Training for the HH100 is not about climbing hills or riding fast.  It’s all about putting in seat time and getting your body use to the heat.  And learning what works best for you to manage the heat effectively.  The only way to adapt your body to the heat is to ride when it’s hot, which is not a problem in Texas in July and August.

Week 1 – 2 Regular evening rides of 20+ miles.  Saturday, if you’re not doing the Tour of Paris, either do the White Rock ride or go down to Bike Mart and join one of the groups whose distance and speed meet your comfort level.  Sunday – let’s be on our bikes at 3:30 and then everyone can do the double loop around Penney’s at the end to make it a 26 mile ride.

Week 2 – Your regular evening rides (if time allows, stretch one out to 25+ miles).  Saturday, if you’re not doing Goatneck, then ride Saturday mid-day or afternoon.  Try to put in 30 miles of easy pace riding on a flat course.  Make sure you have a place to refill water bottles at the half way point. Every Sunday – let’s be on our bikes at 3:30 and then everyone can do the double loop around Penney’s at the end to make it a 26 mile ride.

Week 3 – Same weeknight and Sunday routine but we’ll do a White Rock ride on Saturday with an extra lake lap for everyone whose planning on doing the HH100.  (yes, you can still have breakfast after you do the first lake lap).

Week 4 – Same routine but on Saturday you almost have to do the Hot Rocks ride in Rockwall.  This is the best test of your readiness for the HH100.  HH100K riders will need to at least ride the 43 mile route and HH100 milers need to do the full 62.  Plan your rest stops (challenge yourself a bit) in advance and then try really hard to make yourself hold to that plan.  Test your endurance and determination, because in 2 weeks you’ll need both.

Week 5 – Same weekly routine with a team 60+ mile (40 miles for the HH100K riders) ride Saturday mid-morning.  We’ll leave at 9:30 or so, as we try to have only the last 15 miles or so during the ridiculous heat of the day.  Full regular ride on Sunday.

Week 6 – One or two easy paced evening rides first half of the week, no riding on Thursday and Friday.  Hydrate beginning Thursday night and have pasta for dinner.  Those who want to caravan to Wichita Falls Friday afternoon, we pull out of Legacy usually around 1:30.  Getting to Wichita Falls by 4:00 or so, which gives plenty of time for the trade show expo, watching the Criterion Races, enjoying the spaghetti feed and settling in at the YMCA!!! 

And yes, we will be riding our regular Sunday afternoon (though it’s not mandatory) so we can bore the non-HH100 riders with our stories of glory and pain!   If you have a Legacy Cyclists jersey, please wear it to the event rides we do.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jim