do you ride by time or miles?

[Jenn]

I dont' know where we read it but DH said he read about this person that said he would go out and do no less then 90 minutes that is all he focused on initially. Speed and mileage come with time.....I wish I could go out and "tootle" around trust me Sunday when we had to take it easy with the little one in the trailer it was tough, because when I go out it's balls to the wall until I'm wasted and just crawl home because I only get to ride outside every so often but spin my hinder off the rest of the time.
I focus on my heart rate and time and I know it's embarassing but I average about 17 miles for every hour I ride, (without WIND).

[Batbike]

I know it's embarassing but I average about 17 miles for every hour I ride, (without WIND).

HOW can that be embarassing?? I think that is REALLY REALLY good!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I know it's embarassing but I average about 17 miles for every hour I ride, (without WIND).

[7rider]

Generally, we ride for miles, but sometimes it's cut short due to time -- as in "We don't have time to do that long ride, we'll have to do the shorter ride."

[han-grrl]

kilometers!

I am also saving up for a power meter. I used my Tacx Flow power meter inside, but can't afford the outside version just yet. I'm hoping for an ibike very very soon.

I also use HR, but not so religiously.

[HillSlugger]

During the week I have about 45 minutes to ride on the trainer stand and I do whatever miles I can get in. On weekends I'll usually decide on a route by miles, but other engagements may dictate what I can fit in.

[DarcyInOregon]

I focus on my heart rate and time and I know it's embarassing but I average about 17 miles for every hour I ride, (without WIND).

Seriously, can someone explain to me what is embarrassing about 17 mph?

Sure, if you are a Category A rider who races in the circuits or triathlons, or you are a gifted cyclist who has been training for years, you will have speeds over 20 mph. But are fitness/fun cyclists supposed to ride that fast too? I don't think so. Suzie, Ellen and myself, when we ride together, our speeds fall between 14 and 19, depending upon the wind and such. We are proud of our speeds, not embarrassed. I don't even know if I will ever achieve a consistent speed over 18 because I have a lame left foot, two ruptured disks and arthritis in my spine, and given my physical limitations, the speed I pedal now is rather remarkable. Therefore, I am proud of my speed, and never embarrassed by it.

To answer the question asked, I ride by miles, and I increase my miles gradually so as to train to ride longer distances. My goal is to be like some other wonderful TE members who can ride double centuries, and I hope to reach that goal within a few years by staying on my bike, increasing the miles, and continuing to ride during the winter weather as much as possible.

I don't even look at the time until my ride is over.

Darcy

[SouthernBelle]

Ditto what Darcy said about speed.

On weekdays I ride by time, cause I have to. Some days I get out of the office too late to ride at all. Saturdays, I am more likely to plan a route with specific mileage in mind.

However, I think you have to keep in mind what your goal is. Mine is to be able to ride where ever I want for what distance I want in a reasonable amount of time.