New rider training for 50 mile ride at end of September - realistic?

[Lucky, Fabulous]

I started biking this summer and did my first 50 mile ride on June 1st. You can totally do it - though I think it's best to find people to train with. It makes it a lot more fun and gives you something to think about besides pedaling.

[Kano]

While I agree riding with people is great, but you gotta know......

there's nothing wrong with riding alone and thinking about pedaling!

We spend so much of life with others, and so many things to do, what I really enjoy about riding alone is that it's probably about the only time I'm totally in the moment, able to put all of the other demands of daily life aside. with only me, my bike, and the road asking anything of me!

The competitive thing that starts in my brain when I'm out riding with DH is fun too -- and when even more people are involved, that's its own kind of fun!

All three things have their plusses for improving my confidence on my bike!

Karen in Boise

[mimitabby]

please invest in a pair of gloves! your hands can really get torn up on a simple fall. And if you sweat, it's better in open fingered gloves than it is on bare handlebars.

Other than the helmet, sunglasses, extra tubes and pump I think that covers it (in addition to what others have said)

[Blueberry]

please invest in a pair of gloves! your hands can really get torn up on a simple fall. And if you sweat, it's better in open fingered gloves than it is on bare handlebars.

Really good point! DH took a tumble Sunday (a ride he always does - he just lost his respect for gravel momentarily). His hands had bruises through his gloves. I shudder to think how deep the puncture wounds would have been (he had a pretty good one on his arm, in addition to the usual rash).

CA

[MM_QFC!]

+1 on checking into your local bike club(s)...that way, you'll have some opportunities to ride with others, as your event ride is surely with a larger group. It's always good to have some experience in riding on roads, in traffic with others, learning and practicing correct road signals, stopping/starting up, crossing R/R tracks, even minor roadside maintenance, as in changing a flat tire ahead of time, so that it's incorporated into your preparation.

Most clubs have rides scheduled for new riders and are led by a trained (volunteer) ride leader, experienced in and willing to continue leading novices so that they won't ride off and drop you or go too fast or on difficult terrain either. Look for social-paced rides on easy/flat routes with low mileage to begin, then show up, learn from others and have fun!

Also, I had a couple of decades on you when I decided to participate in my first AIDS fundraising ride. It was for a 4-day, 50 miles/day (200 total with MUCHO hills!) ride and I had a big ol' heavy hybrid, sneakers/toeclips, tshirts...but I did invest in a helmet, cycling shorts, cycling gloves and water bottles as was wisely suggested here, plus I went to my LBS' free flat tire repair session, so I was all set. Yes, it was hard, but I trained well for it and it was an amazing experience (fyi: that was about 40k miles and $100k plus ago!).

Go for it!
Tailwinds!
Mary

[PscyclePath]

Jen:

You've got ten weeks... so yeah, it's possible, but you need to get out and ride. Bicycling Magazine has a ten-week schedule that's quoted quite often on how to ride a century, somewhere they have a similar schedule for a fifty mile ride or metric century. I know there's a copy of it in their Long Distance Cyclist's Handbook, from Rodale Press, not sure if they've got it on their web site.

For now, here's a century training schedule that we put together for a local ride at the end of September, you can basicaly cut the distances in half, and be ready for the fifty-miler: http://www.kidsarus.org/centennial/b...e/schedule.pdf

If you can't ride 6 days a week like this schedule says, don't worry about it. Ride at least three times during the week, and on the weekend or a free day, do one "long" ride of at least 90 minutes at what you consider your touring, or event pace. Work up to the point where you can spend up to 3 hours in the saddle (with breaks, of course) and you should be good to go...

Tom

[jenbug]

Hi,

I just wanted to say thank you everyone for your advice! I'm definitely going to go for the 50 mile now! I'll let you know how I get on....

[DebTX]

I did what you're doing last year. Learned to ride mid summer (on a hybrid) and signed up for a 50 mile charity ride at summer's end.

2 things to reassure you:
1) There is so much "positive energy" at these charity rides that it keeps you going well beyond what you could do yourself just training on weekend mornings
2) I rode with my husband, who was recovering from cancer treatment, and worried that one of us might not be able to make the whole thing. The mentor assigned to us (because we were newbies) told me there's always a "sag wagon" along the route to pick up riders who've done all they can. So it's not like you'd get stuck in the middle of nowhere, with your bike. I would suspect this is common at most large charity events, but you could ask.

It was an *amazing* experience to do the ride. We're training to do it again this year. Only we bought road bikes and now I'm busy getting used to the difference!

Enjoy the experience