How many miles...?

Hi all! I'm new to this forum and relatively new to biking as well. I started commuting daily in May '08 and am loving it like crazy. It's my favorite part of the day. I'm finally making a push to overcome my exercize laziness and I'd like to add some miles to my weekly total.

My commute is super short, 3 miles round trip, so I don't want to get crazy, but I do want to add to my current, piddly 15 miles a week. What I'm wondering is what's a reasonable milage goal for someone who's, comparatively speaking, not done much yet?

I know a gradual increase is good, but how gradual is gradual? Thanks! Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Welcome, and congrats on the commute. 10% increase a week is generally the "rule of thumb." I'd start with doing some 6-8 miles rides on the way home (just go the long way, or go home and then go back out a little). On the weekends, try 10-15. See how that feels, and go from there. Is the 3 miles hard or easy for you?

CA

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

Is the 3 miles hard or easy for you?

CA

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Thanks for your help! The trip is usually not too terrible. The ride into work is mostly down hill, so much easier than the ride back. In addition, I'm carrying a backpack full of clothes and files from work both ways, so that makes it a little more difficult than if I weren't. I admit to being out of shape, so I do find it to be a little on the difficult side some days.

So you are currently doing ten rides per week of 1 1/2 miles each. (your work day effectively splits each 3 mile commute into two rides of 1 1/2 miles each)
That means you are used to doing rides of 1 1/2 miles.
I'd say a goal of doing at least 3 rides per week of 3 miles length would be reasonable. You can do that by adding on to one of the commute rides you currently do, and/or by doing other rides on the weekend for fun.
After a month of that, I would say being able to do three rides per week of at least 5 miles length would be well within do-able.

As you ride more, adding miles to a ride becomes easier and easier to do, physically speaking. It's hardest on your body at first when you are not used to doing any long rides.

Good for you commuting to work! :)

When you get home, swing into the driveway and drop off your bag of stuff, then go out for a little while longer.

Alternatively, scout out some longer routes to and from work using bikely, google maps, etc.

My "usual" route is about 5.25 miles one way, but I've got another one that's about 8 miles one way... and if I really wanted to, I could probably hit 15 or so one way.

My commute is generally downhill going to work and the opposite going home... and carrying a heavy pack on my back made it even more tiring. You might check into a rack and panniers for your bike, I've found that it makes the uphill parts a little easier.

mci021,

Fellow chicagoan here. Where do you ride? Have you tried hitting up the lakefront path, it can be a nice ride, particularly north and south of the city. I'm doing approx 5 miles each way ( but I always just double back so I get to 30 minutes each day or I dont feel like I've worked out at all). I'm shooting straight up and down Halsted from up in Lakeview, if you see someone struggling and cursing up a storm, it's probably me.

As for distance, I'm like you, trying to make it longer. I'm comfortable with the 5 to 6 miles each way per day and trying to push past 15 on weekends. Last weekend was my longest ride yet, approx 16 miles, hoping to crack 20 this weekend, and with a little luck 25 next weekend. All the same, I still haven't lost a pound, despite doing all of this at a steady 140-160 heart rate. Yay!