Time or mileage?

[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!

[Catrin]

Longer duration; lower intensity.

It's not just for cycling!

Indeed!

I've decided to just get out and ride however long I can, and just ride. At this point that seems the best "plan", it isn't like I've even ridden 500 miles yet! However, I have ridden at least 18 miles at one time, so I know that I can do the 25-mile option of the Tour de Cure - so I just need time and practice to focus on my bike skills. Having too much fun right now to do otherwise anyway

[featuretile]

It's not just the time or the mileage that affects how you feel after a ride. It's the elevation gain and/or wind. A flat 40 mile ride may make you less tired than a hilly 25 mile ride (and may take almost the same amount of time). My average speed never amounts to much because there are such steep hills that my odometer always says about 10-12 mph, even though on the flats, I'm going 13-17mph, and the downhills can reach 25mph. The up the mountain speed can be 4 - 6mph. It depends where you ride. The small grade hills are not a problem anymore. When I read about people doing all these century rides, I wonder how many are in places where the biggest hill is a freeway overpass. The farthest I have ridden so far is 49 miles. Nothing is flat. My legs are getting stronger.

I suggest picking a route with x amount of miles and seeing how long it takes you to do it. Then see if you get there in less time in the future. I have a nice 20 mile round trip that has alot of rolling hills (some steep) and no lights. I use it as a benchmark. The first time it took 1 hr. 15 min. to go out and 1 hr. to get back. It seems that the way the hills and wind are, it's faster on the back direction even though the same distance. Now I get there in 55 minutes, and back in 45 minutes.

The other thing that affects speed is your bike. Some bikes are just faster. In time, your conditioning is also better. Together your riding ability goes up. It really takes a lot of miles to get better. In fact, I can hardly believe that I can do what I do. Started riding at 56, and it's been a little over a year.

[Catrin]

Featuretile - this is a great idea, thanks! A friend of mine gave me his base route - it's about 42 miles long and is too much for me right now - but have already been looking at the more isolated portions of the route that probably does not have traffic signals to see what will work for me.