Getting back into it--when to plan for a century

"Luigi de Guzman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm getting back into cycling after a long hiatus

Am I nuts to set a goal of a saturday century by the end of June for
myself?

Maybe not nuts, but be careful of overtraining effects. If you try to do too
much too soon, there can be too much stress.

Depends on how you pace yourself. You've got a couple months, why not?
Just don't try to break any records, stay hydrated, and don't bonk.

Luigi de Guzman said:

I'm getting back into cycling after a long hiatus (judging from my
previous rbm traffic...a little *too* long of a hiatus) of maybe two
years. In my previous incarnation, I was fitter--while nobody would
have mistaken me for a racer or a randonneur, I used to put up a fair
number of miles--maybe 20-40 miles a day, depending, at a rolling
average of around 15mph.

I did a "dry run" practice ride that covers the 21-mile route from my
house to my office and covered the distance in 2:01:40 over gently
rolling terrain. I intend to get my mileage and speed up over the
next few weeks by commuting to work as much as I can.

Am I nuts to set a goal of a saturday century by the end of June for
myself?

Leisurely, fun century? No.

Hilly, hard, fast century? Maybe a little.

I say go for it...in moderation.

Bill "nothin' over 60 in longer than I care to admit" S.

Luigi de Guzman said:

I'm getting back into cycling after a long hiatus (judging from my
previous rbm traffic...a little *too* long of a hiatus) of maybe two
years. In my previous incarnation, I was fitter--while nobody would
have mistaken me for a racer or a randonneur, I used to put up a fair
number of miles--maybe 20-40 miles a day, depending, at a rolling
average of around 15mph.

I did a "dry run" practice ride that covers the 21-mile route from my
house to my office and covered the distance in 2:01:40 over gently
rolling terrain. I intend to get my mileage and speed up over the next
few weeks by commuting to work as much as I can.

Am I nuts to set a goal of a saturday century by the end of June for
myself?

-Luigi

I guess my question is "what is that makes you want to do it?"
I think of recreational cycling as being fun. And while that includes
having goals -like a century - your question has to be if the fun of
traing for and riding the century a few weeks off is going to be fun
given your current level of fitness.

Right now you report that you can ride a gently rolling course (I read
that as easy) at about 10 mph. Unless that speed was held down by
traffic stops etc. that is pretty slow over a long distance. So, with
sag stops if rode that pace a century would take well over 10 hours.
If you can improve your fitness over the next few weeks you can
probably shave an hour or maybe two off that. So, the question becomes
is riding for 8 or 9 or 10 hours fun for you? If you think it will be
(many do) then go for it. If it sounds like a bit long at this time in
your comeback why not wait and do a fall century with many more
training hours under belt.

Either way it is up to you and your idea of enjoying the ride.

Luigi,

Why not go for the "metric century" first?
Since your daily max is around 40 miles, why don't you see how you do
in miles 40-62 - then plan from there.

I'm in a similar situation where I'd like to ride a century in
September.
The Tour de Cure (diabetes.org) is having an event in my area June
10th, where I plan on completing the 62 mile route.

I'm averaging ~16 mph on my solo rides in the 30-40 mile range and I'm
looking to pickup my mileage by commuting to work (20 miles each way)
once a week.

Even if my legs and gut could handle an 80 mile ride, my undercarriage
just isn't ready for that kind of distance yet.

-bdbafh

On Thu, 04 May 2006 23:23:18 GMT, Luigi de Guzman <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Am I nuts to set a goal of a saturday century by the end of June for
myself?

What's the penalty for not completing it?

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 04 May 2006 23:23:18 GMT, Luigi de Guzman <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Am I nuts to set a goal of a saturday century by the end of June for
myself?

What's the penalty for not completing it?

Being bent out of shape at yourself mostly.
I am going to try it, time permitting, this weekend, at a planned 10-12 MPH,
giving myself some room since the days are about 14 hours right now.
Keeping the maximum distance from home base at about 20 miles gives some
room for an abandon due to saddle sore or leg wear out. I think the body
can handle it at a fairly slow pace and the 100 miles would be a Saturday
or Sunday well spent getting into shape. If nothing else you can burn
calories and start shedding pounds.
Bill Baka