Originally Posted by
Radh
I'm looking to train my stamina, and have a fixed path I can go on every day. I go from home to the park, and do a .4 mile lap, take a water break, do another lap. How should one focus their stamina increase? Doing one more lap each day, or doing one more minute each day? Which is more effective?
How far is home to the park? 10 miles? 20 miles? 50 miles?
When I first started cycling "seriously" I did a 2 mile ride, and had to take a break at the end of the first mile. The next day I went out and did 2 miles straight through. By the end of the week I had done a 5 mile ride. 3.5 months later I had done a 50 mile ride.
Keep gradually increasing your distance and you'll be out there doing 50 mile rides in a few months.
Now I know the recommendation is 10% per week, but if your total distance right now is maybe 1 mile, I'd suggest a slightly brisker progression. Try for 2 miles tomorrow and see how it goes. If you feel reasonably comfortable with 2 miles, do it a couple more times, then go for 4 miles and see how that goes. If you feel reasonably comfortable with that, do it a few more times, and then go for 6 miles ...
Oh, and bring a water bottle with you.