How far should you ride?

[Sharky]

How far should you ride?

Think it depends on your reasons for cycling and how much time you have and also the tempo you ride at. If you don't put any "umph" into your riding, then 6 to 9 miles won't do much in terms of fitness. It's quality, rather than distance that will get you fitter.

 

[snorri]

Instead of thinking how far, you could think how long, as in time out on the bike. Just getting out for 20 minutes every day will help improve your fitness. Some days you will cover fewer miles due to road or weather conditions, but that doesn't matter as long as you get the time in the saddle.

 

[rualexander]

I would go further but can't really at the minute, as we are only aloud out for between 30mins and 1 hour

Who says you are only allowed out for between 30 minutes and 1 hour?

 

[FrankCrank]

As already mentioned, it's important to have fun, the fitness level will come over time, and frequency. That said, I've never considered myself particularly fit, and pushing 60 now, so not likely to change now for the better. As for steep hills, never had an issue with cycling half way up, then walking the rest, welcome break from the saddle. No hills here where I live, so 2 rides a day are very leisurely, and good for the soul if not too taxing on the body. As a 15yo, you'll understandably want something more challenging, but don't forget the fun part

 

[slowmotion]

^^^^^^ This!

 

[MonsterEnergy]

Who says you are only allowed out for between 30 minutes and 1 hour?

Government restrictions

 

[rualexander]

Government restrictions

Where does it say that?

 

[MonsterEnergy]

Where does it say that?

My parents found something about it on the internet...and many freinds told us aswell.
Only once out for excercise between 30 and 1 hour

 

[rualexander]

My parents found something about it on the internet...and many freinds told us aswell.
Only once out for excercise between 30 and 1 hour

A link would be useful?
As far as I know there is no official time limit.

 

[ChrisEyles]

Don't sweat about structured training programs - that sort of thing only makes a difference if you're already very bike fit and want to become progressively more competitive for races etc. For the level at which 90% of us ride, it's pretty much a simple case of the more you ride the fitter you get.

Don't worry about distances or speeds too much as this is massively influence by local terrain and routes. Just enjoy exploring on the bike, the fitness will come naturally.

The only tip I'd give is to practice what you want to get better/good at. If you want to improve your hill climbing, climb lots of hills. If you want to improve your speed and power, throw in a few sprints along the way. Want to improve endurance, longer rides.

As others have said, the most important thing is just to enjoy being out on the bike

 

[stuarttunstall]

I agree from personal experience with a few of the comments above.. Keep at it...

When I got my hybrid 2 years ago the route I do has a stretch of about half a mile incline, a lot on here would look at it and fly up it, it is not steep, but long, but at first I could not do it, no matter how hard I tried my legs just gave up... I was 136KG at the time.... most times for the first 6 months or so I had to stop 3 or 4 times, I kept at it and tried to get further each time... the stopping eventually dropped down in numbers and then one day I did it... not "fly" up it as I do not stand on the bike, but I managed it..

2 years later I now do it every time, still not flying up but I can do it...

May be to do with me being 108KG now plus I am fitter than I was....

 

[vickster]

My parents found something about it on the internet...and many freinds told us aswell.
Only once out for excercise between 30 and 1 hour

Nope, there’s no time restriction in the guidance in the UK (as yet). Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet

 

[Sharky]

My parents found something about it on the internet...and many freinds told us aswell.
Only once out for excercise between 30 and 1 hour

Nothing wrong with 30 to 60 mins. As long as they are a regular event - 2 or 3 times per week. Fitness will soon come before you know it. And when the lock down is over, just occasionally stretch the rides to 90 minute rides. When you go back to the shorter rides you will notice the difference.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Suggest you go up and down the hill for an hour. That’ll soon get you fit and enjoying hills.

 

[cyberknight]

As far as government restrictions go if you parents feel that an hour is the maximum then they are only thinking of your safety so in the current times i would go with it rather than create tension within your family as i think in these times your parents have enough to worry about without extra stress.
With regards the hills then a mtb will be harder to ride but its good training for if and when you decide if you want to get more involved as you progress then look at a lighter bike , maybe if you offroading look a a CX /adventure style bike .
Finally what is your bike set up like ? many newer riders tend to have their saddle to low which can make riding harder work .