indigoiis - what you describe sounds very similar to what I have in mind. The century is July 28, I am starting now to just get out there and get a few miles in and get the feel of my bike again (boy, its been a long time!) and I hope to be really training by mid-May. I was going to start my mid-week rides at 10-12 miles, and my weekend rides at about 30, gradually adding on miles each week.
Is doing this once a week sufficient??Hill training can be done in 45 minutes. Go out, find a hill, and go up and down five times. Practice shifting and different climbing methods.
What I am leaning towards now (with help from advice from all of you) is to do morning rides on M, W, F; gym time in the mornings on Tu, Th; spin class at lunchtime on Tu; and long rides on Sat. If I know in advance that I'll be able to fit in back to back long rides on Sat/Sun, I'll take Thursday off and do that instead.
At this point I wish it would just get warm!!!! I wanted to ride this morning, but it was 36 degrees with ice on my driveway, so I went to the gym instead. I'm a wus when it comes to the cold.