Riding a century is totally doable for most cyclists—as long as you put in the training to spend that much time on a bike. While some riders might hit 100 miles every other weekend, or a few times a year, others may simply want to cross it off the bucket list just once.
Whatever your reasoning for hitting this cycling milestone, we have you covered with how to prep for riding a century, plenty of training plans to get you there, and then these six signs that show you’re totally ready to ride toward your first hundo!
How to Know You’re Ready to Ride a Century
You’ve Clocked at Least 4.5 to 5 Hours in the Saddle
More than 20 years of endurance (and ultra endurance) cycling has taught me that the fifth hour into an event is the hour of reckoning, where any errors in fit, pacing, hydration, nutrition, and so forth will rear their ugly heads.
Unless the 100 miler you’re gunning for is pancake flat and you can easily cruise at 20+ mph (in which case you can lower that max time), a rolling century will take you about seven hours (using 15 mph as an average). Working up to at least one ride of at least five hours will allow you to practice everything you need to know and give you confidence on event day.
You Can Assume—and Hold—Your Riding Position
Any little tweak that you feel after a few hours in the saddle will become a nagging pain once you hit the five-hour mark and beyond. If you have a century in your sights, be sure to address any “little” fit issues like neck pain or back aches, knee twinges, and numb hands or feet, because they’ll only become more pronounced as the miles wear on.
Research shows that your upper body plays a significant role in not just supporting your weight as you ride, but also in generating power as you pedal. Strengthening the supporting muscles in your core, shoulders, and arms can help eliminate pain and fatigue, improving your endurance overall.
Your Fueling Is Dialed
Nothing sidelines an otherwise successful century like bonking or a raging case of rot gut (nausea generally from too much sugar).
First-time 100-mile riders often fail to eat enough early in the event because they’re excited and don’t feel hungry…until suddenly their energy levels sputter like a car on fumes. Same goes for taking in adequate fluids to stave off overheating and dehydration, both of which can sneak up on you after four or five hours of riding. Practice in your training to nail your nutrition and hydration.
On long training rides, aim to get about 200 calories an hour from simple foods like bananas, figs, and energy bars. Make it a goal to drain one 20- to 24-ounce bottle of sports drink an hour.
You’ve Ready for the Terrain
One of my first centuries nearly cured me of centuries. It was the Santa Fe Century in Gainesville, Florida, which climbs 1,000 feet over more than 100 miles. I live in Pennsylvania where we climb that much in every 10 to 20 miles whether we want to or not. Forty miles in, everything hurt from being planted in the saddle hammering the flats without a break in position.
If you’re staying local, you’re likely ready for the terrain you’ll encounter just by training in the area. If you’re traveling somewhere new for your century, do a little research and try to simulate what you’ll find in your rides leading up to it.
You’re Comfortable in a Crowd
Most organized centuries start out as a rolling mob, and no matter where you position yourself at the start, you’re bound to find yourself pedaling in a pack or paceline of unfamiliar faces at least until the ride thins out.
Being comfortable riding with others—as well as being able to identify what wheels to follow and what wheels to steer clear of—will help ease your nerves and make that first century far more enjoyable.
You’re Prepared for Anything
Flat tires, missed turns, lost riding mates, incoming storms…lots can happen in 100 miles. Have a plan for what you’ll do should common mishaps (like going off course or suffering a mechanical) happen out there. At the very least, do yourself a favor and practice fixing a flat before your big ride.
