cantdrv55

Just wondering how long it took you to start riding 30 miles and up on every ride. I'm new to cycling (about a month) and can't get seem to get past 20 miles without my rear and front becoming soar. How long did it take you to get comfortable on the saddle?

Machka 

I started riding regularly on April 29, 1990. I rode 35 miles on July 21, 1990 and that was my first ride over 30 miles.

So that's ... 82 days.

As for being comfortable on the saddle. That didn't take too long. You might need to make some adjustments (height, fore-aft), or perhaps if that doesn't work, get a new saddle. Have you had the bicycle fitted to make sure everything is set up correctly for you?

lilHinault

cantdrv55 don't worry about it, you're doing fine! It takes a while to build up a "base" of fitness, and you sound like you're ahead of the curve already.

RiPHRaPH

most all saddles that come stock with bikes are not great, so it might be worth testing out other models. but in the meantime, sit an inch or so back of your normal position so you are sitting on your 'sit' bones.

Doctor Morbius

I wouldn't be too concerned with only a month's worth of riding about getting up to 30 miles to quickly. You can sustain injuries by increasing your mileage too soon, even if your riding at a comfortable pace. Even 20 miles a day sounds like a lot for somebody that's only been riding a month to me.

I've never been comfortable in the saddle. I've bought over a dozen and they all stink. Some are good for up to 3 hours, some are good for up to 2 hours and many are good for up to an hour. My solution? Ride an hour with more intensity.

Machka 

Sounds like you need a Brooks!

And also a session with a good bicycle fitter.

With the proper bicycle setup, some good training, the right clothing, and the right saddle, most people should be comfortable on a bicycle for at least a century ride, and there are thousands of us out there who can stay in the saddle with at least a reasonable degree of comfort for much, much longer than that.

onbike 1939

I'd second that. There's something very wrong if that's your limit. When accustomed to riding you should beable to spend up to 8 hrs and more in the saddle without too much discomfort. Get a Brooks saddle and have your position checked.

Guest

About 2 years after I started this stuff.

Koffee

forum*rider

About two years ago I started to get into cycling. Last year I got my first "real" bike(bike that wasn't from wal-mart) and started getting into good shape and racking up the miles.

So approximately 1 1/2 years.

superdex

how long since I walked out of the store with the bike? eek. I'd rather not say. I did start (re)riding consistently about a month ago. I chose this spring, being in a new part of the country, needing to meet people, etc. as the season I was going to get on the bikes and ride them like they needed. I signed up for this ride to force me to train and ride longer distances (longest ride evarprior to this past weekend was 30 miles). After riding a few times a week consitently for a month now, a 20 jaunt is a blink, and I can feel 30miles getting the same way. Doing my first 40+ this weekend, and I can't wait

The trick? Keep riding. For the ride in June (75 miles two days in a row) we're upping the long ride mileage by 5 miles a week. So far it's working. Maybe something similar will work for you?

Not every ride has to be a long one. Ride twice during the week at 75-80% the distance you'll do on the long ride on Saturday. The next week, plan on the long ride going up by 5-7 miles, and adjust the weekly rides accordingly. You will learn about your bike's fit real quick this way, and if you continue to have discomfort after some fiddling with seat/saddle positions, it may be worth a LBS stop to check the fit.

I'm babbling....

genec

All this mention of saddle problems... it is the other end that bothers me... neck and shoulder problems. I have never had saddle problems... but after about an hour of riding my neck is killing me. I went to a flat bar bike years ago, but recently went back to drop bars and opps... was reminded why I went to flat bars and upright seating.

Anybody have a solution for neck problems?

Doctor Who

Three months or so. I bought my road bike at the tail-end of April of 2004, and by July, I was averaging about 18 or so miles a day. My daily mileage counts increased rapidly and I finished the year with 2500 miles. Of course, that wasn't enough, so I flogged myself over the winter on a stationary trainer and I went outside as often as possible.

So far this year, I've got nearly 3000 miles, and I'm hoping to top 10K by December.

I tend to dive headfirst into things, if you couldn't tell.

sswartzl

I bought my first bike (well, at least the first one since I was a kid) on 4/25/2004. I topped 30 miles on 6/12/2004. So it took 48 days, riding 4-5 times per week. I recall being inordinately proud of myself at the time, as well as inordinately sore. I also see from my riding log that I then dropped to <= 20 miles until 6/25/2004. I guess the point is that if you keep riding the distance will come. Just enjoy the rides. If cycling worms its way into your soul, then next year you'll be shooting to ride a century and writing posts like this one.

Machka 

Make sure your handlebars and saddle are at the same height. Well meaning LBSs tend to put the saddle way up in the air, and the handlebars somewhere down around the front hub (small exaggeration) and that is just NOT comfortable.

Also make sure the bicycle fits properly - check your reach.

djbrod

About 2 months. I probably should have worked up to it a little more. Those first 30+ mile rides were painful not to mention slow.

khuon

Hmmm... let's see. I started riding when I was five years old. I think I broke 30 miles when I was 12 or 13 so... eight years or so.

CdCf

Do you mean 30 miles without stopping for a short break during the ride?

I personally have a hard time pacing myself, so I often get tired after 15-20 miles.

recursive

I would estimate about 3 months for me to do 30 mile rides. My saddle starts getting pretty uncomfortable after about 10 hours or so. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to come up very often.

alison_in_oh

I've been bike commuting and taking short recreational rides for years but it looks like I did my first ride of over 12 miles in late June last year. I started riding regularly in early July and had my first 30 mile (2 hour) ride in late August. Then again in early September a teense farther...Did one three hour ride (~40 slow miles) with a big break in the middle in late September, but it wasn't till this season that I'm doing 'em regularly and faster. Crazy to think that 12 miles was once overwhelming, now a ride's not a ride unless I'm going over 25 miles with hills!