Suggestions for route for a century?

Not to discourage you from riding more, but my longest ride before my first century was shy of 50 miles – you don’t need to ride a century to prepare for riding a century.

@KayakCyndi 75134 wrote:

Arlington loop combined with the W&OD is just about a perfect 100 miles and a pretty common first century around here.

Recommended. This was my very first century ever. Safe. Not too hilly. Lots of places to stop. Easy to bail and turn around early if necessary on the W&OD section.

In the winter time, a good option is to start someplace like Sandburg Rd. near Gallows. Bundle up and do the Arlington Loop first, and back to the car where you can warm up and change to lighter clothes if appropriate.

(This assumes you don’t have a moral objection to driving your car to the ride start )

@jrenaut 75141 wrote:

Not to discourage you from riding more, but my longest ride before my first century was shy of 50 miles – you don’t need to ride a century to prepare for riding a century.

I haven’t done a century, but I did do back to back 80 miles days on the C&O/C&O & W&OD in 100 degree heat (overnight bike trip to Harpers Ferry area) with only a couple fifty mile days and my daily commuting (15 miles RT) in my favor. I think unloaded and on asphalt instead of on crushed gravel I could have easily done 100 miles, and that even in the heat of those days.

Which is to say, I agree with jrenaut. If you’ve got a fifty miler under your belt in the recent past and your fitness level hasn’t dropped off since then, just pick a flattish route if you’re not up for climbing, take your time, don’t push yourself too hard, and make sure to keep eating and drinking throughout the day.

W&OD out and back or the Leesburg Loop are both good routes IMO.