I am a daily commuter and I am starting to train for a century. I ride 7 miles each way to work and some minor errands everyday (lunch, etc). On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have class after work, from 6 to 10 pm. The class will limit the amount of riding I will do on those days, because I am usually too tired after class and my wife would be real angry if after class I left to go hit the road for training. My recommended century training (and the one I used for my first century) includes riding 6 days a week, while increasing total mileage 10% a week. My questions:

1 - Should I include my commute into the total mileage? Sometimes it's done at a slow pace, other days I gotta rush and I get my heart rate up to the 150s... It's never consistent, depends on what time I leave home.

2 - If I skip two training days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) how would that affect my training? According to my original training schedule Tuesday is an easy pace day and thrusday is a rest day. I am actually only missing one day, but I do make up for it in commuting...

3 - Since even on my rest days I do ride my bike (commuting) would that be very detrimental to my training? I could ride the bus to work on Thursdays, but usually that's a hassle. I'd do it if I have to for the training.

4 - I understand you should only train on the bike you will do the century on, but sometimes I ride my mountain bike to work. Should those mountain bike miles be included in the overall training?

5 - If I include the mountain bike miles: On the Mountain Bike I usually either: a) ride slower with same HR or b) higher HR w/ same speed as road bike. I believe I should shoot for same HR as road bike, is that right?

Riding a car to work is out of the question, I am a US Soldier in Korea and the Army won't let me have a car where I live.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Your wife would be angry if you rode after class, but somehow, she likes your avatar? I'm not buying it.

Frankly, you might just want to think about the amount of TIME you spend on your bike (rather than miles). It takes some of the mileage pressure off. I'm helping a co-worker prepare for a week-long 500+ mile ride, and that is the approach we are taking.

Riding a century, if your goal is to finish, is a battle of rider comfort more than any sort of cardio-vascular endeavor. You simply need to be comfortable spending that much time on a bike... unless it is a mountainous century.

Who says you should only train on the bike you are riding the century on? Many people have multiple bikes. I like switching bikes if for no other reason than a different seat gives my butt a break.

A 14 mile commute should not intervere with your "training." If anything, it is a good recovery ride.

If you can ride 60 miles, you can ride 100. If I were you, I'd try to regularly (at least weekly) ride at least 40 miles with a few 60 milers tossed in.

Since it isn't a race, I'd think of it less as "training" and approach it as having fun riding, being outdoors, getting exercise, etc...

Your wife would be angry if you rode after class, but somehow, she likes your avatar? I'm not buying it.


I never said she's seen my avatar... ;)

I never said she's seen my avatar... ;)

Maybe that's his wife... If so, jealousy may abound from some around here.

I could not hear you over your avitar.

My opinion:
1 - yes count the easy miles

2 - skipping 1-2 days won't hurt much just avoid skipping back to back days

3- commute on the bike - not harmful to training

4- don't worry about using the mountain bike.

5 - train to a HR not a speed