| The above is not an easy question to answer. How | | | | you will need to do. A flat course in Oregon will require |
| much training you need to do depends on so many | | | | a completely different training regime from a century |
| factors that the answer is different for every individual. | | | | ride through the Alps of France. The key in both cases |
| Below I will discuss some of the points you will need to | | | | is to be able to adapt your training for the course you |
| consider to answer this. | | | | will be riding. |
| Expected finish time | | | | Available time |
| Are you riding your century as a competitive race or | | | | Perhaps the biggest constraint on the amateur rider is |
| simply as a charity ride with friends? If you are racing | | | | available training time. With full time work, family and |
| you will need a training program that will get you to the | | | | social commitments it can be hard to spend as much |
| finish line in the quickest time possible having given your | | | | time riding as you would like. The key thing you need |
| all. If riding in a sportive with friends then you require a | | | | to learn is how to maximize your time in the saddle. |
| program that will get you to the end of the century in a | | | | The most common mistake non professionals make is |
| slower time but feeling good. | | | | just going out and riding. Every time you get on your |
| Course | | | | bike you should have a plan of what you are trying to |
| The course you are intending to ride will play a | | | | achieve, whether it is improving you pedalling stroke, |
| massive part in both the type and amount of training | | | | increasing you power, working on endurance strength. |