training for a metric century or century

[hilldweller]

Maybe four of us! I'm new here. Santa brought me a bicycle for Christmas Sadly it must have been damaged in transit and it came out of the box with a cracked fork so need to get that sorted asap. Last time I rode a bike was Taupo in 2000 Contemplating the Graperide but not sure I'll be able to get fit enough by then Would be great to have an end-of-summer event to aim for though.

This site is fantastic! Last time I did any biking everything was soooooo male dominated . It seems there's been a huge shift during the time I've been off my bike which is just awesome

[kiwi girl]

It will be great to have a group of Team Estrogeners at an event. I did Taupo 9 years ago but have been a bit sporadic in my cycling since then. I need some motivation to stick to it

[Pip]

Four months should be enough to get you ready for the Graperide! I hadn't done a lot of cycling before starting my training for it. I signed up to a seven week programme and my longest ride before the race was only about 60km. I wouldn't recommend that approach - an injury limited my time on bike halfway through the training, but it shows it can be done. I was already reasonably fit from running, but the Graperide's not too hilly, so I think you can do it!

It would be great to meet up with some other TE members down there. I tend to mostly lurk on here so it would be a good way to force to be myself a bit more social.

[Pip]

Oops - make that three and a bit months!

[hilldweller]

How far are you guys riding at the moment?

[RoadRaven]

Whoa! This thread is an EnZedGirl convention!

I won't be doing the Grape ride though it is an event I am interested in "one day"... but will any of you be coming over this way for Tour de Beautiful? Its much smaller of course, and based from Waipukarau but still a lovely ride to do with a range of distances. Its on the 25 January.

[Pip]

I haven't heard of that race, but I like the name. I'm doing the Yarrows 150km race in Taranaki on the 24th of January, so won't be there sorry!

[RoadRaven]

How far are you guys riding at the moment?

At the moment I'm doing "time on the bike" rather than aiming for kms (although I am recording those as well).

I am aiming for 8-9 hours/week in December and 10 hours/week over January.

That has equated to150-200kms per week in December (this last week I did over 9 hours and clocked up 211.73kms). I'm doing "base-training" at the moment and not racing. The Tour de Beautiful will be my first 'race' (even though its a fun ride) for 2009.


EDIT: I see this post has started a new page. Millie, the Tour de Beautiful details are at the bottom of the previous page...

[kiwi girl]

Pip
I'm still looking for Grape ride accommodation - I've sent you a PM in case (as I hope) your posting implied you know of something (If its one spare bed in whatever you have I could leave BF behind and make a girls weekend away of it)