Mileage theory

[li10up]

Pooks, this may help. My first bike when returning to bike riding was a mtn bike. I took it out on the road and although a good workout (maybe too tough) I couldn't get far from home and therefore didn't really enjoy the ride that much. I decided to get a road bike. I quickly went from 6 mile rides to 12 miles and then to 20. Within a year I had done my first metric century. I honestly believe the road bike will make riding more enjoyable and therefore you will ride further and longer. You'll get further away from home (or wherever you start) so you will see more interesting things and have more variety in your rides. And we all know that "Variety is the spice of life."

[fikustree]

I didn't mean to imply that you need a HRM- I just found it very eye-opening when I got one. I was either working to hard because I was extremely motivated or not working enough because I am naturally lazy. The make some now that are built into a sports bra!

[IntenseRide]

My first bike when returning to bike riding was a mtn bike. I took it out on the road and although a good workout (maybe too tough) I couldn't get far from home and therefore didn't really enjoy the ride that much. I decided to get a road bike.

I will second this! I have two mountain bikes, one which is a hardtail, that I will ride on the road when I'm desperate before the trails open in the spring, or when they are closed during the year because of rain. I never much enjoyed riding my hardtail on pavement, the tires make too much noise and for as much effort it takes to push knobbies the return of 'joy' just wasn't there. This spring I bought my first road bike ever and the difference was phenomenal. Its MEANT for pavement and the sweetness is just as acute as when I'm on my full suspension riding dirt. This has definitely changed my tune about riding the road, which will equate into speed when I get back on the mountainbike. I have also heard that roadies ride mountain bikes to gain strength for the road.