Question about cycling

DavidBrighton4

I ride quite a heavy duty off-road mountain bike and for exercise I've been riding it on flat surfaces up and down the coast (sometimes off-road on the South Downs but I'm not in any kind of shape to do that all the time), I'm wondering how long a decent work out of pedalling would be in miles/kilometres on flat routes?

I've tried looking on google but there's so many different recommended distances

tapwaters

It's all how you feel and your perceived exertion, like with running. However long/fast/far you feel like is a decent workout is a decent workout for you.

Do you use something like Mapmyfitness/Mapmyride to have data on your rides? If you need a goal distance/time, that app may provide it for you.

CincyNeid

Cycling is really a dynamic sport to the person on the bike. I can ride 26 miles on my 650b mountain bike on roads w/o really felling a workout. It depends on your speed, cadence and heart rate to determine what is a "decent workout".

The other problem you run into is once you conquer a said distance where you ride it, you'll find it lacking so you'll want to push yourself to longer distances, or doing the same distance in a faster time-frame. So you're decent workout might be completely different than my decent workout. Biggest thing I can say is have fun and keep pushing yourself.

MeanderingMammal

DavidBrighton4 wrote: »

I'm wondering how long a decent work out of pedalling would be in miles/kilometres on flat routes?

How long is a piece of string?

Different types of session have different effects, and fwiw I'd include hill sessions in there.

For me a good offroad session could be a couple of hours covering something like 20-30 miles depending on the terrain, whereas a good road session would be 4 hours or so, which could reasonably give me 60 miles or so.

The key question would be "what are your objectives?"

sijomial

South Downs are a beautiful place to ride, lucky you. North Downs are my usual playground.
Work on your climbing as that will unlock some inspiring views and wonderful roads/hills.
Maybe have a look at sustrans.org.uk to get some nice routes?

As your fitness levels improve your capability and performance in terms of endurance and speed will increase massively. Would work on time and effort rather than specific distance.

I started on a rubbish "lets use steel because concrete just isn't heavy enough" mountain bike and 8 miles / 40 minutes was enough for a good workout. Built up to 20+ miles, fitted road tyres. Worked up to 60 mile charity events. Bought a better bike etc etc etc.
Now I'm doing over 100 mile events, last one took in Ditchling Beacon and Devil's *kitten* in your neck of the woods.

Just keep challenging yourself - it's addictive!

ETA - hilarious that Devil's "substitute a four letter word for a long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea" got caught in MFP's kitten filter!!!