Split miles
07-23-15, 08:23 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Split miles
Is there any advantage or disadvantage to say, getting 20 miles in the morning then 30 in the pm as opposed to doing a whole 50 in one shot?
Or less rides more miles vs more rides at shorter miles?
Or less rides more miles vs more rides at shorter miles?
07-23-15, 08:48 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 6,949
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 402 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 36 Times
in
26 Posts
Benefit depends on how much aerobic fitness you want. Maybe for overall conditioning, you really don't need to go 50 miles. It takes up a lot of time that could be used for something else.
In the summer months, you want to get in as much riding as possible. Maybe then the goal is different. Add an organized century ride as a goal, and that 50-75 mile ride is a must.
If all you do is 20-30 miles per ride and only once in any given day, then that's about what your body will become accustomed to do. Try to go beyond that like 60 at one time, and your body will let you know it.
In the summer months, you want to get in as much riding as possible. Maybe then the goal is different. Add an organized century ride as a goal, and that 50-75 mile ride is a must.
If all you do is 20-30 miles per ride and only once in any given day, then that's about what your body will become accustomed to do. Try to go beyond that like 60 at one time, and your body will let you know it.
07-23-15, 10:59 PM
#3
Senior Member
I agree with Garfield. Mix it up depending on your schedule. Some days I just ride my bike commute of 20 miles RT. If I have an afternoon off, I'll roll another 20-30. If I have a free day on the weekend, I'll do a single 40-70--sometimes 90+ mile ride if time and desire allow. Some days are pretty much all flat, others have 10 miles or more of climbing. I try to take one day a week off with no workouts and get a yoga and weight training session in for strength.
Basically, my body never knows what I'm going to do next! It seems to be working so far...
Basically, my body never knows what I'm going to do next! It seems to be working so far...
07-24-15, 06:02 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Oh yeah. I mix it up when time allows. I'm probably down on speedwork/ intervals at the moment though. But I've got 65 hilly ones coming at me on Saturday. I'll probably be pretty beat up afterwards.
07-24-15, 07:08 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cabot, Arkansas
Posts: 1,538
Bikes: Lynskey Twisted Helix Di2 Ti, 1987 Orbea steel single speed/fixie, Orbea Avant M30, Trek Fuel EX9.8 29, Trek Madone 5 series, Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29er, Trek 7.1F
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Something is better than nothing so do what you can. Throw those long single ride days in when possible and enjoy riding !
07-24-15, 09:28 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 207 Times
in
162 Posts
Originally Posted by intransit1217
Is there any advantage or disadvantage to say, getting 20 miles in the morning then 30 in the pm as opposed to doing a whole 50 in one shot?
Or less rides more miles vs more rides at shorter miles?
Or less rides more miles vs more rides at shorter miles?
Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
Benefit depends on how much aerobic fitness you want. Maybe for overall conditioning, you really don't need to go 50 miles. It takes up a lot of time that could be used for something else.
In the summer months, you want to get in as much riding as possible. Maybe then the goal is different. Add an organized century ride as a goal, and that 50-75 mile ride is a must.
If all you do is 20-30 miles per ride and only once in any given day, then that's about what your body will become accustomed to do. Try to go beyond that like 60 at one time, and your body will let you know it.
In the summer months, you want to get in as much riding as possible. Maybe then the goal is different. Add an organized century ride as a goal, and that 50-75 mile ride is a must.
If all you do is 20-30 miles per ride and only once in any given day, then that's about what your body will become accustomed to do. Try to go beyond that like 60 at one time, and your body will let you know it.
07-24-15, 10:08 AM
#7
The Improbable Bulk
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Posts: 8,401
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
From an aerobic benefit, probably a wash (or close enough).
But as mentioned, it depends on your goals, and also on the time you have available to ride.
Along with conditioning for longer rides, you may want to consider the time taken to change clothes, clean up, etc., which will decrease with a single long ride... but that is only relevant if you are in a time crunch.
But, you could be more refreshed and enjoy the ride more if you split it up. And unless there is a driving reason otherwise, isn't that the real reason to ride?
But as mentioned, it depends on your goals, and also on the time you have available to ride.
Along with conditioning for longer rides, you may want to consider the time taken to change clothes, clean up, etc., which will decrease with a single long ride... but that is only relevant if you are in a time crunch.
But, you could be more refreshed and enjoy the ride more if you split it up. And unless there is a driving reason otherwise, isn't that the real reason to ride?
__________________
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
07-24-15, 03:23 PM
#8
Senior Member
When I was training for tri's (20 years ago mind you), we were "told" that as the metabolism of the body doesn't shut of for a time after a workout, that training twice a day, morning and late afternoon, was more beneficial as a fat burner. If that's a goal.
07-24-15, 11:16 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 3,811
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by spdracr39
Something is better than nothing so do what you can. Throw those long single ride days in when possible and enjoy riding !
07-25-15, 10:57 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
Posts: 6,286
Bikes: 97 Litespeed, 50-39-30x13-26 10 cogs, Campagnolo Ultrashift, retroreflective rims on SON28/PowerTap hubs
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 279 Times
in
198 Posts
Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
If all you do is 20-30 miles per ride and only once in any given day, then that's about what your body will become accustomed to do. Try to go beyond that like 60 at one time, and your body will let you know it.
You can go from shorter hard rides to longer easier ones. I usually rode 25-30 miles a day with three fast days a week and nothing over 50 miles when I did my first century, and followed that up with a week riding 418 miles and 28,000 vertical feet over the Colorado Rockies.
You can go from frequent shorter frequent rides to longer less frequent ones. After getting back in shape at age 42 I swapped my usual 30 mile Friday and Saturday rides for a 2400' metric century.
No problems in any of those cases.
07-25-15, 01:08 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 6,949
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 402 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 36 Times
in
26 Posts
Originally Posted by Drew Eckhardt
Hardly. In the absence of fit, food, and hydration issues there's a lot of latitude in how you spend your fitness.
You can go from shorter hard rides to longer easier ones. I usually rode 25-30 miles a day with three fast days a week and nothing over 50 miles when I did my first century, and followed that up with a week riding 418 miles and 28,000 vertical feet over the Colorado Rockies.
You can go from frequent shorter frequent rides to longer less frequent ones. After getting back in shape at age 42 I swapped my usual 30 mile Friday and Saturday rides for a 2400' metric century.
No problems in any of those cases.
You can go from shorter hard rides to longer easier ones. I usually rode 25-30 miles a day with three fast days a week and nothing over 50 miles when I did my first century, and followed that up with a week riding 418 miles and 28,000 vertical feet over the Colorado Rockies.
You can go from frequent shorter frequent rides to longer less frequent ones. After getting back in shape at age 42 I swapped my usual 30 mile Friday and Saturday rides for a 2400' metric century.
No problems in any of those cases.
07-25-15, 01:31 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,160
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
6 Posts
Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
If all you do is 20-30 miles per ride and only once in any given day, then that's about what your body will become accustomed to do. Try to go beyond that like 60 at one time, and your body will let you know it.
Originally Posted by spdracr39
Something is better than nothing so do what you can. Throw those long single ride days in when possible and enjoy riding!
Long rides are what it takes to log the big miles. And in the Midwest where I live... we have a limited number of decent cycling days. So good days must be taken advantage of. But... on the other hand.... a few minutes on the saddle between rain drops or before/after the midday heat... is good for the soul.
If the weather, time, and my body allows.... I go for the 40 mile ride. If limited... I'll settle for 25, 20, or even a 16 mile ride. And if I really don't have time or the weather isn't desirable... I'll grab the rain bike for a quick ride to nowhere. Because everyday is better if it includes a bicycle ride.
07-25-15, 07:53 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Dave Cutter
+1 to both of you!
Long rides are what it takes to log the big miles. And in the Midwest where I live... we have a limited number of decent cycling days. So good days must be taken advantage of. But... on the other hand.... a few minutes on the saddle between rain drops or before/after the midday heat... is good for the soul.
If the weather, time, and my body allows.... I go for the 40 mile ride. If limited... I'll settle for 25, 20, or even a 16 mile ride. And if I really don't have time or the weather isn't desirable... I'll grab the rain bike for a quick ride to nowhere. Because everyday is better if it includes a bicycle ride.
Long rides are what it takes to log the big miles. And in the Midwest where I live... we have a limited number of decent cycling days. So good days must be taken advantage of. But... on the other hand.... a few minutes on the saddle between rain drops or before/after the midday heat... is good for the soul.
If the weather, time, and my body allows.... I go for the 40 mile ride. If limited... I'll settle for 25, 20, or even a 16 mile ride. And if I really don't have time or the weather isn't desirable... I'll grab the rain bike for a quick ride to nowhere. Because everyday is better if it includes a bicycle ride.
Today was 63 with a bunch of 6 to 17 percent short climbs. Eighth to quarter mile in length. And the humidity was bad. I feel pretty beat up. But i'll be stronger for it. AFTER a good recovery period. Gonna pass out now.
