This was the part I dreaded. As much as I would like to say Dan’s declaration brought a surge of elation and joy, a sigh of relief is more accurate. It’s common for me to be as winded after a hard-charging downhill as I am after a steep climb. I also leaned on the experience of fellow Idahoan and pro mountain biker Rebecca Rusch, who was my unknowing muse on this ride. YOU CAN’T AVOID THE HILLS. I also ignored the bike computer on my handlebars, which taunted me with its slow turn over of the miles. Widgets, Explore   Outstanding write up man! Making my attempt at Santos, which has the mileage in a linear park. Ride up at an intense pace. Aim for 200 to 400 calories in liquid or solid form but know (by trying them out on training rides ahead of the main event) that they sit well on your stomach. When I did my dirty century, I too rode on mostly-familiar terrain (I did do about a 30-mi loop I hadn’t done before, but it was pretty straight-forward) to make up the mileage. We traversed a few valleys and worked our way over to a cliff that has spokes hammered into the rockface for hikers to climb. After you’ve covered all of your bases outside of bike specific training you’ll of course need to be prepared physically to tackle the distance. In her book, Rusch to Glory, she imparted this gem of wisdom: “No matter how good or how bad you feel, it won’t last.”. Then reduce training volume and take a recovery week to absorb training and prepare for the next block of training. If … I knew I would be physically and mentally tired during the long ride, and the difference between cleaning or crashing in a technical section is often a split-second decision and response. Shop: But I’ve always been curious about my potential, and I strive to improve my riding, despite my sometimes-slacker nature. It was a big challenge for me. So if you want to do long rides as part of a team or because you enjoy stressing the body, fine. How to Train for a Long-Distance Mountain Biking Event. Work on your core, abs, and back. We took ropes and pulled the bikes up after us. The snap in my legs was long gone, and lactic acid turned my quads to mush. Last year was my third semi-full full year of riding, and I did a 41 mile ride, putting together some favorite trails in the Colorado Springs area. It sounded like he did it for the challenge of it. I’m a total GU guy, but after about 4 or so hours of hard riding, I’m done. My bike was over 50 lbs loaded. You’re certainly welcome, and I am flattered that I provided some inspiration. “Stack” longer endurance rides, especially if you’re preparing for a 100-mile race. Great read; I’m also not a racer and do not train, but I plan on trying to ride my age (63) next winter. Support Us | If you don’t take care of them, you’re most likely heading for leg cramps before you reach your goal. Even the long steep hike-a-bike sections provide a good level of fitness out of the saddle. Cool that you got your first mountain bike in Kodiak in 1989, I got mine in Anchorage the same year. Endurance and cardiovascular capabilities are lost quickly in the off-season, and sometimes with work and life’s daily tasks, it’s challenging to build during the on-season. Great article. This strategy will give you plenty of endurance. Marathon events in the USA and Canada are typically longer than … It entailed an initial descent of 800 mtrs., a stealthy trespass across a farm into a rugged and remote wilderness area. It is too hot in Florida any other time of the year, plus I’ll be riding in Oregon for 4 months before hand and should be a bit fitter due to the extra climbing I’ll come across. So far, 35 miles is my longest ride and I was dreaming of a burger and beer the last 3 miles! At least one of your other rides during the week contains some faster riding. The truth about training for long-distance cycle touring is this: Training yourself mentally will serve you far better than attempting to train yourself physically. I generally try to eat every 45 minutes or so (at the longest interval… sometimes less) and if I’m using Gu, that means only one gu every 1 hr 30 min, minimum. I just enjoy the ride and let the terrain decide what conditioning I may get. Problem was I had a badly leaking tyre (for Americans, that would be tire) that plagued me all the way, necessitating pumping it up every few klms. Please see your Privacy Rights for how your information is used. A balanced mix of food kept my stomach happy and my mind looking forward to the next rest stop. 33 likes. When you train for a century you probably ramp up with a longer ride each week, 3 hours, 3.5 hours, 4 hours, 4.5 hours, 5 hours, etc. Use a hill that takes at least 3 minutes to climb. 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