First century for a commuter
08-07-18, 04:56 AM
#1
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First century for a commuter
I have ridden for many years and have done metric centuries, 50 mile rides, triathlons etc but never a full century. I signed up for my first full century in 3 weeks. I ride 8 miles each way to work. How many training rides do I need to be ready? I don't plan to compete, just to finish.
08-07-18, 05:43 AM
#2
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Sounds to me like you're ready.
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08-07-18, 09:08 AM
#3
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Three weeks isn't really enough to do any significant training, and it sounds like your daily commute has you in good shape. Go do your century, take it easy, drink a lot, eat a lot (during the ride :-) ), have fun and come back and tell us all about it.
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08-07-18, 11:52 AM
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fwiw, advice for myself would be:
probably wouldn't be a bad idea to go for a long ride this week
probably wouldn't be a bad idea to go for a long ride this week
- don't ride 48 hrs prior
- start easy (1st 3rd?)
- drink before you get thirsty
- sodium - you can sprinkle a few grains of table salt in your water bottles, not enough to taste. a squeeze of fresh lemon juice will help on long rides
- calcium - w/ food any regular small dose found in over-the-counter vitamin aisles (day before, morning of & 1/2 way) or just one in the morning
- potassium - w/food any regular small dose found in over-the-counter vitamin aisles (day before, morning of & 1/2 way) or just one in the morning
- magnesium - w/food tiny dose found in over-the-counter vitamin aisles (night before & maybe at the 1/2 way if it's a small dose)
- B6 morning & 1/2 way
- B12 morning & 1/2 way
- caffeine pill when you have 20 miles left
08-07-18, 02:05 PM
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When I did my first century I hadn't done more than a couple of 40-50 mile rides in the month or so before and a metric century a week before the century. My daily commute is 5 miles each way.
Drink before you're thirsty is good advice; I usually assume a bottle an hour. If it's a supported century with rest stops feel free to grab a peanut butter sandwich and/or a banana at every stop to eat there or on the bike later.
Hopefully you are happy with your bike's fit and comfort. If not, that's something you could work on adjusting in the next three weeks and it would probably make a bigger impact than trying to train for increased fitness at this point.
Drink before you're thirsty is good advice; I usually assume a bottle an hour. If it's a supported century with rest stops feel free to grab a peanut butter sandwich and/or a banana at every stop to eat there or on the bike later.
Hopefully you are happy with your bike's fit and comfort. If not, that's something you could work on adjusting in the next three weeks and it would probably make a bigger impact than trying to train for increased fitness at this point.
08-08-18, 09:09 PM
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I'm in the same boat for this month. Your weekly mileage is the biggest factor. Sounds like you can handle it. Just get a couple longer rides in during the meantime.
08-28-18, 04:20 AM
#8
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I want to try a century. Currently I cummute (6 miles) then do a few 25 miles on my days off thurs fri sat. Usually putting in between 55-65 miles a week. I have a event my self sept 8th although I’m not committing to the whole 110 miles I’m going to do a half at 55 miles. This weekend I have a 40 mile ride planned to see how that goes. I originally was going to do the 1/4 at 35 miles but I really think that will be too easy for me.
08-28-18, 11:57 AM
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It's hard to impress this upon people who haven't completed a century yet, but it's really just riding your bike all day. Keep turning the pedals and you'll get there. Don't overcomplicate it or psych yourself out.
08-29-18, 10:08 AM
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Don't be hungover. Makes for a long century. But if I can do it hungover, you can do one sober. Trust me, I am NOT the model for fitness by any means. The secret is that a century is more mental than physical. If you can do a metric century and feel good afterwards, a 100 mile ride is easily doable.
just drink water often, stop to eat and rest, and pace yourself using a decent cadence.
just drink water often, stop to eat and rest, and pace yourself using a decent cadence.
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