Maintaining/training for another century?

[Dogmama]

I'll usually do a metric, maybe 70 - 75 miles but no more. If I can do that distance easily, a century is no problem. I would do your longest ride 2 weeks before the century and then taper off. The weekend before, nothing long or hard. Just ride for seat time.

When I did my first century, my longest ride was 65 miles to that point. The century was not difficult because adrenaline carried me along at least 25 miles.

In Tucson we have El Tour de Tucson which is 111 miles. A group trains for it every Sunday. Last Sunday was a windy day. I found myself on a bumpy rural road, going uphill, fighting a 10-15 mph headwind. I had one rider behind me. Or so I thought. When the road turned and went downhill, about 20 riders passed me! I was pulling this huge peloton & had no idea! BUT HERE'S the PART: Not ONE of these jerks pulled me! They broke away & scattered. WELL!!! About 20 miles later, there is this BIG STEEP HILL and weren't they suprised to see ME on their tail about halfway up. (I'm good on hills but I s*uck on downhills 'cause I'm not that big.) I felt like Garfield: "Remember me?"

Sorry for the thread hijack.

For me, the hardest part is the start. I get really nervous with all of those riders - none of whom I know - are manipulating their positions. After the peloton thins out, I'm fine.