.... in June, my first month road biking for fun and fitness. I know that's wimpy compared to many (most?) of you madmen, but for me it represents a consistent effort to ride again as soon as my schedule and body would let me. That meant every 2nd or 3rd day. I rarely rode consecutive days.

I was hoping for 400 miles, but we are in a heat wave (95 today) that has stymied my plan to bang it hard these last few days. I did do a nice hilly evening 20-miler today.

Included in the 358 are lots of 25-30's and a 50 and a 62. I have battled some knee issues- mostly an injury from a backpacking trip last fall- but I decided to power through and, knock on wood, it seems to be working.

I've come to relish climbs, and looking back on a ride, I remember the climbs as FUN! At the time, not so much <grin>. But afterwards they are what I remember.

My AO is rural and hilly, and my average speed, while increasing, is only around 14 mph. Working on that.

My bike is an '08 Specialized Sequoia Elite I bought used in late May, with 105 deraileurs and a mix of other middle-of-the-road stuff. I like it. It suits what I'm doing. It's a smooth, comfortable ride. That said, I'm a total noob as far as modern bikes, so I don't know, maybe they all ride smooth and comfortable now.

Very much enjoying the sport, and the aerobic fitness component is undeniable. I FEEL it. I've kept in decent shape, but at age 48, it's been time to find low-impact ways to get the oxygen system working, and it helps that it's fun too. I am hoping that come ski season and hunting season, all this will pay off in greatly-increased aerobic capacity while hiking, if nothing else. (I do wonder if I'm creating muscle imbalances that will show up on my first elk hunting death march this fall!)...

Anyway, just wanted to offer up a "hurrah!" for the sport in general.

Good job.

Keep going!

Great start!

excellent!

That's 358 miles further than 99.8% of Americans rode this month.

Also, my cycling really helped with my elk hunting. Keep pushing.

That's a lot miles. great start.

that's over 4000 miles a year annualized...keep it up.

I got in 278 miles myself, which is my best month so far. Mostly commuting miles - 30 miles round trip twice a week.

Thanks guys!

Unfortunately it won't annualized; it rains all winter. But there's 8 months-ish of usable riding weather.

The 50 and 62-milers were part of a friend's 50th birthday thing. In fact I have to give him credit for dragging my carcass into this. I trained as hard as the body would let me- starting a new thing isn't easy in middle age- first on my 80's MTB, then on my new road bike. Both the 50 and the 62 were challenging routes with BIG climbs; it was pretty epic. Once I'd survived that, I found I was really unwilling to give up the gains I'd made so I've continued to hit it.

I've been gradually fine-tuning the fit of the bike to address issues as they showed up, and to match my evolving capabilities. To the first point, my right knee has been a constant bother. I tweaked something on the outside of it backpack hunting last fall, and riding SOMETIMES irritates it. When that starts up, it just hurts more and more as the ride goes on and then is stiff and sore that night. The other issue in the right knee is in that little pocket just to the lower-left of the kneecap. After about 15 miles, that's often bugging me, but getting off the bike and walking around for 5 minutes almost always cures it. When I get back on it's fine. So... I've experimented with seat position and height to find the sweet spot.

The bike came with a Ritchie adjustable handlebar stem, adjustable for angle, and the PO had adjusted it all the way upright. I've been lowering it in stages. It's about horizontal now and felt great on my ride last night. I felt like I had more power and the knee didn't complain.

I've always been prone to falling in love with the "toys" aspect of various sports, and Lord only KNOWS there's plenty of that in this one! Holy carp, people go nuts over this stuff. There were a couple of $8000+ bikes in the group on the 50/62 rides, carbon fiber bottle cages, etc. I'm trying to keep the eyes on the prize here; my bike is plenty good. Not planning any real upgrades. The saddle fits my butt and the components all work so... gonna dance with who brung me....... for a while anyway.

I work here at the property, but there's opportunity for frequent 10-12 mile rides if I used the bike for quick trips to the hardware store or grocery store. I need a rack for that. I gotta talk to the LBS dudes about my options there; my frame doesn't seem to have attachment points for a rear rack and it has a fiber seat post so I'm not sure how to best address that.

???

read....

Nice job!

Got me beat. I managed 352 in June. If I was single that number would likely be much higher. However, my wife asked me to buy her a cruiser yesterday, so naturally I went and got her one immediately. She did 4 miles today (and plans to use the bike to ride to and from work 3 miles round trip, which she has been walking). She claimed she enjoyed it. Hopefully we'll start logging some miles together. It won't be the long distance sufferfests that I put myself through - instead it will be slow relaxed rides. Will be interesting actually taking in my surroundings while I ride.

Was my first month as well, i thought I did great at 272.. but apparently i should ride more

Have your best buddy plan a 2x50 miles, invite all his hardcore 5% body fat bike-racing rat pack Colorado bastids from back in the day, and now you gotta hang somehow, and it'll kick your mileage RIGHT up!

358 is great mileage, keep it up through the summer and you'll see some real gains come hunting season!

That'd be cool by me! I've got a high-Cascade thing brewing in September. PCT with a tag in my wallet.

July is going to be a tough month to log miles in, I can already tell. Hot, and BUSY. I guess the good news is that what makes July busy is what makes it awesome. I can live with that.

I did ride 18 miles yesterday with a friend- some great climbs- but now I'm off with the family for the 4th for almost a week! And where I'm going is not bicycle-friendly (Hood Canal, WA). I'll hike and swim some to keep the blood flowing.

The friend I rode with yesterday, was the same guy who just turned 50 and called in the pack of 5% body fat Colorado-dogs on my arse... he's a climber. I like to burn on a climb, a lot, but about the time I'm burnin' he'll just start talkin'... normally.... not like someone who, oh, say, NEEDS OXYGEN!!

It's a good reminder of how much further I can push this I guess.

It's probably good that I have a 5-day stretch off, for my body, but it'll mean I need to hit it HARD when I get back to get decent miles in. I did just pioneer the first 15 miles of a potentially very stimulating 25-miler so that's cool. Western Oregon at this time of year is a pastoral wonderland and if you find nice bike routes through it, it's just stunning. I'm sure the same is true in many other areas as well.

All the best, folks.

Well, July came out ok.... holidays, heat, and all. Logged 413 miles. My average ride is now 30-40 miles, and I'm riding every other day, religiously. Banging some big hills. Progress!

Good Miles Tommy.

Congrats on the miles and the bike. I have the same bike bought new.

Where i used to live elk hunting was about as hard as killing a dairy cow(even female elks are called cows). You just ride up to them on a horse, pick out the biggest one, and getting off the horse is optional to shoot. Not sure where the cardio comes in, but maybe it's done differently other places.

Good goin'.......

Don't let the rain and cold stop you.

That'll be a whole other deal to gear up for, eh?

Actually I'm very tolerant of cold and wet as long as the engine room is at full steam.. so I think I'll be able to keep riding this winter, even with just my existing "stuff", which does not include a bike-worthy waterproof shell.

In June, on the big 50/50 mile rides I did with my buddy for his birthday, day 2 was cold and wet. It wasn't FUN but I'm fine with a cold periphery as long as the core is hot. I think I got that from decades of skiing.

I'm also planning on being a big-time ski bum this year, after missing the last two seasons due to a head injury, so that'll help keep the legs strong too.

Today is my first August ride- haven't decided on a route yet but I'm feeling like 40 miles or so ought to get the month off on the right foot!

I do know this is pipsqueak mileage for the real hammerheads around here.

Good job. Keep it up.