The only distance that is pathetic is 0. Even if all you did was ride a half mile it is still more cardio exercise than many people get in an entire week. There are a lot of Clydes and Athenas who put up some serious miles ie: several thousand a year. Try not to compare your numbers, everyone starts somewhere. When I first got my bike a 3 mile loop to the grocery store and back was all I could muster. Just like power lifting, you don't walk into the gym first day and deadlift 600lbs. You might leg press it but defiantly wont deadlift it without training.
Pedal on!
Bau