How many miles do you ride?

[Grog]

Ride however much you want. Just remember to step out of your comfort zone now and then, and ride a few miles further.

[PamNY]

Ride however much you want. Just remember to step out of your comfort zone now and then, and ride a few miles further.

This is good advice. I ride just for fun and don't pay much attention to mileage, but every so often I like to challenge myself.

Pam

[Owlie]

I try to get myself to a round number, but if it doesn't happen, no big deal.

[staceysue]

I remember last year, when I still just had my beach cruiser, I set the goal to ride all the way to the nearest town, 15 miles away. It seemed sooooo far, like nothing I'd ever achieve! Then, I did that and wanted to go further so I set my "ultimate" goal of going to the next town. I thought if I made it 32 miles I would have accomplished my dream. I made it with numb toes and sore wrists and realized I couldn't go any further.

This year, I still only had my beach cruiser and knew I couldn't go as far as I wanted to, so I gave up on cycling until September, when I got the bug again and bought a used road bike. I set the goal to ride it 64 miles - next year. I didn't think there would be any way I'd go that far this year. Then, yesterday, I just got on and started riding. I didn't plan on going more than 20 miles or so. 28 miles in, I felt like I wanted to keep going, gave my hubby a call to see if he'd pick me up when I was finished, and went the whole 64 miles!

I just ride until I don't feel like riding anymore, or until I run out of time, whichever comes first.

Next year I'm hoping I can do 120 miles in two days and some day I want to ride all the way to Niagara Falls (about 650 miles).

I can't go any further until I figure out what's causing my numb toes, though. I'm on to the health forum to ask some questions!

[Yemmi530]

I remember last year, when I still just had my beach cruiser, I set the goal to ride all the way to the nearest town, 15 miles away. It seemed sooooo far, like nothing I'd ever achieve! Then, I did that and wanted to go further so I set my "ultimate" goal of going to the next town. I thought if I made it 32 miles I would have accomplished my dream. I made it with numb toes and sore wrists and realized I couldn't go any further.

This year, I still only had my beach cruiser and knew I couldn't go as far as I wanted to, so I gave up on cycling until September, when I got the bug again and bought a used road bike. I set the goal to ride it 64 miles - next year. I didn't think there would be any way I'd go that far this year. Then, yesterday, I just got on and started riding. I didn't plan on going more than 20 miles or so. 28 miles in, I felt like I wanted to keep going, gave my hubby a call to see if he'd pick me up when I was finished, and went the whole 64 miles!

I just ride until I don't feel like riding anymore, or until I run out of time, whichever comes first.

Next year I'm hoping I can do 120 miles in two days and some day I want to ride all the way to Niagara Falls (about 650 miles).

I can't go any further until I figure out what's causing my numb toes, though. I'm on to the health forum to ask some questions!

way to go gal, good luck on your 120 miles in two days. Niagara falls, it would be a very Nice and long ride. Keep up with your dream. Riding is FUN. And it made me felt great with every accomplishment. "don't forget to bring a digital cam. with you" since it will be a long ride with awesome surrounding. I hope next time this time, i would be able to ride much longer and accomplish with a 60 miles ride. everyone "let's keep it up"

[lo123]

I started riding with the local club about a month after I got my bike. I really prefer riding with a group now.

I still ride by myself some, but the group atmosphere is appealing to me because I will push myself harder to hang with the faster folks

Plus, riding with a club gives you new routes to try. I never would have done some of the routes I do now without having been on group rides.

[shootingstar]

Plus, riding with a club gives you new routes to try. I never would have done some of the routes I do now without having been on group rides.

I am very lucky...my partner has been highly active for development of bike network routes in Toronto (where we used to live) and now here in Vancouver area ever since I've known him, so I have built up some knowledge of local bike routes in both cities, how to interconnect several routes, and if I can remember all the turns/safe shortcuts that avoid lousy intersections/interchanges, etc., to ride several different long routes over 100 kms. each, if desired, across each city.

He also occasionally scouts out potential areas for bike routes/future marked lanes, future connectors, etc....so I robotically cycle along behind, just trying to remember every twist and turn.

This is how I build up my knowledge to ride all sort of routes safely, solo when I do --many short and longer routes.

[Pedal Wench]

you can also do 15 faster miles versus 40 slow miles - depends on your goals

[sekhem]

How about another DITTO on keeping a record of your rides!
I logged mileage and riding conditions starting from when I first got my bike. the original motivation was to know when it was time to do basic maintenance on the bike (darned chains need replacing @~800 miles). However the record has become a major source of motivation- I can see where I was and where I had trouble 6 mo ago and understand how far I've come in a very short time. Sometimes a ride can just be a bad day. Rather than dwelling on a bad day or a series of bad days as "proof" that I stink as a rider, the ride record is a great reminder that there are more good days than bad.

Congratulations on being a new rider. May you have some really great rides!

[Crankin]

For me, keeping a record was de-motivating, after a few years. If I didn't meet my "goal," whatever it was, distance, speed, etc., it bothered me. I took myself off of Bike Journal last year and I have been much more motivated.
Part of it, is that I have become a bit slower. Or, my average can vary widely. Whatever it was, it was starting to make me dread riding. Of course, I still have my computer to keep track of my miles, but at least half of the time, I don't look at my average. That way, I don't feel pressure. I know I can out ride most people my age (in the general population), but I am never going to be in the fast group. Since I am 56, this is fine. I have no affinity for technology and using stuff like GPS doesn't give me a "thrill" so my strategy is working.
I had to put this all in perspective; I have burned out on other sports and I didn't want this to happen with cycling.

[sundial]

^ What Crankin said.