Distance

[nickp]

Hi all, me again

I have been plannig a few routes ready for when i pick up my bike.

Most of the planned routes are about 20 miles, using both roads and off road tracks, would this be about rigtht for a beginner?

I know a lot will depend on my fitness etc (I am not very fit, but hoping to change that)

How far was your first ride?

Thanks

 

[Eviljeem]

I am a total newbi too, and I am doing 20 miles.

You get tired, but t's the good sort of tired.

 

[Bigtwin]

Distance is a funny thing. It depends on how hard you go at it, as well as conditions - mud/sand/hills off road, wind/hills on road (mainly).

I'd say 20 miles is a fair old distance for a beginner, especially if you are putting your back into it a bit. There would be no shame in doing shorter rides more often to build up.

 

[tyred]

I would definitely start with a much shorter distance if you haven't rode a bike in a long time. You could probably do twenty miles but you will regret it the next day when everything hurts like hell.

 

[Arch]

yes, it can depend on so much. You can do 20 miles one day, feeling fine, and next time you go out, you get fed up after 3... Sometimes it's the wind, or rain, or cold, or heat, or you just don't feel like it...

My tip would be, have a destination. A cafe, or village pub or something, a place to aim for. Just riding in a circle is ok if you feel good, but if you get tired, it's nice to have an aim.

Nothing wrong with shorter rides too - you can up the pace a bit on those, if you feel like it.

 

[Riverman]

I agree about the importance of having a destination in mind. It will make you work harder because you'll be determined to get there. Not sure it should be the village pub though. ;-)

 

[dickothedrafter]

I would say a shorter distance at first say 10-12 miles.......I have a number of routes ranging from 10 miles up, i try to mix them up so that i am not doing the same run on consecutive days and i also vary which way round i cycle each route because one way will be harder than the other

 

[nickp]

My tip would be, have a destination. A cafe, or village pub or something, a place to aim for. Just riding in a circle is ok if you feel good, but if you get tired, it's nice to have an aim.

Thanks for all the replys, they all help.

Arch, i will hopefully always have a desination, the bike is being bought for the sole purpose of getting me to photography locations and back again (I also have a few short routes planned just for fun)

I didn't think about the pub, i'll be adding one to my routes now

Thanks

Nick

 

[Arch]

I agree about the importance of having a destination in mind. It will make you work harder because you'll be determined to get there. Not sure it should be the village pub though. ;-)

Nonsense. You can always have a fruit juice!

Although I swear by shandy for a hot day. A drink actually invented for cyclists, you know.

Actually, I'd always opt for a cafe if I could. But villages with cafes are few and far between, whereas most villages have a pub, and it's often a nice one too, with a beer garden.

 

[nickp]

most villages have a pub, and it's often a nice one too, with a beer garden.

Can't beat a nice village pub

1 more question, on agverage how long would a 10 mile ride take most of you?

 

[Bigtwin]

For an average on road ride with no traffic lights, huge hills etc to mess things up, I'd look to be hitting 20mph average over 10 miles - so 30 mins of course.

New to it, 16+ might be a respectable average.

 

[Arch]

For an average on road ride with no traffic lights, huge hills etc to mess things up, I'd look to be hitting 20mph average over 10 miles - so 30 mins of course.

New to it, 16+ might be a respectable average.

Maybe for you. I average 11-12mph on most rides, and especially anything longer than a commute across town. My best was recently on a 16 mile trip when I just topped 14mph.

A 20mph average might be normal to some of you freaks, but for a normal touring cyclist, 11-12 is plenty.

 

[Bigtwin]

A 20mph average might be normal to some of you freaks, but for a normal touring cyclist, 11-12 is plenty.

Yes, but 10 miles is rather a modest tour.

 

[nickp]

For an average on road ride with no traffic lights, huge hills etc to mess things up, I'd look to be hitting 20mph average over 10 miles - so 30 mins of course.

New to it, 16+ might be a respectable average.

Thanks again for all the help.

Bigtwin, i think 20mph might be pushing it a bit for me, and i will be doing quite a bit of off road on the route.

Nick

 

[Arch]

Yes, but 10 miles is rather a modest tour.

Everyone starts somewhere. I just think that your figure for a beginner might be a bit high, and discouraging if he doesn't make it. Ok, he might be stronger and fitter than me, he probably is, but if not, and average of 16 seems a lot....

I managed just over 11mph average on my 100miler last week....