- A general rule-of-thumb - you should be able to ride 90% of the distance by 2 weeks prior to the event. Weekly goals can help you get there (more details to follow).

- MS-25 riders should try to get in two or three rides per week, perhaps less while there's snow on the ground, and more as the ride gets closer. MS-50 cyclists should shoot for three or four rides weekly.

- Make at least one of your rides "long". The goal for your long ride is 90% of the event's distance.

- Start training two months before the event, and increase your weekly total mileage by 10% compounded each week. This will roughly double your weekly mileage during an 8 to 9 week period.

- Using the above sample MS-50 Bike Plan: Start with 3 rides/wk, two of which are 10 miles long, and the third (your "long" ride) which is 20 miles, for a total of 40 miles in the initial week. By gradually increasing both your weekly mileage and your long ride by 10%, by week 9 you'll be cycling 86 miles with a long ride of 43 miles, which is right at your 90% goal!

- Take the last week off! Do not stop completely, but you should do all easier, shorter rides. If you don't have the conditioning by now, you're not going to get it in the last week. So relax, be confident that you're prepared, and just do some moderate rides and spinning.