How To Prepare For A Century Ride?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Give Yourself Enough Time

Matson notices that a lot of century riders, particularly first-timers, don’t start training soon enough. The actual time a rider needs to train for 100 miles varies, but

3-4 months

is a general timeframe Matson recommends.

How do I prepare for my first century ride?

  1. Commit to a Training Plan. …
  2. Hit a Spin Class (or Invest in a Trainer) …
  3. Practice Fixing Flats. …
  4. Body Glide is Your Friend. …
  5. Know Your Body. …
  6. Know the Course. …
  7. Know Your Gear. …
  8. Take Your Bike for a Check-Up.

How should I train for a century ride?

As a general rule of thumb, to most comfortably complete a century ride without having to push yourself to the far limits of your physical abilities, you’ll want to

gradually train up to riding 70 or more miles

. If you can comfortably ride 70 or more miles in training, you’ll be able to ride 100-miles on event day.

What should I bring on a century bike ride?

You need to take with you on your bike:

a spare tube, tire irons, patch kit, pump, and Allen keys

. Know how to use them. You also should carry a mobile phone, ID, health insurance card, and some money.

Can you cycle 100 miles without training?


With no specific training for a century ride, I rode 100 miles comfortably today using these ninja sportive hacks

. Riding 100 miles on your “push bike” is a major achievement, whichever way you look at it. Not many people could do it, and even fewer would want to.

What is a good time for 100-mile bike ride?

Typically, an average cyclist can finish a century ride in

7-8 hours

, though that always varies on your skill level and how much time you spend off the bike during the course of the day.

Is cycling 100 miles Hard?


A hundred-mile bike ride is a considerable challenge, but with the help of the right training programme, it’s far from impossible

. Set yourself targets along the way and ensure that your approach is varied, and you’ll be able to conquer the course!

How hard is a century ride?

Even the most experienced riders cannot hide the satisfaction of ticking off 100 miles in the saddle. But, unfortunately, riding a century is

not quite as easy as just riding a bike

. Hitting that mercurial 100-mile mark involves plenty of off-the-bike preparation as well as some prior training and nutrition knowledge.

How many calories burned cycling 100 miles?

Eat, Eat, Eat – Then Eat Some More

Fit cyclists (and if you are attempting a century ride, yes, you too are fit) will burn around

500-600 calories per hour

during a century ride.

What should I eat before a century ride?

Eat a

good breakfast

containing 750 to 1,000 calories a couple of hours before the start of the century. Eat mostly complex carbs with a bit of protein and fat. Try whole-grain cereal with a banana and skim milk or multi-grain toast with low-fat yogurt and berries.

How do I prepare for a century in 4 weeks?

Ride 3 to 4 days a week between now and the event:

ride long one day, at a fast pace another with one or two easy-spin days between

. Speedwork improves endurance because your body learns to recover faster, and it helps you tackle headwinds and hills. Try this: Warm up 20 minutes, ride fast for 20, cool down for 20.

How do you know you’re ready for a century?

You can test this.

Go for an 80 mile ride tomorrow, and see how you feel

. If you feel great at the end, and on the next day after, then you might be OK. If that works, do 90 miles at the weekend.

What do I need for a 50 mile bike ride?

How can I ride my bike 100 miles?

How do I recover from a century ride?

  1. Cool down before full stop. After your race ends, take five minutes to continue spinning slowly. …
  2. Keep moving once you’re off your bike. …
  3. Keep up the hydration. …
  4. Power your recovery with protein. …
  5. Try compression socks. …
  6. Get a massage. …
  7. Reset with plenty of rest.

How do I fuel my bike?

How long is a century ride?

Unless the 100 miler you’re gunning for is pancake flat and you can easily cruise at 20+ mph (in which case you can adjust that max time downward), a rolling century will take you

6 1⁄2 to 7 hours

(using 15 mph as an average).

How do I prepare my body for a long bike ride?

Before a long bike ride,

make sure you eat a hearty breakfast, ideally with lots of carbohydrates and a bit of protein

. This will ensure you have energy before and throughout your ride. During your ride, eating simple carbohydrates such as bananas or sweets will keep your energy stores up.

Is 30 miles a long bike ride?

Even if you maintain a slow pace,

a 30-mile tour will take about 2 hours on a road bike

. Road bicycles only need little effort to pedal and are lightweight. These ideal features make you faster as you can focus more on mileage than force.

Is 20 miles a long bike ride?


For most cyclists, 20 miles is not a long distance

and will not be too challenging. However, for beginners and those that are out of shape, biking 20 miles will be more difficult. Riding 20 miles will be harder depending on your endurance level, the bike you ride, the terrain and weather, and experience of the cyclist.

Should I ride the day before a century?


Riding the day before the century is not necessary for either of these items from a physiological standpoint

. If anything, the ride the day before will tap into muscle and liver glycogen that could be used during the century. Rest is the best prescription.

How many miles can the average person ride a bike in a day?

Typically, an average person can cycle between

56 to 60 miles

(90 to 96 Kilometers) in a day. Give or take a few.

What’s a good average speed for cycling?

The majority of riders can average a speed of about

15 mph on a one hour ride

. A good speed for a beginner is 10 mph, but you should be able to get to 15 mph pretty quickly. If you start training every once in a while, you could get your average up to 18 mph, but training on a regular basis could get you to 22 mph.

Is it possible to bike 100 miles a day?

Real Mileage


Yes, biking 100 miles in one day is doable

. Some people can average 100 miles per day on a 15-day bike day tour. However, you should not expect to do other things aside from riding, eating, and resting during that time.

Is 25 miles a long bike ride?

Is 25 Miles a Long Bike Ride?

No, it’s not a long bike ride

. Actually, it depends on someone’s fitness level, intensity, age, and many other things. A young person who has a moderate fitness level can easily cross 25 miles and can reach 30 miles also.

How many miles is a good bike ride?

There is no statute about how many miles to bike a day. It all depends on your workout regime, your fitness level, and the distance of the bike ride. If you are a beginner, 10 miles a day would be okay. If you are experienced and used to biking 25 to 30 miles a day or more, then 45 miles should be fine for you.”

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.