Training questions - DeathRide related

[Huckwheat]

So, I am doing the Death Ride on July 14th, and am questioning my training plans. Last year I was given a ticket with 8 days notice, and managed to finish (but it was painful, and not that pretty).

Here is my catch though, I have almost no weekends available to train. Maybe two that I can get big one's in, but the 3 weekends before the ride I am traveling.

So, my training is going to be midweek, and I was questioning a few things. Thus far I have been getting about 60 miles a week in with about 4k thrown in there (16 mile commute with 1000+ of climbing). So, I have the base miles and am ready to step up in the month of June.

Questions:
How much distance should I be putting in every week?
---Commute alone is 80 (with 5k climbing) if I ride everyday
---Is this enough?
---What is too much?
---Do 10 little rides have the same effect as 1-2 huge rides?

Is carrying weight good training for a long hilly ride?
---probably carry about 10 lbs in my pannier, laptop, clothes, lunch, etc.
---Would carrying more weigh help prepare me better?
---------does anyone do that for bike training? Like swinging two bats?

Any other ideas advice. I want to make some kind of schedule and then stick to it.

Ideas?

[Viva]

There's no substitute for a long ride. Doing a bunch of short ones will help you in crits, however.

Doubling your weekly milage is a good start. Can you add onto your commute?

What may help is to do repeats up a particularly steep hill. Train your legs, butt, and especially your mind to keep spinning the pedals when your getting all tired and stuff. I like this better than carrying weight.

Carrying weight will help make you stronger, but I don't know if it will necessarly make you a better cyclist. I'd say try it on your commutes to determine whether or not it is indeed efficacious, but ride as you normally would during the long rides. Also, use a filled extra large camelback as your weight, that way you can dump water if need to in order to lighten the load.

[Plakespear]

What Viva said- there is no substitute for long rides. The days are getting longer- ride until dusk one or two nights a week after work if you can't get out on the weekends.

[Huckwheat]

Yeah, I kinda figured that was the answer, but wanted some confirmation.

Good feedback on intervals vs weight. I definately treat some commute days like a full on 30 minute race, including a big climb, and others as just cruising.

I will need to head up Mt Rose after work a day a week or something (That is a 4500 ft climb, and about 40 miles from my work). Last year I did not have nearly enough miles, but I had about 5 Rose climbs under my belt. I am definately off to a better start, but want to have the right focus.