A road-cycling training journal
Train for the century, the double, the long climb
Diablo Cyclists is written for US club and recreational riders building toward centuries, doubles and long event days — the training weeks, the climbs and the rides themselves.
Newest first
Latest from the road
How to Handle Sleep Deprivation on Ultra Rides: Safe Plan 2026
How to handle sleep deprivation on ultra rides without wrecking your judgement: alertness checks, shorter routes, fueling, breaks and stop criteria in…
How to Prepare Mentally for a Long Ride in 2026: Proven Guide
Learn how to prepare mentally for a long ride in : practical routines for training focus, managing anxiety, pacing effort and staying…
How to Ride Solo for Long Distances: Plan, Pace, Repair (2026)
How to ride solo for long distances in : route bail-outs, conservative pacing, fueling targets, solo repairs, night riding and check-in plans.
10 Mental Strategies for Long Distance Cycling (October 2026)
Learn 10 practical mental strategies for long distance cycling in so you stay focused, manage fatigue, control anxiety and finish strong on…
How to Split a Long Ride Into Segments: Easy Plan 2026
Learn how to split a long ride into segments, cut on terrain and regrouping points, set realistic time and effort targets, and…
Why Average Speed Is a Bad Training Metric for Cyclists 2026
Why average speed is a bad training metric, and what to track instead to train consistently across hills, wind and traffic and…
How to Set Cycling Goals for the Season (October 2026)
How to set cycling goals for the season with a realistic plan that matches your free time, event calendar, current fitness, and…
Intensity Factor Explained for Cyclists (October 2026)
Learn how intensity factor works for cyclists, calculate it from power data, compare workout demands, and use it to make smarter training…
How to Measure Cycling Progress: 7 Methods That Work (2026)
Learn how to measure cycling progress with FTP tests, power zones, heart rate and repeatable time trials, plus how to track it…
Before the first big week
Three things every long day rewards
Plans before products
Training comes first here: weekly mileage, pacing and recovery before any talk of gear.
Pace, not bravado
A long ride is finished at an effort you can hold, so fuelling and restraint get as much room as intervals.
Numbers you set yourself
Where a target depends on your own fitness, terrain or weather, this journal says so instead of printing a figure.
About this journal
Written for riders chasing the long ones
Diablo Cyclists is a working record of road training: the build weeks, the climbs that decide a century, and what a long day in the saddle actually asks of a club rider.
It starts with century and double-century training and widens into the routes, the riding skills and the kit that long days depend on.
More about this journal →