road bike help - training plan and diet

Depends on your training, but it's certainly not a bad idea. What kind of shape are you in right now? If you're in relatively good shape, the best way to ride 200km is to simply ride. Ride lots. IMO, the gym isn't going to help you, or at least it won't be as time-effective as riding out of your driveway. Start off short and don't overwork yourself to begin. Once you feel comfortable with that certain distance, add another 20% (20 miles to 24 miles, to 30 miles, etc). Weekends are a good time to get longer rides in and experiment with nutrition. 200km may sound daunting, but it's not that challenging if you pace yourself. EDIT: Really important, make sure you get fitted at the bike shop. For a 200km ride, your shoulders, neck, and back will thank you.

+1 to the above.

Gym work is pretty much useless to this sort of ride... to most cycling in general, actually. Ride and ride and ride.

You are only in a 'ride' not a 'race', you could probably wake up, eat 2 bananas and ride the thing out if you are already in decent shape and hydrated.

Massive amounts of carbs really depend on the amount of time you are putting in to the ride + the intensity...

Just ride as much as you can. Eat as your body feels necessary.

Pick up some chamois cream as well. Get your bike adjusted to fit your anthropometry and get used to sitting and spinning for long stretches. What's the route going to be like? Flat, hilly, etc?

It's been said, but base miles base miles base miles. Feel free to do some hill repeats if you have reasonable hills. Get a buddy to ride with you and do as many sign sprints as you can for a 'hard day' and then spin it out for the next. Base miles base miles base miles.

In the gym you should be working core with focus on your lower back.

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You're planning your first 125 mile ride in one month and you're just getting pedals, shoes and shorts now?

As long as you're in reasonable shape and the route isn't too hilly the ride itself shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, your ass is going to be toast. So will your shoulders and wrists. Any small fit issue you have will be magnified 10x by the end of the ride.
Make sure your cleats are properly fit too or you can add knees and ankles to that list.

Eat healthy, start riding. 125 isn't bad esp. if you are already in shape. I haven't ridden much since fall, and my first ride of the season was about 70 miles. Felt fine.

Two sixty miles days is cake, for anyone 40 and under in reasonable shape with a month of training. As has been said, base miles. Also, work on your pedal stroke and cadence. Other than that, hydrate as you ride and just enjoy. Sounds like a nice ride.

Get one that displays cadence. I've got the Cateye Astrale 8 but maybe they have newer models with the cadence feature.

Hey all, new to the forums so I thought I'd jump in on a topic that I'm very familiar with. Cycling, the passion of my adolscence! Triathlete here so I guess I'll try to shed some light on some vital things about coming into the cycling world. First off, lots of great information here already! Someone who is new to cycling and has an event (not necessarily a race) they'd like to attend. There are a few things I would make sure of right off the bat. 1 - Check your bike, make sure it's tuned up such that the brakes actually work . Rusted chain is no good, give all the moving parts a good oil down. Spin the wheels and give them some air. 2 - Health wise, ride at your own pace. Cycling long distances is something you need to get used to, it can be a leisure cruise or a hammer day, just make sure you're accustom to being in the saddle for 3+ hours. If you aren't then I'd suggest taking neede breaks to hydrate, stretch, and/or relax. 3 - Got everything you might need? That means spare tube, levers, air pump, sani-wipes, and some nutrition on your way which includes ample water supply. To make things more convenient, look into carrying the stuff on your bike, saddle bag, bento box, jersey pockets, whatever you think you might need I'd bring it. 4 - Chamois / Body Glide - chauffing happens, get the necessary areas done up. Sunscreen is also just as important, make sure you're ready for it nothing sucks more then getting burnt on your ride.

if its not a time issue and you get to sleep inbetween 100km sections...


Just go do it.

If you were studying abroad and had the presense of mind to work out twice a week, you are probably in perfectly good shape so if it is not a race (you don't care about getting there first...just getting there), you should be able to ride it all yourself--just make sure you eat enough.

proper bike fit (especially if you are locked in to zero-float pedals) would help too