Heck of a way to train for the Prouty Century Ride—ride 100 miles.
On July 9th I will ride in my first Prouty. This 30th Prouty is a charity bike ride to support the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center. I’ll be doing the Century ride with a friend. Although I enjoyed biking with my family 30 years ago, I’ve only had a decent road bike for a bit over a year. Friends have given me tips on how to prepare. One sent a document on training for a century that included:
• Ride 5-6 times a week for at least 5 weeks before the century, gradually increasing your mileage as you get closer to the century, increasing no more than 10% at a time.
• Plan a 50- or 60-mile ride at least two weeks before the century
• Taper your mileage a week before the century.
Another friend suggested doing a 75-80 mile ride a week before and then a few short rides the week of the century. Both emphasized and described the proper diet.
I took the advice to heart, but sometimes things get in the way—like a rainy spring. So I’ve only been able to ride about once a week. Last Sunday I did an 80 mile ride (see previous blog post). Yesterday I planned to do a short hilly ride. I got a late start because I had to relocate a raccoon that had been stealing out cats’ food. Plus I rode for two miles from Burkehaven in Sunapee before I decided where I would head. I knew I wanted to challenge the hills of Springfield, NH but rather than head there directly as I first thought I would, I turned west to Newport then north to Grantham. Seems the decision was driven by not wanting to get to the apple fritter stop at the Blackwater Irving Station in Andover too soon after breakfast.
The ride was going well and the fritter energized me. I headed south on Rt. 11 crossing the Blackwater River and, after a quick loop through downtown Wilmot, took Kearsarge Valley Road. I knew that soon after I reached North Road and crossed under the interstate at Exit 10 I would need to make a decision: west up Hominy Pot Road then through New London and back to the start or south through Sutton to Bradford. Bradford it was and then another decision point: west toward Newport or east to a second SAG, the St. George Cafe (pictured in previous blog post) and a bagel. I turned east and decided to ride enough past Henniker so when I got the bagel I would have already ridden 70 miles. Henniker is about 30 miles from Burkehaven again so I would have no choice but to complete a hundred miles on my “training ride” for a century ride.
After a hot bagel with blue cream cheese the wind was in my face for most of the mostly uphill last 30 miles. But I pressed on (little choice at this point) stopping only to take a few photos and catch my breath. I made good time (best ever) doing the 100.2 miles in 7 hours of riding and 8 hours of elapsed time. Here are two photos I took near the end of the ride. Both are three shot panoramas taken with the Panasonic LX5.
