Just curious...miles per year?

[SadieKate]

The three of us are off our rockers today.

[Geonz]

So get back on them! Or get back on your rollers....

I'm afraid I'm definitely a "less pain, more gain" person - I **love** being able to back off *before* it hurts, and I do mean before it hurts, NOT before it "hurts too much to stand it." I remember training hard in swimming, and I dont' go there at all. I just go a little faster so I get to breathing hard... but still feels good... and it gets me IN SHAPE.

I've got 1500 miles on the bikes this year (613 on the car) ENDORPHINS ROCK!

[Bike Goddess]

TTs in Benicia on the 1st Wednesday of the month. 6:00PM. 10 miles down and back Lopes Rd (the western frontage road by Hwy 680.) if you want some variation in your pain!

[tjodit]

I really want to offer encouragement to everyone who is concerned about how her yearly mileage compares to others. Remember that it isn’t the number of miles a year you ride but that the miles you ride are satisfying and help you attain your goals.

I totally agree with your advice and appreciate the encouragement. However, the reason I (and probably other newbies) am curious about this is not to compare myself to someone else but to see if I am progressing at a "normal" rate. What I mean is it would be comforting to know that all you biking machines started out only being able to ride 15 to 20 miles at a time and at a speed less than 15 mph. I've started keeping a bike journal and can now see that I've gone from an average speed of about 12 miles an hour to 14.x an hour. Yesterday's ride broke the 15 mph avg. barrier! I've gone from being able to comfortably ride 12-18 miles to being comfortable at 20-25 miles. I know these aren't hugh strides but I am making progress. I think we newbies want to hear that everyone started out like this. That we're normal and not just worthless couch potatoes with no hopes of ever riding a century! At least I'm hoping ya'll didn't just jump on a bike one day and were able to crank out all those miles. Sometimes I wonder if the truely new folks are reluctant to write about their miles and speed...I know I am ...you ladies are intimidating...and I mean that in a good way...I'm very impressed with what ya'll can do. And I hope one day I can say I accomplished some of the things you ladies have.

[Veronica]

When I first started riding, I walked up many hills. I was so excited the first time I rode our big hill (Rte 9 in Saratoga for you CA ladies) w/o walking. And I did it with loaded panniers!

We quit riding for many years, got fat and lazy. I lost a bunch of weight and then started riding again. For me riding is about having fun. Yeah, I'm kind of goal driven this year. But if I weren't still enjoying the time on the bike, I wouldn't train like I am. Life is too short to spend it doing things that aren't enjoyable.

I'm considering a triathalon, but I hate to run...

V.

[SadieKate]

That we're normal and not just worthless couch potatoes with no hopes of ever riding a century!

That would be bon-bon eating coach potatoes.

I'm glad that you're focused on the intermediate goals which will get you to the goal of a century. How the miles add up is just icing on the cake.

Since everyone's riding conditions are different average speed isn't an indication of whether you can ride a century either, so that's an even bigger pitfall for comparisons. I've done rides where 12 mph was very satisfying and others where 20 mph was a disappointment. Just measure your improvement against your own results on the same route, with the same bike and similar weather.

Another thing to think about is muscle memory. After years and years of cycling, your legs will maintain good form even when tired while newbie legs may lapse into mashing; this muscle memory will lessen the effects of fatigue on performance. So, be patient with yourself as this is an experience thing and not a fitness thing.

BTW, after 4 knees ops when I was 20-21 years old, I think I rode 5 miles and burst into tears with the amazement that my legs would bend that far again. I would have been thrilled with a 12 mile ride. I think I still remember that 5 mile ride as one of the highlights of my cycling life. I think you're doing fabulously and wish I had kept records like you so I could see what changed for me in the first couple years. It would be good inspiration for those days when I think bon-bon eating would be a better activity.

[miffy'sFuji]

I think your progess sounds just great, tjodit. The very fact that you are improving is positive!

I think Sadie Kate said it all when you look at your terrain and the kind of riding you do. Your level is improving. You're (likely) doing similar types of rides and you're getting better!

I'm surprising myself this week. It'll be my first week (I hope) that I'll have commuted every day. I've done 46 miles so far this week, and while that doesn't sound like a whole lot to some, my ride home is pretty much all uphill. I don't know what the actual grade is, but my kreb's map lists my last 1 mile at a 9% grade or higher. When I first started doing that I had to stop 4 times to catch my breath and I had to walk part of it! Now I can stay on my bike and stop just once to catch my breath. I'm thinking that stop is partly mental. Once I can get past that, "I've just got to stop," then I should be able to conquer that hill.

I got my first bike thanksgiving weekend 05. I got my second bike Feb 25th of this yr.

If you are somewhat athletic to begin with, once you got your cycling muscles, some people could probably do longer rides right off the bat. It depends some on your body type, muscle composition...there are just a lot of variables. Everyone is different. I hiked to the top of mt. diablo (3000 or so elevation climb) last fall with no problems, and yet I couldn't ride my bike all of the way home...So it just goes to show you that it just depends.

[Geonz]

Welp, different people progress at very different rates, too! I see a number of new riders each year and some of them are just disgusting. One lady was riding 15 mph for 20 miles on her second ride, on a hybrid... and *then* found out she was riding on about 30 psi! I know for my first three years I was averaging between 11 and 13 mph. It wasn't until I started riding everyday and sometimes twice a day that I made big improvements - but I also made improvemetns in technique at the same time. And sometimes the bike makes a difference (um, like inflating the tires :-)). Now I don't have to ride every day to keep my speed.

[tjodit]

That would be bon-bon eating coach potatoes.

I'm glad that you're focused on the intermediate goals which will get you to the goal of a century. How the miles add up is just icing on the cake.

BTW, after 4 knees ops when I was 20-21 years old, I think I rode 5 miles and burst into tears with the amazement that my legs would bend that far again. I would have been thrilled with a 12 mile ride. I think I still remember that 5 mile ride as one of the highlights of my cycling life. I think you're doing fabulously and wish I had kept records like you so I could see what changed for me in the first couple years. It would be good inspiration for those days when I think bon-bon eating would be a better activity.

Bon-bon eating couch potato...THAT made me laugh! You've gone through a lot and look where you are now! An inspiration to those of us just starting out.

miffy'sFuji, thank you. I know you'll make it up that hill. You'll have to let us know when you slay that final dragon!

Veronica, I totally agree...it's about having fun. That's why I don't do treadmills, stair climbers, etc. They're just not fun for me. I like to get my exercise by playing. When I was a kid I lived on a bike. It is so much fun to go out and ride.

On my ride after work yesterday I could swear I saw looks on some of the drivers faces as they passed by me that said how they wished they could be out riding a bike instead of rushing to whatever it was they were rushing too. Kind of a look of envy...do you know what I mean. Have ya'll noticed that look on the faces of people?

[SadieKate]

Bon-bon eating couch potato...THAT made me laugh!

One of my favorite yellow-isms.

[KSH]

Since purchasing my bike in October 2004 (mind you, I don't ride when it's cold)... I have put 2000 miles on it. Nothing like the hardcore cyclists do... but I am proud of it!

What I mean is it would be comforting to know that all you biking machines started out only being able to ride 15 to 20 miles at a time and at a speed less than 15 mph.

Well, let me tell you... it wasn't until after having my bike almost a year that I was able to do 25-30 miles (no stops) at a 16 mph average. And, that was me barely hanging on to the back of the pack and huffing and puffing the whole way. It was not easy.

Now (almost 1.5 years later), I can hold a good 17 mph average for about 25 miles.

But, there are people who I know in my tri group who started riding a few months back (never rode a bike before) and they are already doing 40 miles (no stops) and holding a 18-20 mph average.

The moral of the story: Everyone progresses differently. Some are faster than others... and always will be. Just be happy with what you can do and that you are improving.

[tjodit]

Since purchasing my bike in October 2004 (mind you, I don't ride when it's cold)... I have put 2000 miles on it. Nothing like the hardcore cyclists do... but I am proud of it!

I found this online:
"For all you trivia buffs out there, the shortest distance from the East to West Coast (as the crow flies) would be 2,092 miles from San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL. "
So, you've nearly pedaled from coast to coast!

[DirtDiva]

I'm considering a triathalon, but I hate to run...

Haha. Me too.

And, on topic (for once)...
I have absolutely no idea. I'm not entirely sure I want to know, having read how far some people here go. Well, actually, of course I want to know, but I don't have a computer and the thought of taking a guesstimate does hold the same appeal to my pedantic little self.