By Ken Schwarz, Century Coordinator

Is riding a century something you’ve always wanted to do, but it just seemed like too much? Almost every first century begins the same way: with a promise you make to yourself. The good news is that keeping that promise is much easier in the company of like-minded cyclists working together to reach that goal. Read on and decide whether you’re ready to make that promise to yourself today.

Introducing the CRW Century Training Program!

Make no mistake: riding 100 miles in one day is a real challenge. But with proper planning and preparation, it can be the kind of big ride you can end with a smile, not a sufferfest!

This summer, CRW is launching a Century Training Program: a series of supported training rides and guidance to help members complete their first CRW Cranberry Century in October. It isn’t a race plan, and it isn’t about suffering. It’s about learning the skills that make long rides feel manageable, and building the specific kind of fitness that lets you finish strong and enjoy the day.

Who the program is for

The program is designed for riders who today can ride about 30 miles comfortably but haven’t gone all the way to 100. You’ve been on group rides, maybe many of them, but not for the whole day. Or maybe you’ve done a metric century but want a better experience—more joy with less gruel? If so, this program could be for you. If you have time for one long ride on the weekends and a couple of shorter spins during the week, you should be able to do it.

What you’ll learn

A century goes well when a few fundamentals are in place. Over the summer we’ll focus on:

• Pacing: riding at your optimal effort level for the day and climbing hills without exhausting yourself early.

• Durability: building aerobic endurance, muscular endurance, and contact-point comfort (hands, neck, butt, feet).

• Fueling and hydration: eating and drinking in a way that keeps your energy stable and your spirits bright.

• Self-sufficiency: what to bring, what to practice, and how to handle the inevitable hiccups.

• Group riding skills: get comfortable riding with others to gain drafting benefits while maintaining safety and control.

How it works

The program comprises a series of nine supported weekend rides starting August 17 and running through the October 18 Cranberry Century event.  The rides will start at 25-30 miles and gradually build your capacity and make the pacing and hill-climbing skills needed for a century feel like second nature. 

Details like exact dates, routes, and meeting points will be shared with participants as we near the program start. Routes will piggyback on existing CRW rides. Training rides are designed to be no-drop whenever staffing allows, with leaders and sweeps helping the group stay together.

Coming soon: “Your First Century” article mini-series

Over the next three months, we’ll publish a practical mini-series of articles to support program participants and all CRW members alike:

• July - Prepping the body & bike: confirming bike fit and comfort, progressive ride plan, long-course endurance pacing habits.

• August – What to bring: the right layers, repair kit, lighting, charging discipline, and navigation redundancy without overpacking.

• September – Century countdown: the checklist for the week before and the day of the ride, including fueling, stops, handling the blahs, and smart decision rules.

What you can do now

In July we will open the program for new century riders who have signed up for the Cranberry Century. If you are interested, now you can:

• Block your calendar so that you can ride progressively long weekend rides every week from August 17 through the Cranberry.

• Join the CRW Slack space, and follow the #century-training channel. Feel free to drop your questions here! 

• Let Ken Schwarz (ken.schwarz@crw.org) know that you would like to participate. The more visibility we have for interest, the better we can recruit the ride leaders we’ll need.

• Start noticing your “comfort ceiling.” Where do you feel discomfort or stiffness? In your neck? Your hands? Take notes from your next 30-mile ride and share them with Ken; we’ll look to address them in the July issue.

• Make that First Century Promise today!