Couch (well, gym) to 20-Miler in 4 Weeks: Realistic?

Hi! I've finally signed up for the TE forums. You guys have been a great source of help to me the last few weeks as I researched all things cycling! I'll put a little about me at the bottom since this is my intro post. Is there a special forum/thread for intros that I missed?

Anyway, I'm sitting here hydrating after my first solo ride on my new bike (it just came in Saturday, and I had some great leisurely rides this wknd with husband & toddler), and, well, the first solo ride kicked my butt. I did about four miles at 11 mph. I'm really excited about that on its own! :D However....

I'm about to sign up for a charity ride in mid-November. I'd planned to sign up for the 20-mile route, but is that a realistic training goal? Would the 12-mile route be more realistic? They also have longer routes, which I had deemed unrealistic, but hey, let me know if you think 44+ miles would be in reach!

A little about my training scope: Before cycling, I worked out 3-4 times a week in the gym, and I still do yoga and some weights. I can usually squeeze in 30-60 minutes of riding a day, weather permitting (we're on the Gulf Coast, so it's not cold now, but it is hot, rainy and humid), plus possibly more on the weekends. I haven't found a cycling group in my area to train with that fits both my skill level and my schedule, so until I build some speed, I'm training mostly on my own. My bike is a Trek 7.5 FX wsd, stock everything (for now).

A little about me: I'm a 32 year old SAHM with a one year old and an eight year old. My mom and my aunt, who live in another state, have been serious amateur cyclists (uh, D, maybe you're on here?) for three decades. My partner is also very, very supportive of my cycling goals (he's glad to take his turn with house/kids/dinner while I train, etc.). You guys have been a great help and inspiration to me, and I'm really excited to have joined you!

Thanks so much!

I don't see why not!

Go for it!

Welcome to TE.

Go for it!

You can do it, especially if you can train that much. Go for it!

Welcome to the forum.

Karen

Absolutely agree, you've got a record of working out, shouldn't be a problem.

Like you I'd been working out regularly but not biking. (and a year previously had been completely sedentary, and I mean completely sedentary for several years). First couple of weeks I was doing 5 - 7 mile rides. Remember when I pushed myself to 10 miles, three weeks later I did 29 miles in just over 2 hours. In between rode 3 -4 times a week, inching up by a few miles each time - either doing another loop through the subdivision, going slightly further before turning back. You'll get a sense quickly to how far you can go, and how much further you can push it.

A well fitted bike makes a HUGE difference. As does a pair of padded biking shorts/liner.

And if you register for the longer ride, couldn't you always back down to the shorter distance if you realize you need a bit more time to train?

+1 on getting your bike fitted. It makes a huge difference.

I think you can do it. Be sure you're eating well and that you bring something for electrolyte replacement. I learned the hard way that electrolyte depletion hurts. Bad.

At the very least, SmartWater, but I can recommend GU2O and these yummy little Luna chewy things. They're like gummy bears, but they have nutrition for women who exercise for long periods. I like the taste, anyway, and they sit better than heavy food.

Good luck with your training!

Roxy

Your fitness history and age is similar to mine.

I suddenly up'ed my mileage from just a few miles a day to 25 in one day (which I only have time to do once a week unfortunately).

Super easy and you'll love it!!!

Just remember to stretch and get a fitting... I kind of sprained my knee (which my doctor dad says is from overcycling), so any gradual increase you can do is more for your body's healing sake.

How exciting, hope to hear your update!

I'm not exactly the same since I wasn't completely new to cycling, and I had spinning and shifting in muscle memory, but my fitness level was probably comparable to yours.

Three years ago I returned to cycling after 12 years of not riding a road bike.

At the time I was gym-fit - aerobics almost every day, heavy strength training, a bit of kayaking, a little bit of running but not near what I do now.

I went to a retreat where we did three consecutive 45-mile days on demo bikes in moderately hilly terrain (Napa - Sonoma).

It wasn't the slightest problem for me. No soreness that I remember, no excess fatigue (well, the whole retreat was exhausting and exhilarating, but not just from the cycling!).

Gym to 45 miles in 0 days. You can do it (if you don't try to go nuts on the speed).

One of the "problems" I have as a beginner's ride leader is that most people get stronger fairly quickly. Then a real newbie shows up and feels like s/he'll *never* be able to keep up ... and this is the beginner's level!

Everybody's different, but I do think you can get up to the 20 mile goal in a month, especially because in general, you can go two or three times as far for an "event" as what you can do on a "routine" ride.

My " fast bike" is a 7500FX -- older version of your model -- and it's peachy for my Big Long Days - 100+ miles.

Get out here and ride :) :) I bet your second solo ride will be easier! Let us know!

Completely do-able.

I'm an (capital A) Amateur. Three years ago, I had ridden a bike (other than my super giant cruiser) in ages. I had been skating (roller derby) for a year, practicing yoga and occasionally running. I ended up with a torn ACL that left me unable to skate competitively (damn roller derby). While awaiting my reconstruction, I purchased a road bike and rode it very casually. About two months after my reconstruction, a good friend that rides convinced me to take it out on a 15 mile ride. We continued at this pace, eventually kicking it up to 20 miles, for about a year. Earlier this year, I decided to do the MS150 and jumped right into the training rides starting at 40 miles and worked my way up.

I recently discovered the importance of snacking while riding for extended periods of time. The Luna Moons or the Cliff Blocks are my favorite.

Thanks so much for the welcome and the encouragement, everyone! It's an excellent point that I can choose to do more (or less) once I'm really there. I registered for the ride today!

I have actually been riding for a few weeks, but my first bike was a second hand 7100 that was too heavy for my taste, too upright for my taste, and Did Not Fit. The LBS I'm with now was fantastic about fitting my new bike, and they want me to come back in if it feels "off" at all after I get some mileage in the wild.

Hoping the weather stays dry for another ride tonight!

I read somewhere when I was starting, that barring any fit/comfort (or saddle) problems, anyone in decent shape should be able to do 20 miles easily if they don't push themselves too hard/fast. If you maintain just a 10mph pace, that's only 2 hours on the bike. 15mph, and that's an hour and 20 minutes... really not so impossible when you think about it in those terms.

Keep hydrated, and keep fueled, and you really should be just fine for however long/far you want to ride :)

Welcome. I remember being amazed at how quickly the distances came. Even though I rarely ride more than 25 miles regularly, I easily ride 50 miles for an event. I do tend to overheat easily, if this proves a problem for you just take extra breaks. I also carry a bottle that's water only to use for over the head cooling.
A word to the wise about food/ water balance. I have difficulty balancing the two. Remember to drink often and eat early. Too much liquid can slow your gut and digestion of much needed fuel.
Where on the Gulf Coast? I live in central MS. Know there are women in Mobile area you may be able to hook up with.

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Originally Posted by Ange

I'm about to sign up for a charity ride in mid-November. I'd planned to sign up for the 20-mile route, but is that a realistic training goal? Would the 12-mile route be more realistic? They also have longer routes, which I had deemed unrealistic, but hey, let me know if you think 44+ miles would be in reach!

A little about my training scope: Before cycling, I worked out 3-4 times a week in the gym, and I still do yoga and some weights. I can usually squeeze in 30-60 minutes of riding a day, weather permitting (we're on the Gulf Coast, so it's not cold now, but it is hot, rainy and humid), plus possibly more on the weekends. I haven't found a cycling group in my area to train with that fits both my skill level and my schedule, so until I build some speed, I'm training mostly on my own. My bike is a Trek 7.5 FX wsd, stock everything (for now).

A little about me: I'm a 32 year old SAHM with a one year old and an eight year old. My mom and my aunt, who live in another state, have been serious amateur cyclists (uh, D, maybe you're on here?) for three decades. My partner is also very, very supportive of my cycling goals (he's glad to take his turn with house/kids/dinner while I train, etc.). You guys have been a great help and inspiration to me, and I'm really excited to have joined you!

Thanks so much!

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Oh, I totally agree with everyone who has said that this is VERY DOABLE goal (even 44+ miles is doable)! They key is that you are young and in good shape already thanks to the gym. Just increase your mileage a little bit at a time. Next ride 6mi, then 8mi, then 12, 15, 20, 25, and so-forth. General rule of thumb is to add 10%, but as was said by someone else, at this stage you will see your fitness on the bike increase pretty quickly. Just get out there and ride.

A 44mi ride really isn't that bad. I think my 3rd ride this season after 6months of sitting on my sofa was 50mi (ok, I felt like crap after that ride, but I did it). On my last century a week or so ago, I rode with a guy whose longest ride ever in his life had been 40mi. He was very done at the end of 100 but he was proud of himself. The adrenaline of an event will definitely help you add a few extra miles. So, I would suggest training up to 30-35mi and then doing the 44 on event day.

. . . and if your time constraints or weather make it impossible to get in anything longer than a 15mi training ride, you can do the 20mi route and be proud of yourself nonetheless!

Just came back to say thanks again, and you're all correct. I did 4 miles that first ride, 6 the next and 7.5 today without much effort. I'm very much reassured! I'm starting to think about clipless pedals, and I am glued to the threads about cadence!

I also meant to say that I had thought I was in pretty good shape, until I got on a bike! :D

Oh, I am sure you ARE in good shape. Cycling just uses your muscles differently than you are used to, so you just need to get them up to speed, so to speak. The cardiovascular fitness that you have already built up is going to help you a great deal, and will allow you to train harder to build up miles/speed faster - if that is what you are interested in. Good luck with the training, and more importantly, with your event! Can't wait to hear about it.