I've always been active but never focused on exercise. Which means, I've never done this. Before when I was biking, I didn't have a car, so distance came quickly out of need. Once I found other women to ride with, day trips grew longer. But it just happened. And day trips were always to go somewhere - once we got to where we were going, we'd do whatever it was we went there for. We'd always eat too and then turn around and come back. So, we would do 50 miles but we weren't thinking about doing 50 miles. It just happened and I took it for granted that I would always be able to do what I wanted to do. I don't have a clue how to work at this consciously.

(None of us had a helmet or riding shorts or odometers or used gloves. I like the helmet, I like the shorts, the odometer is very cool but I hate gloves. The LBS says they are really important in case you fall but I hate them and am going to quit wearing them unless I read on this board some place that they are important.)

I am bringing water with me. I'm not great at remembering to drink it but when I'm with DH - he's good at remembering to drink his - so I'm getting better and that has made a difference. I do bring fig newtons after reading about hem here but have not eaten one yet. I don't understand about gatorade or GU. I've always heard gatorade is important if you are doing hard exercise but I don't know at what point it's important. I guess I better go read up on them.

Sounds like I should keep trying to increase my daily loop slowly and ride further on the weekends. I think next weekend, I'll try to find an all flat ride and see is I can go further without my legs screaming at me.

Hills. Inclines. (I don't know how steep an incline needs to be to be called a hill.) I just know that those are gonna be an ongoing challenge and no doubt will be what makes me stronger. Right now, I dread each one. I'm never sure when I get to the top who won. It's a toss up. I get to the top but my legs feel like lead each time. I'd love to get to the top of one and not feel like death warmed over. Time and practice, I know. I needed to know last night that others found this harder than they expected at the beginning and it really does get easier with time.

Much thanks. This board is unbelievably helpful.