Avg. Distance

[jusdooit]

I'm still fairly new as a rider (well, return rider), only been riding since June '06. I am curious to know what the average distance of ride most folks go for. I made it through 26 miles yesterday and would like to get to 30 miles, and do it at least 3x a week. Just made me curious about what most of you ladies ride, how often, etc.

[Cassandra_Cain]

I'm still fairly new as a rider (well, return rider), only been riding since June '06. I am curious to know what the average distance of ride most folks go for. I made it through 26 miles yesterday and would like to get to 30 miles, and do it at least 3x a week. Just made me curious about what most of you ladies ride, how often, etc.

Hi Cindy - welcome back to riding :)

Not sure how useful my reply will be since I don't really train by miles or aim to reach a certain amount.

Looking at my journals though I usually end up with about 100-110 miles/week. I do a lot of high intensity work during the week, then much longer rides on weekends.

With the dreaded time change rapidly approaching I'll be switching my weekday rides indoors on the trainer....:rolleyes:

Best wishes in reaching your goals, sounds like you are well on your way :)

[midgetcycler]

During the week I have to limit my rides to 1 hour at a time. I usually get in 15 or so miles on a weekday. On the weekends, I try to get in one longer ride -- 2 to 3 hours. the longest I have done on a weekend ride is 47 miles.

Coming up on 1000 miles on my bike since the beginning of July!! Yea me!

[Veronica]

This has been discussed in a couple of different threads recently. But since distance is common word it makes it hard to search for.

You're going to get lots of different answers. I'm training to do Paris-Brest-Brest next August, a 1200 K ride, completed over 4 consective days. My rides range in length from my 4.1 miles commute (that's round trip!) to 200 miles. I usually ride 6 days a week, sometimes 7, because I commute.

People who mainly mountain bike will have lower mileage. Folks who are "normal", not mental, won't have rides longer than a metric or imperial century, maybe they will do a double metric.

Some people are weekend warriors, some commute 20 or 30 miles to work everyday.

We are all different.

V.

[Grog]

For what it's worth (i.e. very little) my rides averaged 47,9 km (just under 30 miles) this year (Jan 1st to today).

[Mimosa]

My current weekplanning is:
2x 2hrs (about 35 miles) (on tuesday and thursday)
2x 3.5hrs (about 56 miles) (on saturday and sunday)

[SouthernBelle]

I think lots of us have to reserve longer rides for weekends, esp. since the days are shortening. With the light available at the end of the day last week, I was lucky to get in an hour.

Do what you can and what you enjoy.

[quint41]

I've been doing 20-25 miles per ride 2-3 times a week. But, then, I was riding hybrid until I got my road bike about 3 weeks ago. Season's almost over here. I'm going to work on increasing that next season.

[Bikingmomof3]

Right now I canot ride, but FWIW, when I could ride I averaged a little over 100 miles a month. Not a lot compared to many on here, but my first time a bike ever was in July, so I was spending more time on technique so I would be safe on the roads and not a danger to other riders.

[ptenoid]

My distances vary, but I average 8 - 14 miles, 5 days a week. I occasionally go farther, but I tend to get bored after about an hour.

[Aggie_Ama]

Again it varies. During the months when it is light longer, I was riding 15-20 miles 3 times during the week. On the weekends we usually do a couple longer rides. We usually do 30 miles on Saturday and 40-60 miles on Sunday. Everyone once in a while we do an organized event, usually 60-70 miles.

[BeeLady]

I'm sitting at home now basking in cycling nirvana after having just completed a 15-mile ride in the country will hills and headwind, wonderful temperature and beautiful scenery:) . And wondering why I didn't ride another 10 or 15 miles, which surely I had the time and energy to do.

One reason I didn't is that I don't want to do too much too fast. I'm 51 and do not have a very good bicycle (12-year-old cheap steel bike - heavy and not very road worthy) so I don't want to set myself up for bad cycling experiences when I'm just getting started. I also didn't have usable bike pump and although I'm out in the country this weekend where everyone has a compressor, I didn't want to have to walk my bike 2 or 3 miles in case of a flat. (It gets hot out here fast!)

Last weekend I rode 36 miles in an event and will ride either 30 or 50 miles in an event next weekend (on a new bike!!). The event will have SAG (which I don't intend to use or think I'll need) and rest stops.

During the week I use my bike for errands so ride 5 to 10 miles 3 or 4 days a weeks and do a 14-mile group ride once a week. I want to work my way up to a consistent 100-mile week and then add 10% or so a month until I am a well-conditioned cyclest with proper (or at least improved) technique.

Ultimate goals: 1) many years of healthy cycling at 300+ miles ea month; 2) at least one or two multi-day tours a year; and 3) able to do one or two centuries or MS 150 rides each year.

If I was 25 these goals would be different and I could just ride til I dropped, knowing I could and would fully recover and be ready to go again in a day or so. At my age, recovery and gradual increases are the plan as well as a necessity in achieving my cycling goals.

[Bad JuJu]

I think our average distances depend on our goals, and even for any individual, goals may change over the season or year. I like to average about 50 miles a week, but I'm doing longer weekend rides now in preparation for an upcoming metric century (2 weeks from now :eek: ;) ). But generally, I try to do one or two 20-mile rides during the week, then a longish ride on Saturday and maybe a short, easy recovery ride on Sunday.

But again, it depends on your goals.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Between all the members here, some of whom ride 150 miles a week or more, others who ride 5 miles two or three times a week...figuring an "average" is kind of meaningless.
But individual averages are more practical to look at I think, so here's mine at this point in time:
Been riding about 4 months now. From Monday-Friday I usually do 2 rides of 11 miles each, plus one +/- 20 mile ride with DH. Then on Saturday and Sunday we average maybe one 35 mile ride somewhere in there, because sometimes it's raining and sometimes we are out of town or busy with non-bike obligations. So I guess that adds up to about 75 miles a week for me right now, counting rain and cancelled rides. (gee, it's more than I thought!)

[eclectic]

As it was mentioned before it depends on your lifestyle and goals. My rides started out 10 - 15 miles then I got a new bike and decided to go on a tour

Now my closest average per ride would be about 19 miles, but upped it to about 30 when I was getting ready for the tour I was going on, then we threw in some 40-60 mile rides on a regular basis.

I'll plan on just going for an hour but usually end up going further once I am out
For some reason I can ride by myself for hours , the same old routes and not get bored. I am usually working on technique such as shifting/ spinning, standing to climb part of the hill, sprinting etc or just daydreaming and dawdling. I even notice the scenery once in awhile :)

[Bike Goddess]

As all of you have said in one way or another- this is really an individual thing. A lot depends on what you do off the bike, the weather, time of year, family etc.

As for me, I generally do at least 2 metric centuries (62.5 miles?) a week plus an early morning ride before I work that is (because of time changing morning light) a little over 10 miles. However, I also work out at the gym 1-3 days a week in the morning before I go to work. I consider my gym time as strength training for my cycling which is why I mention it here.

I do think having goals are a great way to keep you going and to help focus your efforts to the end result.

[jusdooit]

Thanks for all the responses ladies. I guessI just wanted a general idea of what "normal" people do. Afraid that going for 30 mile rides might get me classified as a freak. I am curious though at how those of you who do short rides during the week have the endurance for the longer weekend outings? I also need at least a day between rides to recover, how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

[tygab]

this was my 1st year cycling, and what my 'average' was varied greatly by time of year and where I was experience wise. I'm considering the outdoor season all but over here, so while I'll continue to do some longer rides on weekends, I am not training for them, and they're ramp down rides instead of building rides for something like a long ride or century. It now gets too dark to ride during the week, at least with the hours I work. Instead, I am going to the gym to spin class, run, etc.

But let me answer your latest question:

how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

Only by training & adding mileage slowly. The general rule of thumb is to increase your total distance by 10% a week. You can do up a quick little spreadsheet that reflects this and see that at a certain point in time you'll need to do back to back rides on the weekend to continue increasing. And you don't jump into long rides both days either - what I'd say is at the beginning plan one longer day and one shorter day, and add miles to both til the longer ride hits your objective. Then you can add the miles to the shorter ride til both are even or near even.

[Grog]

Thanks for all the responses ladies. I guessI just wanted a general idea of what "normal" people do. Afraid that going for 30 mile rides might get me classified as a freak. I am curious though at how those of you who do short rides during the week have the endurance for the longer weekend outings? I also need at least a day between rides to recover, how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

It will all come with time and training. Tygab is right: don't increase mileage too fast. But eventually you'll get at a good mileage base and your body will be used to that volume of exercise, and need less no-riding recovery time between rides. What I mean by "no-riding recovery time" is just that. However you might still need recovery days, i.e. if you ride very hard one day it's probably wiser to take it easy the next. But you'll be able to get your rest on the bike instead of the couch. :)

Of course, when you stop for many weeks or several months, you have to start over building your base. But it should take you less time, unless it's been many years :eek:

[Mimosa]

I am curious though at how those of you who do short rides during the week have the endurance for the longer weekend outings? I also need at least a day between rides to recover, how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

Just take it up slowly, for instance ride on saturday a long ride and then on sunday a short ride, start of with 1 hr on an easy pace. And slowly up the time you spend on the sunday.

And yes, on the sunday you will have to warm up slowly to get rid of the muscle aches of the saturday ride. :rolleyes:

And how much times you spend depends on what goals you set for yourself. I want to ride competition next year that's why I make the milage.

[Crankin]

During the season, when there is ample daylight, i tend to ride 2, maybe 3 times a week after work. Those rides are usually 15 miles. Most of the time I try to go for speed here (and improving the speed on my climb back to my house). I do at least one longer ride on the weekend, usually around 50 miles (sometimes it's less but that usually involves a lot of climbing). Usually, I will do another shorter weekend ride, or go mtb.
During the summer, when I'm not working, I do a group ride on Wednesday and Friday, plus one or two short rides alone. The Wednesday one is social, but with a nice pace of about 14-15 av. The Friday ride gradually increases in pace from the beginning of the season to the end. The last one I did on Labor Day weekend was about a 16.5-17 mph average, and it was hard for me.Both of these rides are between 30 and 50 miles. What I have found is that the faster my speed gets, the more time I need for recovery. I'm pretty sure this has to do with my age, but just this morning my husband and I were wondering if some of the men in my Wed. ride group who are about 65-70 feel as sore and tired as we do! They seem unfazed by anything. I also rode less this year with my riding partner, who is much slower than me. Going on rides with her forced me to slow down, but I was still out there. I think this is a better strategy for me. Too much exercise and not enough recovery does bad things to my immune system and I have had a series of allergy, asthma, etc. things since I finished training for and completing a century and a 50 mile charity ride within one week of each other. I thought I rested enough, but I guess not.
The season is winding down, so i will be getting back to spin class, weights, and hopefully x-country skiing. It's probably healthier to try to combine cycling with some other activity, even during the season, but it's hard for me not to just get out and ride every day that I can!

[GLC1968]

Its funny, but last year when I started out riding, I was super excited to do a 30 mile ride on the weekend and I planned it out like it was a century. This year, a 30 mile ride is a 'nice ride'. You will find that as your experience grows, your mindset changes!

Over the summer, I was riding between 100 and 150 miles per week. Shorter rides during the week (30 miles or so) and then longer ones on the weekend ramping up to a century ride in August and another one in September. Now I'm also commuting (14 miles each way), so I hope to maintain an 85-100 mile/week pace through the winter. (On top of regular gym workouts :) )

[Bluetree]

I often have to work seven days a week so my training time varies according to my work schedule. That said, I've been riding since August and try to get in three rides a week, each between 20-35 miles. I add one day of swimming and one day of combined weight training/running, and two rest-recovery days.

[KSH]

I'm still fairly new as a rider (well, return rider), only been riding since June '06. I am curious to know what the average distance of ride most folks go for. I made it through 26 miles yesterday and would like to get to 30 miles, and do it at least 3x a week. Just made me curious about what most of you ladies ride, how often, etc.

Well, for me... my distance depends on what group I'm riding with.

On Tuesdays I was riding 20-25 miles. Last week was my last time to do this, until Spring next year.

On Wednesdays I was riding 30 miles. I stopped this about a month ago due to it getting dark early.

Saturdays I ride 35-45 miles. During the summer when I was training for a rally, we would sometimes ride 45-60 miles.

Sundays 30 miles. If there is a special ride on Sunday, I will do 35-45 miles.

But, these are really "out of my control", as I ride in groups. Of course, I pick groups going the distances I want to go.


I am curious though at how those of you who do short rides during the week have the endurance for the longer weekend outings? I also need at least a day between rides to recover, how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

Well, with time and training... as someone else pointed out... your mind set will change... and so will your endurance/body.

I know when I first started riding I was in "awe" of going 10 miles.

Now days, I won't even bother taking the bike out for 10 miles. Too much hassle (I have to drive somewhere) for 40 minutes of riding.

Also, the more you ride... the better it gets. Pretty soon, you won't need a day to recover. I know I generally workout (run, bike) 5-6 days a week. I get one or two rest days. More than that is too much.

AND... who's to say you can't have a "recovery" ride. I know I might hit it hard on a ride on Sat., but on Sun. I go on a "recovery ride" where we ride slow and just enjoy the scenery.

Just because you ride 2 days back to back, doesn't mean that you are working really hard both days.

[Geonz]

well, first off, there's no such thing as normal :)

Also, miles aren't the same... five miles for me, on the easy plains of Illinois, are a different animal than a place with hills.

I do lots and lots of miles - but nobody would call me normal :) . In our bike club, we've got people who do 300 miles a year, lots of folks who do between 1,500 and 3,000 and year, and then those of us with a bicycle lifestyle who end up with 7000+ because our bikes are how we get most places and we like to ride for fun, too. THe addiction starts slowly ...


a typical ride distance would be anywhere from 15 to 40 miles. Longer takes more planning.