Training to Century Ride Day ?Mileage Span?

[Flybye]

I am not advocating the couch to 100 mile ride program, I am just wanting to satisfy my curiosity as I train this spring.

1. If you have completed a century ride (US, not metric) what was your longest ride prior to the century?

2. Who has the largest gap or a very large gap of miles between a training ride and a century? How did the ride go for you?

Also, what training programs do you like? I am using one from last year that I tweaked because it had me on the bike 6/7 days a week which just doesn't work for my schedule.

Again, I am not looking for an excuse to ride 100 after warming the couch all winter, I just want some stories to play around with in my head while I ride................ "so and so did the 100 after only logging a 40 mile ride, says the inner drill sargent"................that kind of thing.

Also, what advice or words of wisdom keep you riding mile upon mile upon mile?

I always think.."I can do 5 more miles."

[makbike]

Flybye, my longest ride prior to my first century was 70 miles. I used a training program I found online (unfortunately, it is no longer available ). I basically increased my mileage each week by 10-15% and took one day off each week.

Words of advice: Have Fun! Ride your Ride! Have Fun!

[Hammer]

It depends on how quickly you want to do the century. If you want to just complete it, it's not a huge deal...

I'm still a novice, but I've done the distance almost 3 times. Though I maybe shouldn't have technically done any of them. I'd done at least 60 miles a time or two before them. One time I crashed (not bonked, but hit the pavement) 93 miles in, that was with a 70 mile ride the day prior and 100 miles the day prior to that. The first 100 that week was hard, fairly windy, but okay. A better experience than the first time around. And the 93 was REALLY hard, wind and rolling hills. That was a test of morale. Then I hit some railroad tracks.

The first time I did 100, I can't remember how many times I'd ridden 50+, I know that I did nearly 70 on a ride before that. The last 25 that time were hard, I was by myself that 25 and I was tired and cranky. But I expected something different.

Get as many miles done as possible before. And after that, it's really just 4 25 mile rides, especially if you have all day to do it. It takes me like 6+ hours. I'm a slowpoke.

Is there a ride that you're hoping to do?

[indysteel]

The longest ride I did prior to my first century was about 70 as well and that century was the longest ride I'd done before doing RAIN, which is 160 miles. I just did a 95 mile ride last Sunday and my longest ride for this year prior to that was 48 miles. I've never really followed a training plan per se. Like Makbike, I've generally just gradually increased my mileage and taken rest days as needed. At this point, I'd worry more about the terrain than the actual mileage.

[vermonster]

I ride a century every summer. It's a benefit ride for a cancer center and that's kind of what keeps me going mile after mile. I love the ride itself, but I hate training for it. I don't really follow a "plan" other than to keep increasing my mileage and then do a few long (75-90 miles) rides in the weeks leading up to the century. The benefit ride is mostly in NH (I'm in Northwestern Vermont) so, I never get a chance to ride the event route until the day of. If you need/want a "so and so did a century and..." you can use this one: "vermonster rides centuries and she's completely out of shape!"

[Blueberry]

Not quite a century but...

For a variety of reasons, my longest ride last summer was in the 40-45 range. I happily did 82 on the MS ride (would have done it again the 2nd day but for a tropical storm). I was slow, but I had a blast! And I was NOT the slowest of the riders

CA

[indysteel]

Remember, too, that some well placed snacks, adequate water and some stretching at rest stops can make a century a lot easier.

[7rider]

1. If you have completed a century ride (US, not metric) what was your longest ride prior to the century?

2. Who has the largest gap or a very large gap of miles between a training ride and a century? How did the ride go for you?

Also, what training programs do you like? I am using one from last year that I tweaked because it had me on the bike 6/7 days a week which just doesn't work for my schedule.

Also, what advice or words of wisdom keep you riding mile upon mile upon mile?

I always think.."I can do 5 more miles."

Well, I'm probably the poster child for how NOT to prepare for a century!
Last year, I did a century (actually 103 miles) with over 7,500 feet of climbing after being sick with a nasty head cold for about 2 weeks. I managed to eke out 2 commutes the week prior to it (14 miles each), but other than that...no riding AT ALL for those 2 weeks. Ugh.
Prior to that, my longest ride had been a metric century....3 months prior to it.
I had only intended to DO the metric that day, but peer pressure got the better of me, and off I went with the group...who promptly dropped me within the first 3 miles of climbing.
Oh...it was also about 95 degrees out! Blazin' hot!
I survived it and will likely do it again, but I was never so glad to see the end of a ride.

What kept me going was this:
1. Don't think of it as 100 miles. Think of it as 4 25-miles rides (the approximate distance b/t rest stops). It's easier on the psyche that way...I think, anyway.
2. If you're doing it solo...find someone to ride with. Even if you hop from group to group with complete strangers....find someone moving at your pace, say "hi" and ask to hang on for a bit. Having someone to ride with and chat with makes the miles go by quicker. Otherwise, it's boring as h###.

[Kano]

I am not advocating the couch to 100 mile ride program, I am just wanting to satisfy my curiosity as I train this spring.

Am I guessing that we're not feeling anywhere near ready for red riding hood? (some of us are still not sure we're brave enough to sign up, especially with the ride schedule we've kept....) (or is that not kept?)

It's been a GREAT winter for skiing, but now that the mountain is closed for the season, I sure wish that the weather would stabilize down here in the valley! I'm SUCH a cold, north wind weenie!

Karen in Boise

[blondiebiker]

I trained for six weeks for my first century, biking twice a week: a short distance (20-25) during the week and a longer ride on the weekend. The longest distance that I got in on the "longer" rides was 45 miles (I was writing my thesis at the time!), but when it came time for the century I felt prepared and had a blast doing it!

[SouthernBelle]

My longest ride was also in the 70 mile range. I did an 8 week training program but only ended up training about 4-5 days a week as I needed more rest than some folks.

[Crankin]

I've only done one century and I also subscribed to the "didn't really train for it" method. In fact, my longest ride that season was probably 55 miles. Now, this was a flat to rolling century, but it's along the coast and there were headwinds that were worse than any climb I've done. And we were hit with a temperature drop of 20 degrees, pouring rain, and lightning at mile 85.
Other than that, eat enough and like the others said, divide the ride up into easily visualized segments. I knew that if I made it to the 60 mile stop, I would finish. I didn't care about speed at all; I had a vague idea of finishing in 7 hours riding time and I did it in 6.5.

[Aggie_Ama]

Prior to my first century in Oct 2004 I rode the MS150 in April which had 90 miles on day 1 and 80 miles day 2. I rode often and long (max 76) to prepare for the MS150 and I felt fresh as a daisy at the end.

Then I started only wanting to do about 20 miles April-October since I used to wilt in the Texas Sun. I ran 4 times a week, so I was in good shape physically. The century went well until about mile 80. My knees began to swell, my back to hurt and it became a war of attrition. I made it to mile 102 (finish) but I felt it in every muscle.

Last year I did four centuries (July, August and two in September) and rode 100 miles total nearly every weekend from April on. I was able to put up good times, yet on three of them I still had to really push to get through. They were all hot, which isn't the best weather to have at mile 80 on.

I would say a century can be more mental than physical. If you want to see 100 miles you will find a way, barring a crash or true physical issues.

[Flybye]

Sorry I haven't replied to the post I started. We went out of town for the weekend and saw Newsboys in concert (Christian rock band from Australia - they were GREAT!) and just got home..................this will be a bit lengthy, but..............................

I used a training program I found online (unfortunately, it is no longer available ).

Marbike - I can't find mine either - I wonder if we were using the same one last year!

I know that I did nearly 70 on a ride before that. And after that, it's really just 4 25 mile rides.
Is there a ride that you're hoping to do?

Hammer - Your mileage and thinking of it as 4-25 mile rides seems to be the consensus. I am sorry that you wrecked at mile 93! I wrecked the other day at mile 39/40! I am signed up to to the Little Red Riding Hood ride in Wellsville, Utah. I did the 64ish metric last year. I had a blast.

I've never really followed a training plan per se.

Indysteel, I like the way you think! Innovative!

It's a benefit ride for a cancer center and that's kind of what keeps me going mile after mile.............. you can use this one: "vermonster rides centuries and she's completely out of shape!"

I think I can use both of these, actually! Don't be so hard on yourself - how many people have ridden several 100's?? You can't be completely out of shape!

And I was NOT the slowest of the riders

Yeah, not that there is anything wrong with that but I don't want to be the one that hears "ON YOUR LEFT" ALL day long!!!!!

Remember, too, that some well placed snacks, adequate water and some stretching at rest stops can make a century a lot easier.

I first read your post as "Remember, too, that some well placed SNAKES, adequate water and some stretching................... " Well placed SNAKES, what the &^%@?

Well, I'm probably the poster child for how NOT to prepare for a century!

Move over - I'll take it from here

Last year, I did a century (actually 103 miles) with over 7,500 feet of climbing after being sick with a nasty head cold for about 2 weeks. I managed to eke out 2 commutes the week prior to it (14 miles each), but other than that...no riding AT ALL for those 2 weeks. Ugh.
Prior to that, my longest ride had been a metric century....3 months prior to it.
I had only intended to DO the metric that day, but peer pressure got the better of me, and off I went with the group...who promptly dropped me within the first 3 miles of climbing.

I think we may be related. First off, I think I'd be, well, shall we say, stubborn- enough to ride when I am sick and pretend (not that you did) that I wasn't. Second off, I think that peer pressure would easily get the better of me, too. "Sure, I can ride 600 miles if you say so!" Just kidding, but I really considered doing the full century last year because several people said that they thought I could - strangers who didn't know me from the next spandex clad woman in the crowd. Then I thought - what the ____ am I thinking??

Having someone to ride with and chat with makes the miles go by quicker. Otherwise, it's boring as h###.

Yep. I train alone. The cows in the field don't talk back when I holler at them. I need to get a multiple personality to train with me when I ride. My evil nemesis or something like that!

Am I guessing that we're not feeling anywhere near ready for red riding hood?

What?? Are you kidding?? I have spent HOURS on the trainer this winter. Actually, I have perfected the art of carbo-loading - I think I have enough research to write a paper. I am steadily getting ready, though. Tomorrow I tackle the 50 mile ride! I think I have enough carbo stores from the winter that I should be able to ride for a week without eating - hahahaha!! Are you signed up for Little Red???? I was in Boise Saturday night for a concert at the Taco Bell arena. Your weather was BEAUTIFUL - did you get out and ride??

The longest distance that I got in on the "longer" rides was 45 miles

All hail! Blondiebiker - WOW!! That's encouraging! My helmets off to ya!

I did an 8 week training program

Southernbelle - which one did you use??

I didn't care about speed at all

Neither will I unless the sag wagon approaches to tell me that I am the last one on the course

My knees began to swell, my back to hurt and it became a war of attrition.

With that many centuries and the knee issue, I have another question - did you take Ibuprofen? My physical therapist says that the endurance athletes he works with all subscribe to the "3 -I's" Ice - Ibuprofen - and Ignore. Works for me!

[Veronica]

2. Who has the largest gap or a very large gap of miles between a training ride and a century? How did the ride go for you?

I jumped from 60 to 160 miles this year. It was suppose to be 187 miles, but my knee couldn't take it.

But I've done doubles in the past so it doesn't really count.

V.