I have been cycling with a friend - who is much more experienced than I - for about a year. I recently bought a new Koga Randonneur (a touring cycle) - the first new bike I have had since I got one when I was 5 years old to share with my sister. My friend, Rens, did a 1400+ km ride last spring to southern France from Maastricht and this spring did the Elfstedenfietstocht in Friesland (240 km ride) and we are gently aiming to ride that next year (2015). We ride together usually once a week, doing 80 - 100 km per ride. My longest has been 142 km (88 miles) to date so I still have a 100 to go as a single day ride...