Training to Century Ride Day ?Mileage Span?

[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.