pulls, and all of you will find it easier.

Time in the saddle is the best preparation, but if your training program isn't quite what we planned, we can always get by with a little help from friends. Find friends, and ride together. The miles will fly by, and you'll have a lot more fun that way.

Tom