Time or mileage?

[indysteel]

Both weekend and dinner rides are fine in terms of group riding. I just prefer the former I guess because I like riding at my pace, with or without other people. A lot of the dinner rides are along the Monon, which I avoid like the plague.

[Catrin]

Both weekend and dinner rides are fine in terms of group riding. I just prefer the former I guess because I like riding at my pace, with or without other people. A lot of the dinner rides are along the Monon, which I avoid like the plague.

I didn't know that they are along the Monon so often, I have no desire to go there. I will check into the regular weekend rides. I already know the route of the first one and I don't know that I want to ride from 62nd and Moller to the heart of downtown Indianapolis on my first group ride...

Thanks also for the tip on leg fatigue and warming up - I had not realized that. Friday was the first time this was a real issue, and I simply ascribed it to the cross-wind and working so hard on Thursday (1 hour on bike and 2 hours in spinning class). I never over-do things. Nope. Never

[Crankin]

Listen to Indy about the warm up. Even when I started riding (and I was about ten years younger) I noticed that I never feel good until I have been riding for about 7-10 miles. Which means on my short rides, I have to really go slowly in the beginning. This sometimes is a problem for me on group rides, where they often start out like a bat out of hell...
And what Marni said is true. If you can ride 40 miles, you can probably ride 50 or 60, albeit, at a slower speed. I did a century with no training, other than my regular riding. I had not done any rides longer than 60-70 miles. I knew miles 80-100 would be tough, but I set a very moderate speed goal and ended up finishing in 6.5 hours.

[Catrin]

Listen to Indy about the warm up. Even when I started riding (and I was about ten years younger) I noticed that I never feel good until I have been riding for about 7-10 miles.......

I had not thought about this - and it is certainly something to remember. Now that it has been mentioned it makes perfect sense, I've 50 year old bones and joints that are still in the process of learning something very new - and even if it wasn't NEW, I still have 50 year old bones and joints

And what Marni said is true. If you can ride 40 miles, you can probably ride 50 or 60, albeit, at a slower speed. I did a century with no training, other than my regular riding. I had not done any rides longer than 60-70 miles. I knew miles 80-100 would be tough, but I set a very moderate speed goal and ended up finishing in 6.5 hours.

This is what my trainer told me this past week when we met. If I have a 30 mile ride coming up, then I need to be riding at least 24-25 miles.

Thankfully it is only March - though April starts next week! I have just under 3 months for the Tour de Cure, and frankly, I am more nervous about the whole "riding in a big group of people" than I am the mileage... It won't be a regular road group though as it will all be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Track The N.I.T.E. ride two weeks later WILL be on the roads...but they will all be blocked off and there will be about 2,500 of us.

[indysteel]

The N.I.T.E. ride two weeks later WILL be on the roads...but they will all be blocked off and there will be about 2,500 of us.

There's a reason I've never done, and will never do, the N.I.T.E. ride.

As for Tour de Cure, why did I have it in my head that only the century was entirely on the track. Are the shorter distances, too?

[Catrin]

There's a reason I've never done, and will never do, the N.I.T.E. ride.

As for Tour de Cure, why did I have it in my head that only the century was entirely on the track. Are the shorter distances, too?

There are two options for the track - one is the 100 mile challenge in 6 hours for 100 cyclists. There is another option - "recreational ride" which is as many laps (2.5 miles) around the track as one would like. I and my team mates have decided to make at least 10 laps.

There are two other scenic ride routes away from the track, but they end with a single lap around the track.

I have friends at work who are doing the NITE Ride who have talked me into joining them - it does sound like fun. I may wimp out as it starts at 11:00 pm, but there are lots of activities during the day that are free. I guess they cut off the number of riders at 2500. That is a LOT of cyclists! Wimping out will probably be determined on how comfortable I am at the Tour de Cure two weeks prior.

[malkin]

Longer duration; lower intensity.

It's not just for cycling!