I like to ride as far out as I can by a set time, usually noon, and then return by a slightly different route. I also like to get lost on my way home from work. That can easily add 20 or 30 miles. I spend a fair amount of time looking at bike maps and try to figure ways to connect various rides to make a longer ride. My current project is to try to ride from my boss's beach house in RI to ME to visit my husband's major professor on one of the harbor islands. Regular cell phone check-ins reduce familial anxiety to acceptable levels for everyone.