SunFlower

I have never been into biking that much, I have always been more of a jogger. I do about 15-20 miles a week jogging. Most of my bike rides are about 5 miles and on flat terrain. However, I want to start riding more than I jog. My current bike course incorporates hills and I am doing about 9 miles per ride. That only takes about 1 hour. I really dont feel like I got a good workout. I will be riding 4 times a week. How many miles do you think I should ride ? I was thinking I could manage 15-20 per ride with the hills and not be too pooped. What do you guys think ? How many miles do you guys ride per day or week ?

fat_bike_nut

Sounds like you're doing well right now. Just add another mile when you feel comfortable enough and add on more as you go...as for me, I just kept going farther and farther based on personal comfort level. I started at about 5 miles, and once that got too comfortable, I went to 10 miles. Once that got too comfortable...you get the idea. Just do it 'til it feels too easy and do some more

Of course, don't listen to me if you want a strict training regimen to follow. I cycle to pile on the miles, yes, but I try to get some enjoyment out of it too. Otherwise, it's pointless for me to ride.

Machka 

You don't want to know.


However, in answer to your question ... if you're doing 9 miles a day 4 days a week, and you feel fine, go ahead and up the distance a bit! The general recommendation for new riders is 10% per week, so if you do 36 miles one week, do 40 miles the next week. However, since you are already quite active with your jogging, you could probably increase your distance more than that. Go for a 15 mile ride and see how you feel. If you feel pretty tired out, back off a little bit to 12 miles or so. If you feel a little bit tired, keep it at 15 miles for a week or two. If 15 miles feels pretty good, ride 15 the next time you go out to be sure it still feels good, and then you might consider trying a 20 mile ride.

One suggestion ... as you increase your distances on the bicycle, keep at least one day relatively short to work on your speed (i.e. 15-20 miles), keep another day relatively short to use as a recovery ride day (i.e. 15-20 miles), and then increase the distance on the other two days up to whatever distance you want to ride.

roadbuzz

I came to cycling from jogging, and it's been so long I scarcely remember. My perception was that for equivalent workouts, figure twice as much time on the bike, or 7 times the miles. So, for example, a 20 mile ride is roughly equivalent to a 3 mile run. This is using a road bike, and I'm sure others will disagree with my numbers. Also, riding is just a different work-out. More strength required for cycling, higher average heartrate & breathing for running. Things will change some as you gain more cycling conditioning (per Machka's' advice). Again, everyones experience varies a little.

trimonkey

Are you still intending to continue jogging 15-20 miles a week? When i began to run and bike more than a couple of times each a week (requiring more than one workout on the same day), it took a little bit of juggling to schedule the timing of each workout so i wouldn't be wiped for the next one. I'm not sure how fit you are or what you recovery ability is like, but you may want to bear in mind that a 20 mile hilly ride in the evening, might render your legs a little unresponsive for the next mornings run. I'm not saying you can't do it, and there are certainly people on here that do. But my point is allowing your body to gradually adapt to the strains of mlutiple sessions a day, is a balancing act that requires you to listen to what your body is telling you... i've found. Anyway, good luck :-)

kuan

To start, do one ride a week that's 25% longer that your longest daily workout. Keep increasing that by about 15 minutes each time. That'll drag your daily mileage up.

Richard Cranium

Using "miles" as a measurement is meaningless. If you interested in being fit, then 6 or 7 hours per week of combined aerobic activities, like riding or running is enough for maintaining health.

If you choose to ride or run more than that, then you are exercising to increase your capacity to endure a particular task, but not necessarily improving your health.

umd

I typically ride between 300 to 400+ miles a week, usually with around half of it over the weekend. That's 30-40 miles/day during the week and 2 long rides over the weekend, usually near or greater than 100 miles each. As of last night (Mon-Thurs) I was at about 150 miles with 11k of climbing. This includes my commuting too.

You can see my weekly data on my blog

PEABOB

Hey Peoples. just reading the posts and it is of great help. I just started riding a new recumbent trike and finding i get winded rather fast. Out of shape and overweight here. I just want to enjoy the outdoors and do something fun. I feel quite alright now that i have rode short times but they are getting longer everytime i go out. Like i said enjoyment and weight loss is what im looking for. thanks for all the great posts. peabob

Bici3

Try riding as long as you possibly can everyday. Fall over sideways on your backyard lawn in supreme exhaustion. Laugh in exquisite, delerious pain and joy. Rinse off in cold water from the garden hose. Laugh some more. Have a big sport drink. Grill food on the patio with like-minded friends, and a dark-colored beer. Chocolate Chip gelato and espresso a bit later.

https://www.bicitreregioni.com

cyclezen

If your intent is largely 'exercise', and you want to step up the 'pace' a bit, or challenge yourself a bit more; then look for group rides. There should be plenty in your neck of the southland. I'm not talkin 'hammerfest', just some solid and steady paced groups. And if they're worth half their weight in salt, they'll have a few routes thru the hills in PV. Go to the local Bikeshops for info on group rides, pick up the local bike rag - forget the name, but there's one specifically for SoCal riding, actually there are a couple rags for sure.
You'll quickly find yourself doing 15-16 mph pace for the hour, and feeling great about it.
As for your objectives, 15-20 miles per ride, a good target for sure.

JPradun

I'm going to be a little different. When I tried my hand at running for a few months (before I started riding), I could only do about 15mi/wk. I probably could have easily done a 40mi ride.

Get your butt used to the saddle and ride as far as you possibly can. You'll probably surprise yourself after you do 30+mi.

I ride half as much as people like umd, but this week I did pull off 200mi, and 150 last week. I usually go for 45-70mi rides each time.

Tom Stormcrowe

1.6X10^126350495 miles a day!

Giants28

69 years old had back surgery in May can no longer run started riding bike riding 15 miles a day little over5 minutes a mile is that considered a good work out dont know much about biking?

ridethetown

+1

My first ever road ride was on a crappy old rusty Trek MB that was too small and had seen 4 Burning Man's. 34 miles and 1500 ft. of climbing. Terribly hungover and poorly fueled, I puked my brains out at the turnaround and cramped every 3 miles on the way home. Hated every second of it but couldn't wait to get back on the horse. Bought a $200 Dawes off Bikes Direct that very evening and rode a metric century 3 months later.

Do I recommend this exact approach? F no. However, the more quickly you find your limits, the more quickly you'll get much needed perspective on what you're capable of. Strong mind -> strong body.

FullGas

used to be a high-mileage runner...35+ mi/wk.

knees decided that sport was no longer an option.

now, I swim 6000 yards and ride 130 miles per week. my body likes it much better...

GSJon

Good going on resurrecting a NINE year old thread.

DrIsotope

From last post to necro, 3,404 days. Pretty good. Strong Top-10 contender.

sprince

As many as you have time for while still enjoying it.

chong67

Me too. I went from a jogger/runner to bicycling. My feet cant take the constant pounding anymore. Buying expensive shoes and padding are no help.

Bicycling is so much better. I do abs and back exercise at the rest area of the trails.

Swimming is good but not convenient.

Jim from Boston

How Many Miles Should I Ride ?? (Zombie thread)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giants28

69years old had back surgery in May can no longer run started riding bikeriding 15 miles a day little over5 minutes a mile is that considered a goodwork out dont know much about biking?

Here’s a concensus opinion from two long-term, year-round commuters. Personally I ride for fitness, as does @tsl, from various posts and conversations. I’m personally very time-crunched by work and family activities, but I have a minimal 14 mile one way commute, and a high-end carbon fiber bike that encourages riding; and I had a fractured sacrum requiring pins back in 2012.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsl

…Iwas concerned about getting decent miles in. This is the time of year when I'dtake my 17-mile long loop to work, and a 13-mile cut of it coming home. It's not that I chase miles for the sake of numbers. It takes me 50 miles a week just to feel good and normal, I feel fantastic over 100 miles a week, and like Superman over 150…

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

…I particularly agree with your assessment of weekly mileage, though at over 150 miles per week, I call it hyper-fit.