does anybody here do a daily ride?

[clearwaterms]

I have been riding every morning for the last week, and I love it. I am an early riser and wake up about 6 or 6:30. I don't start work until 9 or 10 though. So I can go out and ride for a quick 5~8 miles and be back by 7 or 7:15 still have time to make myself a light breakfast and get cleaned up for work. I can't commute because my job is one that I have to be mobile..

My question is for those that do a daily ride, do you take the same path every day? do you vary it up? do you ride the same distance? does it vary? as your physicaly condition improve did you increase the distance, or shorten the time of the trip?

[jaxgtr]

Before my accident and I was riding daily, I switch things up to keep from getting bored. I have several routes I will typically ride during the week and then ride something different on the weekends.

[(51)]

Early riser? I roll from 4:00AM-6:00AM :D
I ride 5 days a week, usually along the same route and usually the same distance. However, I do have alternate 5, 12, 16, 20 and 25 mile options along that route if I want to mix it up. Every so often the wife and I will go somewhere different for a little joy ride.

[twobikes]

I try to ride daily, but may take a day or more off each week. A year ago my daily ride was ten miles. Now it is 14.4 miles with some additional hills. Not only do I try to ride each day, but I am also trying for 100 miles a week. Would that I always met both goals. I have not ridden much at all during the last ten years. At age 61 it is taking a while to get back into shape. And, I am lugging twenty to thirty pounds around that I want to shed. If you would like to see my ride, click here (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/West-of-Caldwell).

[The Historian]

I have been riding every morning for the last week, and I love it. I am an early riser and wake up about 6 or 6:30. I don't start work until 9 or 10 though. So I can go out and ride for a quick 5~8 miles and be back by 7 or 7:15 still have time to make myself a light breakfast and get cleaned up for work. I can't commute because my job is one that I have to be mobile..

My question is for those that do a daily ride, do you take the same path every day? do you vary it up? do you ride the same distance? does it vary? as your physicaly condition improve did you increase the distance, or shorten the time of the trip?

I work second shift for my company, and so I have the morning free. Unless the weather is bad, I'm worn out from a long ride, or I'm having scoliosis-related 'structural problems', I try to ride every day. My local loop here in hill country takes me past streams, farms, and over a 150 year old covered bridge.

http://lh5.google.com/neil.thehistorian/RjIOGaR9l1I/AAAAAAAAAGY/B1BOAli09Is/s400/HPIM0096.JPG

If I'm in the mood, I can add two other covered bridges to my route.

In addition, I use the bike as transportation some mornings, and shop at a local organic food cafe and store. Or I may ride to my gym. There's also a used book store I visit too often. And on Sunday's I ride to church, and then out to lunch afterwards.

My rides tend to be the same loop, about 7 or so miles, but they've been as short as 5 and as long as 15. Yesterday's was to pick up lunch at the organic food store, stop at the used book store to buy a collection of Alexander Pope's poetry and prose I didn't need, and climb some hills. 14.09 miles, most with loaded panniers.

To follow my daily rides, read my blog.

[clearwaterms]

see my problem is that I live in the thick of suburban hell. I have a bike path thats like 1/2 mile from my house, and it's a 7.5 mile end to end, im almost smack in the middle of it. I will ride in one direction or the other. So it's an 8 mile ride.

[The Historian]

see my problem is that I live in the thick of suburban hell. I have a bike path thats like 1/2 mile from my house, and it's a 7.5 mile end to end, im almost smack in the middle of it. I will ride in one direction or the other. So it's an 8 mile ride.

Hell is what you make of it. First of all, why ride the bike path? You say you live in the suburbs. Well, there's groceries to get, a church to visit, DVDs to return, and probably a library somewhere. Why not explore? To paraphrase an REM song, "your bike is going to be on the ground/your head is there to move you around."

Which reminds me, I should be riding now. Signing off!

[clearwaterms]

good point. I guess I could get a rack and ride some of my errands... but the bike path is nice, it winds in and out of the forest preserve, it doesn't have stop signs or cars... just deer and other bicyclists (and the occasional jogger)

[cyclezealot]

I'd like to . could happen. By using the bike for recreation and every possible errand, I usually get out at least 4-5 times a week. .

[Wogsterca]

I have been riding every morning for the last week, and I love it. I am an early riser and wake up about 6 or 6:30. I don't start work until 9 or 10 though. So I can go out and ride for a quick 5~8 miles and be back by 7 or 7:15 still have time to make myself a light breakfast and get cleaned up for work. I can't commute because my job is one that I have to be mobile..

My question is for those that do a daily ride, do you take the same path every day? do you vary it up? do you ride the same distance? does it vary? as your physicaly condition improve did you increase the distance, or shorten the time of the trip?

I always plan one off day a week, and one possible off day (maximum of two), I usually follow a similar route, and bump the distance every so often, when the time starts getting shorter then about 40 minutes, a longer ride comes on Saturday, usually 15km during the week, longer on Saturday. I am thinking of moving my ride time though, I usually go in the early evening when I get up, thinking of moving it to morning, before going to bed. If that last sentence doesn't make sense, I work nights, go in for midnight and usually get home around 8:30AM, so if I go at 9am and return around 10, I can get up around 6:30pm or so..... Probably better in the morning this time of year anyway, it's often nice in the morning, hot in the afternoon and storming by evening.

[fifthcircle]

I luckily have 3 days off a week. So Thurs-Sat if I am not riding, I have no excuse! Sunday is my monday, and I like to take that off. Mon-Wed I try to ride either before work or in the evening. I am 3blks from a trail that goes to and around a lake. It's just under 10miles with hills. Perfect, but after a few days of only that, it get's boring. Weekends are good!

[JoeMetal]

Ever since I started riding, about five-six weeks ago, I've ridden every single day. I try to go out around 3 times a day, but I'm only doing around 5 miles at a time.

[brodie]

im starting to get a regular route and, its becoming daily. im doing between 10 - 20 miles a day. but thats on the road bike. with the hills included. but i put it on the 3rd cog on the chainring and,walk up the hills in the saddle.
on the mountain bike,i want to get to maybe 10 miles.my weight compresses the tires more and,the knobby tires have less rolling resistance. so its a tougher workout now.
plus the guy i purchased the mountain bike from,has it adjusted so it wont go, -big to big, or, little to little, thats that triple chainring thing i guess.

but im doing a ride daily for the past to weeks.

[solveg]

I ride 5-6 days a week, and I can't stand* going the same way twice, unless I have a specific destination in mind.

Right now I'm up north, and I go to the State Park that's close every morning at dawn. At first it was great, but I have my fast bike with me, not the touring bike, so I have to stay on the one main road that runs through the place. At first it was great, but now after a week I'm bored. I tried to explore some "lesser roads" but the Klein is really reactive. The littlest bit of sand will make the rear tire slide, and I'm afraid of getting a flat on the gravel. So I think I'm going to start going around the lake. It's 65 miles all the way around, but I can get someone to drop me off further and further away. That might be fun for a while. In the fall there's an organized ride around the lake, and I'd like to do that next year.

[Bill Kapaun]

I don't have a car, so I do all my errands on the bike.
Days that I don't have any errands, I'll ride a 3/4" mile "rectangular loop" around my neighborhood, to reduce the "regression" from not riding. 4 easy right turns and I'm back where I started at my driveway. I'll do it 1-6 times, depending on the mood. After participating in this forum, the 1 loop days are pretty rare.

[Sandwarrior]

I don't get to ride everyday, but I sure would like to. My work schedule complicates things. I rotate from a day 12 hour shift, to a night 12 hour shift every 2 weeks. I have a tough time sleeping on the mids rotation, so my riding tends to fall off during those two weeks. Other wise, I have numerous choices for MUPS in my locality. The commute to work is 11 miles one way. Then there is the 17 mile loop, 22 mile loop, 33 mile loop (22 miler with the Cherry Creek Reservoir added in), and the 50 mile loop. I am generally out on my bike as soon as it is light enough for me to see, since I have to be at work by 0630 anyway. I am on the mids rotation this week and only managed 44 miles. I don't mind riding in the heat, but the ozone has really gotten to me this week. I try to get between 100 and 120 miles in a week, but I have not been very consistent

[mkadam68]

I ride 6 or 7 days a week. I commute into (almost) downtown L.A. for 3 or 4 of them. The route for commuting is usually the same, although I can vary it a bit, depending on what I need to accomplish.

On Monday and/or Tuesday nights, I ride with a group doing interval sprints or speedwork. Same route each week.

On weekends, I always get in a group ride or a race. Different route every week. (Today, did an 80-miler with 3 others up and down the California coast--less hot on the coast :) .) Tomorrow, I'll probably go out for a 10-mile recovery ride with my two boys--out & back along the local MUP.

That's about as mixed up as I get at this point. But yes, it can get boring. So I take enjoyment in the effort I am putting forth, i.e.: if I'm going hard and I don't really feel the effort = good day. Other days (recovery days), it is just plain hard!

[Velo Dog]

Daily with interruptions. I'd happily ride every day in summer, but there's work and the yard and house, and I also enjoy kayaking and other activities. But I pretty much ride every day I don't have something else to do.

[jubal117]

I commute 5 or 6 days a week every week. On Sundays I try to get up to go 20- 40 miles, depending how I feel. I find that most of the time that I don't ride I feel like crap, so I try to ride every day.

[The Historian]

Ever since I started riding, about five-six weeks ago, I've ridden every single day. I try to go out around 3 times a day, but I'm only doing around 5 miles at a time.

You are more committed than I am. I only ride once a day, and often that's less than ten miles.

[Cosmoline]

I don't ride before work, I COMMUTE. It makes a lot more sense. You get your exercise, and you can kill your #@#% piece of garbage car. You guys complaining about work schedules interfering with riding should consider it. And as far as it being impossible to ride, check out the commuting forum. People do it from amazing distances. Heck, my fat behind did it through an Anchorage winter!

[Deanster04]

I ride to work weather permitting. I have a cross bike for that purpose. I ride the quickest way to work and usually find a much longer alternative ride home. Variety helps but riding every consistantly is very good for you. Look up and notice something different on the same ride on the bike path...you will be surprised if you make a game of it.

[clearwaterms]

what is a MUP?

also, I rode a cross bike yesterday for the first time. I took a demo ride on a kona jake. Its fast, alot faster then my mountain bike, but honestly I don't think im in good enough shape to be that stretched out over the front. I was riding on the hoods and wasn't comfortable.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

MUP= Multi Use Path

If you weren't comfortable, then it was too long a cockpit for you. Just for grins, try the next size down.

[clearwaterms]

If you weren't comfortable, then it was too long a cockpit for you. Just for grins, try the next size down.

i don't know if thats a good idea... im afraid i might like it and have to buy it. The significant other wouldn't like that much...

[Wogsterca]

i don't know if thats a good idea... im afraid i might like it and have to buy it. The significant other wouldn't like that much...

That's easy, just buy two, one for you, one for the S.O.:D

[clearwaterms]

That's easy, just buy two, one for you, one for the S.O.:D

the SO's bike is the next purchase. She is currently riding a 15 y/o Murray x-mart bike that doesn't shift with dry rotted and cracked tires...

i currently weigh 248 down from 256 just a few weeks ago, when I hit 215 (approx 15% weight loss) then I will reward myself with a road bike / cyclocross / 2nd bike...

[solveg]

i currently weigh 248 down from 256 just a few weeks ago, when I hit 215 (approx 15% weight loss) then I will reward myself with a road bike / cyclocross / 2nd bike...


It's funny... I had the same bike for...forever. We were in an accident, and it never really rode the same and hurt me to ride.

So when I decided to start riding, I analyzed my needs carefully and got the perfect* bike for me. All was well and good. But I decided I wanted a second bike for the cabin. Got one on Craig's List...a light little aluminum racing bike. Well, this bike was fun*, and I didn't want to leave it up at the cabin to get stolen. There were some times I wanted smooth and go-everywhere, and other times I wanted effortless hills and reactive handling! Plus, the light one would be good if I ever do group rides.

So I tried again to get my first bike fixed, and looks like we're 95% there, and I like riding that* bike because it only has 10 speeds and is heavy and I push myself more on it. Plus*, it won't get stolen if I run errands on it!

So now I have 3 bikes, and I now find I actually want* 3 bikes!

[Wogsterca]

the SO's bike is the next purchase. She is currently riding a 15 y/o Murray x-mart bike that doesn't shift with dry rotted and cracked tires...

i currently weigh 248 down from 256 just a few weeks ago, when I hit 215 (approx 15% weight loss) then I will reward myself with a road bike / cyclocross / 2nd bike...

Come on man, at least fix her bike a little, a set of tires is cheap, and the shifting probably just needs some adjusting, or maybe a cable..... Actually I am looking for a bike for my S.O. she doesn't ride right now, but our car died, and we can't afford to replace it, so we thought if we got her a bike, then that would help.....

[clearwaterms]

Come on man, at least fix her bike a little, a set of tires is cheap, and the shifting probably just needs some adjusting, or maybe a cable..... Actually I am looking for a bike for my S.O. she doesn't ride right now, but our car died, and we can't afford to replace it, so we thought if we got her a bike, then that would help.....

Her current bike isn't unrideable, its just old and tired. Truthfully I think it shifts okay, its just that the SO is afraid to try. We have ridden been out on bike rides and she likes the bike well enough to have put close to 40 miles on it... It's the old style nonindexed x-mart shifters. We thought about putting money into her bike. But when we did the math. A new saddle, a new set of tires, money to true the rear wheel (it's out of wack a touch) and the few other things it needed, it didn't add up to being worth it. This was the bike she had when she was in highschool (so maybe it's only 10 years old) and i don't really know if its the right size for her anyway. We are going to buy her a new bike and then My aunt and uncle just moved here from cali and had to leave what little they had behind, so we are going to give them the GF's bike. My uncle used to work at a bike shop so he will be able to fix up everything on it.

[tpelle]

I ride pretty much the same route almost every evening - basically only vary the direction cw/ccw. It's a little over 9 miles, and very hilly. Sometimes I ride it on my mountain bike, and sometimes, if I feel a little more frisky, I ride it on my old 10-speed Ross.