I have been training for 5 weeks now. I am doing the Lance Armstrong/Chris Carmichael Performance Program beginners workout. Currently I ride about 10-20 miles per training session depending on the duration and exertion the daily training calls for.
I would like to ride in a few races and events in the next couple of months. I intend on entering them for the fun of it so I'm not trying to set a record pace, however I would like it to be a challenge. How do you know the distance to choose? The longest ride I've gone on so far is 48miles. It was a group ride (the FlagPole ride B) with my local cycling club BVC (Brazos Valley Cyclists). The rides I'm looking to enter all have a century ride. They also have shorter routes (10, 30, 50, 70, etc). Would it be too early to ride the 100? When I rode the 48 miles I was tired at the end but I wasn't so worn out that I couldn't ride the next day. How do you know if you're ready for the century? I'm nervous, I DO want to be able to drive home after the race :D
Any help/advice on this would be great!

There is a big differnce between 48miles and a century. This is not to say that you couldn't do it. I'd suggest you enter the 70 mile ride and if you still feel real strong at the 70 mile turnoff, go for the century. Most group ride use the same course to start and then split off for the lesser mileage routes.

There is a big differnce between 48miles and a century. This is not to say that you couldn't do it. I'd suggest you enter the 70 mile ride and if you still feel real strong at the 70 mile turnoff, go for the century. Most group ride use the same course to start and then split off for the lesser mileage routes.

Dave,
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try the 70miler in 2 weeks, then at the end of Oct, there is another ride I'd like to do, it also has a 100.

As dave said, there is a big difference between 48 and 100. Rather than go big right away, work up to it in small increments. The 70 miler is a good idea. Many rides offer a 63-mile (metric century) option too. See how you feel after one of those. You may want to do it once with a "just finish" goal. Then do another with a faster time of speed based goal. A century is no small feat for a beginner. Those that are prepared have fun and look forward to more. Those who just go out and ride it often suffer and swear they will never do it again.

let me offer a suggestion- stop riding by miles and start riding based on a heart rate monitor. if you zone train you will find the miles will come with it. its honestly the best advice anyone has ever given me with riding. that and stop using a computer. it's very easy to get caught up in the milage, but if you can decrease your heart rate you can increase your speed and endurance over time. the one problem is that there is no beginning and end point like in distance.

Miles are one thing, but what miles they are and how you ride them dramatically effect the benefits you will reap. You should be more concerned with time on the bike and maintaining your heart rate in it's correct zone for what you want to work on. Riding for an hour is important, regardless if it's 8 miles of climbing or 20 miles of flat. A century requires endurance so your target heart rate during training should reflect that during your training (not sure your zone/age/lactic thresh... blah blah blah... but you've probably figured those out by now). Like in Kung Fu, you must go slow in order to go fast...