How to get to 50 miles

[growingvegetables]

Just do it as they say.

+1

I'm on a hybrid - average 12mph. I do a 20 mile run ... perhaps twice a month?

But that's enough to be able to do Leeds-Edinburgh in 4 days (up to 60 miles a day). Or, once a year, take the kids out 150 mile tours, 40 miles a day (me carrying ALL the camping gear for four people).

Or, like I did Monday, take the train to Sheffield and cycle back to Leeds on the Transpennine Trail. Should have been 45 miles. Except I suspect some clever little chav had messed with some of the signs. I got completely lost, and ended up doing nearly 70 miles.

Via a "quaint" little place called Hoyland.

I guess that's Barnsley dialect for "high place" (translated into English - "that ******* steep hill, from the top of which you can look down on Doncaster, Sheffield, Barnsley, and Wakefield" ..... aye, and on a clear day, York, Leeds, Derby and bleeding Cornwall and Glasgow).


Long day; six too many visits by the p******e fairy.

Just do it

And don't forget the tyre levers - if it was somebody on here who posted the youtube video about getting a tyre on and off without levers, you have my undying thanks - I sure as **** needed that trick, and can consider myself an expert after all the practice I had.

 

[Willo]

I'm sure the sensible advice is to build up in increments but once you hit 40 miles it will feel daft not to just carry on for another 10, providing you feel okay of course. When stepping up distances I just found that I kept to my usual average. As others have said, your speed is good, just feel your way along and if the legs feel ok keep on going, slow down or take a break if not.

 

[doog]

So, I cycled around 20 miles the other weekend - average speed was just under 15mph on a hybrid. It was fairly windy and a little bit hilly.

If I want to get this up to 50 miles, am I better:

1. Keeping the same pace and slowly increasing the journey length by say 5 miles each time?

2. Slow down the pace and increase the journey by greater lengths, then work on increasing the pace when I get there?

Also, when people say the did 50 miles, is that non-stop or is a bacon sandwich and coke break allowed???

Stop as many times as you like I say. I did 140 miles one day using this method.

Its fair to say that if you can do 20 with an average speed of 15 you should be able to double it no problem. I did a 30 and then a 40 non stop this week having not been on the bike for 3 months due to a back injury. I thought I would suffer but I didnt.

When i used to run, a 3 month break would be a recipe for sore legs, not so with cycling for some reason.

 

[okeydokey79]

i myself am new to road riding and enjoying it even with the weather at the moment, i want to do more miles so have got a route that it about 25miles and had only done this on a mtb(yes hard work and the reason i brought a road bike) so i try to do this route once a week and add a bit to it each time and in 1st 2weeks of riding u have managed now to get up to 35miles in about 2hrs no stops just plenty of fluid and jelly babies in the back pocket. i also do quick ride outs and commute to work a couple of times a week(8miles both ways)i enjoy the ridng which is what its all about in my eyes, if ur forcing urself to try to do it u may not njoy the ride.

 

[Moss]

All the advise given by the forum members is IMO very good sound advise! All I can ad is : Get some miles in your legs; the increase in speed will come naturally as you gain cycling strength and fittness. 50, miles is do-able immideiately, just take your time and enjoy the ride.


DOPEDALSAFELY!

M

 

[mhk1058]

Both running and cycling I used the advice that came from someone training for the marathon for the first time, he was also a business performance coach (not sure if that's relevant but he knew a bit about psychology) - slow down and increase the distance first, even if it means going really slowly. That way you get the psychological barrier of completing what can at first seem like a big challenge out of the way. Once you know you can do it, then worry about the speed.

 

[middleagecyclist]

If I want to get this up to 50 miles...

So. With all the advice to go for the 50, dare I ask when you are going to attempt it? (no pressure of course!) ;-)

 

[Hip Priest]

Wow. Some interesting advice here. My longest distance so far is 33 miles, but I do it at an average of 17mph with no stops. Next weekend I'm definitely going to attempt the 50, stopping a couple of times for food and not worrying about my speed.

 

[Markymark]

Thanks for all the advice. Think I'll do a 30 mile soon and and then MTFU and go for 50!!