How often do you ride?

[TexasKate]

Another question from the newbie...how often do y'all ride? Every day? Every other day? I've been riding on and off for years, but in addition to losing weight and getting back into shape, I want to start getting more serious and riding longer distances. I would love to be able to ride in a century before the end of the year...

So, who has a riding program that they follow? I've read so many different ways to train that I'm all confusified now (that's Texan for "confused"). I suppose it has more to do with what my body can handle than anything, but if anyone has a good starting point that works for you, I'd appreciate you sharing.

Thanks again! :D

[Veronica]

I ride nearly every day because I commute - thanks to the big storm we've got, I now resemble a drowned rat. :D

V.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Living in the Northeast, my riding frequency depends on the time of year.

In the winter I'm lucky if I can get out both weekend days. In the summer I try to commute to work by bike 3 or 4 days a week plus ride Saturday & Sunday - so a total of 5 to 6 days a week. And in the spring and fall - well, it's weather and daylight-dependent.

--- Denise

[SadieKate]

4-5 days a week outside in April to October. This time of year 3-4 but some maybe on the trainer.

[ladyjai]

I own no car, so I get the pleasure of daily riding.

commuting to work 5 days a week, long trips on saturday, and riding to church on sunday.

my training schedule as silly as it is... before the crash was: push it 3-4 morning commutes, and push it whenever riding to church. evening commutes and 1-2 morning commutes take it easy. If I'm ever where I can't get myself to push - it is a psychological thing - then i make myself meet the 90rpm cadence requirements. I've done 13mph in my lowest gearset, spinning away. either ride hard, or ride easy is the rule, no inbetweens.

[traveller_62]

Hey TexasKate,

It isn't so much how often you ride as how your ride. I ride (either indoors or outdoors) about 6 days a week but each ride has a very specific purpose. Some are recovery rides and some are rides to build endurance or power, etc. I follow a training plan that I developed based on the concepts in Joe Friel's Cyclists Training Bible. My goals for the most part have to do with fitness since I'm not a competitive cyclist.

It sounds like you want to "train" to ride your first century? Here is an example of a 10 week program to build towards such a ride:
http://www.diablocyclists.com/RiderTips/EasyCenturyTrainingProgram.htm

Best of luck!

Traveller

[makbike]

TexasKate:

I ride nearly every day either indoors on my trainer or outside weather permitting. Spring is just around the corner and I will soon be putting the trainer away and enjoying the sights and sounds of my favorites rides.

I rode my first century last fall. I followed the suggested training program outlined at this site:

http://www.diablocyclists.com/RiderTips/DanHertlein/DanHertlein.htm

and finished feeling like I could ride yet another 50 miles or so. My average speed for my first century was 16.6 mph. It was a pretty flat route but nonetheless I felt great about how I finished.

As my BF would say there is no substitute for time on the bike!

Good luck and be safe!

Marcie

[Grog]

Right now I ride about three-four times a week, in the Summer it will be more like daily or almost (I hope!!!).

I agree on the "how", up to a point. Since January, I have been following my club's training program. We have a wonderful coach, some of us are racing, others (like me) not, but the program is a good base to improve fitness. Anyhow, I have definitely improved over the past two months (core training also helps), but I also noticed my spirits went down a bit at the end of February. Training feels like homework sometimes (especially with the post-it notes on my handlebars!!!). So I just went on a couple rides "off program", as I felt, without caring for heart rate, rpms, whatever. I rode where I wanted to, and stopped mid-ride to eat a hotdog sitting by English Bay (don't tell the coach).

So I'll keep following the program for the next few weeks, but after that I'll be travelling a lot to places where I can't take my bike, so I'll be mostly recreative when I get back to my bike. (I'll try to improve the running in the meantime... travelling with runners is easier.) I assume that I will loose a bit of fitness. But I will certainly wet my appetite for the bike again and be ready for a great summer of riding!!

[crazycanuck]

I ride about 4-5 days a week. Usually 3 days on road, 2 days on the pea gravel...

I'm not really training for anything at the moment but my main aim is just to keep my skills up. I find if i don't bike i get withdrawl symptoms, my legs start to hurt & i feel guilty not biking...

I'm looking forward to some cooler weather....

c

[TexasKate]

Again, thanks for all the help! :D

[CorsairMac]

I ride nearly every day because I commute - thanks to the big storm we've got, I now resemble a drowned rat. :D

V.

drowned maybe but rat?? that would apply more to my ex than to my friend!

[CorsairMac]

Another question from the newbie...how often do y'all ride? Every day? Every other day? I've been riding on and off for years, but in addition to losing weight and getting back into shape, I want to start getting more serious and riding longer distances. I would love to be able to ride in a century before the end of the year...

So, who has a riding program that they follow? I've read so many different ways to train that I'm all confusified now (that's Texan for "confused"). I suppose it has more to do with what my body can handle than anything, but if anyone has a good starting point that works for you, I'd appreciate you sharing.

Thanks again! :D

as a bike commuter - like V - I ride every day. Once the weather gets what I consider warmer - I'll ride 6 days a week - sometimes 7. I don't see my "commutes" as rides, they're how I get to work so I do all my distance rides on Sat and then try to stay off the bike on Sun (but can be easily swayed ;) )

[CR400]

Usually 4 to 5 days a week. On rare occasions I do 6. But for the most part I believe in train hard and rest even harder.

[RoadRaven]

I aim for 3-4 rides a week at the moment

My partner is doing two jobs at the moment, so I am a little more limited. When his second job finishes in April I am looking forward to getting on the bike 5 times a week.

I am also ordering a spin bike next week (don't wanna put pretty expensive bikes on a trainer) so that will help with getting a ride in during the week.

My rides, like traveller explains so well, tend to be specific, for a purpose and with a goal in mind. Most of my rides are about an hour long - and usually no longer than 2 hours at the most in any one week. But they are often intense (for me)...

[Barb]

I just started my routine two weeks ago. I am riding 6 days a week and lifting weights 3 days. I have been on a trainer due to weather. I use a heart rate monitor and make sure I am at 80% of my max for 20 to 25 minutes. Time on the bike will increase soon!

[Brandi]

I try and ride every chance I get. But if I am riding every day I will take a day off because I think if you don't you could hurt yourself. I have not riden in about a week and a half now. i had to go away for work , got home and it has been raining every day since.