Road Cycling - How long should a mile take?

Hi folks,

I'm pretty new to road biking and have been riding every day for about the last month. I've been using my computer and riding 5 miles each morning. I'm starting out with short rides as I dont want to overdo it and make it not fun, however, I think I'm ready to move to 10 miles per morning. The problem is that I dont really have a barometer that will let me gauge if I am ready yet. I'm doing my 5 miles keeping a steady 80 rpm cadence and when I get back home I'm not exhausted like I used to be, but I feel like I'm going slow. It takes me about 20 minutes to do a little over 5 miles. This seems really slow to me. Is there any kind of conventional wisdom related to how long a mile should take you on a bike the way that runners strive for a 5 minute (or is it 4 minute) mile? I am riding in the city, so there are the occasional stops for traffic lights, but I ride about 6 am, so there is little traffic and I usually hit them all green. Is a 4 minute mile about normal for biking in the city? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

Steve

Is a 4 minute mile about normal for biking in the city? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

Steve

For someone just starting out, 4 minute miles (15 mph) is just fine, pretty good in fact with the stops.

You’re right; you could bump your mileage up to 10 miles in the morning. You could also venture out into the country on the weekends. Find some county maps on the internet or at a local bike shop. You should be able to complete 15-20 miles without too much difficulty. Make sure you have plenty of water and some emergency supplies (see other threads).

-murray

I can't speak to big city riding. However, you're averaging about 15 MPH for your 5 mile rides. Your legs and lungs are the best gauge for if you are ready to try longer rides. Don't be too focussed on speed at this point. As your fitness level improves you can push harder and harder and the speed will come up. There are a lot of other variables that make saying you should shoot for some certain speed problematic. What type of bike? How hilly is the route? How big are you? etc...

At worst, try a 10 mile ride tomorrow. If you decide it's too much drop back to 7 for a week or two and try again. Remember to enjoy riding first, then set any goals you want.

For riding in the city, you are making good time. Sounds like you are ready for the 10 mile jump. When you are finishing 10 miles in 40 minutes and you are not exhausted you can add on. You are on the right track. Keep listening to your body. You are obviously getting fitness benefits from riding.

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Thanks for all the advice and support. One other thing I've noticed is that when I very first started riding, I couldnt get enough food. I was starved regularly throughout the day. I ended up supplementing myself with fruit 2 times between breakfast and lunch and then once between lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner were both typically slightly bigger meals than I used to eat yet I never felt completely full. Now I dont get the hunger between meals like I was before and eating the same size meal I was before actually fills me up. Is that because I'm not pushing my body hard enough on my rides like I was in the beginning? Thanks!

Steve

Your body is getting more efficient in using calories that you intake. My hunger usually decreases a little if I'm working hard throughout the week so I have to make a decission to eat as much as I think I need so that I don't bonk on one of the little hills around here. :D

In all, it sounds like you're probably going to be fine stepping it up on distance. By the time you've logged 500 miles you will probably be doing 25 - 30 milers on weekends with no worries unless you plan on mountains. One of the hurdles I hit was being able to sit on the bike for 90 minutes or more without major discomfort. My legs could do it but my a#$$ could not.

Once you're doing 10 a day, 15 isn't much of a problem. As you build miles each next step is less of a shock. Eventually, time will govern how far you go more than the distance itself.