Newbie Questions

[Kimmyt]

I will usually ride 2 days a week 20-30 miles hills and possibly a third commuting in (~14 miles roundtrip is the abbreviated version I do) which is flat. On weekends that I'm around (which isn't to say every weekend) I'll usually do a longer ride, from 50-100 miles.

This varies every week depending on what my climbing schedule is, but basically whichever day I'm not climbing I'm riding.

K.

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome Pat. I too have 3 kids-glasses and braces, been there. I recently (less than 2 weeks ago) bought a new bike-Trek 1000. I am VERY new to biking and brand new to road bikes. I decided to get clips put on about 2 days after buying the bike. I figured I might as well learn everything at once. My clips are dual sided, with a removable platform on one side. The platform just make the pedal more of a "platform" pedal for when I am not feeling brave. I refer to them as my training pedals. Soon the platforms come off.

As for length of rides. Everyone is so different. Do what works for you. I am a SAHM, so I do not have a commute. I try to get a ride in the morning and then one after dinner, since neither of them are very long-yet.