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LATE BASE · 12 WEEKS OUT

RIDE LONDON 100 — 12 WEEKS OUT

Bridge phase. Volume still rules, but structure begins. Built around the 160km / 900m profile of the Ride London in United Kingdom.

160 km·900 m climbing·5-9 hours·May

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

BUILD THE ENGINE.

Twelve weeks out, you're still building the base — but specific structure is starting to appear. Tempo work enters the picture one day a week. Long rides get longer. This is where the event-specific fitness starts to take shape without compromising your aerobic foundation.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

TEMPO SANDWICH

2x20min at tempo (76-88% FTP) inside a 2-hour Z2 ride. Steady, controlled, not a time trial. This is your first taste of extended race-pace efforts.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 12 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Non-negotiable.

Tuesday

TEMPO SANDWICH (2H)

2x20min tempo inside steady Z2.

Wednesday

STRENGTH + 1H RECOVERY SPIN

Keep the gym work periodised.

Thursday

2H Z2 WITH 4X8MIN TEMPO

Progressive tempo work.

Friday

REST OR EASY 30MIN

Protect the weekend.

Saturday

4-5H LONG RIDE WITH EVENT-SPECIFIC TERRAIN

Mimic your target event's profile.

Sunday

2H Z2 RECOVERY RIDE

Active recovery, conversational pace.

DON'T DO THIS

Don't start threshold intervals yet. The build phase will come. If you jump intensity too early you'll peak 6 weeks before race day and arrive flat.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE RIDE LONDON ACTUALLY DEMANDS

Ride London-Essex 100 is the UK's largest mass-participation sportive — 160km (100 miles) from east London out through the Essex countryside and back on closed roads. Since 2022 the route has run through Essex rather than the Surrey Hills, making it flatter, faster, and pack-dominated. First-time 100-mile riders dominate the field.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓Closed roads from central London out through Essex and back
  • ✓Rolling Essex countryside — few sustained climbs, lots of short rises
  • ✓Pack riding dominates — drafting saves 20-30% of your work
  • ✓Central London finish on The Mall with huge crowds
  • ✓Early start (often 06:30) — means late nights the week before ruin you

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Surfing from group to group in the first 40km and burning matches
  • ✕Underhydrating because it 'doesn't feel hot' on closed roads
  • ✕Treating it like a climbing sportive — it's a pack-speed event, pick the right wheels

PACING

Sit in a pack at your sportive pace. Don't chase a faster pack if you can't comfortably hold a wheel for 10 minutes. The Essex route is rolling rather than climber's terrain — your target power should be close to tempo for long stretches, with brief spikes over the short rises. Save matches for the last 30km back into London, where gaps open up.

FUELLING

Gels every 30-45 min + bar every 90. Closed-road feed zones are plentiful but often packed — carry enough that you can skip one. Caffeine gel at 100km keeps the focus through the urban section.

KIT

Aero road bike with 52/36 + 11-30 cassette is plenty. No need for climbing gear. Bidon cage warming bottles (it often rains). Thin gloves — finish is in London, traffic after the line.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

COACHED FOR YOUR EVENT.

The Not Done Yet coaching community runs the coached five-pillar system built around your actual event date. Personalised TrainingPeaks plan, weekly calls, expert masterclasses. 7-day free trial.

Apply for CoachingHow Coaching Works

$195/month · 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime

FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 12 WEEKS OUT

Is 12 weeks enough to train for the Ride London 100?+

Yes, 12 weeks is a strong window. That's enough time for a full base phase, build, peak, and taper — the classical periodisation structure. 900m of climbing over 160km is built with sustained Z2 volume (base) + threshold work (build) in that order.

What's the hardest part of the Ride London 100?+

Closed roads from central London out through Essex and back. surfing from group to group in the first 40km and burning matches — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Sit in a pack at your sportive pace.

How many hours a week should I train at 12 weeks out from the Ride London 100?+

Aim for 8-12 hours/week if you're targeting a strong finish. The long weekend ride is the anchor (3-4 hours at build intensities) plus 3-4 structured weekday sessions. Volume matters more than intensity at this phase.

Do I need a coach to train for the Ride London 100?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside the Not Done Yet coaching community the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Ride London 100 runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Ride London 100?+

Aero road bike with 52/36 + 11-30 cassette is plenty. No need for climbing gear. Bidon cage warming bottles (it often rains). Thin gloves — finish is in London, traffic after the line.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE RIDE LONDON

Earlier phase ← 16 weeks out

BASE PHASE

Later phase → 8 weeks out

BUILD PHASE

Read the full Ride Londonguide →