New To Cycling And Am In Need Of Some Help

[iRide]

Hello,

I’m still relatively new to cycling and am wondering how often I should ride / how to gradually up the distance, etc. Also, I’ve been riding horses 3-4 times a week for years, so I’m not just starting to exercise or anything.

I started to get more into cycling in April (got a hybrid April 11th then gave it to my brother and got a Giant TCR road bike May 18th). As of right now I have 34.2 miles on the new road bike and am planning to do another 8 or 13 mile ride today. With the 13 mile ride I’m currently doing, I am getting a little tired and after about 10 miles, and then I feel fine again and want to ride more when I finish. Speed wise, I can keep at about 15-17.5mph on the flat with little wind though when I get a little tired after the first 10 miles, I sometimes drop to 10-13mph for a few minutes. How do I know when to up the distance?

Since I’m not going very far yet, how often should I ride? I really like cycling, so I’d love to ride something everyday, but I don’t want to get hurt. I hear at least one day off a week or just do something really slow / short 1-2 days a week, do intervals / training rides 2-3 times a week, and longer rides 1-2 days? Any ideas as to what I should try to do in a week? Any other tips?

Thanks!

 

[QuestionableCarro]

Hi I Ride andto the forum. Im a newbie here myself and I know you are goin to like it here - the folks are really helpful.

I am starting to to get into training as well to improve my endurance and hope to do 100 miles in August.

I am doing 16 miles three days a week and then 25ish on weekends. Every couple of weeks I am going to add a few miles onto each respective ride.
In addition to this I am "listening" to my body and calling it quits if I feel the fatigue etc.
Also take on lots of water before the ride and a few little sips say every 15-20 mins.
In time you will know whats best to eat etc as well.

You just to have to get out there and firm that rear!

 

[Randochap]

Thing is with bikes, you can say giddyup!, dig in your spurs and they still won't take you anywhere.

Try every other day to begin with. Moderate distances and speed. Don't ride if you're tired. Once you have a "base" you can start pushing a bit.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

Thing is with bikes, you can say giddyup!, dig in your spurs and they still won't take you anywhere.

Try every other day to begin with. Moderate distances and speed. Don't ride if you're tired. Once you have a "base" you can start pushing a bit.

 

[gbb]

I echo the other replies i ride...listen to your body, take a break for a day or two if its hurting, or take it steady if neccessary.
10 to 13 miles and feeling tired....we all started that way. before long, you'll be doing 20, 25, 30 miles without thinking. It does come quite quickly.

 

[marinyork]

I would ride 5 days a week. Construct a regular loop of something like 7 or 8 miles, try and add in some hills to the loop. Do that four days a week. The other ride do something like a 15 or 20 miler. After three or four weeks up this.

 

[SimonC]

Depends on what you want to get out of it.

Forget intervals at this stage, like others have said, you need base miles, no reason to ride every day, infact its better to fit in rest/recovery days. 10% mileage increase per week is also a good pointer.

Once you have built up to it, its more worthwhile doing say a 30-40 mile ride pushing hard and working hard, than just rolling along for 100 miles if you are looking improve fitness.

Intervals are more for racing speed/fitness and I wouldnt worry about them at this stage, maybe come back for more advice later.

 

[Arch]

Thing is with bikes, you can say giddyup!, dig in your spurs and they still won't take you anywhere.

I've ridden both, and find the advantage with bikes is they generally go where you want them to, and when....

I never did try actually using my crop on myself on the way home from the stables...

 

[Angelfishsolo]

You'll start getting people excited

I never did try actually using my crop on myself on the way home from the stables...

 

[roundisland]

I started cycling about 2 months ago when I started I was riding a 16 mile round trip every other day feeling pretty exhausted at the end. Then I started to increase it gradually and now my weekly rides are somthing like this

2 x 24 miles
1 x 16 miles
1 x 36 miles

I feel its really working for me never felt fitter than i do now at anytime in my life!

I dont have the fastest bike and i always have panniers on full of stuff, my average speed over a 36 mile ride is only 11.6 but i still feel I'm getting the work out I need.