So you want to do a century ride? Well, here are some tips on how I prepared for my first century back in 2020.
Riding 100 miles in one day is no easy task. You are in the saddle for at least six to 10 hours, depending on how fast you ride. That’s a long time! So if you are up for the challenge, kudos to you, because it is a major feat—and something major you can check off your bucket list.
Hopefully, you have a couple of days during the week and the weekend to train. If you only have the weekends, I say start earlier and make the most of your time.
For most people the weekends is ideal for longer rides, depending on your experience and the type of rider you are, you may want to train in increments of 5, 10, or 15 miles to make increasing your mileage a little easier. For example, the first weekend you do 10 miles, the next weekend 15, and the next 20. But you can also do 10 miles weekend one, 20 miles weekend two, and 30 miles weekend three. So on until you reach 75/85 miles.You can completely tailor your training to your experience and comfort level.
For my first century, I was honestly riding about four to five times a week, plus a long ride on Saturdays. I would ride either with my friends Wendy and Yvette, who were doing the century with me, or with group rides that were tackling long distances leading up to the century. If you have at least two days available during the week, I suggest getting in about 5 to 10 miles each ride. Then, on the weekend, hit your long ride where you are spending at least two to four hours on your bike. If you are a weekend warrior, make the most of your time by doing a long ride on Saturday and a short recovery ride on Sunday. You need to spend time on your bike; whether it is short or long, that time in the saddle is important.
On these long rides, you want to bring your snacks, electrolytes, and gels (if you use them)—essentially everything you intend to bring on your actual century. You want to train with them. Just like the golden rule says: nothing new on race day, nothing new on your century ride. You don’t want to try a new gel or wear brand-new shoes on the big day. Everything should be tested beforehand.
If you are doing an organized century event, you don’t have to bring as many snacks because each rest stop will have them, but I still recommend bringing a few of your own favorites. If it isn’t a big organized event, definitely bring enough fuel and snacks to be self-sufficient.
On my first century with Black Girls Do Bike NYC, I remember bringing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a banana, and some pretzels. I had one water bottle filled with water and the other with Powerade. One great thing about our route was that there were plenty of gas stations along the way to stop, refuel, and grab more snacks.
Tip: Sip your drinks as you ride. Do not wait until you get thirsty, especially in the summer months, because that can be a big mistake. Do the exact same thing with your snacks. You want snacks that gives you sustained energy. If you don’t want to take gels, maybe bring a few packets of honey like my friend NADHIR did on my most recent century, or candy like my friend Rachelle and I did. I don’t even eat candy normally, but on long rides like a century, I make an exception!
With enough training time and proper fueling, you’ll be ready for a century in no time. If you want more tips, feel free to reach out! There are so many great resources out there to help you prepare —from blog articles like this one and YouTube videos, to Facebook groups, Gemini, and ChatGPT.
Good luck and have fun!