What distances do folks do?

[mickwood]

Hi, I'm just getting into the whole biking thing and wondered how far people generally ride? I've heard folks talking and they say things like 'I've got a long ride today' or 'just popped out for a short ride'...what does that mean!?

Not that it matters but I'm now quite interested to hear how far people generally ride? SO I'VE POSTED A POLL!!! LOL!

 

[Royalrider]

I tend to average around 12 mph. So if I go for a morning ride,with stops I tend to do about 40 miles. I feel I haven't been far enough if I only do 20 miles and much above 50 miles these days makes me start to think about home !!

 

[marinyork]

For me, a cyclist of very modest abilities:-
Short ride = 10 miles. Do these all the time.
Medium ride = 20 miles. Do these perhaps once or twice a week.
Long ride = 35 miles.
Very Long ride = 50 miles. Rarely do these. I had about three of about 65 miles last year, a couple of 50s and others in the 40s. It's slowly increasing.

I suppose proper cycles, the average would be 21-30. So I'll vote for that.

 

[spandex]

Welcome mickwood to cc

I can not vote as all of my rides are not the same as they are from 10 miles up to 80+. Like tomorrow I am going out on a 25mile ride with some mates but I know by the time I am done it is going to be 55+!

 

[dodgy]

Short = 25 miles
Medium = 50 miles
Long = 100 miles

This time of year most of my rides are between 25 and 45 miles, in the summer they are mostly 60 - 100 miles.

 

[colly]

It's kind of difficult to vote because most who cycle for enjoyment will do what they 'feel' like on the day.

I suppose Dodgy's description would fit me too.

Hoping to do more longer rides this year if I can manage it.

 

[HLaB]

A short ride for me is normally some where between 17-30 miles, and medium is around 50 miles and a long ride is around the 80-100 miles mark.
I tend to like a long lie and let the ice rise so my longest over Christmas was 71 and today 69. Normally I would consider this somewhere about medium but at this time of year I consider it long.

 

[marinyork]

Yes, I'd agree with all this. In the Winter, especially December it's quite nasty out there. In the summer I'm much more likely to do unplanned stuff and do an unplanned 30-40 miler.

 

[Cranky]

A quick blast for me is something like 20 miles. Normal club rides (CTC) are around 45 this time of year, or 65 in longer daylight.

Touring mileage would vary between 50 and 80 per day, depending on hills involved. 80 miles in a day is plenty enough for me!

 

[BentMikey]

Hmm, I think your poll has not enough options for the long rides some people do. You should go up to "375m or more" or so, which is roughly a 600km audax, and far from the longest.

My longest is 150 miles, but then I'm mostly a cycle commuter.

 

[mickwood]

Hmm, I think your poll has not enough options for the long rides some people do. You should go up to "375m or more" or so, which is roughly a 600km audax, and far from the longest.

My longest is 150 miles, but then I'm mostly a cycle commuter.

375m IN A DAY!?....now come on...where's the fun in that?

I'll add a few more options to the Poll as obviously a lot of folks do more than is up there!

So, I reckon getting myself up to about 50 miles would be about right? I'm really just trying to increase my fitness and am looking for a some kind of benchmark - having never cycled before! Oooh...new question...are these miles on the flat? My routes tend to be up and down around the peaks (one day I had to actually turn around and adjust my route as I just couldn't get up one hill! LOL!! I've been back since and regularly start my routes up it now)

Thanks for all the replies guys.

 

[BentMikey]

Not in a day, but in a single ride. Your poll does specify per ride rather than per day.

 

[dodgy]

I think it's fairly obvious that a newbie is interested in how many miles in a day (because a newbie doesn't do one ride stretched over multiple days)

 

[Fab Foodie]

Short = 25 miles
Medium = 50 miles
Long = 100 miles

This time of year most of my rides are between 25 and 45 miles, in the summer they are mostly 60 - 100 miles.

+1
My regular year-round weekly "training loops" are either 25 or 35 miles so I've kinda tiked that, but summer anything up to 100 miles is easily do-able.

 

[Aperitif]

Mostly commuting "mileage" mickwood - average 27km there and ditto back home...with lots of added variety if it is nice out! + allsorts at the weekend - like spandex says, and dodgy, and...