Consider your current level of fitness and endurance; then start working up. Lengthen your rides by a few miles per week; and don’t forget to do on-bike exercises to improve your pace. Short, hard intervals with easy riding in between are good for that.

Off-bike exercises to strengthen arms and core are wise. While I was riding the adult tricycle, I never seemed to need such work. Once I moved on to a hybrid, I quickly discovered that I did need it! But you don’t have to go for body-building. I do just enough so that I can ride for miles without 1) having my abs sag, so that I go swaybacked; and 2) having my arms feel like overcooked spaghetti after 15 minutes.

Some organized rides, such as Tour de Cure, have group training rides. If you’re aiming for a century, this plan is one of many that can help you prepare.

During your practice rides, experiment with on-bike eating. Train your gut, they say! If you don’t get used to eating on the bike, your stomach is going to feel miserable during your long event, when you must eat to keep going.

However eager you may be for that big ride, don’t neglect recovery; don’t risk overuse injuries and burnout.

Does it all sound like too much? Well, yes, it is a lot. But like I said, ya gotta start somewhere!