First long ride

[Honeywell23]

My guy took me out on a 36 mile ride Sunday on my first real road bike. Boy was I red in the face by the end. I actually cried on the last hill because I was so frustrated. But I know that I will get back out there again and do better. Try try again right girls?

[CorsairMac]

and the fans go wild!!!! goodonya honeywell. and yuppers - you'll do it again and pretty soon it won't be enough and you'll wanna go even MORE miles!!

[slinkedog]

Hey Honeywell! Good job, and yes, it will get easier as you get stronger. Hang in there!

Wondering where in Indiana you are. My husband is from Argos, which is about 30 miles south of South Bend. He went to Purdue and actually worked at Honeywell right after he graduated college for about 4 or 5 years in Chicago.

[mtbdarby]

Congrats Honeywell! That was awesome and I'm sure you'll be out there doing that again soon. Must have been a weekend for longest rides - I logged my longest road ride of 30 miles (remember, I'm a mtb'er!). My bf took me and taught me to draft (boy, did I think I was something drafting at 20 on a flat, lol). I was so proud I almost called home and told my mom. Then I remembered: she really doesn't get why I bike and I didn't want my bubble burst

Note to self: get a new seat for hybrid bike - my bum is still raw

[bikerchick68]

honeywell! way to go... 36 miles is a long ride

mtbdarby... ah the joys of drafting... I've thought of changing my name to "suckerfish" or "draftin queen"... LOL... good job on that 30 miler!

you two rock!

[RoadRaven]

Woo hoo HoneyWell

I always like it when I have gone for a ride and come back exhausted, I feel like I couldn't have done it any better.
Make sure all your rides are not ones where you push yourself so hard though... pace yourself gently ... arriving home after a ride feeling fresh is just as an important part of training as riding to exhaustion...

Well done on the 36 miles... thats a good solid ride.

[KSH]

My 2 longest rides thus far, have been 50 miles each.

This last one... on Saturday... I went out prepared for a 35 mile ride. My tummy only had 400 calories in it.

I hauled butt to the first rest stop at 17 miles (averaged 17.5 MPH, and I was at the very end of the group... so far back... I couldn't see the main group of 20! I rode with 2 other people, that was all!)... thinking I would get to turn around... but no. No one turned around, so I had to hang with the group... because I didn't want to ride busy streets alone.

I then continued the ride with the "distance builders" and I could keep up with them!

So... come mile 30... my tummy was GROWLING! I was so hungry.

When we finally made it back... I was starving. And so exhausted. My overall average was 15.5 MPH. But... having been that hungry... It hurt me for the rest of the day!

Lessons that I learned:
1) Don't trust a ride leader who states the ride averages 16-18 MPH. It's a lie.
2) I should eat more food before I leave the house. Screw losing a few pounds!
3) I should carry money to purchase food.
4) I should carry food, in case there is no where to buy food.

[Honeywell23]

well.. I found out that the ride was actually 45 miles and not 36. His computer was off.. just a bit lol.. but thank you for all your kind words.. Makes me feel good! Tonight we're going for another ride so I am really looking forward to it. You girls rock too!

[mary9761]

Congratulations! I guarantee you'll want to ride more the more you ride. I just started riding again after 20+ years mid july and really seriously after I got my new trek July 27 (over 600 miles on new bike alone). I have ridden 705 miles since I started earlier this summer. The longest ride I've gotten was just Wednesday on my 44th birthday. 63.93 miles. This made my 3rd metric century since August and the second in a week. I look for excuses to get out for a long ride whenever I can now LOL. I have at least a 45 mile ride planned for September 18, when I do a local benefit ride for the Katrina survivors.
Where are you located in Northern Indiana? I'm smack dab in the middle of Indianapolis myself. The charity ride is being sponsered by a local bike shop The Bike Line in Carmel. Maybe you would like to come down for it?

[Nanci]

That's crazy! 45 miles! No wonder you were tired...Whenever I increase my distance, usually by 10-20 miles, I always feel very, very tired the last five miles or so, plus my feet are numb, and I just want to get off and sit or walk. But then, the next time, when I get to the mileage that killed me before, on the way to a longer distance, it seems so easy, and I am always really happy to see the old mileage record go by and still feel great.

I always carry more food and water than I need, just in case I end up feeling like going further than originally planned. I have a Camelback Rogue, I think it is, and I tuck a bunch of gels and Sharkies and maybe an energy bar down inside it, and put some little packs of soy crisps and Jelly Belly sports beans in my bento box, which is a small stiff-sided fabric box with a velcro/mesh lid that goes on the top tube and attaches to the stem. My phone and whatever else are in there, too. That way I can have a quick snack if my stomach starts growling, without having to make a big deal and get off the bike. Although I usually plan to stop about every hour to walk around and eat a bite and let my feet and hands relax.

Proper nutrition while you're riding is the key to being able to keep going.

Nanci