CENTURY RIDE PREPARATION

CENTURY RIDE PREPARATION

Whether you are riding the 25, the 50 or the entire 100 miles of the Century, the following preparations and suggestions apply.

PREPARE YOURSELF

Practice good nutrition leading into the ride (see the Nutrition hand-out).

Get those miles in leading up to the ride. If you are riding the full Century, you should be able to complete a 70-mile ride before riding the Century.

Plan to get a good night’s sleep Friday night.  Then you won’t feel sleep deprived if nervousness makes sleep difficult the night before.

Of course, do your best to get a good night of sleep the night before. It is not a race so don’t be nervous!

Don’t test ride new clothing or shoes on the ride itself. Tried and true gear is your safest bet.

Make sure your helmet fits properly. If you have had a hard crash in it, it is best to replace it.

The week leading into the Century should be a taper.

For a Sunday Century, we recommend taking Friday off the bike, and doing an easy, short, fun ride Saturday.

It may be cool at the start. If you can ride without leg warmers go without. If you need arm warmers, make sure you have reserved space for them in your jersey pockets when it comes time to stow them.

Santa Fe Prep’s Bike TAP (Teen Action Program) will be providing a valet service to transport personal belongings from Madrid to the finish line at the hospital; anything you might want to unload can be turned over at that time. Don’t forget to reclaim your belongings at the end of the ride!

Use sunscreen at home before putting on arm warmers and/or leg warmers. Don’t forget your face, neck, and the tops of your ears! More is available at all aid stations.

PREPARE YOUR BIKE AND EQUIPMENT

Make sure your bike is ready to go; if you have any doubts, get it serviced.

Don’t plan on riding a new or borrowed bike.

Make certain you have a spare tube, tire levers, and a pump or CO2 and know how to use them.

Inspect your tires for signs of wear.

Lube your bike before you leave home that morning.

THINGS TO TAKE ON THE RIDE

Two water bottles, filled from home

Snacks, a sandwich or two, electrolyte tabs, shots, etc.

Lip balm

In a small zip lock put your cell phone, an ID, a credit card, and a small amount of cash.

THINGS NOT TO TAKE ON THE RIDE

We strongly suggest against using a camel back or other back pack on the Century. It adds a lot of weight to your back and pulls on your shoulders. No matter how adapted to it you are, your body will compensate for carrying it. Over the course of 100 miles, those compensations will start to show up in potentially very uncomfortable areas. Since this ride is supported, you don’t need to carry 8 hours of food and drink for yourself.

You want to carry as little as possible on your body. What you do carry can be stowed as follows:

Saddle bag: spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, CO2 and/or small pump

Bottle cages: two for two bottles, or if on a small frame, plan on stowing one in a jersey pocket or purchase a bar-mount or seat-post mount for a second cage

Bento box: if you need to carry a lot of extra food/nutrition, purchase a bento box for your top tube

Jersey pockets: a sandwich or two, snacks, the zip lock with phone/cash/card/ID (unless it fits in your saddle bag), and lip balm, leaving a pocket or two for a bottle or clothing as it is shed

You do not need a tool kit beyond tire levers and possibly a small multi-tool. Every aid stop is manned by mechanics with a good range of tools. If you break down between aide stops, a SAG wagon will come by and drive you to the next aide station, unless you are opting out of the rest of the ride in which case they will transport your and your bike to the start/finish at the Hospital.

TIPS

Get a good night’s sleep.

Ease into the ride. It is not a race! Pace yourself.

Change your position on the bike often: move your hands around, move your butt around on the saddle. Stand up.

Don’t be surprised when you get back on the bike after a rest stop and your legs feel stiff and heavy. They will warm back up and feel fine in no time.

Always refill your bottles at the rest stops even if they only need a top-off.

Don’t forget your sunglasses!

Apply a high SPF sunscreen before you leave your house.

Lube your chain before you take off on the ride.

Enjoy the ride! You are well trained and prepared, so now sit back and enjoy the scenery and your accomplishment.