Training Schedule for Your First Double Century

Male race cyclist on mountain road
Thomas Tolstrup/Getty Images

As more and more people have begun to embrace the challenge of distance cycling, the idea of a riding a Century (100 miles) has suddenly become mundane. Ever eager to expand horizons, a new breed of cyclist have risen to the challenge of the Double Century (200 miles).

The Double Century phenomenon began on the West Coast of the U.S and has steadily moved eastward to Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, and beyond. Arguably the most famous is the Solvang Spring Double Century in California.

If you have already logged a few Centuries, you will likely ready to face the rigors of the 16-week training schedule. It requires not only the right equipment and attitude, it demands that you train at the right pace to achieve your optimal speed and endurance goals.

Training Preparations

As you've already completed your first Century, you will already be well aware of the importance of a well-fitted bike. But don't assume that riding a Century is simply "more of the same" only longer. The stress on your body will be exponentially increased, making it all the more important to get the fitting right to minimize stress on your pressure points and maximize aerodynamics. To this end, you would need to do the following:

  • Equip your bike with a top-quality bike seat designed for comfort and distance riding.
  • Your seat would need to be adjusted so that your hips don't rock from side to side.
  • The fore and aft seat position would also need adjustment so that your forward knee is aligned directly over the pedal axle.
  • Your handlebars would be positioned so that you can comfortably bend your elbows while riding.
  • You would need to find the right saddle to relieve pressure points on soft tissue.
  • Your 20-millimeter tires would need to be replaced with more suitable 25-millimeters tires running at around 105 psi.

Beyond your bike and cycling clothes, you should also consider getting a quality cycling computer. The best Double riders use these handy gadgets to record their mileage, time, and altitude. The computer will help you stay on course. Keeping track of your climbing will help you better pace yourself.

Goals of Training

The central goal of training is to get your legs ready to complete the course in the prescribed time. The schedule is based on three to four rides per week with the long miles reserved for the weekends.

To set your endurance goals, you will need to able to cycle for between 12 to 15 hours to complete a Double. What this means is that you will need to do more than a few 50-mile rides and think you'll be prepared; you won't. Instead, you will need to be able to complete a few 100-plus-mile rides two to three weeks before the race.

The midweek miles listed below should only be considered a minimum. You can well exceed this mileage and even throw in some extra rides during the week if you so choose. With so many hours at the handlebars required, the best cycling gloves are essential.

Finally, it is important to eat and drink in accordance with your endurance training needs.

16-Week Double Century Training Schedule

Week # Week Goal Midweek Saturday Sunday
1 90 30 50 10
2 110 20 70 20
3 110 30 50 30
4 130 40 70 20
5 120 20 80 20
6 140 40 70 30
7 190 50 80 60
8 160 50 90 20
9 160 40 80 40
10 180 40 90 50
11 190 50 110 30
12 210 40 150 20
13 200 50 100 50
14 150 30 80 40
15 120 40 60 20
16 220 20 200 Rest
1 Source
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Leavitt TG, Vincent HK. Simple Seat Height Adjustment in Bike Fitting Can Reduce Injury RiskCurr Sports Med Rep. 2016;15(3):130. doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000000254

By Elizabeth Quinn, MS
Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics.