Conference noted::bicycle

    
    Just to be nosey... the 12-25 mile rides are fine, but what other
    training plans do you have to reach the century-mark?  Longer rides
    on weekends?  And do you have a goal as to when you'd like to be able
    to do a century?
    
    PS: Good luck finding a partner - should be fairly easy, I'd think.
    
    -john

    My training plan is to follow a 10 week plan I saw in Bicycling mag. 
    The long day is Sat.  This Sat. is 38 miles.  I'm on week 2.  The
    weekly mileage this week is 96 or so.  The mileage increases steadly
    with long rides getting to 60+ miles, and weekday rides getting to
    20's.  I don't have the schedule with me, but I'll put it in here later
    if your interested. 
    
    By the way, I'm following the "how to survive" plan which is minimal
    mileage.  I thought it would be a good way to keep myself cycling.
    
    The century should be sometime in July or August.
    
    /Doreen

    
    Thanks, I may have seen this in Bicycling.  
    
    Sounds like a good plan to me.  Have you been biking for a while
    or just starting?
    
    -john

    
    I also am trying to get into shape for a century late in the summer.
    Does anyone know an easy one that is scheduled late in the summer? 
    
    Any other tips or training tips?
    

I live 41 miles from work, so commuting all the way to and from is way too much
for the early season. What I do and it's something for you to think about is
riding in your car part of the way in and then ride the bike 10-15 miles each
way. As you get a hold of that start parking further away and riding more.
Right now I'm biking 30 miles each way. This also cuts out biking in the city
where I live (Worcester). I'm doing this 2-3 times a week right now and I take
my bike to work on days I'm not biking in and ride a 17 mile loop at lunch in
50 min's. On rainy days like today I rest and try not to eat everything in
sight.

Tom WORC/LWO RailRoad < as in TRAINing

    Doreen - 
    
    I live in Hudson, and ride 2 or 3 times per week. I tend to ride a
    little faster than you, but usually only for 10-12 miles. Anyway, I 
    would welcome any encouragment to go slower and farther!
    
    Where do you usually ride?
    
    Dave

THe Granite State Wheelmen have a seacoast century in September.  It starts
in Hampton goes down to Newbury and north in to Maine.  Its about the flatest
I know of.  The only difficulty can be the head wind.

There is a loop to the south and onm to the North so it's possible to bail
out if you need to. There's also a check point with water and facilities on 
the longer loop.

I'd recommend that for a first timer.

Danielle

    
    
    Some background for you John.  I've cycled for a few years as pure 
    recreation and a few years ago for transportation.  I've only recently
    cycled for the exercise and scenery.  I don't think I'm fast enough to
    try racing.
    
    I would love to commute to work.  I've tried to drive part way, and
    cycle the rest.  It doesn't work out for me since I have to be on the
    job at 8 am, meaning I have to get up at 5 am, get to bed by 10, and
    pack as much as possible the night before. 
    
    Here are the training guides I've seen.  I don't really vary my pace
    much.  It's been hard to which is why people to train with would be
    great, along with motivation.
    
    The response has been great.  Thanks.
    
    CENTURY TRAINING GUIDE:  GOAL - TO FINISH 100 Miles
    E = leisurely, P = century pace, B = brisk (faster than century) 
    
    Week	M    T     W    TH    F    S    S    TOTAL 
                E    P     B          P    P    P
              
    1           6    10    12   off   10   30    9     77
    2           7    11    13   off   11   34   10     86
    3           8    13    15   off   13   38   11     98
    4           8    14    17   off   14   42   13    108
    5           9    15    19   off   15   47   14    119
    6           11   15    21   off   15   53   16    131
    7           12   15    24   off   15   59   18    143
    8           13   15    25   off   15   65   20    153
    9           15   15    25   off   15   65   20    155
    10          15   15    25   off   10   5E   100*  170
    
    Goal 2:  A century with strength to spare
    
    Week     M     T     W     TH     F     SAT     SUN     TOTAL
             E     P     B            P     P       P
    
    1       10    12     14     off   12    40      50       103
    2       10    13     15     OFF   13    44      17       112
    3       10    15     17     OFF   15    48      18       123
    4       11    16     19     OFF   16    53      20       135
    5       12    18     20     OFF   18    59      22       149
    6       13    19     23     OFF   19    64      24       162
    7       14    20     25      -    20    71      27       177
    8       16    20     27      -    20    75      29       187
    9       17    20     30      -    20    75      32       194 
    10      19    20     30      -    10     5E     100*     184
    
    /DOREEN
    
              

    Hi Doreen,
    
    Well, both riding schedules sound reasonable.  I guess I'd
    opt for the second one - that will make an actual century 
    organized event more fun - you'll always have that "headroom"
    of extra power/speed/endurance (one hopes).
    
    Your own work schedule seems tight.  Maybe you can use the long
    summer evenings to get in good miles.
    
    I, too, have found that cycling with one or two others can improve
    your form and pace amazingly - and sometimes be more relaxing.
    
    I may do an organized century this weekend (fingers crossed).  
    I'll report how it turns out.
    
    Did you mention what equipment you had?
    
    -john

    I've been getting most of my routes from Howard Stone's (?) book of
    bike rides around Mass.  Sat. was loop from Rt 27 (N. Chelmsford) to 225
    (Carlisle/Bedford) to 62 (Concord) to Lowell Rd.
    
    I have a univega nuevo (sp?) sport I bought in '86.  I just bought a 
    cyclocomputer (really makes rides more interesting to see dist., avg.
    speed, etc.).  I use my pannier to carry maps and some tools usually.
    My security blanket.
    
    I'll give the second training plan another look.  At this point I'm
    still building a base anyway.
    
    /Doreen

    I just completed a century on Sunday.  We went from Londenderry, N H to 
    Rye N H.  This was the first century that I have done .  I had been
    training for this ride since April,  For the last 5 weeks my weekly 
    millage was 100+.  
    
    I was tired upon completing the century.  I felt great the next day.
    Good luck with your century. If you follow the training plan you 
    identified I dont think you will have a problem.
    
    Bob