Cycling: New Personal Best!

...which really isn't saying a lot. X3

I've been cycling for a couple of months now (just recently switched from mountainbiking to road riding) and yesterday I hit 30 miles (15mi/hr average) on the Van Fleet State Trail.  Go me!  I was feeling really good, and thought I'd go 'just a little farther'.  It ended up being 10 miles farther, and it really wasn't so difficult! 

I really want to be one of those people who do 100 mile marathons, but that still seems so far away.  Is anyone else a cycling nut?  What's your average for distance or speed?

Longest ride I've done was about 160 km (100 miles) with many rests in between. Headed out at about 4 pm and got back at about 7 am the next day. But like someone told me, this would be considered one of those "adventure" rides. Why? I only brought a bit of money, some food, some water, no spare tire, no pump, no tools, no phone, and no toilet paper, nothing.

Lucky for me there were no problems through whole trip, well I did have a fall, but nothing too bad. I had fatter thighs then, and actually my inner thighs were chafed that day.

That was quite some time ago, I would be more prepared now. And probably won't have an issue with my thighs. The only thing I might need is a better bike, my only bike is a heavy mountain bike.

During the season, my average distance is 25 to 45 miles day.

And now, the season is over for this year.

sundari,

I am what you would probably consider a "serious" cyclist, but I have helped "coach" a group of 20 women to ride a charity ride of 75 miles, most of whom road their bike around the block for exercise.  I can tell you that they all made it to the end!  We were all so proud of them.  So you go girl and add the miles, you are not that far from 100!  If you have not done the "shoe thing" yet, get cycling shoes, and make sure you are fit for your bike.  After 50 miles or so the fit of the bike becomes important, also google a local bike club and join.  They all have A,B,C and D categories for rides in your area.  Sounds like you are a "C' headed for a "B".  They are a blast, good luck, it sounds like you are well on your way. 
Oh, by the way, one of those women I spoke about, has become a serious rider and has lost 125 pounds, you want to talk about a new women!

My husband's hobby is repairing bicycles, and he is the one who got me into both forms of riding, even though he hasn't gone with me in a while.  There are two men in our church who are serious as well, and during drafting practice with them I can maintain a pretty decent speed.  Still, 25-45 miles a day is incredible!  Right now I'm attempting to up my avg. speed, because I am a pretty easily distracted person, and even with the mp3 player the rides get long!

I have a Trek right now, probably an inch too high in the frame, but for the price we got it at I can make due.  I've been in clips since I got the bike, and they definately make it easier, even if half the time I still unclip the right foot and then lean left!

Drafting is the fastest way to become faster and stronger, but pay attention, don't overlap the wheel in front of you! It is the number one reason for group crashes, the guy in the back almost always goes down. 

As far as your bike fit, 1 inch sounds like something you can live with but go to roadbikerider.com or velonews or some other basic bike web site if you want to get the basic rules to make sure your fit onto the bike as best as you can be.  I set up many of the women and they couldn't believe the difference.

I'm playing with a product called powercranks right now, picture this, they are independent pedals.  So you could pedal with just one leg while the other just sits there or both feet could go around together or when your not pedaling they both are at the bottom........ very weird.

Above all, have fun!

I mostly commute to work on my bike. I ride 30 miles a day 5 days a week. If I have an afternoon to kill I can rip off 60-70 miles in 3.5 hours or so. Sounds like you are on your way to having a lot of fun cycling. 

Yay for cycling!!!  I slowly got my way into the sport after high school by training for a 3 day ride across the state of Maine, 60 miles a day.  It is awesome, all shapes and sizes do the ride.  Some days I do a 25 mile ride at 15 mph and other days I go with a group, draft and average 20+.  It is just about being out there.  I put my road bike up on a trainer for the winter and ride inside before work generally.  It is a great way to start the day!

I've done a 68 mile ride before, but no racing or anything, just a nice leisurly group ride, took us about 5.5 hours total. :) The year after I did a 65 and a 35 mile ride. This year I only did a 30 mile ride, and it was the roughest yet because I was in the worst shape of any of them yet. But I plan to use my bike more next spring/summer and do a couple longer rides. I think I'll be able to talk my sister into riding with me. (My hubby refuses to go again, he thinks I'm crazy!)

 Oh, my bike has those hybrid tires on it, which is great for the casual riding I mostly do.

Wow you guys are throwing up some big numbers!  I feel like such a noob.

Honestly, as much as I am coming to love this sport, it really makes me long to get out my mountain bike again.  We ride trails in the Florida swamps, popping off hills and shooting between gaps in the trees that are just barely wider than the handlebars.  Cycling is about endurance, but trailriding is more about balance and explosive speed, something I feel I've been lacking lately.

Also, I looked up powercranks on youtube, and the only thing I can say is...that looks painful!  Your poor thighs must be killing you, michel621.