Can I ride a century?
January 3, 2025 11:33 AM Subscribe
Signing up for a fundraising bike ride this Spring. There are different distance options. Can I ride a century? I would like your personal experience to inform my commitment.
I am an experienced but slow cyclist and have (maybe 5 or 8 years ago) done a multi-day bikepacking ride where my longest days were usually about 30 miles. I have been doing spin class a couple times a week for a couple years and just started bike commuting again (7 miles each way, mostly flat, with one big hill).
I am physically active and consider myself fit, but I do not consider myself athletic or fast. About 6 days a week I am either spinning, biking, doing 30 min to an hour of yoga, or hiking for an hour or two, or some combination. I've been doing some HIIT classes but sometimes they are too hard for me and I get really exhausted in an un-fun way. I'm 50 with no major health issues. I am happy with my size and believe BMI to be a crock of shit but mine is 30-31 - more chub than muscle - and in my experience my body size does correlate with slowness on a bike.
Oh yeah, I'm slow. That 7 mile ride currently takes me 55 minutes in the uphill direction - maybe 50 in the downhill. I don't care much about being slow but simple math tells me I actually can't do a century at this rate.
I am working on a training schedule to be ready for the ride in May. Can you help me figure out if a 100 mile in one day goal is attainable or realistic for me? Any advice on a training schedule is welcome.
I am an experienced but slow cyclist and have (maybe 5 or 8 years ago) done a multi-day bikepacking ride where my longest days were usually about 30 miles. I have been doing spin class a couple times a week for a couple years and just started bike commuting again (7 miles each way, mostly flat, with one big hill).
I am physically active and consider myself fit, but I do not consider myself athletic or fast. About 6 days a week I am either spinning, biking, doing 30 min to an hour of yoga, or hiking for an hour or two, or some combination. I've been doing some HIIT classes but sometimes they are too hard for me and I get really exhausted in an un-fun way. I'm 50 with no major health issues. I am happy with my size and believe BMI to be a crock of shit but mine is 30-31 - more chub than muscle - and in my experience my body size does correlate with slowness on a bike.
Oh yeah, I'm slow. That 7 mile ride currently takes me 55 minutes in the uphill direction - maybe 50 in the downhill. I don't care much about being slow but simple math tells me I actually can't do a century at this rate.
I am working on a training schedule to be ready for the ride in May. Can you help me figure out if a 100 mile in one day goal is attainable or realistic for me? Any advice on a training schedule is welcome.
Doing a century at 7 to 8 miles an hour may not be recommended by the ride organizers -- at many rides they have a pace they want you to hit for doing the longer distances. I think at the ride I did this summer it was 14 mph average. That may be something you want to check and work into your training plan.
posted by chiefthe at 11:53 AM on January 3 [4 favorites]
posted by chiefthe at 11:53 AM on January 3 [4 favorites]
The general rule of thumb is that you can ride in one day what you ride in a week, so if you regularly ride 100 miles in a week your fitness will be good enough for doing the century. Might not be as fast as you'd like but you'll be able to make it.
But the main thing to work on will be how your butt and rest of body deal with that much time on the saddle and handlebars. And that you'll only get a feel for by doing other long rides in preparation.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:54 AM on January 3 [3 favorites]
But the main thing to work on will be how your butt and rest of body deal with that much time on the saddle and handlebars. And that you'll only get a feel for by doing other long rides in preparation.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:54 AM on January 3 [3 favorites]
In my experience as a casual cyclist who built up to a century over about 4 months, the pace will be somewhere around 20 percent slower than the one-hour pace. If you're currently at around an 8 mph pace for your commute, that implies maybe 7 mph, which would be 14 hours, plus at least an hour of breaks.
The goal is, presumably, to enjoy yourself, and potentially biking from 6 am to 9 pm doesn't sound like fun. Definitely make sure you have a decent bike that's well fitted, but if that doesn't make a significant difference, I'd sign up for a shorter distance this year, like a metric century. If that goes well, you could do a longer distance in the fall or next year. (Some rides also let you drop down to shorter distances after signup. If that's an option, you can just see where you are in April or May.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:00 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
The goal is, presumably, to enjoy yourself, and potentially biking from 6 am to 9 pm doesn't sound like fun. Definitely make sure you have a decent bike that's well fitted, but if that doesn't make a significant difference, I'd sign up for a shorter distance this year, like a metric century. If that goes well, you could do a longer distance in the fall or next year. (Some rides also let you drop down to shorter distances after signup. If that's an option, you can just see where you are in April or May.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:00 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
I did it just to visit a friend once At the time I was probably riding 5 or 6 miles 2 or 3 times a week. It took me around 12 hours. Felt pretty sore the next day, and I was 22 at the time.
posted by pipeski at 12:00 PM on January 3
posted by pipeski at 12:00 PM on January 3
As Dashy mentions, a century is all about endurance, which is also related to fueling. That many hours on the bike is rather different from an intense hour-long spinning class or similar a few times a week, and puts you at greater risk of "bonking" if you don't fuel properly. Figuring out how your body responds to that distance in the saddle, and getting a sense of the fuel you need to keep going, is something you'll need to determine in training, so getting long rides in ahead of time is essential.
Another way you can approach it is to work up to a semi-long ride, like 50 miles, and then ask yourself how you would feel if you had to repeat that effort right away.
Personally, I'm 50, I'm faster than you are, and I've done a few centuries, and I've basically decided that I don't enjoy spending that much time in the saddle! When I get to about 70 miles and it hits me that I still have 30 MILES TO GO it just feels like a slog.
That said, if your body is ready for it and you're doing it as part of a fun event with other people and SAG stops with good snacks, that can make getting to the finish much more enjoyable and leisurely. But I would suggest if you can't maintain at least 10mph or so, it will not only be a long day, but you might be on your own the whole time which can be discouraging and/or boring.
posted by Ms. Toad at 12:22 PM on January 3 [8 favorites]
Another way you can approach it is to work up to a semi-long ride, like 50 miles, and then ask yourself how you would feel if you had to repeat that effort right away.
Personally, I'm 50, I'm faster than you are, and I've done a few centuries, and I've basically decided that I don't enjoy spending that much time in the saddle! When I get to about 70 miles and it hits me that I still have 30 MILES TO GO it just feels like a slog.
That said, if your body is ready for it and you're doing it as part of a fun event with other people and SAG stops with good snacks, that can make getting to the finish much more enjoyable and leisurely. But I would suggest if you can't maintain at least 10mph or so, it will not only be a long day, but you might be on your own the whole time which can be discouraging and/or boring.
posted by Ms. Toad at 12:22 PM on January 3 [8 favorites]
It's very much possible, but will you enjoy the necessary hours needed to build your endurance? Are you practiced at eating and drinking on the bike? Fueling and hydration will play a huge part in your ability to do a century (on preview, what Ms. Toad said).
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 12:24 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 12:24 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
In a nutshell, you can but not without significantly changing your training to emphasize endurance. You need to understand how your body handles extended time riding. As your distance increases you'll learn what pace you can reasonably expect to maintain and better predict how long it will take you. I find that on my longest rides (60m+) my average speed drops about 1 mph or so vs. my 30 mile average.
Your bike may be fine for 30 mile rides but become uncomfortable on longer rides. Sometimes that's just a matter of adjusting seat/handlebar height or changing seats (a good bike shop can help here). The only way to be sure is ride longer.
Hydration and fueling are monumentally important for a century, check the ride documentation for where the aid stations will be so that you know what you'll have to eat and drink on the ride. I learned the hard way that failing to eat and drink enough is a surefire way to become exhausted. There are lots of products for getting carbs and electrolytes in you, you might want to try a bunch to see which ones you like the best.
All that said, a Century in just a few months is going to be a significant challenge to prepare for unless you start now. The sooner you know if this is doable for you the better.
posted by tommasz at 12:46 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
Your bike may be fine for 30 mile rides but become uncomfortable on longer rides. Sometimes that's just a matter of adjusting seat/handlebar height or changing seats (a good bike shop can help here). The only way to be sure is ride longer.
Hydration and fueling are monumentally important for a century, check the ride documentation for where the aid stations will be so that you know what you'll have to eat and drink on the ride. I learned the hard way that failing to eat and drink enough is a surefire way to become exhausted. There are lots of products for getting carbs and electrolytes in you, you might want to try a bunch to see which ones you like the best.
All that said, a Century in just a few months is going to be a significant challenge to prepare for unless you start now. The sooner you know if this is doable for you the better.
posted by tommasz at 12:46 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
Also, as everyone else has noted, get your nutrition straight, both in terms of what you like to/can eat, and how much and how frequently you need to do it. In my experience, the number one problem people who aren't used to long rides run into is not consuming enough calories, electrolytes, and water, either in terms of volume or pacing. You absolutely do not want to count on the ride providing everything you need to eat and drink (though it can be a nice supplement). If you don't have a favorite powder to put in your water bottle, you should think about finding one!
Regarding the endurance vs. speed question: I'm an experienced cyclist and have done a couple of centuries, including with "slow but steady" riders whose pace I matched. My takes:
As other people noted, the ride provides support, food, emergency services, etc. They'll do so most effectively if you're roughly with the main body of riders. If you're way in back, you may need to be more prepared to self-support to some extent, because the lunch stop might have packed up before you arrive (or simply might be out of bananas or another preferred snack), and you might need to be proactive about calling for support if you fall or get a flat: if nothing else, there won't be other riders near you to witness it, and you might be behind the SAG. In extremity, the ride might have wrapped up before you finish.
Also, don't underestimate the extent to which a long ride is hard on your body--mostly but not exclusively your butt and your hands--simply based on the number of hours you're on your bike. It seems counterintuitive, but I actually find rides where I exert myself more less excruciating than taking it easy once I'm past the 6 or 7 hour mark, I suspect because I'm doing less "sitting" in the saddle. That is, I honestly experience more discomfort over X quick miles vs. X slow miles, because the amount that my butt hurts is close to 100% a function of time in the saddle, not how hard I've been working. And when I'm riding hard my butt is in the saddle less.
posted by pullayup at 1:03 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
Regarding the endurance vs. speed question: I'm an experienced cyclist and have done a couple of centuries, including with "slow but steady" riders whose pace I matched. My takes:
As other people noted, the ride provides support, food, emergency services, etc. They'll do so most effectively if you're roughly with the main body of riders. If you're way in back, you may need to be more prepared to self-support to some extent, because the lunch stop might have packed up before you arrive (or simply might be out of bananas or another preferred snack), and you might need to be proactive about calling for support if you fall or get a flat: if nothing else, there won't be other riders near you to witness it, and you might be behind the SAG. In extremity, the ride might have wrapped up before you finish.
Also, don't underestimate the extent to which a long ride is hard on your body--mostly but not exclusively your butt and your hands--simply based on the number of hours you're on your bike. It seems counterintuitive, but I actually find rides where I exert myself more less excruciating than taking it easy once I'm past the 6 or 7 hour mark, I suspect because I'm doing less "sitting" in the saddle. That is, I honestly experience more discomfort over X quick miles vs. X slow miles, because the amount that my butt hurts is close to 100% a function of time in the saddle, not how hard I've been working. And when I'm riding hard my butt is in the saddle less.
posted by pullayup at 1:03 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
I totally think you can do this! I'm about your age now, and I did it about 12 or so years ago, but you are bicycling much more now than I was then. I also started training in January for a mid-May century. At the time, I was commuting to work (about seven miles total each day, usually five days a week then) but not doing any additional riding.
I changed up a few things: I added an increasingly longer ride on the weekends and eventually added a longer ride once a week as part of my commute. Often my longer weekday ride looked like this: on a Tuesday, I'd bring in an extra set of clothes to work, and then, on Wednesday, I'd take my lighter bike without all my stuff a longer way in, making my commute in about 10-14 miles rather than just 3.5. Then, I'd shower and put on the extra clothes I had brought in the day before.
On the weekends, I started off doing rides of about 20 miles, and pretty flat, adding some distance (not all that much!) each week (I think they wanted me to add 10% a week?). I found a few standard century training plans online; the event organizers might have one for you too. The trickiest part for me, without a garmin or smart phone at the time and living in a new-ish place, was route-planning. It could have been simplified if I had a few basic routes and added miles each week, but I was also experimenting with new routes and figuring out where I wanted to ride, which added a fair amount of time. I also learned a ton about things other folks here have mentioned: how much water and electrolytes I needed (took me a long time to realize that drinking electrolytes mixed in with my water kept me hydrated much better than guzzling twice as much water); how much food I needed and how to pack it; how to dress in all sorts of weather conditions; how to carry extra clothes and such on my bike; how to deal with minor mechanicals. I had a friend I rode with sometimes, but not for every ride.
The longest ride I did before my century was 60 miles, about two weeks prior to the event. Everything I read suggested that the volume of riding I did during the week was meaningful, and that, for an event, I could likely double my longest training ride. My training plan wanted me to work up to a ride of 50 miles two weeks before the event and instead I got to 60, plus the commute miles during my regular work week. I was well-prepared for the event. The time in the saddle was super important: those longer rides got me used to being on my bike for many hours in a row.
An organized event makes much of this easier, since they do a lot for you on the event day: they plan and mark the route (right?) and provide food and rest stops with bathrooms and likely basic mechanical troubleshooting. Plus, they likely have a sag wagon in case you need it. All this means you don't have to carry a ton of food or worry about where to refill water or figure out where to use the bathroom.
You already have the mileage to jumpstart your training. In fact, I think the basic issue for you and your HIIT is that you are already pretty active, and I wonder if you are giving yourself enough recovery time. Do you take any supplements? Excuse me for sounding like a fitness influencer here, but creatine is a supplement with plenty of medical evidence behind it, and it can really help with recovery. I'd suggest you buy some and take a few grams every day up til the event. It's not something that will hurt, even if it doesn't help. I started taking it this summer and found that I was able to recover more quickly on a multi-day bicycling trip that really pushed me, while a friend of mine had an easier time early in the trip but totally bonked by day three.
Can you swap out a longer bike ride on the weekend for the hike you are doing now? Start with 20 miles, and then do 22, then 25, and so on. If you are commuting even four days a week, that's already 42 miles, so the volume you have is substantial. I might actually suggest backing off of the HIIT as you add miles, especially if it's really tiring you out. Also, I am going to suggest that, on one or two days a week, during that hill part of your commute, you push it just a little bit. It doesn't have to be much, or whole hill! Not at all. Just go a little bit hard for a little bit of the hill, and maybe add a little bit more each time. Something like, "I'm going to keep pushing a half-block."
I will also say that in-town commutes tend to be slower than fitness rides. Riding in cities with stoplights and traffic tends to take more time than the kind of riding we do on longer rides, where we prioritize routes that let us get going without as many stops. You might find you are faster on longer rides that aren't just around town.
You are riding more than an hour most days of the week. I think you are further ahead that you realize, and I'm kinda bummed at the naysayers in this thread. Many century plans, for people who are already riding a bike, will start you at 8-12 weeks out. I totally think you can do this. Good luck!
posted by bluedaisy at 1:14 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
I changed up a few things: I added an increasingly longer ride on the weekends and eventually added a longer ride once a week as part of my commute. Often my longer weekday ride looked like this: on a Tuesday, I'd bring in an extra set of clothes to work, and then, on Wednesday, I'd take my lighter bike without all my stuff a longer way in, making my commute in about 10-14 miles rather than just 3.5. Then, I'd shower and put on the extra clothes I had brought in the day before.
On the weekends, I started off doing rides of about 20 miles, and pretty flat, adding some distance (not all that much!) each week (I think they wanted me to add 10% a week?). I found a few standard century training plans online; the event organizers might have one for you too. The trickiest part for me, without a garmin or smart phone at the time and living in a new-ish place, was route-planning. It could have been simplified if I had a few basic routes and added miles each week, but I was also experimenting with new routes and figuring out where I wanted to ride, which added a fair amount of time. I also learned a ton about things other folks here have mentioned: how much water and electrolytes I needed (took me a long time to realize that drinking electrolytes mixed in with my water kept me hydrated much better than guzzling twice as much water); how much food I needed and how to pack it; how to dress in all sorts of weather conditions; how to carry extra clothes and such on my bike; how to deal with minor mechanicals. I had a friend I rode with sometimes, but not for every ride.
The longest ride I did before my century was 60 miles, about two weeks prior to the event. Everything I read suggested that the volume of riding I did during the week was meaningful, and that, for an event, I could likely double my longest training ride. My training plan wanted me to work up to a ride of 50 miles two weeks before the event and instead I got to 60, plus the commute miles during my regular work week. I was well-prepared for the event. The time in the saddle was super important: those longer rides got me used to being on my bike for many hours in a row.
An organized event makes much of this easier, since they do a lot for you on the event day: they plan and mark the route (right?) and provide food and rest stops with bathrooms and likely basic mechanical troubleshooting. Plus, they likely have a sag wagon in case you need it. All this means you don't have to carry a ton of food or worry about where to refill water or figure out where to use the bathroom.
You already have the mileage to jumpstart your training. In fact, I think the basic issue for you and your HIIT is that you are already pretty active, and I wonder if you are giving yourself enough recovery time. Do you take any supplements? Excuse me for sounding like a fitness influencer here, but creatine is a supplement with plenty of medical evidence behind it, and it can really help with recovery. I'd suggest you buy some and take a few grams every day up til the event. It's not something that will hurt, even if it doesn't help. I started taking it this summer and found that I was able to recover more quickly on a multi-day bicycling trip that really pushed me, while a friend of mine had an easier time early in the trip but totally bonked by day three.
Can you swap out a longer bike ride on the weekend for the hike you are doing now? Start with 20 miles, and then do 22, then 25, and so on. If you are commuting even four days a week, that's already 42 miles, so the volume you have is substantial. I might actually suggest backing off of the HIIT as you add miles, especially if it's really tiring you out. Also, I am going to suggest that, on one or two days a week, during that hill part of your commute, you push it just a little bit. It doesn't have to be much, or whole hill! Not at all. Just go a little bit hard for a little bit of the hill, and maybe add a little bit more each time. Something like, "I'm going to keep pushing a half-block."
I will also say that in-town commutes tend to be slower than fitness rides. Riding in cities with stoplights and traffic tends to take more time than the kind of riding we do on longer rides, where we prioritize routes that let us get going without as many stops. You might find you are faster on longer rides that aren't just around town.
You are riding more than an hour most days of the week. I think you are further ahead that you realize, and I'm kinda bummed at the naysayers in this thread. Many century plans, for people who are already riding a bike, will start you at 8-12 weeks out. I totally think you can do this. Good luck!
posted by bluedaisy at 1:14 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
As others have noted, most centuries do have time limits, and 7MPH will not get you through the century in time. I rode my last century about 10 years ago, at 45, and I averaged about 13 MPH (fwiw, I have a very similar body shape to what it sounds like you're describing for yourself). Still nowhere near as fast as a lot of folks, but I. hate. hills. so it was a good enough pace for me and I was able to make up some speed on the flatter stretches of the route.
All that being said, you sound fit enough that, if you dedicate the time to training, you can get yourself up to averaging 12-14 MPH from where you are now fairly easily. It does take time, though - you have to build up to it, you can't expect to just spend a few weeks getting ready and then go out on ride day and fire off the 100 miles. But there's a lot of good advice in this thread, and you absolutely have enough time between now and May to build up to that goal.
Go get it!
posted by pdb at 1:19 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
All that being said, you sound fit enough that, if you dedicate the time to training, you can get yourself up to averaging 12-14 MPH from where you are now fairly easily. It does take time, though - you have to build up to it, you can't expect to just spend a few weeks getting ready and then go out on ride day and fire off the 100 miles. But there's a lot of good advice in this thread, and you absolutely have enough time between now and May to build up to that goal.
Go get it!
posted by pdb at 1:19 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
I signed up for a century when I was regularly riding a few 25 mile rides each week with a cycling club and also on my own. Then my work travel became crazy and I had to postpone until the next year. I only logged 60 miles that spring (four rides averaging 15 miles each) and still went out for the ride.
Fuel is so important. That race had some route changes which messed up their food supplies and it was a nightmare of no snacks and only gu packs being passed around amongst riders, so make sure you have enough energy sources on you even if they promise lots of food! The other thing with food stations is they can be fun, casual spots to engage with others. I spent way more time at fuel stops than I anticipated.
As for how my body handled it, I felt great until the midpoint of the ride when my thighs were just rock hard and I'd stop every ten miles to massage the pain out. I also had lost some of my saddle comfort after a year of not riding much, so being friendly at rest stops led to some new packs of butt chamois being passed along which was needed!
I made it, but I finished way later than I would've expected and I would say I did it in 6-7 hours of on bike time, plus all the breaks along the way. This ride was out to montauk and is known for being pretty flat.
posted by icaicaer at 1:22 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
Fuel is so important. That race had some route changes which messed up their food supplies and it was a nightmare of no snacks and only gu packs being passed around amongst riders, so make sure you have enough energy sources on you even if they promise lots of food! The other thing with food stations is they can be fun, casual spots to engage with others. I spent way more time at fuel stops than I anticipated.
As for how my body handled it, I felt great until the midpoint of the ride when my thighs were just rock hard and I'd stop every ten miles to massage the pain out. I also had lost some of my saddle comfort after a year of not riding much, so being friendly at rest stops led to some new packs of butt chamois being passed along which was needed!
I made it, but I finished way later than I would've expected and I would say I did it in 6-7 hours of on bike time, plus all the breaks along the way. This ride was out to montauk and is known for being pretty flat.
posted by icaicaer at 1:22 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
Maybe as a first step: this weekend, or soon, instead of going for a hike, go for a joyride on your bike in an area well-suited for recreational riding, and see how long it takes. I really think that your 7mph on your commute will translate to something a bit faster when you're not commuting, but I can't guess at your commute or the traffic and timing situation.
Also, the more you ride, the faster you'll get, even if your commute continues to take about the same amount of time. I say this after bike commuting for over a decade. Just like driving a car faster doesn't get you anywhere faster during rush hour, sometimes a bike commute takes a certain amount of time regardless of your fitness and speed.
I would not presume that your 7mph commute now will translate to a 7mph century in May after months of training. I'm not sure why folks here are being so negative. I think you have a great base to give this a shot.
posted by bluedaisy at 2:22 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
Also, the more you ride, the faster you'll get, even if your commute continues to take about the same amount of time. I say this after bike commuting for over a decade. Just like driving a car faster doesn't get you anywhere faster during rush hour, sometimes a bike commute takes a certain amount of time regardless of your fitness and speed.
I would not presume that your 7mph commute now will translate to a 7mph century in May after months of training. I'm not sure why folks here are being so negative. I think you have a great base to give this a shot.
posted by bluedaisy at 2:22 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Yes, you can do this, and for *most* people in your position, it's helpful to train with other people riding in a group for motivation/accountability.
For the past several years I've been leading a group in Seattle that prepares riders in the 10-12mph pace range to ride from Seattle to Portland in July which is two back-to-back centuries. It's convenient that the routes we ride are diverse in distance and elevation, and all the riders need to do is show up every week—the leaders do all the navigation. We don't actually ride 100 miles in a day in any of these training rides, but we encourage riders to do some shorter mid-week rides so they get enough time in the saddle. The longest we do is a metric century. I've met some riders who aren't able to ride as fast as 10mph (on flats) and I've found that once the mileage of the training rides gets past 50, they tend to drop out because very few people can actually enjoy being in the saddle for more than 12 hours. Knowing what challenges your own body faces at the higher mileage is really important. Does your saddle feel fine until you get to 70 miles, then is your butt approaching one of the circles of hell? Important to know ahead of time!
You will be significantly less miserable if you can work on a few key strategies.
For example, we find that when our slower riders get their bikes dialed in fit-wise by a professional, and figure out their own hydration and fueling strategies, they start being able to ride faster and can stick with the group training program longer.
Here is our basic sample training schedule for 15 weeks starting in April. If you don't have a group, this may be your biggest challenge, designing routes and riding them by yourself. It's both physically and mentally hard to ride this many miles on your own.
Week 1: 20 miles, 800' elevation
Week 2: 22 miles, 800' elevation
Week 3: 22 miles, 960' elevation
Week 4: 25 miles, 1000' elevation
Week 5: 35 miles, 1600' elevation
Week 6: 35 miles, 1850' elevation
Week 7: 42 miles, 1900' elevation
Week 8: 45 miles, 1900' elevation
Week 9: 50 miles, 2000' elevation
Week 10: 50 miles, 2000' elevation (+ a mid week shorter ride)
Week 11: 53 miles, 1400' elevation (+ a mid week shorter ride)
Week 12: 60 miles, 2350' elevation (+ a mid week shorter ride)
Week 13: 70 miles, 2150' elevation (+ a mid week shorter ride)
Week 14: 50 miles, 1800' elevation
Week 15: Ride from Seattle to Portland in two days!
You can totally do this!
posted by oxisos at 2:37 PM on January 3 [3 favorites]
For the past several years I've been leading a group in Seattle that prepares riders in the 10-12mph pace range to ride from Seattle to Portland in July which is two back-to-back centuries. It's convenient that the routes we ride are diverse in distance and elevation, and all the riders need to do is show up every week—the leaders do all the navigation. We don't actually ride 100 miles in a day in any of these training rides, but we encourage riders to do some shorter mid-week rides so they get enough time in the saddle. The longest we do is a metric century. I've met some riders who aren't able to ride as fast as 10mph (on flats) and I've found that once the mileage of the training rides gets past 50, they tend to drop out because very few people can actually enjoy being in the saddle for more than 12 hours. Knowing what challenges your own body faces at the higher mileage is really important. Does your saddle feel fine until you get to 70 miles, then is your butt approaching one of the circles of hell? Important to know ahead of time!
You will be significantly less miserable if you can work on a few key strategies.
For example, we find that when our slower riders get their bikes dialed in fit-wise by a professional, and figure out their own hydration and fueling strategies, they start being able to ride faster and can stick with the group training program longer.
Here is our basic sample training schedule for 15 weeks starting in April. If you don't have a group, this may be your biggest challenge, designing routes and riding them by yourself. It's both physically and mentally hard to ride this many miles on your own.
Week 1: 20 miles, 800' elevation
Week 2: 22 miles, 800' elevation
Week 3: 22 miles, 960' elevation
Week 4: 25 miles, 1000' elevation
Week 5: 35 miles, 1600' elevation
Week 6: 35 miles, 1850' elevation
Week 7: 42 miles, 1900' elevation
Week 8: 45 miles, 1900' elevation
Week 9: 50 miles, 2000' elevation
Week 10: 50 miles, 2000' elevation (+ a mid week shorter ride)
Week 11: 53 miles, 1400' elevation (+ a mid week shorter ride)
Week 12: 60 miles, 2350' elevation (+ a mid week shorter ride)
Week 13: 70 miles, 2150' elevation (+ a mid week shorter ride)
Week 14: 50 miles, 1800' elevation
Week 15: Ride from Seattle to Portland in two days!
You can totally do this!
posted by oxisos at 2:37 PM on January 3 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I've fallen off the training regime of late, and I'm the sort of person who if I hopped on the bike tomorrow I'd ride out to a bakery stop at a town a little over 20 miles away, come back, and then do whatever else I'd do with the day (though without much sitting, because the saddle soreness is the main thing I worry about training for). So 40 miles with hills feels like a warmup to me even though I haven't been on the bike in a meaningful way in 3 years.
And I think I've ridden two formal centuries thus far, though I've definitely had some days in the circa 100 mile range when casually club riding or out by myself.
With that background: Distance is about butt calluses and, as many people have said up above, nutrition management. It can also be about drafting and sharing leads in the group you're riding with, but let's assume you're not gonna have that.
So: I believe that the thinking a decade or two ago when I was riding more seriously (and with people who knocked out doubles for fun) was that you can absorb 250-300 calories/hour while riding, circa 800 resting. Make sure you're maxing that, and not going too far over it (nobody wants ugly puking 'cause you can't absorb the sugar). I generally carry two water bottles, or a water bottle and a Camelback. The water bottle has a dilute sports drink, and I try to pace that to the riding absorption rate.
Give your self a little extra at the rest areas, knowing that the solids won't absorb so fast. If you have rest stops, don't carry more water than you have to.
Have rest area discipline. It's super easy to let a drop in and out become a have a sandwich, take a nap, and turn a 7 or 8 hour ride into a 12 hour one, but slam that electrolyte bottle down as you're approaching, and in 15 minutes pee break plus some solid snacks you can absorb nearly what you will on the next hour on the bike.
Learn how to draft and about drafting etiquette, because even if you don't have a group you're going with, you'll likely to find folks to ride with and behind. Nobody cares if you don't take a lead, people do care if you're inconsistent in follow distance, or if they think you're gonna cause a collision. Tandems, in particular, do not want you to take the lead (you can't ride consistently enough to be a good lead for them), but are amazing to draft.
If you can get the map ahead of time, give yourself some potential bail points (probably a good idea to tell someone at a stop or sag that you're going off course, when I volunteered for a big ride we didn't track everybody, but we did track the double riders, and SAG drivers may have their eyes out for particular riders they think may have issues).
But, for all that? Hell yeah, you can do this. Spend time in the saddle to toughen your butt (and wear chamois lined shorts). Get on the course early, enjoy the day,
posted by straw at 2:39 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
And I think I've ridden two formal centuries thus far, though I've definitely had some days in the circa 100 mile range when casually club riding or out by myself.
With that background: Distance is about butt calluses and, as many people have said up above, nutrition management. It can also be about drafting and sharing leads in the group you're riding with, but let's assume you're not gonna have that.
So: I believe that the thinking a decade or two ago when I was riding more seriously (and with people who knocked out doubles for fun) was that you can absorb 250-300 calories/hour while riding, circa 800 resting. Make sure you're maxing that, and not going too far over it (nobody wants ugly puking 'cause you can't absorb the sugar). I generally carry two water bottles, or a water bottle and a Camelback. The water bottle has a dilute sports drink, and I try to pace that to the riding absorption rate.
Give your self a little extra at the rest areas, knowing that the solids won't absorb so fast. If you have rest stops, don't carry more water than you have to.
Have rest area discipline. It's super easy to let a drop in and out become a have a sandwich, take a nap, and turn a 7 or 8 hour ride into a 12 hour one, but slam that electrolyte bottle down as you're approaching, and in 15 minutes pee break plus some solid snacks you can absorb nearly what you will on the next hour on the bike.
Learn how to draft and about drafting etiquette, because even if you don't have a group you're going with, you'll likely to find folks to ride with and behind. Nobody cares if you don't take a lead, people do care if you're inconsistent in follow distance, or if they think you're gonna cause a collision. Tandems, in particular, do not want you to take the lead (you can't ride consistently enough to be a good lead for them), but are amazing to draft.
If you can get the map ahead of time, give yourself some potential bail points (probably a good idea to tell someone at a stop or sag that you're going off course, when I volunteered for a big ride we didn't track everybody, but we did track the double riders, and SAG drivers may have their eyes out for particular riders they think may have issues).
But, for all that? Hell yeah, you can do this. Spend time in the saddle to toughen your butt (and wear chamois lined shorts). Get on the course early, enjoy the day,
posted by straw at 2:39 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
This is going to be highly dependent on the route - are there climbs? How steep are they? How do they compare to the ones that you regularly ride?
My partner recently rode a century (in miles) on flat, coastal terrain and then got his butt kicked on a 30 mile bikepacking ride in the mountains with long, steep climbs. He completed the ride, but walked his bike for a few of the miles.
Train the elevation as much or more than the distance, if there are climbs involved.
posted by A Blue Moon at 4:40 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
My partner recently rode a century (in miles) on flat, coastal terrain and then got his butt kicked on a 30 mile bikepacking ride in the mountains with long, steep climbs. He completed the ride, but walked his bike for a few of the miles.
Train the elevation as much or more than the distance, if there are climbs involved.
posted by A Blue Moon at 4:40 PM on January 3 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you are riding as much as you are, you can very definitely ride a century. In fact, you could probably ride a century right now, if you really wanted or needed to, and if you ate the right things in sufficient quantities to avoid bonking.
That brings up the real issue, though: Can you ride a century this spring comfortably and fast enough to meet the requirements of the ride.
To do that, you'll have to train, not just kinda keep riding as you are. What you are specifically training for is being able to ride faster and longer comfortably.
Also, learning what you need to eat and drink, how much, and when, in order to keep fueled and hydrated on long rides. If you haven't experienced this, you can ride about 30 miles - 3 hours, more or less - without eating anything special. But after that, your body literally runs out of fuel and you will "bonk" hard. To prevent that, you have to eat and drink the right things in the right amounts starting in hour 1.
What you will want to do is keep riding your daily schedule, but then a couple of times a week you have a dedicated training ride. You'll want to gradually add miles, with the goal of riding at least 70 miles once, about 2 weeks before the real ride. (During the final 1-2 weeks you ramp down to conserve your strength for the big event.) So one ride every week, maybe on the weekend, is a long ride with ever-increasing distances as time goes on.
The other one is a "tempo" ride where you push to increase your speed. For that one you can do things like intervals (one minute as fast/hard as you can; ride easy for 1 minute - repeat 5 or 10 or 15 times. Try this with different intervals ranging from 10 seconds to maybe 5 minutes) and time trials (find a course, ideally a circuit, where you can ride a half mile or mile or two predictably and without interruptions - ie no traffic lights, something like a right-hand stop sign where you always come to a complete stop before proceeding is fine, just do it the same every time. Ride it once and time yourself. Ride again and try to beat that time. Ride again and try to beat that time. You can do it even 4 or 5 times in one day, and then again a week or two later. You will be AMAZED at how much faster you can ride a fixed course once you make that an actual goal that you work towards and measure. And you'll be amazed at how you can suddenly go 10% or 20% or event 30% or 50% faster and yet it doesn't feel hard and doesn't hurt any more.)
Both the distance and the speed training rides are fun to do in groups. Riding with a group once a week is a great training program all of its own.
Beyond that, everything others have mentioned on this thread is good advice.
I would think seriously about the bike you are going to ride for 100 miles. It is very, very likely that the perfect bike for riding 5 or 10 miles around the city is very much NOT the same bike you want to ride on a 100 mile group ride.
If you look at all the people who ride long-distance rides like centuries, they pretty much ALL use the SAME KIND of bike. There is a reason for that - that's the kind of bike that allows you to ride distances like that quickly and comfortably.
So you don't have to go out and buy a brand new $6000, or even $2000, road bike, but if you can put your hands on just about anything that looks more like that kind of bike, you'll probably see your average speed go up by 20% or even more, instantly.
Of course you can spend any amount of money on a bike, from $20 to $20K, but if you spend some time shopping used, you can usually pick up a hell of a bike for about $200. Maybe it's from the 90s or even the 80s, but it's a road bike and looks like the bikes in the photo linked above, perhaps without the electronic bling-bling and such that doesn't really matter.
What's important is #1. That it's the right general kind of bike, meant to go fast & far, with the right tires, right gears, right general shape, etc and #2. That it fits YOU right. (Subject for a whole nother book...)
If you're absolutely dead set against spending even $200 or so on a new or different suitable bike, at least take your current bike into a shop, tell them you're planning to ride a century on it, and see what they can do to make it more suitable.
Often slicker & maybe slightly narrower tires can increase your speed by 10% or more without any increase in effort. Different or tweak handlebars might improve aerodynamics and be more comfortable. A different saddle might help. And so on. Tires, though - #1.
posted by flug at 11:54 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
That brings up the real issue, though: Can you ride a century this spring comfortably and fast enough to meet the requirements of the ride.
To do that, you'll have to train, not just kinda keep riding as you are. What you are specifically training for is being able to ride faster and longer comfortably.
Also, learning what you need to eat and drink, how much, and when, in order to keep fueled and hydrated on long rides. If you haven't experienced this, you can ride about 30 miles - 3 hours, more or less - without eating anything special. But after that, your body literally runs out of fuel and you will "bonk" hard. To prevent that, you have to eat and drink the right things in the right amounts starting in hour 1.
What you will want to do is keep riding your daily schedule, but then a couple of times a week you have a dedicated training ride. You'll want to gradually add miles, with the goal of riding at least 70 miles once, about 2 weeks before the real ride. (During the final 1-2 weeks you ramp down to conserve your strength for the big event.) So one ride every week, maybe on the weekend, is a long ride with ever-increasing distances as time goes on.
The other one is a "tempo" ride where you push to increase your speed. For that one you can do things like intervals (one minute as fast/hard as you can; ride easy for 1 minute - repeat 5 or 10 or 15 times. Try this with different intervals ranging from 10 seconds to maybe 5 minutes) and time trials (find a course, ideally a circuit, where you can ride a half mile or mile or two predictably and without interruptions - ie no traffic lights, something like a right-hand stop sign where you always come to a complete stop before proceeding is fine, just do it the same every time. Ride it once and time yourself. Ride again and try to beat that time. Ride again and try to beat that time. You can do it even 4 or 5 times in one day, and then again a week or two later. You will be AMAZED at how much faster you can ride a fixed course once you make that an actual goal that you work towards and measure. And you'll be amazed at how you can suddenly go 10% or 20% or event 30% or 50% faster and yet it doesn't feel hard and doesn't hurt any more.)
Both the distance and the speed training rides are fun to do in groups. Riding with a group once a week is a great training program all of its own.
Beyond that, everything others have mentioned on this thread is good advice.
I would think seriously about the bike you are going to ride for 100 miles. It is very, very likely that the perfect bike for riding 5 or 10 miles around the city is very much NOT the same bike you want to ride on a 100 mile group ride.
If you look at all the people who ride long-distance rides like centuries, they pretty much ALL use the SAME KIND of bike. There is a reason for that - that's the kind of bike that allows you to ride distances like that quickly and comfortably.
So you don't have to go out and buy a brand new $6000, or even $2000, road bike, but if you can put your hands on just about anything that looks more like that kind of bike, you'll probably see your average speed go up by 20% or even more, instantly.
Of course you can spend any amount of money on a bike, from $20 to $20K, but if you spend some time shopping used, you can usually pick up a hell of a bike for about $200. Maybe it's from the 90s or even the 80s, but it's a road bike and looks like the bikes in the photo linked above, perhaps without the electronic bling-bling and such that doesn't really matter.
What's important is #1. That it's the right general kind of bike, meant to go fast & far, with the right tires, right gears, right general shape, etc and #2. That it fits YOU right. (Subject for a whole nother book...)
If you're absolutely dead set against spending even $200 or so on a new or different suitable bike, at least take your current bike into a shop, tell them you're planning to ride a century on it, and see what they can do to make it more suitable.
Often slicker & maybe slightly narrower tires can increase your speed by 10% or more without any increase in effort. Different or tweak handlebars might improve aerodynamics and be more comfortable. A different saddle might help. And so on. Tires, though - #1.
posted by flug at 11:54 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
I'm surprised by all the answers here in the positive as I think it'd be crazy hard if not impossible given your speed.
In non-winter time, I ride 60KM (37M) every second day in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. I've done 100km a half dozen times or so and it takes me almost 4 hours and knocks me out for most of a week. Admittedly, I am mostly going for time, not distance.
I'm riding on mostly flat land with some hills (Toronto to deep Oakville and back). I'm on a properly-fitted single speed bike with no training whatsoever, so keep that in mind. I'm 56.
One thing I don't understand is your mention of Spinning. Do you mean in a proper Spin Class or just riding an exercise bike at your leisure? I have a Spin Bike and a 45 min class (Apple Fitness +) is far more exhausting than one of my 2+ hour 60K rides. They're night and day.
Have you not seen an improvement in your time due to the spinning?
posted by dobbs at 6:27 AM on January 4 [1 favorite]
In non-winter time, I ride 60KM (37M) every second day in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. I've done 100km a half dozen times or so and it takes me almost 4 hours and knocks me out for most of a week. Admittedly, I am mostly going for time, not distance.
I'm riding on mostly flat land with some hills (Toronto to deep Oakville and back). I'm on a properly-fitted single speed bike with no training whatsoever, so keep that in mind. I'm 56.
One thing I don't understand is your mention of Spinning. Do you mean in a proper Spin Class or just riding an exercise bike at your leisure? I have a Spin Bike and a 45 min class (Apple Fitness +) is far more exhausting than one of my 2+ hour 60K rides. They're night and day.
Have you not seen an improvement in your time due to the spinning?
posted by dobbs at 6:27 AM on January 4 [1 favorite]
Getting out on long rides and learning to fuel for long rides is key. I did a 7500ft 104 miles for first century. Previously I had done 60 mile rides a few times and was spending about 8 hours a week on my bike. It was rough. The next year I did 5 100+ miles rides that went a lot better.
Key was more time on the bike, pacing to keep in endurance mode, and fueling while riding. Finding what mix of 200-300 calories an hour of sugar you can tolerate is key. Getting your body used to larger amounts of bike time is good. You could also go on 8 mile mildly strenuous hike if you wanted to swap it out on bike training. But getting lots of time with heart in that endurance zone will make it easier.
I recommend trying even if you think you can’t. Your underlying fitness should help a lot.
posted by alicebob at 12:15 PM on January 4 [1 favorite]
Key was more time on the bike, pacing to keep in endurance mode, and fueling while riding. Finding what mix of 200-300 calories an hour of sugar you can tolerate is key. Getting your body used to larger amounts of bike time is good. You could also go on 8 mile mildly strenuous hike if you wanted to swap it out on bike training. But getting lots of time with heart in that endurance zone will make it easier.
I recommend trying even if you think you can’t. Your underlying fitness should help a lot.
posted by alicebob at 12:15 PM on January 4 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These answers are all GREAT! Including the negative and positive answers. You've all given really specific and actionable feedback. I marked a couple best answers that seemed especially helpful for developing a training plan but appreciate all the answers.
After reading these answers, I'm not sure I can do a century, but I am going to work on a training plan as if I can, including progressively increasing time on the bike, increasing my hill time, and working specifically on speed. Worst case I end up doing the shorter course. I also hope to learn more next week about what support the team I signed up for will be offering in terms of shared training rides etc (made this decision on a bit of a whim after a lot of years of saying I would do it one day). I've sketched out a bit of a progressive training plan and will continue to edit it as I learn.
I do have a couple follow up questions:
Everyone says I need to think differently about eating and hydrating. Any links or books that can help me figure out how to do this would be helpful. On my bikepacking trip I was surprised that I didn't seem to need more food but I believe all of you saying the situation changes after 3 or 4 hours of hard riding. I really don't like weird processed food products but am willing to learn.
In terms of comfort, I have a bike I don't love (after my beloved All City was stolen a few years ago) and I have the budget to buy a new bike. My one question is, do y'all think it's crazy to do a long ride on a steel bike? I much prefer something I can continue to use in future for commuting, bike packing etc, rather than getting a super light carbon thing that would really only be for this ride.
posted by latkes at 9:36 PM on January 4
After reading these answers, I'm not sure I can do a century, but I am going to work on a training plan as if I can, including progressively increasing time on the bike, increasing my hill time, and working specifically on speed. Worst case I end up doing the shorter course. I also hope to learn more next week about what support the team I signed up for will be offering in terms of shared training rides etc (made this decision on a bit of a whim after a lot of years of saying I would do it one day). I've sketched out a bit of a progressive training plan and will continue to edit it as I learn.
I do have a couple follow up questions:
Everyone says I need to think differently about eating and hydrating. Any links or books that can help me figure out how to do this would be helpful. On my bikepacking trip I was surprised that I didn't seem to need more food but I believe all of you saying the situation changes after 3 or 4 hours of hard riding. I really don't like weird processed food products but am willing to learn.
In terms of comfort, I have a bike I don't love (after my beloved All City was stolen a few years ago) and I have the budget to buy a new bike. My one question is, do y'all think it's crazy to do a long ride on a steel bike? I much prefer something I can continue to use in future for commuting, bike packing etc, rather than getting a super light carbon thing that would really only be for this ride.
posted by latkes at 9:36 PM on January 4
do y'all think it's crazy to do a long ride on a steel bike?
It me, again, the guy with your body type from above. It's absolutely not crazy, it's a good idea. For riders at the level you're at (I'm at), there's no need to start to worry about ultra-light frames/components, or finding the best or even a good entry level racing/touring frame - steel is comfortable, bulletproof, and will also, as you mention, transition super easily to future all-around biking needs.
Get another All-City or a Surly or another steel workhorse, and get it professionally fit to you at a shop, and you'll be just fine.
posted by pdb at 10:05 PM on January 4 [1 favorite]
It me, again, the guy with your body type from above. It's absolutely not crazy, it's a good idea. For riders at the level you're at (I'm at), there's no need to start to worry about ultra-light frames/components, or finding the best or even a good entry level racing/touring frame - steel is comfortable, bulletproof, and will also, as you mention, transition super easily to future all-around biking needs.
Get another All-City or a Surly or another steel workhorse, and get it professionally fit to you at a shop, and you'll be just fine.
posted by pdb at 10:05 PM on January 4 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: And dobbs, yes I take spin classes at a spin gym which is a great workout but has not made me a faster cyclist (better endurance at hills though - I used to have to walk hills much of the time - not anymore).
I think I will have to specifically train to improve my speed as mentioned by flug and others. I'll see how a couple months of that work to improve my time - maybe I'l have a better sense by March about that.
posted by latkes at 11:53 AM on January 5
I think I will have to specifically train to improve my speed as mentioned by flug and others. I'll see how a couple months of that work to improve my time - maybe I'l have a better sense by March about that.
posted by latkes at 11:53 AM on January 5
do y'all think it's crazy to do a long ride on a steel bike?
Second scariest thing in the world is the rider who shows up on a steel bike with downtube shifters. This is invariably someone who's been riding since the '70s and knocks out double centuries on weekdays, and who will casually smoke your ass on the steepest climbs despite being in their 70s....
(Scariest thing in the world is Gary Fisher, who shows up on an upright with knobbies and still pulls the paceline 75% of the time. Really happened.)
So: hell yeah. There will be riders out there on the double century course on steel frames.
posted by straw at 3:45 PM on January 5 [2 favorites]
Second scariest thing in the world is the rider who shows up on a steel bike with downtube shifters. This is invariably someone who's been riding since the '70s and knocks out double centuries on weekdays, and who will casually smoke your ass on the steepest climbs despite being in their 70s....
(Scariest thing in the world is Gary Fisher, who shows up on an upright with knobbies and still pulls the paceline 75% of the time. Really happened.)
So: hell yeah. There will be riders out there on the double century course on steel frames.
posted by straw at 3:45 PM on January 5 [2 favorites]
Lots of new steel bikes have modern shifting and disc brakes. Steel is definitely an aesthetic and a preference for many riders, especially for comfort, and isn’t just about riding something old and heavy and retro.
There are tons of endurance-oriented steel bikes.
posted by bluedaisy at 4:24 PM on January 5 [1 favorite]
There are tons of endurance-oriented steel bikes.
posted by bluedaisy at 4:24 PM on January 5 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't worry too much about fueling. The slower you go, the easier is is to fuel, because you're just burning through fewer calories per hour. Your body naturally can burn fat at a certain rate, so you just need to consume enough sugar to make up the difference. If you're burning 300 calories an hour obviously that's a lot easier than if you're burning 1,000. Get used to drinking energy drinks and eating periodically on your longer rides, but us mortals don't have to force fuel down the way people going 25 or 30 miles an hour have to.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:06 PM on January 5 [3 favorites]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:06 PM on January 5 [3 favorites]
I'm not particularly fast but I'll start to bonk after 4-5 hours unless I've kept my eating up. What I'll usually do is take a bunch of granola bars (the crappy Nature Valley oat and honey ones) with me and eat one pack every hour. If possible I'll also take 2 bottles of sports drink and put water in my hydration pack. I like having a hydration pack for my water because I can bite down on the tube and drink at any time instead of having to reach down for a bottle and I find I'll drink more as a result. The sports drink is more for when I'm stopping to eat my granola bar or if I feel like I need a boost of energy. I'll also take some energy gels or gummies in case I need an immediate energy boost or want something different.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 5:34 PM on January 6
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 5:34 PM on January 6
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
What's the elevation gain over the 100-mile route? That's also a factor. If it's 5000 ft, that's ... fairly hilly, even for fit riders. 10k feet would be "seriously" (TDF) hilly.
Probably the biggest determinant is -- can you put in major time blocks to train? When I was in century shape, my average week was something like group ride Tuesday (30ish miles), hills Wednesday (20ish), something else Thursday, long ride (50+ miles) Saturday, maybe a medium ride Sunday. That kept me in century shape once I was there; getting there was a bit bigger of a hump. But the thing you're missing is the sheer time in the saddle. Long rides on Saturday took hours. In my experience there's no way to add up 30-minute sessions in the gym to get in century shape. You just have to get out on the bike and do it.
So I would say: maybe. Give yourself a month or two of 3+ hour Saturdays, and see where that gets you in terms of distance.
Do you have a properly road fitted bike? That will be important as the hours stack up.
posted by Dashy at 11:47 AM on January 3 [2 favorites]