Just curious...miles per year?

[tjodit]

This will be my second year cycling on the road. I started in April or May of 2005. I'm just curious as to how many miles the newbies put on their bikes in one year? I'd be interested in knowing how many miles the experienced roadies put in too. I didn't even get 300 miles on my bike. My first love is racquetball though so I'm in the gym doing that a lot instead of riding. Also, I just couldn't bring myself to ride in the cold this winter. Is this typical or am I a poor excuse for a cyclist??:o

[Nanci]

I got my bike the last week of August, last year. So far she has about 3800 miles on her. I have been a slug for weeknight riding for the last four months!!! But I get in some long weekend rides. My typical week of riding, in good weather, is 20-30 miles after work 2-4 nights per week. Long ride Saturday of 60-80 miles, now sometimes 100-120 if I'm doing a Century or scouting something out, then a Sunday ride of 30-50 miles. I love riding. Plus I want to lose weight, so I pretty much have to go five days a week, at least.

Nanci

[caligurl]

last year was my first complete year of riding... my grand total for the year was 8,187.27 miles

[tjodit]

Ok, let me pick my jaw up off the floor!!! OK, so I'm a slug....a poor excuse for a human being, a wannabe cyclist!!! I'll NEVER be able to do those kind of miles! Are you people or machines??? Color me TOTALLY IMPRESSED!! I was hoping to make myself not feel so bad for not getting in very many miles. Oops! It backfired...I feel even worse. sob, sob

[madisongrrl]

I try to hit 1500-3000 miles per year. It varies depending on the type of events I'm training for.

In 2004 I was primarily training for a 56 mile half ironman relay event. So I easily put 100+ miles on my Cervelo Soloist Team each week.

2005 I focused on shorter XC mountain bike races. And since I was also doing the swim portion for a half ironman relay, I was in the pool and not on my bike as much. I probably averaged 50 miles per week on my Rockhopper hardtail (plus racing miles.)

I just bought a Trek EX 9 full suspension yesterday, so I probably won't be going for those killer 60 mile road rides that I used to do on my Cervelo. But I also got into the Chequamagon 40 this year, I'm racing a Norba National event, I'll be racing the complete WORS XC mountain bike circuit and I hope to compete in Cyclocross circuit this fall. So I will most likely put 2500+ miles on my various bikes.

What some people like to do is try to put as many miles on the bike as dollars they paid for it. So if you bought your bike for $800 dollars, then you could try to do 800 miles on it...or at least work towards it. It is a fun little goal to chase.

Have fun,

[CorsairMac]

Ok, let me pick my jaw up off the floor!!! OK, so I'm a slug....a poor excuse for a human being, a wannabe cyclist!!! I'll NEVER be able to do those kind of miles! Are you people or machines??? Color me TOTALLY IMPRESSED!! I was hoping to make myself not feel so bad for not getting in very many miles. Oops! It backfired...I feel even worse. sob, sob

don't you dare feel bad my friend! you ride whatever you feel like riding and be proud of every mile you log! do you belong to BikeJournal? We've got a Team Estrogen over there and you can see the miles most of us are logging plus it's a great tool to use for logging miles. It's also a great motivator. and I think you'll be surprised, the more you ride, the more you'll Want to ride and the miles just kinda start adding up!

As for how many miles I rode in 2005? I'll tell you only because I was shocked when I saw it - I wrote an entry to Everybody I knew coz I was so blown away but what I had done! I Still tell people how far I rode my bike and I set that mileage as my goal for this year - whether I make it or not is to be seen!

2005 = 5026 miles

[Nanci]

It's easy for me because I don't have kids at home any more. Plus I can go right from my house. Plus I like to do one long special Saturday ride, and have made that the priority for the day- so I'm not cutting my ride short trying to get home to do something else. I didn't set out to ride that much- it just happened. I couldn't stay off my bike because it was so relaxing/fun.

Nanci

[annie]

I no longer keep track of my miles. :eek: I found, when I did so, that I obsessed on mileage, past the point of enjoying the rides. So now I just ride. I DO have computers on my bikes. I know how fast, far, etc. I go each ride. But I do not keep a journal anymore. I ride for the sake of riding and don't need the added impetus of mileage to keep myself out there. I enjoy it more this way. Works for me....... I know most people prefer to keep track of their miles. That's great, whatever makes it better for each of us. But I don't and just wanted to get another viewpoint out.

annie

[Veronica]

Don't compare yourself to others. We've all got different responsibilities, priorities, goals. The terrain we all ride on is vastly different.

I do keep a spreadsheet to track my monthly mileage. I try to ride more each month than I did for the same month last year. This is the second year that I've set that as my goal. My intent is to ride more each year and keeping a monthly focus made that more managable for me. I try really hard to only compare myself to me. It's hard though. I look at other people's average speeds and think :eek: How do people have an an average speed of 18 - 20 mph on long ride?

V.

[maillotpois]

Don't compare yourself to others. We've all got different responsibilities, priorities, goals. The terrain we all ride on is vastly different.

I do keep a spreadsheet to track my monthly mileage. I try to ride more each month than I did for the same month last year. This is the second year that I've set that as my goal. My intent is to ride more each year and keeping a monthly focus made that more managable for me. I try really hard to only compare myself to me. It's hard though. I look at other people's average speeds and think :eek: How do people have an an average speed of 18 - 20 mph on long ride?

V.

That is SO true about the priorities, goals, etc.!!

tjodit - Compete with yourself, if at all! (Okay, I admit, I compete a little with my husband - but in a good way!) Set a manageable goal for yourself and maybe you'll surprise yourself. I had to up my mileage goal 3 times last year when I decided to start doing some doubles and the training that went with them.

And as for the terrain - you answered your own question, Veronica - about how people can average 18 - 20 mph: It's terrain (i.e., flat and rollers) and working in groups. I like to look back and see how terrain and who I was riding with affected my mph for a ride. For Death Ride last year (130 miles practially all climbing), my mph was 11.22. For the Davis Double (200 flat/rollery and a couple climbs) it was over 17. For the race I do in Tucson (the years I didn't crash!) it's over 20 mph for 111 miles (flat/rollery and aggressive group riding).

Terrain! (Location, location, location!)

[caligurl]

i totally agree about location and speed! there is nothing flat around where i live (where i do the majority of my riding).... i'm NOT a fast rider! but i have endurance/stamina!

the ride i did saturday (called savage hill climb) i did at 11.9 average over the total ride.. the only reason it came up to that was cuz of the flats and a nice extended slight down hill near the end.. otherwise my average for the majority of that day was sitting right around 10 mph!)

i could only hope to get up to 18-20 overall average! but not where i live! lol!

as for my mileage... i don't have kids and hubby rides too.... so we have an understanding about ride time.... plus i neglect other things that i don't want to be doing so that i can ride! this year my goal for the year is 5000.. that's quite a bit short of what i did last year.. but i was new and it was fun (it's still fun)... but i realized i have other things i have to do once in a while too!

[SadieKate]

tjodit, have you joined over at www.bikejournal.com? You can see the mileage for the members and the organized rides they are planning on riding. This may give you a way to understand why some people are riding suge huge miles. I love to mtbike also, so my miles are never going to be huge like someone riding double centuries. My hours on the bike might be sizeable, but not the miles. You have to set your own goals and work to achieve those. Total mileage is secondary to that.

Basic membership at www.bikejournal.com is free but there are great advantages to premiuer membership. You can join the Team Estrogen team and contribute to its miles.

Most of all, have fun.

[Tater]

I don't get overly worried about my mileage or average pace. But I do like to see the numbers pile up. I have also found that I like seeing my average pace go up each month. Seems it goes hand in hand with the temperature! :p But if I have a day like today where I the wind was so bad I had to pedal downhill just to stay upright and it shot my average pace down the tubes, oh well. There is always another day to get out and put the rubber on the road! I only put about five hundred miles on my road bike last year because I commuted by mtn bike. But, I have already eclipsed that number this year.

[Dianyla]

I didn't track mileage totals last year but I'd estimate that I did somewhere around 1200 miles - 200 of which was the Seattle to Portland ride. I really should have trained more for that! :eek:

So far this year is off to a slow start, but Spring is here and that will change. :)

[MomOnBike]

My goal this year is a little over 3000 miles, or a trip across the US. I'm not going to kill myself to get it done, though. My other responsibilities will probably kill me first. :eek:

Seriously, I'll probably make the mileage - I have a couple of tours planned, and they add mileage in a hurry.

As for speed, I'm not particularly fast and I ride a lot in town, so my average speed is pretty pitiful - and I slow down and LOOK at things a lot.

While I'm in awe of the fast riders with big mileage, I don't let them worry me much. I'll just applaud them from somewhere in the back of the pack.

[nuthatch]

Tjodit, we have no lives, haven't you figured that out yet? HA!!:p

Ask us what's not getting done because we love our bikes - I've got laundry piled up, no dinner made, sticky floors, unbrushed dogs, etc., etc. It's a sickness!!

[short cut sally]

tjdoit, I purchased my road bike last year also and found like nuthatch stated, there was piles of laundry, unkept house, and a new appreciation for Racheal Ray's 30 minute meals or anything that could be prepared in that time frame. I don't have a computer on my bike to give me exact miles, calories, etc. I just rode and rode and had fun with every day I was out. I will guess somewheres around the 1500 range, maybe more, who knows. All I know is that I had fun riding and developed some great muscle tone to my legs by the time summer was over. This years goal is to ride more, do a couple centries, and enjoy life. Enjoy your bike, shellyj

[Veronica]

Tjodit, we have no lives, haven't you figured that out yet? HA!!:p



Hey, I have a life. It just revolves around biking. I do laundry so I have bike clothes. I cook and do dishes to fuel the machine. :) Okay to be honest - if it can't go in the dishwasher, Thom washes it.

V.

[caligurl]

Hey, I have a life. It just revolves around biking.

now THERE's a quote (and motto) for the majority of us on here!

[sydney_b]

I do keep track and am doing at least one group tour thing - BRAN (Bike Ride Across Nebraska) - so my mileage is mostly to get in shape for that. I guess I kinda have a goal ... to be honest, but it's not lofty. I'd like to put a 100 miles/week. Since most of my miles are commuting as I have 3 boys and that's the time away I've got, 100 per week is a reasonable objective.

/s

[Popoki_Nui]

Ask us what's not getting done because we love our bikes - I've got laundry piled up, no dinner made, sticky floors, unbrushed dogs, etc., etc. It's a sickness!!

LOL! Oh, how true is that?! This morning I'm staring at a sink full of dishes, unmade beds, and enough fur on the carpet to make another cat. What am I going to do? Go riding, of course. If this is a sickness, I don't wanna be well! :D

~Sherry.

[tjodit]

Tjodit, we have no lives, haven't you figured that out yet? HA!!:p

Ask us what's not getting done because we love our bikes - I've got laundry piled up, no dinner made, sticky floors, unbrushed dogs, etc., etc. It's a sickness!!
This REALLY cracked me up!!! Guess I just haven't gotten the bug as much as the rest of you. I can understand though...I spend anywhere from 8 to 10 hours a week playing racquetball. If I spent that time riding instead of playing racquetball I'd log well over 5,000 miles a year on my bike.

Oh if there were only enough time to do both! I need to win the lottery so I can quit my day job!:)

[Robbin_G]

I got my bike the last week of August, last year. So far she has about 3800 miles on her. I have been a slug for weeknight riding for the last four months!!! But I get in some long weekend rides. My typical week of riding, in good weather, is 20-30 miles after work 2-4 nights per week. Long ride Saturday of 60-80 miles, now sometimes 100-120 if I'm doing a Century or scouting something out, then a Sunday ride of 30-50 miles. I love riding. Plus I want to lose weight, so I pretty much have to go five days a week, at least.

Nanci

Where do you live Nanci? (If I may ask.) I can't wait to get out of NYC....

[Nanci]

I live near Gainesville, Florida. So north central, they call it. Lowest lows are in the upper 20's, it rarely gets to 100, though it gets to 90-95 a lot, with high humidity. Lots of perfect weather in between. TONS of cycling and triathlon and running and MTBing around. Not to mention a 90 minute drive to either coast. Not to mention an eight hour drive to mountains in North Carolina, or six hours to mountains in Georgia. I _love it_ here!!! Grew up in Minnesota- left at age 38, hope to never have to move back up north. Only miss snow on Christmas Day. You should move here!

Nanci

[CorsairMac]

Oh if there were only enough time to do both! I need to win the lottery so I can quit my day job!:)

bike commute! that way you get to do both And keep the day job! ;)

[tjodit]

bike commute! that way you get to do both And keep the day job! ;)
I've thought about that...but how does one realistically do that? I live 15 miles from work but I get there by interstate...so I don't know how far it would be by bike, taking the back way. Also, I sweat...and I don't mean perspire...I mean sweat...as in water dripping off of me and my clothing soaking wet. You can actually wring water out of my pony tail when I'm done. There are no showers at work. Also, I live in TX so it will be in the upper 80s within a month or so and possibly in the lower 90s in the summer...all adding to the sweat factor. So is there a way I could actually do this without looking a wreck at work?

[CorsairMac]

yup

I live in New Mexico - I don't get the humidity you do but the summers here can be over 100 degrees. Couple of things you could do: go to your LBS and talk to them about biking alternatives to your job - there may be bike routes and/or trails between you and the office that they would know about....or even a map put out by one of the local biking coalitions with marked trails on it. or

get in your car on the weekends or at night coming home and look for different routes home that will get you to point B from point A. If I remember right, don't most of your interstates have secondary roads or parallel roads that you can use?

as for the sweat - tell me about it....on my lunch rides in the summer I sweat so much my waistband doesn't always get dried before I have to commute home - great, wet sweaty bikie clothes for my evening commute! lol but Anyway - I keep WetOnes at work or something like that are hypoallergenic. I use them like a washcloth and wipe up pretty much everything. I also keep deodorant, a hairbrush (hair down past my waist), and a towel at work. On the days my hair is dripping wet I'll use a WetOne to wipe my hair down, towel dry and brush it out. I don't have a shower at my office.

I'm lucky in that I"m the only woman in my office so I have hooks in the ladies bathroom that I hang all my bikie clothes on. If you're not that lucky - one of the ladies here on the board says they know of a woman that lays her bikie stuff under her desk to dry out between rides.

I also use a backpack and a trunck rack (in the winter) to carry my clothes, lunch whatever back and forth but I think V uses panniers for her schoolstuff so one or both options may work for you.

It'll take some planning in the early stages and it may take a couple of rides to work out all the kinks but (whining aside) I wouldn't trade my bike commute for anything: it's the best way to start my day and like someone here said, the ride home at night leaves you ready to face whatever your evening has in store for you! and in the summer when the days are longer - it could potentially take you twice as long to get home in the evenings coz - ya know - just add on a few more miles here and there!

[tjodit]

CM-You've definitely given me something to think about. I have my own office so I could hang my stuff on the back of my door. The wet ones are a good idea too. I could just keep all the stuff in my office to clean up. I think I know a good route to take but will have to try it on a weekend first to see how long it takes. The access roads have no shoulders so I don't think I would be comfortable riding there. A plan is starting to take shape. I may just have to give it a try. Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

[CorsairMac]

Good luck and let us know how it goes! There are quite a few bike commuters here on the board and I don't think any one of us would trade that ride in for our cars if we have a choice! It is Such a great way to start and end your day!

[RoadRaven]

Well... also feeling a little daunted by some of the miles here... I'm a numbers gal too and like to keep track of distances, averages etc etc, but mainly so I can (hopefully) see progress in my cycling ability...

In my first year I did 2532 km on the road (plus some time indoors on the trainer).

My goal for this, my second year, is at least 3500... I have made a good beginning as for the first three months I have managed 751km - not bad considering how demanding work and family have been on my time thus far...

[Barb]

I will make you feel better! I bought my bike two years ago in May. In July I broke my thumb and could not ride because I couldn't hold the handle bars...until October. I live in Michigan and did not try to ride in cold weather. Total miles for that year 600. Last year I bought a mtn bike. Planned to ride across the state on rails to trails in July. BF mom became terminally ill and I helped out, and hung close to home. Less than 300 miles.

Now it is finally fine riding weather. Tomorrow I start really training. I have a 52 mile one day tour in May and in June the PALM (Pedal Across Lower Michigan). I better log some miles or my butt will fall off trying!!!! I can't wait, I am sick of the trainer!

[Bike Goddess]

I started riding in August of 03. My first full year (2004), I did about 3000 miles. This is when I discovered I could do century rides and feel good afterwards. I even managed a double metric that year, much to my surprise.

Last year, I clocked in just under 7500 miles. BUT, I did a lot of cycling to make that goal. 5AM rides, longer rides on my days off, lots of century rides. Since I have a full time job (37-40 hrs/wk) cycling has to fit into my work schedule.

This year, my strategy is a little different. I haven't been doing early morning rides. Instead, when I have a day off, I go out earlier than the rest of my riding pals so I can get in more miles (metrics) and still socialize with them on the way home. My original goal was 2 metric centuries a week. March weather has put a dent in that so we'll see if I can catch up later. My goal this year is 7500 miles. If it ever stops raining around here, I MIGHT make it! :( :( :( :(

In December '05 I got a new bike (Scott CR1)which is lighter and more appropriate for my riding style. Now I'm contemplating doing more double metrics and at some point might even try a double century (just to see if I can do it). For me, it all started with 10 mile rides which turned into 20 miles, and then pretty soon it was metrics, then centuries, then double metrics. I just keep looking for where my limits are. So far, so good!:) :) :) :)

You gotta start somewhere, so don't let those of us who have been riding awhile intimidate you. Just know we were all newbies to this at one time or another in our lives and we also wondered how others racked up those long distances!:D :D :D :D

[songlady]

My first year of focused cycling was 2004, I was riding a Trek hybrid and managed 1600 miles. Feeling very pleased with myself, I tried to work a little harder in 2005. On Dec. 31st, I sat down and added up the miles with my calender and calculator (just to double check) and got 1993.5 miles. If there had not been snow on the ground and a bitter (single digit) wind chill, you bet I would have been out there for those stupid, measily 7 miles!! :mad:
Got my first road bike a month ago, absolutely loving it. Should be interesting to compare mileage this year!

[Geonz]

When I got my first bike-shop bike with a computer, it was over a year later I think when I went back for a new helmet to celebrate 1000 miles. (The helmet was older or it didn't fit or something.) Probably rode a little more the next couple years but it was mostly summer. THen I added sometimes commuting (2.5 miles each way) to work.

It's gradually taken over. I'm up to 7500 + for the last two years, but this year that Xtracycle (well, and the state of the world) has pushed me across a threshold of reluctance to use the car for anything at all close. I'm only 7 miles from work, but often I take a 15 mile route to get here. I hit 1000 miles in mid March, my earliest, and I'm 'way ahead of the car (1275 bike - 596 car). I'm afraid that 30 mph winds and thunderstorms weren't enough to get me in the car this week... I've found I don't dissolve (or get cold) in the rain.

There are lots of creative ways to commute, though: "park and ride" at either end, etc. At least find a route so that on a really nice day, when you feel like it, you can make it a great bike day and ride in. Give yourself that extra 15 minutes for cleaning up... maybe let 'em know hey, you're trying something new and might be late (have a cell phone?).

Also figure out how to use the bike for all the little local stuff, though there are some parts of this town I really don't like to drive to... but my tolerance has been getting better and I'm getting more willing to negotiate traffic. Drivers are still amazingly nice. I think the main thing is to gradually increase what you do (like all addictions - you don't start out thinking you'll end up obsessed! It sneaks up on you!), at your pace.

We have this idea that cars are *so* much mroe convenient than bikes, but actually it's because we've gradually developed habits. I realized that now, the car is almost less convenient than the bike because *it* is the thing that is different and I have to ask myself "okay, what do I need to have?" I'm the most disorganized absent minded slob (spontaneous, creative genius?) yo'ull ever hear about... but I count off on my fingers "helmet, sunglasses, water, keys, pump, gloves, phone" and I'm out there (usually without at least one of those thigns because I can't find it, but at least I know I can't find it).

[betagirl]

I rode about 2800 miles last year, which was from about the end of March til the end of September. I live in Chicago, so we have a rather short season. Well, where it's warm enough for me to ride :D The year before that I did about 2000 miles.

I set my goal on Bike Journal for this year at 5000 miles. I recently moved where I'll be doing a lot more riding, so I hope that that means I am able to meet that goal. We'll see :)

[tjodit]

Well, I don't know if I'll ever be able to put up miles like you ladies, or should I say cycling machines, but at least I already have half the miles I had for the whole of last year! I've decided to give up one of my racquetball days for cycling also. Keep up the good work everyone!

[SadieKate]

I really want to offer encouragement to everyone who is concerned about how her yearly mileage compares to others. Remember that it isn’t the number of miles a year you ride but that the miles you ride are satisfying and help you attain your goals. I’ll offer an example. Over the last 7 days, I rode 141 miles. Sounds wimpy by some of the posts above, right? But those were all mountain bike miles at 5,000 ft or higher altitude. I would have to have ridden about 300 road miles over the same 7 days to come close to the same effort level. In other words, my mile is not the same as your mile or anyone else’s mile unless you were there with me under the same conditions.

The miles I rode prior to these 7 days were what I needed to ride to accomplish my goal of having a sufficient fitness level to ride a very hilly metric at the end of March and to enjoy my mountain bike trip. I rode the mountain bike trip at a leisurely and fun pace but used the hills as training for a double metric I hope to ride at the beginning of May. This all builds to another mountain bike trip at the end of May and a flat century in June. Pardon me, but I really couldn’t give a rat’s patootie about the total mileage for the year. Yeah, it is a fun number to see building but the really important numbers are the ones you need to hit organized rides, general fitness goals, conquering that hill, lessening the puke factor, whatever. Focus on the intermediate goals and ride your ride. You’ll remember those accomplishments more fondly and have better stories in your old age.

[maillotpois]

I really want to offer encouragement to everyone who is concerned about how her yearly mileage compares to other. Remember that it isn’t the number of miles a year you ride but that the miles you ride are satisfying and help you attain your goals. I’ll offer an example. Over the last 7 days, I rode 141 miles. Sounds wimpy by some of the posts above, right? But those were all mountain bike miles at 5,000 ft or higher altitude. I would have to have ridden about 300 road miles over the same 7 days to come close to the same effort level. In other words, my mile is not the same as your mile or anyone else’s mile unless you were there with me under the same conditions.

The miles I rode prior to these 7 days were what I needed to ride to accomplish my goal of having a sufficient fitness level to ride a very hilly metric at the end of March and to enjoy my mountain bike trip. I rode the mountain bike trip at a leisurely and fun pace but used the hills as training for a double metric I hope to ride at the beginning of May. This all builds to another mountain bike trip at the end of May and a flat century in June. Pardon me, but I really couldn’t give a rat’s patootie about the total mileage for the year. Yeah, it is a fun number to see building but the really important numbers are the ones you need to hit organized rides, general fitness goals, conquering that hill, lessening the puke factor, whatever. Focus on the intermediate goals and ride your ride. You’ll remember those accomplishments more fondly and have better stories in your old age.

Here here! This is SO true. Anyone's 10 miles are not the same as anyone else's. There are so many variables. Wind, hills, elevation, bike and equipment, tire pressure, what sort of day you had, what you ate the day before, etc. ad infiniutm. I've done doubles that were "easier" than some 70 miles rides I've done. Ride your ride, compete with yourself if you want. But make it fun.

However, I have to disagree with SK about the whole "lessening the puke factor" thing. How else are we to lose weight and improve speed on hills? :D

[SadieKate]

OK, I'll tell you what my real training motto is then: "Lessen the pain." Such a positive message, huh? I didn't want to say it because everybody deals with pain differently. I learned a lot about myself when I started riding 10 mile TT's last year. It takes a whole different sort of pain management technique. It's all about how long you can maintain your pain at just below puke level with no motivation other than the clock. Those 10 miles of racing can be excruciatingly harder than much longer rides.

Those excruciating 10 miles made me a faster rider but I just never thought of actually pushing it above puke level for even more speed. Have to think about the logic of that one. . . . ;)

[KnottedYet]

Less pain, more gain!

I've *got* to get a bike computer, mainly so I know how fast I'm going. And if I wanna do the same # miles per year as $ I paid for the bike, hey I'll have it easy! Probably already have 1/4 of my 380 done!

I'm more the instant gratification sort. "How fast am I going now? How fast... now? And NOW? Ooooh, how fast right....now...?" Inquiring minds want to know! :p

[maillotpois]

Sorry, SK but your (very well-thought out) expanded discussion of your motto has now started the complete dialogue from The Princess Bride where Westley threatens to duel Humperdink "To the pain" running through my head:

Westley:To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last time. A mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight.
Westley: I wasn't finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let's get on with it.
Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.
Prince Humperdinck: I think your bluffing.
Westley: It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all.

Clearly I am disturbed today!

Anyway, the whole 10 miles of pain sounds great. A nice limited window of excruciating suffering.

[SadieKate]

Ah, a new motto for training. "You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles."

Or my own: "You gots to be prepared for the ROUS's in your path."

[Veronica]

That's inconceivable!

[SadieKate]

Anyway, the whole 10 miles of pain sounds great. A nice limited window of excruciating suffering."As you wish." :D

The time trials are every other Wednesday night in Davis and they're talking about doing a series in West Sac on the other Weds. You can stop off on your way home one day. Just think how good it will feel to get back in the car.

Everyone needs a Fezzik in their life.

[maillotpois]

"As you wish." :D

The time trials are every other Wednesday night in Davis and they're talking about doing a series in West Sac on the other Weds. You can stop off on your way home one day. Just think how good it will feel to get back in the car.

Everyone needs a Fezzik in their life.


Mid-June might work for this. Em will be at camp, and I have a lot more flexibility. Also, I don't have anything in Sac on a Wednesday before then. Sounds like fun.

No more rhymes now, I mean it.
Anybody want a peanut?

[SadieKate]

The three of us are off our rockers today.

[Geonz]

So get back on them! Or get back on your rollers....

I'm afraid I'm definitely a "less pain, more gain" person - I **love** being able to back off *before* it hurts, and I do mean before it hurts, NOT before it "hurts too much to stand it." I remember training hard in swimming, and I dont' go there at all. I just go a little faster so I get to breathing hard... but still feels good... and it gets me IN SHAPE.

I've got 1500 miles on the bikes this year (613 on the car) ENDORPHINS ROCK!

[Bike Goddess]

TTs in Benicia on the 1st Wednesday of the month. 6:00PM. 10 miles down and back Lopes Rd (the western frontage road by Hwy 680.) if you want some variation in your pain!

[tjodit]

I really want to offer encouragement to everyone who is concerned about how her yearly mileage compares to others. Remember that it isn’t the number of miles a year you ride but that the miles you ride are satisfying and help you attain your goals.
I totally agree with your advice and appreciate the encouragement. However, the reason I (and probably other newbies) am curious about this is not to compare myself to someone else but to see if I am progressing at a "normal" rate. What I mean is it would be comforting to know that all you biking machines started out only being able to ride 15 to 20 miles at a time and at a speed less than 15 mph. I've started keeping a bike journal and can now see that I've gone from an average speed of about 12 miles an hour to 14.x an hour. Yesterday's ride broke the 15 mph avg. barrier! I've gone from being able to comfortably ride 12-18 miles to being comfortable at 20-25 miles. I know these aren't hugh strides but I am making progress. I think we newbies want to hear that everyone started out like this. That we're normal and not just worthless couch potatoes with no hopes of ever riding a century! :D At least I'm hoping ya'll didn't just jump on a bike one day and were able to crank out all those miles. Sometimes I wonder if the truely new folks are reluctant to write about their miles and speed...I know I am ...you ladies are intimidating...and I mean that in a good way...I'm very impressed with what ya'll can do. And I hope one day I can say I accomplished some of the things you ladies have.

[Veronica]

When I first started riding, I walked up many hills. I was so excited the first time I rode our big hill (Rte 9 in Saratoga for you CA ladies) w/o walking. And I did it with loaded panniers!

We quit riding for many years, got fat and lazy. I lost a bunch of weight and then started riding again. For me riding is about having fun. Yeah, I'm kind of goal driven this year. But if I weren't still enjoying the time on the bike, I wouldn't train like I am. Life is too short to spend it doing things that aren't enjoyable.

I'm considering a triathalon, but I hate to run...

V.

[SadieKate]

That we're normal and not just worthless couch potatoes with no hopes of ever riding a century! :D That would be bon-bon eating coach potatoes.:p

I'm glad that you're focused on the intermediate goals which will get you to the goal of a century. How the miles add up is just icing on the cake.

Since everyone's riding conditions are different average speed isn't an indication of whether you can ride a century either, so that's an even bigger pitfall for comparisons. I've done rides where 12 mph was very satisfying and others where 20 mph was a disappointment. Just measure your improvement against your own results on the same route, with the same bike and similar weather.

Another thing to think about is muscle memory. After years and years of cycling, your legs will maintain good form even when tired while newbie legs may lapse into mashing; this muscle memory will lessen the effects of fatigue on performance. So, be patient with yourself as this is an experience thing and not a fitness thing.

BTW, after 4 knees ops when I was 20-21 years old, I think I rode 5 miles and burst into tears with the amazement that my legs would bend that far again. I would have been thrilled with a 12 mile ride. I think I still remember that 5 mile ride as one of the highlights of my cycling life. I think you're doing fabulously and wish I had kept records like you so I could see what changed for me in the first couple years. It would be good inspiration for those days when I think bon-bon eating would be a better activity.

[miffy'sFuji]

I think your progess sounds just great, tjodit. The very fact that you are improving is positive!

I think Sadie Kate said it all when you look at your terrain and the kind of riding you do. Your level is improving. You're (likely) doing similar types of rides and you're getting better!

I'm surprising myself this week. It'll be my first week (I hope) that I'll have commuted every day. I've done 46 miles so far this week, and while that doesn't sound like a whole lot to some, my ride home is pretty much all uphill. I don't know what the actual grade is, but my kreb's map lists my last 1 mile at a 9% grade or higher. When I first started doing that I had to stop 4 times to catch my breath and I had to walk part of it! Now I can stay on my bike and stop just once to catch my breath. I'm thinking that stop is partly mental. Once I can get past that, "I've just got to stop," then I should be able to conquer that hill.

I got my first bike thanksgiving weekend 05. I got my second bike Feb 25th of this yr.

If you are somewhat athletic to begin with, once you got your cycling muscles, some people could probably do longer rides right off the bat. It depends some on your body type, muscle composition...there are just a lot of variables. Everyone is different. I hiked to the top of mt. diablo (3000 or so elevation climb) last fall with no problems, and yet I couldn't ride my bike all of the way home...So it just goes to show you that it just depends.

[Geonz]

Welp, different people progress at very different rates, too! I see a number of new riders each year and some of them are just disgusting. One lady was riding 15 mph for 20 miles on her second ride, on a hybrid... and *then* found out she was riding on about 30 psi! I know for my first three years I was averaging between 11 and 13 mph. It wasn't until I started riding everyday and sometimes twice a day that I made big improvements - but I also made improvemetns in technique at the same time. And sometimes the bike makes a difference (um, like inflating the tires :-)). Now I don't have to ride every day to keep my speed.

[tjodit]

That would be bon-bon eating coach potatoes.:p

I'm glad that you're focused on the intermediate goals which will get you to the goal of a century. How the miles add up is just icing on the cake.

BTW, after 4 knees ops when I was 20-21 years old, I think I rode 5 miles and burst into tears with the amazement that my legs would bend that far again. I would have been thrilled with a 12 mile ride. I think I still remember that 5 mile ride as one of the highlights of my cycling life. I think you're doing fabulously and wish I had kept records like you so I could see what changed for me in the first couple years. It would be good inspiration for those days when I think bon-bon eating would be a better activity.

Bon-bon eating couch potato...THAT made me laugh! You've gone through a lot and look where you are now! An inspiration to those of us just starting out.

miffy'sFuji, thank you. I know you'll make it up that hill. You'll have to let us know when you slay that final dragon!

Veronica, I totally agree...it's about having fun. That's why I don't do treadmills, stair climbers, etc. They're just not fun for me. I like to get my exercise by playing. When I was a kid I lived on a bike. It is so much fun to go out and ride.

On my ride after work yesterday I could swear I saw looks on some of the drivers faces as they passed by me that said how they wished they could be out riding a bike instead of rushing to whatever it was they were rushing too. Kind of a look of envy...do you know what I mean. Have ya'll noticed that look on the faces of people?

[SadieKate]

Bon-bon eating couch potato...THAT made me laugh! One of my favorite yellow-isms.:D

[KSH]

Since purchasing my bike in October 2004 (mind you, I don't ride when it's cold)... I have put 2000 miles on it. Nothing like the hardcore cyclists do... but I am proud of it!


What I mean is it would be comforting to know that all you biking machines started out only being able to ride 15 to 20 miles at a time and at a speed less than 15 mph.

Well, let me tell you... it wasn't until after having my bike almost a year that I was able to do 25-30 miles (no stops) at a 16 mph average. And, that was me barely hanging on to the back of the pack and huffing and puffing the whole way. It was not easy.

Now (almost 1.5 years later), I can hold a good 17 mph average for about 25 miles.

But, there are people who I know in my tri group who started riding a few months back (never rode a bike before) and they are already doing 40 miles (no stops) and holding a 18-20 mph average.

The moral of the story: Everyone progresses differently. Some are faster than others... and always will be. Just be happy with what you can do and that you are improving.

[tjodit]

Since purchasing my bike in October 2004 (mind you, I don't ride when it's cold)... I have put 2000 miles on it. Nothing like the hardcore cyclists do... but I am proud of it!
I found this online:
"For all you trivia buffs out there, the shortest distance from the East to West Coast (as the crow flies) would be 2,092 miles from San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL. "
So, you've nearly pedaled from coast to coast!

[DirtDiva]

I'm considering a triathalon, but I hate to run...
Haha. Me too.

And, on topic (for once)...
I have absolutely no idea. I'm not entirely sure I want to know, having read how far some people here go. :p Well, actually, of course I want to know, but I don't have a computer and the thought of taking a guesstimate does hold the same appeal to my pedantic little self.