k12ug

i know everyone here talks about increasing distance but i recently found that i LOVE going only 20 miles, but at a very fast pace. don't get me wrong, i love riding for long distances at one time (70m+) but it just kills my body.

anyone agree with me?

crazyskillz07

My longest ride so far was only 20 miles. Ill get back to u when I can ride more.

Innes

20 miles takes me around 90 minutes =(

k12ug

lol, well im talking like....20 miles in one hour or less.

jurnaza

My usual ride is a 20 mile loop, I call it my 20/20... 20 mph average over 20 miles... That is the goal anyways, my current best is 19.2 mph average over 20 miles.

KiuBWhy

17.5 miles in about 68 Minutes.

Furthest I've gone. lolz.

melon

these people who always go on about long rides either dont have a life or only ride at the weekends.

i ride recreationally everyday but during the week i only do two long rides 70-80miles, but i do 30miles rides on the other days. i considder 30miles a short ride, but i often extend my commutes and then they end up being my short 30 mile rides. i like riding my fixed gear for shorts rides as it forces you to ride pretty hard.

thump55

Oh my, now you've done it.

Innes

What does it take, physically, to average 20mph in an hour ride? Is that over varying hills and flat areas?

I have only been riding a little over a month, and cruise at probably 15mph, and that feels like a decent amount of work to me. I also weigh 218 lbs.

Does your average speed just steadily get faster and faster the lighter you get and the more conditioned your body gets? I doubt I could maintain 20mph on a flat surface for more than 100 yards.

mr handy

I try to do rides according to the time I have to ride. 1 hr is a nice ride when I have a lot of other things to do, or I'm not feeling strong... longer rides are nice when I have less to do. It also depends on how the legs feel.

I find that my biggest fitness gains come from short but intense efforts, I think 15-20 mile rides fit the bill, as do sprint drills, or hill repeats...

I don't do many hill repeats, I come to a hill and ride up it, ride down the other side and keep going. maybe I should do a few.

coasting 

that's my bet.

caloso

I've got a full time job, a wife and kids, a lawn and garden, and a long list of honey-dos. I can't remember the last time I was able to spend more than an hour on the bike. Lately my rides have been easy commutes, intervals, or all out TT efforts.

PaulRivers

I agree with you (except I haven't heard anyone say otherwise) - one of my rides is 20 miles one way, 25 miles back (the shorter route goes through an area that's very pleasant during the day, but I'm a little jump about biking through after dark). To be honest, hitting it hard for 45 minutes seems to be the right amount, that's when I always stop feeling like "awesome!" and start feeling like "Are we there yet??".

mr handy

Find a short hill that drops into a nice flat, ride to the top of the hill then sprint down and try to go as fast as you can. Then when you have topped out, turn around and go do it again, take your time getting to the top. Do a half dozen or so. It is fun and you will build muscle... and get stronger and faster, it will also help you on longer rides.

DataJunkie

I love generalizations.

Anyhow, I like my 20 mile one hour training rides during lunch or my 30 milers in the morning for weekdays. Nice fast rides for when I have things like work.
The weekends are for rides like 120 mile hammer fests.

nayr497

I generally ride around 30 miles a day, except when I'm playing/doing other sports. I ride 5-6 times a week, plus commute daily.

Thirty miles is a nice ride, 45 is fun when I have the time, I try to go out for at least 25 or it kind of isn't worth it. I agree that I don't understand how some people have the time to ride 60-80 miles a day. I think they either are self-employed, retired, or very dedicated to cycling; I cycle as a fun hobby. I get bored with anything, even things I like, if I do them for more than two hours.

Wow, I can only imagine what it'll be like when I have things like you caloso. I'm holding steady at renting, girlfriend, no lawn care (though I love mowing lawns, my childhood job) and a few cats. I know it'll likely change, but as long as I stick with a plan, I'm able to ride 1-2 hours a day.

Part of the reason I decided to grab a new bike was that I figured my time will only get more constrained as I get older. Might as well be riding what I want right now.

recursive

Keep riding for a few years. If you push yourself, during those years, you will find that it has become relatively easy to cover 20 miles in an hour.

joe_5700

I detect a hint of jealousy. Personally I enjoy riding whatever distance I have time for.

OP, if you are riding a properly fitted bike at distances of 70+ miles, it should not kill your body if you are in good condition.

caloso

Absolutely! You'll get to the point where your earning capacity allows you to buy pretty much any bike you want, but you won't have the time to ride it as much as you'd like.

But it's not too bad. As others have said, you can get pretty fit on rides of an hour or less if you use the time wisely. And since I'm more of a crit-dog and not much of a road racer, a 50 minute effort is plenty.

Dion Rides

Don't worry about all that short vs. long, hills vs. no hills - open the front door and start mashing pedals. Good stuff happens when you do that.

urbanknight

My commute is 19.3 miles and I find it to be enough to satisfy in the morning.

DScott

Longer rides are for those who deserve them. We'll need to ask around here to find out who is the best judge of who gets to ride longer and who it really isn't appropriate for.

Me, I don't feel really warmed up until I've been riding about an hour. That's when things begin to really settle down, and I hit my best rhythm. Shorter rides are fine, and if it's all you can manage, then enjoy it. But for me, one of the best feelings on a bike is when I'm starting out on a long, all-day ride. It's just fantastic knowing that I can ride all day long. w00t!

urbanknight

^ I think the term "warmed up" depends on the goal. If a person is just out to get their AMA recommended elevated heartrate, that can be accomplished in a few minutes. If you mean limber and snappy enough to sprint, that's a whole other animal.

DScott

Funy thing is, it's feeling warmed up for longer rides.

sijray21

i try to fit in 30 miles during the weekday and if i have a free day on the weekend then i usually go for a longer one. i personally like the higher intensity 25-30 mile rides over the longer rides

i actually have a 65-miler planned tonight, luckily everyone else in the ride has headlights...i need to get one of those.