Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Finished my First 20 Mile Ride!

I know 20 miles is not a big deal to most of you guys, but I'm thrilled! My next door neighbor rides a lot and asked if I wanted to try a longer distance on mountain bikes. What a blast!

w00 h00 I did my first 20 miler the other day feels great huh???

CONGRATS!!!

Congrats on the mile stone. Good job.:beer:

Know the feeling!

I started with a few specific routes and noted my average speed. In 2 1/2 months of 3-4 per week, 10-12 mile jaunts, all the while pushing, I went from 11 to 14. Hills totally killed me at first, but now I can get out of the frakking saddle and hills aren't quite as nasty.

Soon I think I'll try adding more mileage... but not until it turns a lot cooler!

Congrats! Very nice. Keep it up. I went 20 yesterday and 12 this morning, but the hills still kill.

Glenn

Congrats! :thumb: Everyone that rides further went through the same stages. Each milestone is something to feel great about. :bike:

congrats, 20 is good!

Congrats. I completed my first 20 miles a couple of weeks ago, did 23 last weekend and did 43 this morning and looking to do 30 tomorrow morning. Keep it up and you will amaze yourself at how quickly you can get into shape. Keep it up, and have fun riding.

Thats exciting, I hope your 150 goes well!

Good job! I still haven't done my first 20 miler yet. Thinking about trying tomorrow though.

Congratulations!

You should be thrilled ! Good for you!! It took me months to get up to that. I remember doing that first 10 miler thinking I would never make it further. Yesterday I did my first 29 miler. Keep it up.

got my wife to do 25 miles last Saturday on the MTB all street riding and she had a blast but that last 5 miles it got really hot she ran out of water and got real flushed before I noticed and gave her my water!! I was so proud of her.

That feels great don't it? I did my first 20 miler last weekend. Just did 15 a little while ago.

After a great ride I feel elated the next day.

Good job! I still haven't done my first 20 miler yet. Thinking about trying tomorrow though.

Got er' done today. 20.24 miles according to my phone. Took my 1:40 to do it, which is rather pokey, but I did have several stop lights to wait for, and was riding on a new path, and it was hot, and it was hill-ier than I expected, and I have lots of excuses. Just gotta ride more!

I thought about signing up for a 35 mile ride next weekend, but I was pretty worn out after the 20 day, so I'll hold off.

congrats!! That must feel awesome.

My longest was 18, and boy did that kill me. Bit burn for daaaays. I won't ride 20 until I can afford a pair of bike shorts. 15 miles seems to be my limit right now

I remember when 20 miles was a long ride, now it's a short one (but on a road bike, not a MTB), so if you are able to keep it up, 20 miles will become nothing to you shortly. Each advance feels so good. Congrats!! Most of your non-riding friends will think you're crazy!

I know 20 miles is not a big deal to most of you guys, but I'm thrilled! My next door neighbor rides a lot and asked if I wanted to try a longer distance on mountain bikes. What a blast!

Way to rock it Bama! Now you're hooked - soon 20 will feel like a piece of cake, (whoops - forgot this was the Clyde forum . . .). If you start working in numerous shorter rides on a regular schedule, you will build up your endurance, and longer rides won't seem so tough. If you have the time, motivation, and you are relatively close to your work, commuting by bike might be a good way to do so. Check out the Commuting forum to learn more and again, congratulations!!

just finished my 1st 20+ this weekend
knocked out 30 miles on sat and then 20 miles on sun for the first time ever
New River Trail in Virgina
It was fun ......
Nice trail/path it was a fun ride .......

congrats!! That must feel awesome.

My longest was 18, and boy did that kill me. Bit burn for daaaays. I won't ride 20 until I can afford a pair of bike shorts. 15 miles seems to be my limit right now

Indeed, I'd suggest bib shorts. I'd say a decent pair oif real biking shorts is almost essential if one bikes more than once every other week.

20 miles is a huge milestone. It is the range that lets you actually go somewhere, like into town and back plus do some other errands. Congrats :thumb:

Congratulations! I did my first 20-mile ride a few weeks ago and did 26 last weekend. Now I have about an 18-mile route that I try to do pretty consistently and I plan to do more on weekends!

Again, congratulations and keep it up!

Congrats!

Keep it up and it leads to even more fun. I did my first 30km earlier this spring and did my first 60km on Saturday (http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Track:8INF) Did a total of 100km this past weekend. Great fun but I still stay away from too many hills. They are for the young skinny studs.

Indeed, I'd suggest bib shorts. I'd say a decent pair oif real biking shorts is almost essential if one bikes more than once every other week.
It depends. I rode 20+ miles yesterday w/o bike shorts. I usually don't bother w/ bike shorts unless I'm going on a 50+ mile ride and I know about it in advance. I've done 50+ mile rides w/o bike shorts and felt fine, but I didn't know I'd be doing that much riding when I started out. Anyways, it mostly depends on the comfort of your saddle. I've got Brooks on all my bikes which removes the necessity of bike shorts on most rides. YMMV

If you have the time, motivation, and you are relatively close to your work, commuting by bike might be a good way to do so. Check out the Commuting forum to learn more and again, congratulations!!

I have set a date of Oct. 1st to begin commuting. The long safe route to work is 6.5 miles each way and that was part of my Saturday route. Not a bad ride at all! My wife is not crazy about my plans. She said if I insist on commuting she will have to follow me to work in her car. Hope she's kidding!

I followed up my Saturday ride with 14 miles on Sunday. We are getting a lot of rain associated with the tropical disturbance this afternoon, so it looks like I'm going to have to go to the gym and lift today.

Congrats to all! Doesn't matter how far you go, just get out there and ride!

It depends. I rode 20+ miles yesterday w/o bike shorts. I usually don't bother w/ bike shorts unless I'm going on a 50+ mile ride and I know about it in advance. I've done 50+ mile rides w/o bike shorts and felt fine, but I didn't know I'd be doing that much riding when I started out. Anyways, it mostly depends on the comfort of your saddle. I've got Brooks on all my bikes which removes the necessity of bike shorts on most rides. YMMV

Well, I've got "stuff" to hold in so I always use the lycra. The interesting thing is all of my bib shorts are about 17-18 years old and are still in damn good shape.

Saddles are a whole 'nother issue... the stock one was painful on the old sit bones, so while at my LBS, I saw a Avenir Comfy and felt it might be good, so I sprung for it. Generally excellent, but I see that it works BEST if ridden more upright (even though I have it canted up in front, I tend to slid down it so the nose hits me in the wrong way). Any idea how it compares to the Brooks you mention?

Search the forums for Brooks and you'll see lots of people like them. Some don't, but saddles are a personal choice.