Originally Posted by
jbliss92
OK, i am going for a ride tomorrow morning! I really need to get myself a bottle cage! How far do you recommend my rides should be (distance and time wise). Thanks so much for all the help, I really appreciate it!
They should be as long as you enjoy - you could roll around all day or do a much shorter time. As mentioned, make sure you have something to eat on the bike if going out for more than 1.5 hours and you will need that bottle cage too.
Build up to the distance, and look for group rides - there you can modulate your efforts a fair bit (by sticking in the pack and moving to the front) and it can also be quite a bit of fun. Also, skills you learn on group rides (how to ride in a bunch) will be invaluable if you decide to ride competitively in the future.