I was just wondering how much planning goes into your rides? In the 3 months I've been hanging around I have read threads where people talk about they just head out without a plan "oh I'll just head north" or one thread talking about they don't mind getting lost!

DON"T MIND GETTING LOST...are you kidding I fear getting lost!

First I have to admit I have the world worst sense of direction and can't tell you how many times I picked the way. My smart phone has been a big help but I can even still mess up using it.

A little catch up I just turned 57 two weeks ago and just returned to cycling about 3 months ago. I needed to lose some weight and have always loved riding it's fun exercise. I have lost 15lb in the 3 month of riding and eating right. I purchased a Cannondale hybrid Quick, you know someone at a LBS told me this is a fitness bike not meant to be road for more then 25 miles. And that what I did at first, would throw it in the car go to the local bike path and do 15 -25 miles. Well now I have been venturing out. I'm riding up to the bike paths and back, my big rides are up to 45-50 miles and would like to even do more. But since 50 is a lot to me I NEED TO KNOW WHERE I'M GOING. and what I'm going to encounter as in big hills. I have my friends or sons drop me and the bike off places and I ride back. Now I sent for a MTA bike permit.

I research maps, use Google bike direction, I go ride segments of the ride with the bike and make sure I know all the connectors, not all the paths are so well marked. Once I've been through an area well no problem but I'm always wanting to go new places.

I need a plan, and a destination winging it doesn't work for me.

So do you plan or wing it?