Training for 1/2 century - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

02-28-2005, 07:58 PM

I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
appreciated.

02-28-2005, 10:24 PM

> I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
> since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
> last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
> how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
> appreciated.

You're already there! You'll find the miles go by more easily on an
organized ride, with lots of other cyclists out there to provide mental
encouragement. Best bet is to just ride for fun, without worrying about
training or goals. The worst thing at this point that you could do would be
to lose sight of the fact that cycling is a fun thing to do.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-28-2005, 10:24 PM

> I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
> since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
> last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
> how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
> appreciated.

You're already there! You'll find the miles go by more easily on an
organized ride, with lots of other cyclists out there to provide mental
encouragement. Best bet is to just ride for fun, without worrying about
training or goals. The worst thing at this point that you could do would be
to lose sight of the fact that cycling is a fun thing to do.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-28-2005, 10:55 PM

Glewis wrote:
> I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
> since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
> last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
> how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
> appreciated.

Like Mike said, you're MORE than ready. Why not do the century?!?

I just did the Palm Springs Century a few weeks ago, with zero training OR
planning. Three of us piled in my heap at 3 AM, rolled into town around 6,
and were ready for the 6:40 start. (Naturally, it was more like 7:10 --
could've used that extra :30 sleep!) Granted that's a flat course, but
still...

Start easing up a little on your rides (intensity as well as distance) --
nothing at all day or two before event -- you want to be JONESING to ride
once the time comes. Have fun.

Bill "doing a 42-mile mtb 'epic ride' that day" S.

02-28-2005, 10:55 PM

Glewis wrote:
> I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
> since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
> last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
> how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
> appreciated.

Like Mike said, you're MORE than ready. Why not do the century?!?

I just did the Palm Springs Century a few weeks ago, with zero training OR
planning. Three of us piled in my heap at 3 AM, rolled into town around 6,
and were ready for the 6:40 start. (Naturally, it was more like 7:10 --
could've used that extra :30 sleep!) Granted that's a flat course, but
still...

Start easing up a little on your rides (intensity as well as distance) --
nothing at all day or two before event -- you want to be JONESING to ride
once the time comes. Have fun.

Bill "doing a 42-mile mtb 'epic ride' that day" S.

03-01-2005, 06:31 AM

On 28 Feb 2005 19:58:29 -0800, "Glewis" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> from
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
>since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
>last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
>how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
>appreciated.

You're good to go now. You won't have to do anything special other than have
some good food and a good sleep the night before. Fifty-five miles will just
begin to touch your long-distance reserves. You probably won't even have to
eat on the bike.

Congratulations! You did it!

03-01-2005, 06:31 AM

On 28 Feb 2005 19:58:29 -0800, "Glewis" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> from
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
>since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
>last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
>how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
>appreciated.

You're good to go now. You won't have to do anything special other than have
some good food and a good sleep the night before. Fifty-five miles will just
begin to touch your long-distance reserves. You probably won't even have to
eat on the bike.

Congratulations! You did it!

03-01-2005, 06:35 AM

Glewis wrote:
> I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
> since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
> last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
> how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
> appreciated.
>

Taper off for the last four days. Your only concern is leaving your
event on the training field. IMO, given the excitment of the event which
will pull you through, you can do the full century.

03-01-2005, 06:35 AM

Glewis wrote:
> I'll be riding the Solvang 1/2 century in 2 weeks. I've been training
> since January. This past Saturday I did 55 miles. What advice for my
> last two weeks of training. How much riding? how many miles per ride?
> how soon before the actual ride should I stop riding? Any advice is
> appreciated.
>

Taper off for the last four days. Your only concern is leaving your
event on the training field. IMO, given the excitment of the event which
will pull you through, you can do the full century.

03-01-2005, 06:56 AM

If you've already ridden 55 miles you're certainly ready to do 50. You
may want to go for the metric century or a 75 mile ride if offered. If
the course is flat you could probably do the hundred. After doing a 75
mile ride last summer I know i could have done the century but time and
weather were a concern. There is nothing worse than riding in an event
such as the solvang and thinking "I shouldve done the xxxx mile
ride"!!!