April 2015 Bike Bicycle Cycling Challenge

sajeffe

As Per Our Fearless Leader, CricketKate:

Welcome to our April Cycling Thread. If you are new to posting on this thread, or if you are new to cycling, We welcome you! If you are returning from a previous thread, We welcome you, too.

This thread is for anyone who rides a bike. Do you bike to work? Do you pull your children to the park? So you ride weekends? Do you spin, at home or the gym? Or, are you just starting out and remembering how much fun you had biking when you were a kid? However you choose to push your pedal, you are welcome on this thread.

I am a fairly casual person and, as such, have created a fairly casual thread. There are no rules to how or what you post. My only request is that you be kind. You may post miles, minutes, # of rides, what the scenery looks like, anything. Whatever will motivate you to get on your bike.

Please know that everyone who posts is welcome and encouraged, whether you’re riding a 100 miler on the weekend or just riding around the neighborhood.

sajeffe

Although I totally blew off March, I'll ride this month. I rode 1.5 miles today because I needed eggs and my car wouldn't start. Eggs in a backpack is totally new for me. Haha.

4/1 - 1.5miles

MTD = 1.5 miles
Goal - nothing specific

Camo_xxx

Goal, same as every month. Ride smoother, get stronger, climb higher, go faster.

Last week 170 miles , 10,000 feet of climbing.

Jessicabybike

I signed up for the 30 Days of Biking at 30DOB.com & also started a state level Facebook group. If you take the pledge on the website, they also donate bikes for kids. check it out! It's a free deal & completely supports a community of people who ride.

spoffy

Riding the Pelatonia in August. 180 mile 2 day ride for cancer research. Starting training now at 25 miles!

SingingSingleTracker

April 1 - rode 12.2 Kilometers for a duration of 0:30:00

April Totals: 12.2 Kilometers - 00:30:00 hours

Training and riding in Deutschland continues...

alleykat69

I'm in. I need a challenge group to join. I work some crazy hours so I many not be able to do everyday. Ride on.

Michelledownunder

I'm using my bike to cycle home from work. I've been cycling the 16 km trip four or five days a week. I'm in new Zealand and we finish daylight saving this weekend. I'm a little worried about finishing my ride in the dark, but I'm really enjoying feeling fit (as well as the extra calorie burn) so I don't want to stop cycling over the winter. Any survival hints from regular night time cyclers?

Ohhim

In for 450 miles, as my running goal is down to 145 miles, and I'm done with visitors for the season.

Ohhim

Michelledownunder wrote: »

I'm using my bike to cycle home from work. I've been cycling the 16 km trip four or five days a week. I'm in new Zealand and we finish daylight saving this weekend. I'm a little worried about finishing my ride in the dark, but I'm really enjoying feeling fit (as well as the extra calorie burn) so I don't want to stop cycling over the winter. Any survival hints from regular night time cyclers?

For night riding, I'm very happy with my 1200lm night light (usually just wear it on my head): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MN7I4FQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

HillOE

I'm in too! this is my first monthly "challenge". I'm a recovering triathlete and a duathlete with a bike to beach (DC to Ocean City in July, a crit. and Fondo in June and a IM distance du in November). Thanks for the thread.
April 1st - 3 mile commute on a Capital BikeShare bike -

lemurcat12

After taking off the whole winter but for spinning and the trainer (and a bike vacation in late February which was amazing), I am ready to start riding outside again! Not sure how the month will go, so I'll start with a 200 mile goal and keep track of indoor rides (although I'll try to make the goal with just the outdoor rides!).

jillyian

I'm in.
I ride a lot, I love riding, I ride with a couple of friends 2-4 days during the week, and on the weekend I lead a (mostly) womens ride, either the a or the b group depending on what is needed.
I also commute to work when it is not too early of a start and not too late of an end, because my husband doesn't like me riding in the dark, It is also little dangerous where I live to ride after say 5 pm, evening commuters and the sun going down make for dangerous roads.
Oh yes and for April, Strava has a climbing challenge so I will be posting my amount of feet climbed, the challenge is to climb 9,000 meters for the month of April. That's appx 30,000 feet.

April 1st 37 miles and 2,858feet
April 2nd 43 miles and 2,270 feet

Ohhim

First ride of the month done. Hadn't ridden over 20 miles in a few weeks, but my fitness seemed decent as I was able to average a bit over 17mph at 70% of my HR max for the 35 mile ride.

4/2 - 35 miles

Total: 35 miles
Goal: 450 miles
Remaining: 415 miles

corindeathawk

In this month finally after a winter of trainer bound discontent. Will go for 450 miles for this month.

4/2 - 23.3 Miles

swirlybee

I'm just getting back into cycling after not doing any serious riding for 5+ years. I'm not sure what my goals are yet but at some point, I want to be able to do a century this year. As of right now I'm concentrating on being able to maintain a high cadence.

April 1: 12 miles @14.3 mph avg (max 19.7 mph)
April 2: 10 mile @12.5 mph avg (max 23.5 mph) (tho I didn't realize my wheel sensor was askew for the first couple of miles)

SBRRepeat

I'm in for this month! I've got my first half iron in September and a whole buncha sprint and oly tris before then.
I think I'll shoot for a minimum of 350 this month.

4/1- rest day. Yoga with coworkers
4/2- strength in the am, 20 miles tonight. I was shooting for closer to 35, but was hit with two flats and a thunderstorm. 2nd overall on a popular Strava segment, though
20 down/ 330 to go.

bigd66218

I'm in for this month with no mileage goals. Since my 3 knee surgeries, started walking the first 3 months and dropped 34 pounds since January 1st. When I was at my goal weight of 218, I was riding150+ miles a week. Now, I'm back to square one.. starting over...

4/2 9.2 miles@14.25 avg.

HappyTrails7

4/1 14.96 miles @11.1 mph avg (Max 12.9) 1:20:55 duration. Crushed gravel (Katy Trail)

cowbellsandcoffee

Looking to do 500 miles or more this month.

4/2 - 22.5 miles

celticlass69

Ok, so hopefully no one will judge me. I've bought a used bicycle (Diamondback 2011 serene citi classic) which I hope to get out on soon. Between the weather and health issues I've not been able to before. I have a good MFP friend who has helped me find my way into cycling.

T8tersMom

04.01: 12 miles

No specific goal in mind. I just want to get moving! I just boughty first bike since jr high and couldn't be more excited to start riding!

SingingSingleTracker

April 1 - rode 12.2 Kilometers for a duration of 0:30:00
April 3 - rode 28.7 Kilometers for a duration of 1:07:20 (4 x 8 Zone 4 Intervals)

April Totals: 40.9 Kilometers - 01:37:20 hours

Training and riding in Deutschland continues...

HelenWater

I rode 120 km in the first three months of this year. I hope to ride 80km in April. So far, about 25km done!

Machka9

Friday 03 April -- 40.52 km.

bigd66218

Friday April 3rd-9.21 miles @ 15.52 avg. Next time out increase the mileage to 10-12 miles. Thank god for energy shots!!!!

jillyian

cowbellsandcoffee wrote: »

Looking to do 500 miles or more this month.

4/2 - 22.5 miles

You can do it!

steffenson

I have been doing some spinning this winter but April will kick off my REAL biking. Still have cold weather and snow on the ground though so hoping things warm up soon.

4/01 - 1hr spin - 16m
4/02 - 1.25hr spin - 20m
4/03 - 16 miles @ 16.3mph 800' climbing --- First outside ride of the year!


Total miles: 52m
April goal: 300 miles

Michael190lbs

I'll jump in I ride at home normally 13- 20 miles a day depending on 45-60 minutes and level six days a week. I take a picture of the screen when I'm done to track it and it motivates me to do better the next day.

chouflour

Michelledownunder wrote: »

I'm using my bike to cycle home from work. I've been cycling the 16 km trip four or five days a week. I'm in new Zealand and we finish daylight saving this weekend. I'm a little worried about finishing my ride in the dark, but I'm really enjoying feeling fit (as well as the extra calorie burn) so I don't want to stop cycling over the winter. Any survival hints from regular night time cyclers?

There's a ton of variables that go into the light you pick. How long you're riding, the amount of traffic/ambient light, how often you want to recharge your light, what your backup plan if your light fails is, etc. Then there's lighting to see vs to be seen. I've passed on lights because they don't mount well due to my specific bike setup.

In general, there's no such thing as too much light or too much reflective gear. I suggest reflective tape, a reflective jacket or vest and that your bag catch and return as much light as possible. I suggest you go to a local higher end bike store at night. Ask them if you can try out some lights - just turn them on and see how far away they feel visible/noticeable to you. See how they illuminate the road and how much of your handlebar space they take up.

chouflour

My success with commuting has been limited - I re-injured my knee (ACL and patellar ligament) and took a couple of weeks off because my PT thought I might irritate it. Riding is the only thing that makes it stop hurting for awhile, but I haven't dared hills yet.

I'll say my goal for the rest of the month is to improve the number of days I commute and to ease my way back into the fun-rollers version of my commute instead of the stop-and-go flats.