training for first 100

DonutDad

I'm certain this will have been covered before, but I can't quite find it.

Is there a guide for an average person, of average fitness, taking up the challenge of a 100 mile sportive for the first time? My aim is to complete the ride, have a nice day out and not worry about racing/times.

Everything i've seen includes 'speed work', high intensity training etc., with the aim of being faster/stronger/Olympic, whereas I just need to know I won't be a liability on the day and possibly even enjoy it.

I'm an ordinary bloke, who has set this personal challenge. I have a turbo trainer for when I can't get out, a new road bike and I'm raring to go - just going out and riding seems a little aimless, but is that basically it ? increasing the distance as I go?

Obviously I'm primarily interested in building endurance - have an HRM also, so would like specific turbo/HRM workouts maybe (best HR to build general fitness/stamina), but the whole aim is to get round this ride on the day (June 30th).

Beyond that, I'm enjoying getting into cycling again, and maybe next year, with a fitness base firmly established, I'll look to improve times and take on more challenges etc., but I need to know I'm doing the right prep for this first one.

Any pointers gratefully received, and again, apologies if this is covered somewhere. Any links ?

jgsi

To be fair on yourself, it is a matter of getting used to the miles on the bike, on the road.
Don't go out to be aimless. Every 20/30/40 /50 mile ride is getting you to that place you want to be.
I would suggest that by May, you ought to be in a position to ride 80 miles , either in 1 hit or split into 2 x 40 milers in 1 day.
Well , thats my take on it for you.

DonutDad

Cheers JGSI,
seems a reasonable enough assumption, but knowing I'm doing the right thing is confidence boosting in itself.
There is lots of baffling talk of thresholds and intensities, and I can totally see the point of it all in fine tuning the athlete, but first we need to get off the couch and create the athlete.
I always push on rather than coast on rides, so I guess as my capacity to do so improves, so will my relative times/distances and ability. I also vary the terrain, my 100 miler is a hilly route, so I look for them on every other ride at the moment.

If that's all there is to it, then that's probably all I need to know.
It may be useful for others to see written so simply to, who are in the same situation.

sub55

DonutDad wrote:

Cheers JGSI,
seems a reasonable enough assumption, but knowing I'm doing the right thing is confidence boosting in itself.
There is lots of baffling talk of thresholds and intensities, and I can totally see the point of it all in fine tuning the athlete, but first we need to get off the couch and create the athlete.
I always push on rather than coast on rides, so I guess as my capacity to do so improves, so will my relative times/distances and ability. I also vary the terrain, my 100 miler is a hilly route, so I look for them on every other ride at the moment.

If that's all there is to it, then that's probably all I need to know.
It may be useful for others to see written so simply to, who are in the same situation.

that is so true