DTSCDS

One way that you might consider motivating yourself if to find local charity rides and sign up for one. We try to do one a month and it's a great way to take a long-ish ride but not need to really over-work yourself. They will have a safe route and rest stops along the way for you to take a break. We just did one this past weekend and did about 27 miles in close to 100 degree heat and didn't find it too bad.

I did a quick search and found one north of Detroit--the Peach of a Ride. It's in Memphis. I don't know which side of Detroit you live so this might be a little far to travel. They have a 22 and a 40 mile route. It's far enough away to give you some time to work up some distance but close enough to keep you moving.

My advice--for what it's worth--is to sign up for this one now. I would suggest the 40 mile route but the 22 would be fine as well. If you sign up now and pay your money then that is further motivation to keep you in the "training" mode. If you are doing 6 miles now you could do the 22 with no problem!

Wogster

There are bottles specially made for bicycle riding, that have a pop-up top, camelbak makes one that doesn't need to pop-up, These both allow drinking on the fly, providing you have a bottle cage on your bike. Once your good at riding, and well balanced, you can reach down, pop the top, grab the bottle, take a swig, put the bottle back and return the top, without stopping, This is not something to do when traffic is ornery, or flying down suicide drop, AKA the hill from hell going the other way...

I always carry a bike bottle. They make insulated bike bottles, which are slightly more expensive, but a good investment, toss in a couple of ice cubes and you have cool water for much longer. This is even more important if you use sport drinks, the only thing worse tasting then warm Gatorade is warm beer. Another good investment if you plan on lots of riding, is a hydration pack, this is a back pack that is filled with water, with a hose that lets you drink on the fly as well.

With water, remember one thing, you need 1L per hour, in very hot weather, even more,

neilfein

Congratulations!

There's no reason you can't make 40 miles by the end of the summer. Last year, The Historian convinced me to jump from ~30 miles to my (and his) first 50 mile ride in just a few weeks.

timokabo

no worries on water. i mainly only drink water. have not had pop in almost 4 years. I take my camelpack with me when im on my bike with .75 gallons of water. I just got back from a 9.5 mile bike a few mins ago

timokabo

mephis is like a 40 min car drive from me ill have to look into it

Jerry in So IL

I was just thinking about that Jay! It seems that all the Lincoln NE bikers are getting together and I'm jealous.

I'll get ahold of you after I get the kids back in school.

I like the Tunnel Hill route. I don't know if I an do the whole 50 yet, but I'm willing to try. Should be for sure in the spring, but I'm thinking I'm 3/4ths the way there. The hills to and from West Frankfort and Herrin are getting me in shope though.

Jerry

timokabo

I just got back from my longest bike ride so far 13.76 miles in 1hr 15 mins and 12 sec's. so far in the last week i have put 60.5 miles on my bike