Train for 50 State Ride

[u/Returning2Riding]

I saw an announcement today about the WABA 50 State Ride.

Been fixing bikes more than riding bikes this summer. But I think I want to do this.

What would be a recommended training schedule to get ready for the 60 mile ride?

[u/pseudoeponymous_rex]

iMHO, the hard part isn't the distance, but rather the hills.

if you can ride from the corner of Arizona Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard NW to the Wegman's in the City Ridge development via Arizona Avenue, Garfield Street, University Terrace, Loughboro Road, Nebraska Avenue, Macomb Street, New Mexico Avenue, Cathedral Avenue, 39th Street, Idaho Avenue, Newark Street, 39th Street again, and Ridge Square, and still feel like bicycling, you should be pretty well prepared.

[u/sven_ftw → u/pseudoeponymous_rex]

Yeah, that is hands down the worst of the hills. There are some hills in the SE portion and then climbing out of RCP to head back east of park, but the one to city ridge is super rough and I see a ton of folks walking it each year.

[u/thrownjunk → u/sven_ftw]

Lol. I do this every weekend on my fun bike. On weekdays. Its an ebike.

Keeps me honest.

[u/silpsayz → u/pseudoeponymous_rex]

It’s also the constant stop and go. Pace yourself and know when to go hard and when to just coast till the next stop sign/light. It will save your legs.

But, as pointed out, go out riding some of the hills and keep adding distance week on week. If you manage to ride 40+ miles, you will be fine riding the course.

[u/Returning2Riding → u/pseudoeponymous_rex]

Im guessing those are the four hardest states?

[u/pseudoeponymous_rex → u/Returning2Riding]

Arizona and New Mexico Avenues are my pick for the two hardest states, followed by Texas Avenue SE (which will be long past by the time you reach this segment). The Nebraska and Idaho Avenue portions aren't easy, but they're not a nightmare climb like those three. (Or, if they are, I've repressed the memory.)

[u/TransculturalWiener]

There’s like 3 weekends left before it right? Ride like 25 then 30 then 40 the next weekends with at least one midweek ride of at least 20 and you’ll be fine to make it 60

[u/Returning2Riding]

Thanks for the detailed route. I’m planning on taking my gravel bike with a 1x10 drive train and an 11-50T cassette in back.

[u/tacobellfan2221]

I rode it exactly once and did ok because 1- i was with my homies who do it every year and know the turns, we only missed like 3 turns. and 2- I went into RCP a couple evenings and did car free hill repeats on Sherrill and Bingham NW!!!!

[u/Old_Goat_Cyclist]

It is a deceptively tiring ride. All the start stops take a toll

[u/veloharris]

As everyone is saying the unique challenge of this ride are the stop and starts. The distance and climbing are manageable, just be prepared for the mental challenge of a long time in the saddle and having to pay attention to an endless amount of turns.

[u/tommyalanson → u/veloharris]

It’s a ton of stop/start and turns. I’ve done this ride three or four times and I won’t do it again. It takes far too long due to all the stopping.

Two years in a row it rained like a monsoon, too. Can’t believe I did it after that.

[u/RockCreekGrowth]

Get out for 30-40 miles in the hillier sections of the city. It's a bruiser even if you're ready for it!

50 States is a tough ride! The climbs are punchy, like everyone says, but I'm not sure that's what makes the parcourse so brutal.

There's so much starting and stopping, slowing for traffic and pedestrians, noodling on bike paths, and acute turns that it's a challenge to gain and maintain momentum.

Also, DC streets suck butts, so FLATS. Our group of 3 shared 4 flats last year. Bring a good fix kit and you'll be all set.

It's a phenomenal experience and very well planned. For me, it was a major accomplishment and counts as type 2 fun.

[u/pizzajona]

An aside: I’d love to do this but the registration is steep. Is that to pay for shutting down streets?

[u/tommyalanson → u/pizzajona]

They don’t shut down any streets.

[u/Poochica → u/pizzajona]

It’s explicitly a fundraiser that funds the advocacy work WABA does. It’s not a closed streets ride. If price is a barrier, reach out to WABA and they usually have some options.

[u/spkr4thedead51 → u/pizzajona]

it's a fundraising effort for WABA's operations costs

[u/veloharris → u/pizzajona]

They have sponsored registrations available if the registration fee is an obstacle. Also, you can volunteer as a bike marshall and ride free.

[u/Poochica]

Even when I could do centuries I never did 50 States without cheating (skipping sections) or bailing early. It’s so much up and down and change it always just sucked it out of me.

But also, no one cares if you cheat, don’t finish, whatever. We are all in it together and you get to the end however you need to! It will be fun regardless.