Too Chicken To Go On Longer Rides

[wackyjacky1]

Last summer I renewed my love affair with bicycling. Since then I've conquered hills that I initially thought would kill me ( ), I've lost a few pounds, and I ride to work at least 3x per week (approx. 6 mile roundtrip). On the weekends I hop on my bike and tool around for an hour or so. But I have been maxing out at about 10 miles.

I want to do longer rides, but I realized today that the reason I haven't done so is that I'm afraid to. I'm not talking about a century, I just want to try my hand at something like a 20-miler. But I worry that I'll get too pooped to make it back home. It's a weird mental barricade that has kept me from "going for it."

Have any of you ever experienced this? Any tips on breaking my mental mileage barrier?

[celerystalksme]

Last summer I renewed my love affair with bicycling. Since then I've conquered hills that I initially thought would kill me ( ), I've lost a few pounds, and I ride to work at least 3x per week (approx. 6 mile roundtrip). On the weekends I hop on my bike and tool around for an hour or so. But I have been maxing out at about 10 miles.

I want to do longer rides, but I realized today that the reason I haven't done so is that I'm afraid to. I'm not talking about a century, I just want to try my hand at something like a 20-miler. But I worry that I'll get too pooped to make it back home. It's a weird mental barricade that has kept me from "going for it."

Have any of you ever experienced this? Any tips on breaking my mental mileage barrier?

just bring a cell phone! and have a friend or signficant other come pick you up if you can't go on! i've had to call for help when i got stranded with a flat. no biggie!

[ninerfan]

Don't feel obligated to increase your mileage by large increments really quickly. You can gradually up your mileage. If you're comfortable with 10, go for 11 the next time, and 12 the time after that. Slowly the way you think about distances begins to change.

I remember when 15 miles sounded long to me. Any you know what? At that time it was. But it's all relative. You slowly build the confidence and the fitness to ride longer distances. It's not a race to get to 20. You get there when you feel ready.

Good luck!

[Becky]

Maybe carry a map of the area with you? I'll often photocopy a section of our local bike map that shows the area I'm planning to ride in, and alternative routes. It doesn't weigh much, and makes me feel better to know that I can find my way home if I go "exploring" on a strange road or if I feel like I don't have the legs to do my planned route.

I always carry my cell phone too.

[sundial]

Can you get a friend to provide sag support? Knowing you have a vehicle to ride in should you get too pooped will give you the confidence to go further.

[Kalidurga]

If the issue is that you're afraid of becoming too tired to get back, I think ninerfan's got the right idea. Adding just one mile the next time you ride might be what you need to break that barrier. Then, when you're ready, add another mile, or even two. Plus, it's not like you have to ride straight through. You can always stop at your usual 10 miles to take a break and have an energy snack before pushing on for the extra miles.

And as for your mental barricade-- Think of distance the same way you thought about those hills you expected would kill you. How did you handle the challenge of the hills? Put yourself into that same frame of mind when you begin to add extra miles and I bet they'll end up being easier than you're allowing yourself to believe.

Hills are where I hit my own mental barrier, so I admire you for having conquered those!

[indysteel]

If the issue is that you're afraid of becoming too tired to get back, I think ninerfan's got the right idea. Adding just one mile the next time you ride might be what you need to break that barrier. Then, when you're ready, add another mile, or even two.

Another vote for this approach. Make sure you carry a snack with you and enough water. I started off with this approach, and it worked like a charm.

[Biciclista]

maybe join a group ride? That would really help. you're not all alone far away from everything you know and love you're with a bunch of friends, some of which are wise and confident.

[PamNY]

All the above advice worked for me. Just add a mile or two to your weekend rides, and you won't even notice the increase. A group ride can be a great confidence-booster.

When I first started, I brought along everything I could possibly need -- food, water, extra layers, phone, money, you name it. I also took rest breaks.

Pam

[Aint Doody]

I have a friend who rides until she's "half tired" and then goes home. It has gotten longer over the years. (I don't know how to decide when I'm half tired, however.)

[sundial]

I have a friend who rides until she's "half tired" and then goes home.

That was my method when I started cycling. Worked like a charm.

[indigoiis]

Do a group ride with a no-drop group or your local bike shop. The miles fly by when you are riding together with other folks of your same level. That's how I learned to do it!

[Possegal]

what also worked for me was adding miles by doing multiple loops of a smaller loop around my neighborhood. I mapped out a loop that is maybe 5 miles, but at any given time, I'm no more than a couple miles from my house. I increased by doing more within that loop, but yet never being more than a couple miles from home. If I felt I bit off more than I could chew, I was close to home.

I really understand the mental road-block into thinking I can't go that far. But if you increase in small increments, and then try doing that where you can bail out if you need to, I'm sure you'll be fine!

[wackyjacky1]

When I first started, I brought along everything I could possibly need -- food, water, extra layers, phone, money, you name it.

LOL!

I swear it's just a mental thing -- it's not like I'm exhausted after 10 miles. I guess I just lack confidence. Weird. You're right, though, I should just try to add a mile or so and build up slowly.

A group ride is a good idea, too, but that opens up a whole other Pandora's box of insecurities for me (I'm too slow, I won't be able to keep up, I'm too fat, etc., etc. ). Good gawd, I sound like I need therapy just to ride a bike...

[Blueberry]

Oh, I'm right there with you for some odd reason this year. I've done long rides, I've done group rides. I skipped out on a great group ride yesterday led by a friend - 24 miles, no speed pressure - because I was afraid people would hear me panting. I started having nightmares about not being able to finish the MS ride (I've not DNF'd and I adore doing them), but the nightmares have messed with my head. I gotta get past this - but it's hard.

CA