KiddSisko

I have a 17 mile morning loop ride that I've been doing at least 4 times a week for months. It includes 1500 feet of moderately difficult climbing, plus a very fun 5 mile descent through a wooded canyon. In all that time I've kept a record of my speeds and time, with the fastest and slowest times differing by no more than 15 minutes. I mostly treated it like a hearty workout by pushing the pace and learning to love the burn. I never considered using the route as a "base miles" ride.

Inspired by what I've read here and elsewhere on the subject, I decided this morning to try and do the ride with base miles training in mind, by keeping the effort within the minimal exertion range. In other words, doing it slowly, mostly by gearing down on any incline to spin up easily, and decreasing the intensity on the descent and flat sections. At the end of the ride, I extended the amount of time it normally takes to complete it by 15 minutes. The whole ride was e a s y. At the same time, I did get a good workout.

Last year when I first tried this route, I pretty much completed it in the same amount of time as this morning, but it took considerably more effort. Two pants sizes smaller in the waist this year compared with last year tells me I've been doing something right. Now I'm going to try it slower for a change.

Anyone else here love the slow base miles? Hate it?

monk

I like to take it easy just for a change of pace sometimes. It's amazing how much more you see when you slow down. I find that I see ponds, old barns, etc. that I never noticed were there when I ride a familiar ride at a slower pace.

NYJayhawk

Took my son (10) on a "big" ride of 10 miles (his longest ride). Had a great time, but probably averaged 6 or 7 mph for the whole thing (uphill out, downhill home). Anyway, I just put it in the smallest gear and spun my butt off, and did one-legged drills. Not a great workout, but it doesn't always have to be.

I'm doing a 40 mile one-way ride to an Octoberfest thing at the end of the month. Did it last year with friends, and it was a highlight of the season. Easy, very scenic ride. Took our time, and the families came out by car to meet us at the end. Then we went and ate various foods ending in "wurst" and drank ginormous beers. Let the wives drive home.

kukusz

Try riding at that pace for up to 24+ hours a week, in the dark, in the cold, for 2 months, and you will think differently.

That being said, chilling out and riding some days for no purpose at all is great.

KiddSisko

Might as well sit up and play games on the cellphone while riding, huh?

Kambei

Sometimes I've taken rides to just practice spinning, forcing myself to stay out of the big ring.

What I dislike is going for a ride with a friend or two and I'm in the mood to just take it easy, talk, enjoy the scenery and sights, and they're just trying to accumulate miles, as if they don't know any other way to ride. Reminds me of rush hour.

That said, most of the time I'm pushing hard and fast too.

RideCO

I hate base miles.