HELP!!! Training for a HUGE ride

[papaver]

Texas to Alaska - honestly ??!

I would suggest you seriously re-think this.

+1

I really don't think this is a good idea if you are a beginner. You can do more harm than good.

[crazycanuck]

Hey, hang on a minute...Why shouldn't the OP do the ride? If it's well thought out & if the team trains properly it could be a great ride. Even if the OP gets half way then she's accomplished something. Not only accomplished something but LEARNT something about long distance cycling as well.

I could be crazy....I'll go back to eating my strange quinoa...

[papaver]

Hey, hang on a minute...Why shouldn't the OP do the ride? If it's well thought out & if the team trains properly it could be a great ride. Even if the OP gets half way then she's accomplished something. Not only accomplished something but LEARNT something about long distance cycling as well.

I could be crazy....I'll go back to eating my strange quinoa...

I meant doing the full Texas Nebraska thing...

[shellkay1212]

WOW - this looks AMAZING! I, too, have really crummy knees. But I would sign up for this in a second!

Please keep us posted on your knee/training/riding!

[green]

Yes, my first reaction when I heard about the ride was that all of the people who did it were absolutely crazy, haha. But each team each year consist of mostly beginners. Really. A bunch of my teammates hadn't been on bikes since they were 10 years old. But the whole thing is definitely possible for beginners. It's the cause we're riding for that drives us.

So my therapist said I could start riding. The furthest ride I did before last Saturday was about 24 miles, and then we did a 75-80 mile team ride. I made it for 50, but I started feeling kind of light headed and blank (Like it was just the road, my bike, and me perpetually turning my legs). Maybe it's because I wasn't eating or drinking enough?

This Saturday's our century test, and we have a 10-hour time limit. Past team members have said that we're all ready for it and that the whole thing will be psychological above everything else (i.e., physical preparation, etc.). They said if we can do 20 miles, we can do 100. Which goes against everything I've ever read about training for a century.

After all this time, I still can't take my water bottle out and drink from it while I'm on my bike, so I think I'm just going to pause every 15 minutes to take a quick drink.

Does anyone have any other advice on riding a century? It shouldn't be THAT bad. I mean, it's like doing four 25-mile rides...right?

[papaver]

One isn't that bad no.


Just drink every 20 mins, and eat every hour. That's really essential. Take your time and try not to go too fast. Don't stop too long. A couple of minutes, otherwise it'll be harder to get into your rythmn

[maillotpois]

Does anyone have any other advice on riding a century? It shouldn't be THAT bad. I mean, it's like doing four 25-mile rides...right?

Exactly. Just break it up like that. When you start the day, you're not riding 100 miles; you're riding 25. Then another. And so on. All the double centuries and long brevets I have done I approach like this. I'm not riding 600k; I'm riding to the next controle.

[mayanorange]

You can do it! one mile at a time if need be! And I still have issues with my bottle too- I recently got a camelback and I'm in love. I still have a bottle with my Endurance Fuel System mix, but it's nice to get a quick sip without the fumble.

[Brandy]

I made it for 50, but I started feeling kind of light headed and blank (Like it was just the road, my bike, and me perpetually turning my legs). Maybe it's because I wasn't eating or drinking enough?

What is your nutrition strategy on long rides? It sounds like that could have been the issue. I'm one of those people that knows better, but I still get myself into trouble here, particularly if it's not a hot day.

For a long distance ride like a century, you need to start taking fuel on right away so you don't get into a deficit that it's hard to bounce back from. Keep the fuel coming consistently, eating before you're hungry and drinking before you're thirsty.

[tantrumbean]

When I was really really stressed about my first century last year, someone gave me the following advice: "Pedal one turn, repeat as necessary - you will get there!"

I know it sounds dead basic, but for some reason it really helped!