[docsweetdc]

I am in major need of some help, support, my head examined. Ha ha. I am signed up for a 50 mile charity bike ride at the end of July. At this moment I feel comfortable riding 10 miles. Is there in any way I can train for this in just 7-8 weeks and be ok riding. Anybody have a schedule I can follow. My husband doesnt think I can do it which is giving me more motivation to try my hardest. The race is in Fairfield Ct which has some hills I am told, and I ride in central jersey and pa which is a little hilly but a lot of flat as well. Please help me reach my goal. Thanks to all who have faith.

[bikebum1975]

Good luck with the ride. I was like you at one point going back pretty comfortable doing 10 or 15 mile rides I just started going farther and father. I say just go for it. I never have done any kind of an organized ride myself before but I do longish solo rides on a regular basis. Longest being just shy of 60. I live in Fiarfield Ct and I know what you mean about hills some are bears to get over. Just keep at it and if need be walk the bike up a section no point in hurting your body either. My mom did a charity ride years ago she never done one before either but told me the other riders were a big motivation towards her so sure you will get a lot of encouragement out there to. Most important thing with riding have fun with it. Be sure fun to see the look on your husbands face when you finish
Cheers
Jim

Let us know how you do. BTW where abouts in Fairfield is the ride?

[Poolie]

Three months or so ago I threw my leg over a road bike for the first time in 10 years and did my first 50 mile ride several weeks ago, so it is possible. For me at least I found that 50 wasn't much harder than 30.

My approach, while unscientific was (and still is) this:

During the week after work on Mon, Wed and Friday I block off an hour to ride. In the beginning that was 6-8 miles but over time quickly saw improvements. Soon it was 10 miles, then 12, then 15 etc... I log each ride so I know time and distance and can see my improvements.

On Saturday or Sunday I would ride as far as I could go and push myself a little further each time I went out. 10 miles today... make it 12 miles the next ride. Then 15 and 20. If a particular distance really kicked my rear I'd ride that same distance several times until I was comfortable then continue to go further.

In the end, just have fun... what's the point if you're not. As summer kicks in hydration is very important. I like the G2 low cal Gatorade.

I'm sure others here will have much better advise, but good luck and share with us your progress.

[docsweetdc]

Thanks for the support....I am getting more and more confidence. Jim the ride is called the CT Challenge. It starts in Fairfield (not exactly sure where) goes through Weston, Georgetown, redding, Bethel, Newtown, Easton, Southport, and back to Fairfield at the Hunt Club. It says it climbs steady the first 25 miles and the last 25 miles is a gradual descent...in my opinion the last 25 miles should be all downhill.....that would be great!!! hahah. There is a map at the CT challenge website of the exact course but that does no good to me because I have no clue where I am when I am there.

I have a hybrid bike so hopefully that doesnt make it all that much harder for me. Its a canondale and works great on the road but doesnt have the standard road bike handle bars so i think i will be sore after the race. Hopefully not too bad. We will see. I will keep you guys updated. I have been upping my miles slowly and man the worst part is that my butt is sore. I need to get some cushiony spandex or something.....but I am sure that will toughen up too. The ride here in PA should be fun tomorrow in 100 degree weather. Yikes!!!!

[bikebum1975]

Not to discourage you but my rump was sore after the first time riding 60 miles take breaks and stretch if you need to. My mom did say when she trained for her first run like yours she rode up till the week before the event then took off for that week no riding at all. bring plenty of water and some snacks with ya to . Ah you gonna have same temps as us call me nuts my favorite time to ride. By the way I know some of the areas you are riding through the hills can be tough here but a lot of them are long. You are gonna be riding through my home town of Bethel very nice easy riding through it.

[funetical]

I'm sure you can do it if you pace yourself and not try to race.

I'm on a Trek Hybrid and can spend all day on it.

[wild]

There is a book called bicycling for dummies has what you are looking for, has a work out plan it explaines endurance, power, speed and how to train and how hard to train to get there, and a week by week guide. The book has a lot of info on outher things allso I think you will like the book.

[bmohan55]

With a hybrd the biggest difference is that you have less places to put your hands on the bars to keep them from going numb as compared to a "road bike". Move your hands around, get up off the seat alot and you will be fine. Sore butt can only be addressed by more seat time. Cycle shorts are your friend.

Remember...this is fun!

[PlatyPius]

Originally Posted by docsweetdc

standard road bike handle bars so i think i will be sore after the race.

I need to get some cushiony spandex or something.....

Step 1: Stop saying it's a race. It isn't a race. If you think of it as a race, it's more daunting than it is. If you think of it as a race, you'll push yourself to ride faster than you are comfortable riding.

Step 2: By the Lords of Kobol, get some bike shorts! The rest of us don't wear them because they're stylish...

Step 3: Don't psyche yourself out by thinking it's harder than it is.
If you're a mostly normal human being in moderately good shape, riding 50 miles is nothing. Example: I was passed last year at the Hilly Hundred by a redneck on a WalMart hybrid who was drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette. He passed me on one of the larger climbs. That isn't really a difficult task, since I weigh about 300 pounds. Each day of the Hilly is about 50 miles. There are thousands of feet of climbing each day. Many of the participants are riders who get the bike out once each year - just to ride the Hilly Hundred.

Step 4: Get some miles in before the ride.

Step 5: Do the ride and say at the end "That really wasn't that difficult. I think I'll try a century next time."

[robkyle]

#1 What PlatyPius said Get cycling shorts, get out and ride, and have fun with the whole thing. This could be a lifestyle changer for you.