• We've found that almost any experienced cyclist in good shape can complete this ride. It's a tough double century, but there are many rides that are much, much worse and/or longer. Most people who have ridden it have never done a double century before, a few had never even done a century, though this is not recommended!

• Start your spring training no later than early April, gradually increasing your distance so that by late May you can complete a century. Show up at some of the GMBC or local club rides, to sharpen your skills riding with a group. Be sure to get in some good climbs. If you are in the Burlington area, rides that take in Appalachian Gap, Smugglers' Notch, or Middlebury Gap are good training. According to RAAM champion Pete Penseyres, "You simply identify your target event on a calendar, back off six to eight weeks, and do weekly long rides building up to 75% of your target distance." Ramp up your miles gradually so that you do not injure yourself through over-training, and use the weeks before May to build up your base.

• Commute by bike to work. You'll be amazed at how much this will help your training. It's all about MITS (Miles In The Saddle). If you can't commute, get in at least 4 rides of 30+ hard miles each week, with at least one ride of 50 miles or more each week, gradually increasing in distance.

• Don't have much time for riding? Recent research by Chris Charmichael and others indicates that a series of very high-intensity efforts, as short as 30 seconds in length, followed by 2-4 minutes of recovery, can have the same benefit as a much longer, lower intensity effort. Do your homework, but remember, strong legs and the ability to stay in the saddle for 200 miles are not the same thing! A mix of LSD (Long, Steady Distance) and high-intensity training is best for most riders.

• Take it easy the week before the event. This will give your body a chance to recover and build itself up before the big day. Eat wisely. Get lots of sleep.

• Make sure your bike is 100% ready. You don't need a fancy bike, just a decent, dependable machine with good tires and equipment. We rode the 100/200 on the 1980s on bikes that lacked index shifting and clipless pedals, when carbon fiber and titanium were still considered exotic aerospace materials. I've found that 39x26 gearing works well for me. Pack a multi-tool and equipment to fix a flat and to make simple repairs and some cash in case you bonk near one of the many general stores on the route. Dual water bottles are recommended, but you shouldn't have problems getting your water bottle topped off when necessary. Choose the bike you want to be riding the second hundred miles. Don't use a brand new saddle or shoes the day of the ride!

More information on training for centuries and double-centuries is available online at UltraCycling.com. Information on true randonee events in Vermont and New England is available at http://www.audaxvermont.com and Berkshire Brevets.

The bunch climbing early in the day

Starting the Granville Gulf descent

Pittsfield farm