century ride

[ttaylor508]

My first century ever was on a very heavy, very low end mountain bike with platform pedals and a bent rear derailleur. My next century was on a hybrid. So, absolutely you can do a century on a hybrid. And three months is plenty of time as long as you get some base training miles in.

[jobob]

Hi gystme -

Here is a detailed training plan chart, with respect to mileage. There's no way I'd be able to fit all that biking in, personally, but this should give you a rough idea of how to build up your mileage over time.
http://www.actc.org/train/first_century.php

Here's a site I happened across (while I was looking up info on back strengthening using yoga) which isn't super-specific (I take that back, it does get pretty specific in parts!) and seems to give lots of good pointers
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2009/05/2...y-ride-part-1/
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2009/06/1...y-ride-part-2/

Good luck and welcome to TE.

[gystme]

you ladies rock! Thanks for all of the good info! I can't tell you how happy I am that I don't have to drop a couple of thousand for a bike! My hybrid is a good Trek so it fits well. I am so excited to be back riding I am delerious!

[TrekTheKaty]

Of course it's possible if your schedule and the weather participate. You might do a search--I got great advice last year. Where's our coach from Arkansas? I'm pretty sure I followed his plan.

[Miranda]

Here is a link that goes to a great article here on TE.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/content/asa_century

I'm training for my first one too. This article is the only thing I've read specific so far. I kinda thought it pretty much covered everything I really needed to know. I'll be looking up your reply links posted here too though.

I have the general idea for mileage etc. figured out. I need to work on the food and rest. A lot of that if you ask around to other cyclists who hold the century badge is "personal preference". What works for YOUR body, fitness level, etc.

I have a simple paper journal I bought at the drug store for $5 to write down all my century related stuff. How I felt after a ride, anything else happening in life that could be affecting my riding performance, etc. Nice to be able to look back at as you progress.

Sounds like you have your event pick out. But, I also asked around to those same cycling peeps on which local centuries might be best for a first time. I then also contacted the club president of the century I am training for out of town via E. He was helpful w/info and encouraging.

FWIW, good luck!

[Loraura]

#1 - Is it possible to ride a century on a hybrid bike?

Sure. I'm not sure I would want to, but I see people doing it!


#2 - Short story is I was a good rider (for me) @ 40+ mile rides. I fell ill. I have not been riding for 2 years. I am back at square one. Is it possible to train for a century ride - metric or mile - in 3 months or is that overshooting it?

Yes, it's doable, but probably not easy, and will take committment to get all the miles and time in.


Lastly, #3 - can anyone suggest a great site for how to train for a century/metric century.

Last month's Bicyling magazine had a 10 week training program for centuries included in it. It also had a shorter one for shorter distances (metric century). The plan looked like it would be adequate to me. Here's the plan reprinted online:
http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...9050-1,00.html

[TrekTheKaty]

Hi gystme -

Here is a detailed training plan chart, with respect to mileage. There's no way I'd be able to fit all that biking in, personally, but this should give you a rough idea of how to build up your mileage over time.
http://www.actc.org/train/first_century.php

Here's a site I happened across (while I was looking up info on back strengthening using yoga) which isn't super-specific (I take that back, it does get pretty specific in parts!) and seems to give lots of good pointers
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2009/05/2...y-ride-part-1/
http://www.athleta.net/chi/2009/06/1...y-ride-part-2/

Good luck and welcome to TE.

This looks close to what I did. I rode 4-5 days a week, with a long ride on the weekend. I added 10% or 5 miles to my long ride each weekend up to 60-65 (35, 40, 45, 15, 50, 15, 55, 15, 60). Add recovery weekends in as your long ride builds, so you don't burn out. If you're century will be hilly, you might want to make a conscious effort one day a week to ride a hilly route or ride portions of the actual course, if possible.

My BIL's longest ride was 50, but he rides 20 miles pretty-much every day.

[channlluv]

Woohoo! I'm already riding a metric half-century! Well, almost. I'm a couple miles shy, but I could do it.

Okay, I had to go look up a conversion table to see how far a metric century was in relation to miles...62.something...so if I ride 63 miles, that's a metric century, and I can already do 30 miles.

I think I can add a few miles each week as the training programs here suggest. I'm on a mountain bike with mtb wheels...that's slowing me down, but I like the stability. (This from the woman who's wrecked the thing - hard - at least twice since October.)

There's a metric century as part of the Tour of Poway coming in October. That's the ride where DD, age 10 at the time, and I road the 18 mile course, which included the 3-mile-long, 8% Poway Grade. I was hoping we could do the 26-mile course this year, but that's my light training ride these days. Not really much of a challenge, except for my favorite training course doesn't have an 8% grade in it.

Hmmm...could I do a metric century by October? Mebbe.

Roxy

[sarahspins]

I'm aiming for a metric on my hybrid in September... I have NO idea if I'll make it because I'm not halfway there yet, but it is a goal, all the same