Journey of 100 miles begins with 1 pedal
Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008
Bicycle riders who want to ride a century — 100 miles — can go about it in either of two ways.
1. Decide to go the distance. Get on the bicycle and go.
2. Decide to go the distance. Get on the bicycle and train.
Those who select option 2 generally end up traveling farther than 100 miles over time, especially if they follow the progressive schedules designed by fitness experts. Those lead a rider through gradually increasing mileage over weeks or months. That slow progress gives the body time to adapt so that pedaling for the four to 10 hours the century might take won’t injure them.
Not long after the big century, they’re ready to ride again.
Those who simply hop on the machines and have at it might or might not be willing to ride ever again.
For those who like the sound of Option 2, two licensed cycling instructors have created a training plan for the state’s largest century, the Big Dam Bridge 100 bicycle tour Sept. 27.
The calendar devised by Tom Ezell and Willa WIlliams is online at www. bigdambridge. org.
Its schedule began the week of July 6; but the tour is still far enough away that regular riders could play catch-up, joining it in progress. For those who don’t have Internet access, ActiveStyle will publish each week’s mileage.
This week’s plan Today: 6 miles at the pace you plan to ride the century.
Tuesday: 10 miles at tour pace.
Wednesday: 12 miles, brisk.
Thursday: rest.
Friday: 10 miles at tour pace.
Saturday: 30 miles at tour pace.
Sunday: 10 miles, easy.
Bicycle clubs have centurytraining group rides. For instance, the Arkansas Bicycle Club has posted weekly outings at www. arkansasbicycleclub. org.
Meanwhile, Williams and Ezell are drawing participants to their weekly 4-H Hot Wheels children’s training. A schedule designed to prepare children for the 4-H Centennial Bike Ride, a 12-mile event during the BDB 100, is online at the Big Dam Bridge site. And a free group ride meets at 6: 30 p.m. Mondays on the Little Rock parking lot of the Big Dam Bridge.
Today’s group is to ride onehalf mile.
More information is at www. kidsarus. org / centennial / bik eride. htm or (501 ) 231-0820.
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