The Women's 100 Event is back on Sunday, August 30th, with both the 100km and the 65km on offer this year. However you've signed up (or even if you haven't yet), the next question is the same: how do you actually get ready?

We put together three training plans based on where your riding is at right now. Find the one that matches your current longest ride, and follow it through to the start line.

How These Plans Work

Each plan runs three days a week, with a fourth optional day if you've got the time and energy for it.

• Easy Ride: an easy pace. You should be able to hold a full conversation the whole way.
• Tempo Ride: moderate effort, working in some hills or a faster cadence.
• Long Ride: the ride that actually builds your distance.
• Optional Ride: a steady add-on if you want extra time in the saddle.

Easy means easy. Moderate means you're breathing harder but can still talk in short sentences. Keep anything harder than that brief, and don't chase it.

Make the Plan Work for You

These plans are written for 12 weeks. Starting closer to the event than that? Don't start at week one. Find the week that matches your current longest ride, and pick up from there. The shape of the plan matters more than hitting day one on a specific date.

Life happens, too. If you need to skip a ride, drop the Easy Ride first, then the Tempo Ride. The Long Ride is the one that's actually building your event-day endurance, so it's worth protecting. If you do miss a Long Ride, pick back up at the next one rather than trying to make up the distance.

Listen to Your Body

These plans are just a guide. If a ride leaves you more tired than expected, take an extra rest day. If something hurts beyond normal muscle fatigue, back off and let it heal.

If you're new to riding this distance, managing a health condition, or returning after an injury or a long break, check with a doctor before you start. They can confirm this level of training is right for you.

Download the Training Plans

Find Your Plan

• 65km Build-Up: longest ride right now is around 30km, training for the 65km route.
• 100km Foundation: longest ride right now is around 30km, training for the 100km route.
• 100km Endurance: longest ride right now is around 50km or more, training for the 100km route.

65km Build-Up

Month 1 builds your long ride from 35km to 45km, then eases back to 35km for a recovery week. Month 2 takes you from 45km to 55km, with another recovery week bringing you back to 40km. Month 3 builds toward a 60km long ride by week 10, then starts easing off for event day.

100km Foundation

Month 1 builds your long ride from 35km to 45km, then drops back to 35km for recovery. Month 2 runs from 50km to 70km, recovering at 50km. Month 3 climbs from around 80km to 95km by week 11, then tapers right down through week 12.

100km Endurance

Month 1 takes your long ride from 55km to 65km, recovering at 50km. Month 2 runs 70km to 80km, recovering at 60km. Month 3 builds from 85km to 95km by week 11, then tapers for the event. 

Want the full week-by-week breakdown for your plan? Download the complete training plans (PDF).

Routes to Build Your Long Rides

Need a place to start? Check out The Routes, our curated collection of cycling routes for a variety of distances and terrain. 

The Routes

You can also try out the Strava routes below. These are staff-favourite training routes around Peterborough. Ride one as-is, or loop it more than once to stretch a shorter route into a longer one.

• 30km, easy (Doube's Trestle Bridge): View route
• 30km, moderate: View route
• 35km, rolling: View route
• 40km, moderate: View route
• 60km, moderate: View route
• 60km, moderate: View route
• 75km, moderate: View route

Stop by the store if you want help mapping one of these to your training week.

Additional Tips

Fueling While You Train

Once your long rides pass 60km, start practicing how you'll fuel on event day.

• Eat something every 30-45 minutes, aiming for 30-60g of carbs an hour.
• Drink on a schedule instead of waiting until you're thirsty. 500-750mL an hour depending on the heat.
• Test your snacks now, so you already know what works by the time August 30th rolls around.

We'll go deeper on fueling strategy in an upcoming email, but the habit starts now.

Ride With Others

All three plans are built for a social ride, not a race, so build group riding into your training too.

• Practice wheel spacing and hand signals.
• Spend your long rides at a conversational pace.

Rest Days

• Take at least 1-2 full rest days a week.
• Light walking, stretching, or yoga is fine on those days if you want to stay moving.

Get the Full Plan and More

We've put together a detailed, week-by-week training plan that will get you ready to ride and have fun on your chosen distance, whether you're starting from a 30km base, or a 50km base.

Download the Training Plans

Want training, nutrition, and gear tips sent your way as the event gets closer? Sign up for the Women's 100 Email Series. No ride registration required, just sign up and we'll handle the rest. Sign up now.

We welcome any and all folks who identify as women, femme non-binary, trans women, ALL women+. You belong here.

The Women's 100 Event

Date: Sunday, August 30th

Location: Wild Rock Outfitters, 169 Charlotte St, Peterborough

Registration is limited to 50 riders.

Register Now