General Cycling Discussion - Do people ride 60-70 miles for going somewhere?

Im gonna try to ride probably 70 miles to this comic book store for magic the gathering tournaments on fridays. Would I be tired by the time I get there? I weigh 268 so I got to get myself up to that level.

Is 70 miles alot in a day for a person that ride a bike alot? How much can a experienced rider ride in a day?

Is it 70 miles one way, or round trip? If it's 70 one way, that's a lot to do back home at the end of the day.

How far can you ride right now?

String a number of 60 mile days together and you can go around the world,
this is what bike touring is. a collection of one way bike rides in a row.

Is it 70 miles one way, or round trip? If it's 70 one way, that's a lot to do back home at the end of the day.

How far can you ride right now?70 miles round trip, I can ride maybe 5 miles on my dirt roads. I dont think im pushing myself as far as I should. I did ride 20 miles in a day when I started riding at my brothers house in town. If I go as slow on the dirt roads I live on,I bet I could ride alot longer when I hit the paved roads.

I also have a cannondale touring bike,with alot of easy gears. I weigh 268 so thats slowing me down also.

70 miles round trip, I can ride maybe 5 miles on my dirt roads. I dont think im pushing myself as far as I should. I did ride 20 miles in a day when I started riding at my brothers house in town. If I go as slow on the dirt roads I live on,I bet I could ride alot longer when I hit the paved roads.

I also have a cannondale touring bike,with alot of easy gears. I weigh 268 so thats slowing me down also.
Go for it. You have to start somewhere.

I believe you could do it.
Just ride slow the entire way.

I still have to buy alot of stuff before I ride a trip like that. A good bike light,back light,reflective shirt,bike shorts,good mirror,helmet and pannier.Will take me some time to get the money for that.

Also you need 2 spare tubes and a frame pump.

70 miles round trip? Give yourself 3+ hours in each direction, you will be okay. It will get easier each time.

Another thought is to buddy up with somebody else that frequents the events and count on him to drive you home.

im a rider who is experienced for long distance rides and 70 still is a tough ride i do not recumend riding this long because if your a starter to bike riding you need to pull in some miles on a practise track and start riding everywhere before you ever achieve 70 miles straight because even myself would have to stop 10 or 20 times for a break along the 70 mile ride

I think you can do it if you have the right frame of mind. Sure, it might be tough and you may even be 'limping' home at the end, but you can succeed. I definitely recommend bringing a camelback or having access to lots of fluids for the ride.

Now if you were to say that you wanted to ride 70miles every day, then I would say that you need to work up to that point; but on a one time basis.........sure! It's mind over matter.

It's all about how much ride time you've put in and whether your stamina is up to it. you need take up your fitness level in steps and be sure you've mastered each level before you take on the next. only you know that. With time , 70 miles is no big deal. Could always give it a try. Should you become too tired, could you put your bike on a bus and come home via the bus..

Once you establish a good base for conditioning you will be able to ride farther and farther, I have been training for distance (for a hella long time) and am at a point where going out and riding 100 miles is not a big deal... my commute to work at the frame shop is 40 miles one way and it takes me a few hours to ride this at a respectable pace.

If you are new to cycling 2 x 35 miles will be a goodly distance... you want to make sure you are comfortable on your bike and can handle what will probably be 6 hours of saddle time and one secret to riding longer and longer is to avoid any long breaks and maintain a comfortable cadence.

When you step off the bike your muscles will stiffen up and it is better to rest by gearing down and spinning a low gear for a few miles.

Over 100 miles I will usually stop every 20 miles (if I am in touring mode) for a quick break and usually have a longer food break at the 50 miles point... those 60 mile road rides are generally done with no breaks.

Also pay attention to hydration and nutrition as you do not want to get dehydrated and want to make sure your electrolyte balance is maintained... you probably want to plan on consuming 250 calories per hour while you are riding to keep the tank fueled up.

As I do not drive going to see my mom is a 60 mile ride... one way.

I usually stay overnight and ride back the next day.

Yeah, it can be done, it's just a large thing.

You can do it just take your time. My normal ride is 50 miles per outing. Just did a 46.4 miles and I'm not even tired yet except the heat was just unbearable.

im a rider who is experienced for long distance rides and 70 still is a tough ride ...

because even myself would have to stop 10 or 20 times for a break along the 70 mile ride

IMHO, if you have to stop and rest every 3-7 miles you are probably not as experienced at long distance rides as you think you are. ;)

To the OP, follow the advice from the people that think you should go for it; they are right.

im a rider who is experienced for long distance rides and 70 still is a tough ride i do not recumend riding this long because if your a starter to bike riding you need to pull in some miles on a practise track and start riding everywhere before you ever achieve 70 miles straight because even myself would have to stop 10 or 20 times for a break along the 70 mile ride

you cant go more than 7 miles without a break?

im far from being a long distance cyclist but I have done 30-35 miles without a break and didnt really feel the need to stop for rest at that point, it just happened to have been when the rides were over. I cant imagine stopping 10-20 times in the subsequent 35-40 miles.

Is 70 miles alot in a day for a person that ride a bike alot? How much can a experienced rider ride in a day?

No. 70 miles is not a lot in a day for a person that rides a bicycle a lot.

An experienced rider can ride anywhere from about 400 km (250 miles) to 870 km (540 miles) on the road, 977 km (607 miles) on a track, or 1930 km (1200 miles) if you're drafting an 18-wheeler (under controlled conditions, of course) in a 24-hour day.
http://www.ultracycling.com/records/timedrecords.html
http://www.ultracycling.com/

You've got to build up to doing those sorts of distances, of course, and during the building up process riders determine what sort of bicycle would suit them best, they work on bicycle fit to ensure that they are not going to injure their joints, and they work on the nutritional aspect to figure out what works for them in terms of food and liquid intake.

In your case, your longest distance is 20 miles. So next weekend, do that distance again. Ride a bit during the week, and the following weekend try a 25 mile ride to see how it goes. If you are comfortable with that, give 30 miles a try the weekend after. If 25 miles was a challenge, do it again the weekend after.

Pay attention to any aches and pains you're feeling and make slight adjustments to try to alleviate those. Experiment with different food options ... try different energy bars, granola bars, fruit etc. after you've been riding for about an hour to see what sits well for you.

Before you know it ... you'll be riding the local century, and a 70 mile ride will be a training ride. :D

i went 35 miles without a drink so you can all suck it

im a rider who is experienced for long distance rides and 70 still is a tough ride i do not recumend riding this long because if your a starter to bike riding you need to pull in some miles on a practise track and start riding everywhere before you ever achieve 70 miles straight because even myself would have to stop 10 or 20 times for a break along the 70 mile ride

10-20 stops on a 70 mile ride??? Yikes!! Why so many stops? Is your bicycle not set up correctly? On shorter rides, you might want to try riding 10 miles all in one go without putting a foot down ... and then work your way up to 20 miles. If you are uncomfortable doing 10-20 miles all in one go, you should take a serious look at things like your bicycle set up and the equipment you are using (such as your saddle, your clothing choices, etc.). Are you eating and drinking properly? Is that the reason you are stopping so often? If eating on the bicycle is the problem, you might want to consider getting a bento box so that your food is right there in front of you.



i went 35 miles without a drink so you can all suck it

Ah ... that might be your problem. Not drinking enough. Bring two bottles with you, and refill them any chance you get. Aim to drink one 750 ml bottle every 1-1.5 hours in order to remain hydrated and to ward off cramping. You might even need more if the weather you are riding in is hot or windy, but if you do drink more, make sure you consume electrolytes or you'll end up with problems of a different sort (hyponatremia).

I'll defend Machka's advice on this -- the "taking small bites" advice she me offered worked like a charm. Drinking as directed above is nearly identical to what I do on long rides.

We disagree on certain aspects of city cycling relative to rules of the road, but her advice on long distance riding is excellent. ;)

slipknot0129 - Riding 35 miles and taking a break and then doing a return ride shouldn't be that difficult. If you check the commuting thread I'm sure many do that daily and you are looking to do that once a week. It is a distance that you have to build up to riding.

But, here is the bad news based on your other threads you have much work to do. You have been on this thread for a year (I assume you have been riding for that year) and you are only riding five miles. I think if you commit to improving your riding you can do this ride, but you have a bunch of work ahead of you if you want to succeed.

i went 35 miles without a drink so you can all suck it

okay so in that case, what are you doing on your 20 stops per 70 miles?

I think you can do it easy! My personal experience:

I'm a 250lb rider and after I bought my bike I began riding it every day. In 3 weeks I was up to riding a 12 mile exercise route. At the end of that, I would shower but would not be worn out (as exercise should be) and it took me an hour. A portion of that was riding up a pretty steep incline for about 5 minutes, so if you don't have one of those you should be even better.

And this is on a mountain bike. If you're on a road bike, and you consider that you'll have more time, you could probably get to your destination in the same condition. Probably look up ways that bike commuters cool off/wipe down after a ride to work and you'll be all set.

I just want to say I think its great that you're getting there by bike.

What others said, ride a lot and increase your distances by a bit each time. You don't want to be so exhausted and in pain the next day, that you will not want to touch a bicycle.
Make sure to take food and water with you. More than you think you may need, if there's nowhere to replenish your supply.

I also feel that one should test the waters with gradual increases in riding distances to sort out the bike and to strengthen one's body. Along with the basic bike repair tools and kit, I'll also have a "going to Hell in a hand basket" plan in place in case of a catastrophic bike failure or personal injury, ie. carrying a cell phone, having someone being able to give you and your bike a ride home.

I'd start by riding shorter distances with social destinations for a while so that you learn what is necessary for hygiene, water, and food, for instance to church or smaller m,ore local card game meetings. You might also consider taking whatever money you'd spend on a "lighter" bike and spend it on a hotel to overnight @ your destination.

I started riding again three or four years ago, and I weighed about 285 lbs at the time. Now, I'm riding 200k's about once a month, so I've definitely improved. On the other hand, I'm down to 223 lbs as of the last weigh-in, so I've lost some 60 lbs bicycling. That's sort of a natural consequence of riding more. (And I'm also trying to eat better, cutting out cheeseburgers and the like.)

On your 70-mile round trip, just keep riding and gradually increase the distance, and that will answer your question better than a bunch of strangers can.

I will point out that the difficulty of a 35-mile ride can vary tremendously based on the wind, the temperature, and the hills. A flat ride with pleasant temperatures and no wind is no problem, but you don't have a guarantee that it will be that way, either.

I ride seven days a week aerage between 14-16 miles each day and I would not try to do a 70 miles ride as i knowthat it ain'y no joke that many miles at once.

Yes, a 70 mile commute one way is not practical, there would be no time left in the day. Sure, their are impractical people who can afford the lost time but most could not. At 268 pounds, you ain't gonna make it. Just my guess.

The 70 miles was round-trip, per post #4.

i went 35 miles without a drink so you can all suck it

Was this on purpose or because of a lack of planning ?

Dehydration is worse than hunger... one can ride when they are hungry as the body will use fat reserves (unless you are me and have none to spare) but dehydration will wreck you very quickly.

I carry 2.5 litres of water for 60 mile rides and will go through that over that 60 miles and then drink more after my ride so that when I saddle up the next day to ride 60 more miles I am hydrated.

Not a good idea.....build up your endurance and drop some weight. You'll know when you can ride 70 miles successfully!
Good luck on your cycling journey.

The 70 miles was round-trip, per post #4.

And it isn't frequent commute as Loose Chain seems to imply ... I read it as an occasional ride.

I'm basically attempting the same thing and this is what I've learned so far:

1. Make sure the bike is comfortable. Spend some time and be willing to spend some money to get a saddle that suits you. Riding can be miserable on a saddle that's not right for you.

2. Bring more water than you think you'll need. I bought a 100oz Camelbak and I know it's enough even on the ultra-hot Minnesota summer days. I personally don't think there is anything short of getting hurt that will ruin your day more than running out of water.

3. Don't bite off more than you can chew. I'm personally riding progressively more and more. I tried a 40mi right off the bat (overweight and out of the saddle for 10 years) and it wasn't a pleasant experience.

4. Have a contingency plan. Nothing wrong with trying but have alternate transportation available.

Im going to ride my bike 10 miles one way into town to see if I can do it,then if I can then I'll ride back. Thats after my foot heals from sesamoiditis. I'll just take a cell phone just in case.

Good idea. Make sure to take breaks when your body tells you, and drink enough water. Enjoy the ride!

(4) is a great point. Even a cab company's number along with would be plenty.

Here's a simple rule, which I read somewhere here at Bikeforums. Not fancy, but I think it works.

Here goes: You can ride in a day what you normally ride in a week.

You want to ride 70 miles in a day. If you are regularly riding 70 miles a week -- and by regularly, you've averaged 70 miles a week, for a number of weeks (say, at least 6 to 10 weeks) -- this would be no problem for you. If you aren't, it will feel like a stretch.

So, are you riding 70 miles a week?

So... last week I rode 300 plus miles.

I guess Calgary just became a day ride... :)

If you rode 300 plus miles last week (500+ km), then yes indeed, Calgary is a day ride ... you should do that ... cycle down to Calgary on Saturday and back to Edmonton on Sunday. I thought about doing something like that when I was there, and even mapped out a route, but never found the time to get around to doing it.

So... last week I rode 300 plus miles.

I guess Calgary just became a day ride... :)

If you normally ride 300 miles a week, you ought to be able to ride 300 miles in a stretch with proper preparation, right?

What a challenge that would be! My dad happens to live in Calgary and I 25-30kms north of Edmonton. Maybe I'll leave really early one morning and try and get there before nightfall! I'm thinking 15-18 hours in the saddle. :P
With the exception of a lazy week this week I'm riding 40-50km a day.

If you normally ride 300 miles a week, you ought to be able to ride 300 miles in a stretch with proper preparation, right?

Right!!



What a challenge that would be! My dad happens to live in Calgary and I 25-30kms north of Edmonton. Maybe I'll leave really early one morning and try and get there before nightfall! I'm thinking 15-18 hours in the saddle. :P
With the exception of a lazy week this week I'm riding 40-50km a day.

300 miles is about 500 km. If you can do 500 km in 15-18 hours you should definitely do 24-hour races ... you would do very well!! 500 km in 18 hours is 667 km (414 miles) in 24 hours. 500 km in 15 hours would be an 800 km (500 miles) 24-hour ride. The current record for a 24-hour road race is 505.25 miles.
http://www.ultracycling.com/records/timedrecords.html

If you really think you could do 300 miles (500 km) in 15-18 hours, check out my Links page and start signing up for 24-hour events!!
http://www.machka.net/links.htm

For many people, however, 500 km in 24 hours would be a challenge, and 500 km in 30 hours might be a bit more realistic.

If you rode 300 plus miles last week (500+ km), then yes indeed, Calgary is a day ride ... you should do that ... cycle down to Calgary on Saturday and back to Edmonton on Sunday. I thought about doing something like that when I was there, and even mapped out a route, but never found the time to get around to doing it.

Have knocked back a few centuries in the past few weeks with a 110 km chaser the next day with no ill effects too... have really been working on the distance / endurance aspect of my riding since I can't do the high speed 100km hammer fests anymore.

So...who wants to do Edmonton - Calgary with me ?

:)

A few folks have been fairly surprised by my choice in bikes for doing longer distance rides and I will be using it on my 55km commute tomorrow morning... forgive the shabby appearance as the bike has been undergoing some serious modifications of late that have involved the use of a torch.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/forrest21side.JPG

Right!!




300 miles is about 500 km. If you can do 500 km in 15-18 hours you should definitely do 24-hour races ... you would do very well!! 500 km in 18 hours is 667 km (414 miles) in 24 hours. 500 km in 15 hours would be an 800 km (500 miles) 24-hour ride. The current record for a 24-hour road race is 505.25 miles.
http://www.ultracycling.com/records/timedrecords.html

If you really think you could do 300 miles (500 km) in 15-18 hours, check out my Links page and start signing up for 24-hour events!!
http://www.machka.net/links.htm

For many people, however, 500 km in 24 hours would be a challenge, and 500 km in 30 hours might be a bit more realistic.

Haha, here to Calgary is more like 350km. If I could do 500km in 15-18 hours I'd have to rethink my career choice, that's for sure!
One of these days I'd love to try a long-distance grind kind of a ride.

But then again... does Calgary have any redeeming features ?

:)

We might want to head east or west for 300km and see some nicer country... Jasper is 313 km and would be worth the little extra push.