Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

How many miles a month?

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

How many miles a month?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-14-11 | 12:47 AM
  #1  
TealLA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA

Bikes: '95 Specialized Stumpjumper M2 FS, Cannondale CAAD9

How many miles a month?

I'm a new Road Cyclist. I grew up riding Mountain Bikes back on the East coast, but just got my first road bike last June. Now I'm starting to get more serious about getting some mileage on my legs and getting stronger. I've been doing about 300 miles per month for the last couple of months and wondering what is considered a lot of miles. My question is how many miles do you guys rack up in an average month?
TealLA is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 01:51 AM
  #2  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Portland, Oregon.

Bikes: Trek 2100, Trek Madone 5.5, Cannondale Touring 1 (T1).

I rode 9,303 miles in 2010. I live in Oregon and ride year-round. I've got a full-time job I have to show up to, and I don't live at home with mom. I'm a 54-year old garden variety road cyclist that just loves to ride. On multi-day rides such as Cycle Oregon, I'd judge myself as a middle-of-the pack sort of dude. I typically ride 80 - 100 miles (my long day) every Saturday. Sunday I spin easy. M - Th I ride hills (intervals) one day, then high r.p.m. flat rides the other days (34 - 42 miles). I take 1 to 2 days off weekly. I don't follow a specific plan, but ride for the Zen of it all. The bike is the best anti-depressant out there. Some critics (elite riders) consider many of my miles as "junk miles." However, I don't consdier them junk as I enjoy each and every mile. If indeed I were fine tuning for some competitive event then my high miles might be "junk."
lacorota is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 03:17 AM
  #3  
Bob Dopolina's Avatar
Mr. Dopolina
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 10,276
Likes: 185
From: Taiwan

Bikes: KUUPAS, Simpson VR

What are these 'miles' of which you speak?
__________________
BDop Cycling Company Ltd.: bdopcycling.com, facebook, instagram



Bob Dopolina is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 04:44 AM
  #4  
Machka's Avatar
In Real Life
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 52,159
Likes: 774
From: Down under down under

Bikes: Lots

From over in the Long Distance forum ...

The 1000-Kilometre Month Challenge
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...onth-Challenge


The 1000-Mile Month Challenge
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...onth-Challenge

Maybe one month this year you'd like to build up your distance a bit and ride one of those challenges? I'm kind of thinking of aiming for a 1000 km month next month. Last time I did that was in October.

Last edited by Machka; 02-14-11 at 04:51 AM.
Machka is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 06:17 AM
  #5  
patentcad's Avatar
Peloton Shelter Dog
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 90,508
Likes: 32
From: Chester, NY

Bikes: 2017 Scott Foil, 2016 Scott Addict SL, 2018 Santa Cruz Blur CC MTB

Originally Posted by Bob Dopolina
What are these 'miles' of which you speak?
Your Road Nazi airs fool no one.
patentcad is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 08:04 AM
  #6  
LowCel's Avatar
Throw the stick!!!!
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 18,150
Likes: 93
From: Charleston, WV

Bikes: GMC Denali

I just got back on the bike in July so my miles are lower than a lot of people here. With that said, I am dissapointed if I end up with less than 500 miles a month.
__________________
I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
LowCel is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 08:15 AM
  #7  
Bob Dopolina's Avatar
Mr. Dopolina
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 10,276
Likes: 185
From: Taiwan

Bikes: KUUPAS, Simpson VR

Originally Posted by patentcad
Your Road Nazi airs fool no one.
They fool me on a daily basis.
__________________
BDop Cycling Company Ltd.: bdopcycling.com, facebook, instagram



Bob Dopolina is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 08:18 AM
  #8  
10 Wheels's Avatar
Galveston County Texas
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,286
From: In The Wind

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

Average 994 a month
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 08:27 AM
  #9  
roadiejorge's Avatar
stole your bike
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,907
Likes: 27
From: North Bergen, NJ

Bikes: Orbea Orca, Ridley Compact

800ish a month depending on the weather. This winter killed my winter outdoor mileage.
__________________
I like pie
roadiejorge is offline  
Reply
Old 02-14-11 | 12:24 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,879
Likes: 6
From: Northern California
Recreational cyclists around here usually average 100 to 200 miles/week (5000 to 10000 miles/year). Those 1000+ mile/month people are fanatics (though there is nothing wrong with that).
johnny99 is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 03:12 AM
  #11  
TealLA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA

Bikes: '95 Specialized Stumpjumper M2 FS, Cannondale CAAD9

Wow, some serious riders out there for sure. I'm having a lot of fun getting into it. Also, I started doing some local group rides with a racing oriented club. The pace is too fast for me, I get dropped on every ride, but it's a great feeling to ride in the group and ride in a paceline.
TealLA is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 03:18 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
i aim for 100 miles a week
max power is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 04:01 AM
  #13  
guadzilla's Avatar
Pointy Helmet Tribe
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,338
Likes: 629
From: Offthebackistan

Bikes: R5, Allez Sprint, Shiv

I do around 250km per week.
guadzilla is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 06:35 AM
  #14  
NoRacer's Avatar
Isaias
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,182
Likes: 0
From: Essex, MD

Bikes: Ridley X-Fire (carbon, white)

We had a blizzard in February of last year, so I was a bit lower, but here's last years monthly numbers and total:


Isaias 1152, 854, 1245, 1252, 1298, 1336, 1495, 1227, 1416, 1376, 1372, 1221 = 15,244 miles *


I'll be lower this year, since my commute has gone from 30 miles/day to 50 miles/day--I'm still adapting to this bigger daily mileage, so my weekend mileages have not been as high.


*Data extracted from here: https://sites.google.com/site/severna...eloton-mileage

Last edited by NoRacer; 02-16-11 at 06:39 AM.
NoRacer is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 02:01 PM
  #15  
WHOOOSSHHH...'s Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,404
Likes: 1
From: RVA
Originally Posted by guadzilla
250km per week.
Wut
WHOOOSSHHH... is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 02:29 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Cary, NC
During warm months I do around 200 miles a week. I haven't done anything near that this winter and could really tell the difference on this past weekends ride.
bhayes505 is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 02:43 PM
  #17  
Nachoman's Avatar
well hello there
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,491
Likes: 390
From: Point Loma, CA

Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)

I've been around 100 miles a week forever.
20 miles per week before work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
And usually a Saturday ride around 50 miles.
__________________
.
.

Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
Nachoman is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 04:28 PM
  #18  
danvuquoc's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 574
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View, California
I aim at 240mi/week but I'm a puss-y and I like life too much to ride in rain, rain stops me from riding because drivers become blind the second the wet stuff comes out.
danvuquoc is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 05:02 PM
  #19  
Junior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 190
Likes: 5
From: Central Jersey

Bikes: Aethos (inbound), Pivot LES -XX1, Ibis Hakka -Force1

Originally Posted by roadiejorge
800ish a month depending on the weather. This winter killed my winter outdoor mileage.
2nd! The weather, and horrid road conditions were brutal this year, so far.
Chris(NJ) is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 05:03 PM
  #20  
Velo Vol's Avatar
VFL For Life
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 54,140
Likes: 2,429
From: Knoxville, TN

Bikes: Velo Volmobile

Originally Posted by max power
i aim for 100 miles a week
I, likewise, on average.
__________________
Originally Posted by Velo Vol
People here don't get it.
Velo Vol is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 07:58 PM
  #21  
revchuck's Avatar
OMC
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,973
Likes: 142
From: South Louisiana

Bikes: Specialized Allez Sprint, Look 585, Specialized Crux E5 Sport, Trek Domane SL6

Originally Posted by TealLA
Now I'm starting to get more serious about getting some mileage on my legs and getting stronger. I've been doing about 300 miles per month for the last couple of months and wondering what is considered a lot of miles. My question is how many miles do you guys rack up in an average month?
First, just getting more miles at this stage will make you stronger. Soon, though, you're going to have to clarify your goals. If you want to not get dropped by the guys in that racing club, you're going to have to do what they do and train. Next time you ride with them, get to the start point early and ask what they do. The really committed guys probably have a coach, and the rest of them likely follow programs by the two main "lights" in the field, Joe Friel and Chris Carmichael.

But until then - and there's no hurry to do this training thing - just ride and enjoy it.
__________________
Regards,
Chuck

Demain, on roule!
revchuck is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 08:07 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Canada

Bikes: `09 Tarmac Comp, `09 FSR XC Pro

Winters are too dangerous for long miles (darkness, cars) so it's toned down, but in the summer I usually put it 4-500km/week. I'm put in over 12000km last year.
roby is offline  
Reply
Old 02-16-11 | 10:57 PM
  #23  
Crimsonghost's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 214
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco, CA
Wait a miniute! I thought i was just supposed to spent alot of money then talk about my bike on the interwebs. Nobody ever told me i had to ride the thing!
Crimsonghost is offline  
Reply
Old 02-17-11 | 01:11 AM
  #24  
mustang1's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 4
From: London, UK

Bikes: 2006 road bike, 2012 cx bike, 2012 carbon rb, 2014 hardtail

440miles /month since 2008, but I'll reduce that to around 200miles /month this year (because I found other activities that I enjoy: reading).
mustang1 is offline  
Reply
Old 02-17-11 | 03:56 AM
  #25  
guadzilla's Avatar
Pointy Helmet Tribe
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,338
Likes: 629
From: Offthebackistan

Bikes: R5, Allez Sprint, Shiv

Originally Posted by WHOOOSSHHH...
Wut
477,792 cubits per week (Royal Egyptian, of course).
guadzilla is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.