image c/o www.chattbike.com
I may have done exactly this.
I can’t back out. Money has been paid. Registration forms filled out.
I signed up for the 3 State 3 Mountain Century in Chattanoooga on May 2nd. This ride covers 100 miles (hence the name Century) and crosses three mountains in the process.
There is something like 13,000 feet of climbing over the course of this ride, which is equal to the entirety of the 2009 Ragbrai course, except that all of that climbing is packed into less than 1/4 of that mileage.
To say that this is a lofty goal for being something like 50 days away is an understatement. All of the riding I have done since starting back into cycling last year has been in hilly areas, but not on mountains.
Training for this event is critical. To that end, I’ve put together the following training schedule.If I can stick to this schedule I should be able to finish the ride. It’s going to be tough.
| Date | Day | miles | Pace/Type | Weekly Total |
| 3/11 | Wednesday | 10 | spin bike and weights | |
| 3/12 | Thursday | 15 | medium | |
| 3/13 | Friday | 15 | medium | |
| 3/14 | Saturday | 50 | easy | |
| 3/15 | Sunday | 40 | easy | 130 |
| 3/16 | Monday | 10 | hill intervals | |
| 3/17 | Tuesday | 15 | easy | |
| 3/18 | Wednesday | 15 | hard | |
| 3/19 | Thursday | 15 | hard | |
| 3/20 | Friday | 0 | rest day | |
| 3/21 | Saturday | 60 | easy | |
| 3/22 | Sunday | 50 | easy | 155 |
| 3/23 | Monday | 10 | hill intervals | |
| 3/24 | Tuesday | 30 | easy | |
| 3/25 | Wednesday | 15 | hard | |
| 3/26 | Thursday | 0 | rest day | |
| 3/27 | Friday | 30 | tempo | |
| 3/28 | Saturday | 60 | easy | |
| 3/29 | Sunday | 60 | easy | 195 |
| 3/30 | Monday | 15 | hill intervals | |
| 3/31 | Tuesday | 30 | easy | |
| 4/1 | Wednesday | 15 | hard | |
| 4/2 | Thursday | 15 | hard | |
| 4/3 | Friday | 10 | easy spin on rollers | |
| 4/4 | Saturday | 70 | easy | |
| 4/5 | Sunday | 70 | easy | 210 |
| 4/6 | Monday | 20 | hill intervals | |
| 4/7 | Tuesday | 30 | easy | |
| 4/8 | Wednesday | 30 | medium | |
| 4/9 | Thursday | 30 | medium | |
| 4/10 | Friday | 15 | tempo | |
| 4/11 | Saturday | 70 | easy | |
| 4/12 | Sunday | 70 | easy | 245 |
| 4/13 | Monday | 15 | hill intervals | |
| 4/14 | Tuesday | 15 | easy | |
| 4/15 | Wednesday | 30 | hard | |
| 4/16 | Thursday | 30 | hard | |
| 4/17 | Friday | 0 | vacation | |
| 4/18 | Saturday | 0 | vacation | |
| 4/19 | Sunday | 0 | vacation | 75 |
| 4/20 | Monday | 0 | vacation | |
| 4/21 | Tuesday | 0 | vacation | |
| 4/22 | Wednesday | 0 | vacation | |
| 4/23 | Thursday | 0 | vacation | |
| 4/24 | Friday | 0 | vacation | |
| 4/25 | Saturday | 0 | vacation | |
| 4/26 | Sunday | 40 | easy | 40 |
| 4/27 | Monday | 10 | hill intervals | |
| 4/28 | Tuesday | 15 | easy | |
| 4/29 | Wednesday | 15 | easy | |
| 4/30 | Thursday | 15 | easy spin on rollers | |
| 5/1 | Friday | 10 | easy spin on rollers | |
| 5/2 | Saturday | 100 | century ride | 165 |
6 Comments
I think it is more fun with a motor on your bike
It’s a different kind of fun. I will say that descending a steep curvy road on a bicycle at 40 mph is a little more exciting than doing the same on a motorcycle.
Climbing the same road to go back home, that’s another story.
Maybe when you get to my age you will think differt. I am glad for you, you have to have a hobby. How are you going to get your bike to the start of Ragbry? Then get your car again. Do you have all that work out?
Dad
I check the list on the 3 state ride and I didn’t see your name. You may want to check on it if you payed any money. If you didn’t pay you can back out. You have fun. Keep me posted.
Dad again
I was looking at the motorcycle page and went to the web site you said to check out. It sent me to a bike deailer NC and it has a bike in the military sale department that you can bye me. It was the all black one with all the military braches on it. It look good. This will be my last post untell next time love you Dad
I’ll work something out with Rick, Al, Jay, or somebody to move the car for us. It shouldn’t be a big deal. We plan to overnight in Hudson on the Friday before the start, and again on the Saturday after Ragbrai.