Avg. Distance

[jusdooit]

Thanks for all the responses ladies. I guessI just wanted a general idea of what "normal" people do. Afraid that going for 30 mile rides might get me classified as a freak. I am curious though at how those of you who do short rides during the week have the endurance for the longer weekend outings? I also need at least a day between rides to recover, how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

[tygab]

this was my 1st year cycling, and what my 'average' was varied greatly by time of year and where I was experience wise. I'm considering the outdoor season all but over here, so while I'll continue to do some longer rides on weekends, I am not training for them, and they're ramp down rides instead of building rides for something like a long ride or century. It now gets too dark to ride during the week, at least with the hours I work. Instead, I am going to the gym to spin class, run, etc.

But let me answer your latest question:

how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

Only by training & adding mileage slowly. The general rule of thumb is to increase your total distance by 10% a week. You can do up a quick little spreadsheet that reflects this and see that at a certain point in time you'll need to do back to back rides on the weekend to continue increasing. And you don't jump into long rides both days either - what I'd say is at the beginning plan one longer day and one shorter day, and add miles to both til the longer ride hits your objective. Then you can add the miles to the shorter ride til both are even or near even.

[Grog]

Thanks for all the responses ladies. I guessI just wanted a general idea of what "normal" people do. Afraid that going for 30 mile rides might get me classified as a freak. I am curious though at how those of you who do short rides during the week have the endurance for the longer weekend outings? I also need at least a day between rides to recover, how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

It will all come with time and training. Tygab is right: don't increase mileage too fast. But eventually you'll get at a good mileage base and your body will be used to that volume of exercise, and need less no-riding recovery time between rides. What I mean by "no-riding recovery time" is just that. However you might still need recovery days, i.e. if you ride very hard one day it's probably wiser to take it easy the next. But you'll be able to get your rest on the bike instead of the couch.

Of course, when you stop for many weeks or several months, you have to start over building your base. But it should take you less time, unless it's been many years

[Mimosa]

I am curious though at how those of you who do short rides during the week have the endurance for the longer weekend outings? I also need at least a day between rides to recover, how can you ride long distances on both Sat. & Sun?

Just take it up slowly, for instance ride on saturday a long ride and then on sunday a short ride, start of with 1 hr on an easy pace. And slowly up the time you spend on the sunday.

And yes, on the sunday you will have to warm up slowly to get rid of the muscle aches of the saturday ride.

And how much times you spend depends on what goals you set for yourself. I want to ride competition next year that's why I make the milage.

[Crankin]

During the season, when there is ample daylight, i tend to ride 2, maybe 3 times a week after work. Those rides are usually 15 miles. Most of the time I try to go for speed here (and improving the speed on my climb back to my house). I do at least one longer ride on the weekend, usually around 50 miles (sometimes it's less but that usually involves a lot of climbing). Usually, I will do another shorter weekend ride, or go mtb.
During the summer, when I'm not working, I do a group ride on Wednesday and Friday, plus one or two short rides alone. The Wednesday one is social, but with a nice pace of about 14-15 av. The Friday ride gradually increases in pace from the beginning of the season to the end. The last one I did on Labor Day weekend was about a 16.5-17 mph average, and it was hard for me.Both of these rides are between 30 and 50 miles. What I have found is that the faster my speed gets, the more time I need for recovery. I'm pretty sure this has to do with my age, but just this morning my husband and I were wondering if some of the men in my Wed. ride group who are about 65-70 feel as sore and tired as we do! They seem unfazed by anything. I also rode less this year with my riding partner, who is much slower than me. Going on rides with her forced me to slow down, but I was still out there. I think this is a better strategy for me. Too much exercise and not enough recovery does bad things to my immune system and I have had a series of allergy, asthma, etc. things since I finished training for and completing a century and a 50 mile charity ride within one week of each other. I thought I rested enough, but I guess not.
The season is winding down, so i will be getting back to spin class, weights, and hopefully x-country skiing. It's probably healthier to try to combine cycling with some other activity, even during the season, but it's hard for me not to just get out and ride every day that I can!

[GLC1968]

Its funny, but last year when I started out riding, I was super excited to do a 30 mile ride on the weekend and I planned it out like it was a century. This year, a 30 mile ride is a 'nice ride'. You will find that as your experience grows, your mindset changes!

Over the summer, I was riding between 100 and 150 miles per week. Shorter rides during the week (30 miles or so) and then longer ones on the weekend ramping up to a century ride in August and another one in September. Now I'm also commuting (14 miles each way), so I hope to maintain an 85-100 mile/week pace through the winter. (On top of regular gym workouts )

[Bluetree]

I often have to work seven days a week so my training time varies according to my work schedule. That said, I've been riding since August and try to get in three rides a week, each between 20-35 miles. I add one day of swimming and one day of combined weight training/running, and two rest-recovery days.