Hey TexasKate,

It isn't so much how often you ride as how your ride. I ride (either indoors or outdoors) about 6 days a week but each ride has a very specific purpose. Some are recovery rides and some are rides to build endurance or power, etc. I follow a training plan that I developed based on the concepts in Joe Friel's Cyclists Training Bible. My goals for the most part have to do with fitness since I'm not a competitive cyclist.

It sounds like you want to "train" to ride your first century? Here is an example of a 10 week program to build towards such a ride:
http://www.diablocyclists.com/RiderT...ingProgram.htm

Best of luck!

Traveller