June Bicycling Challenge

CricketKate

4 miles today.

Has anyone else had trouble with their knees? My knees have been stiff and sore all day.

crrobinson85

Hi! I purchased a mountain bike earlier this month. I've gotten out twice. My first ride was about 8 miles and my second ride was 15. I'm hoping to have a chance to get out this Sunday and tack an extra 5 on. My goal (if anyone is familiar with the LA coastline) is to go from Santa Monica Beach to Rancho Palos Verdes and back; that's a 46 mile loop.

CricketKate

I hope it's not too late to join this challenge. Sounds like I have a lot of miles to make up!! We have had rain at some point every day for the past week and a half where I live, so biking has obviously been challenging. And I have a foot injury that is keeping me off of the treadmill. I am desperate for some exercise!

It's not too late. We'd love to have you!

nerdieprofessor

I am at 295.73 so far this month. Going for 450 or at least topping last month's 400 miles.

TheBigYin

6/1/12 - 31.42 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184355608 - local loop
6/2/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184659274 - local loop
6/4/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185553431 - local loop
6/5/12 - 31.34 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185889863 - local loop
6/6/12 - 31.32 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186182072 - Local Loop
6/8/12 - 19.23 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186819265 - Walton / Altofts Loop
6/9/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187133501 - Local Loop (Extremely Windy)
6/10/12 - 31.17 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187440447 - Local Loop
6/12/12 - 31.41 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188296066 - Local Loop
6/13/12 - 31.21 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188596883 - Local Loop
6/14/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188896122 - Local Loop
6/16/12 - 23.62 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189489816 - Notton Walton Altofts Loop
6/17/12 - 34.66 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189799150 - Local Loop
6/18/12 - 56.33 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190328912 - Howden Selby Lollypop
6/19/12 - 30.61 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190663418 - Local Loop
6/22/12 - 22.52 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191551618 - Walton/Altofts MTB

MTD - 500.08 miles
Month Target - 500 miles (100.016% complete)
LRG - 50 miles - completed 6/18/12 (56.33 mile actual ride!)

CricketKate

6/1/12 - 31.42 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184355608 - local loop
6/2/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184659274 - local loop
6/4/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185553431 - local loop
6/5/12 - 31.34 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185889863 - local loop
6/6/12 - 31.32 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186182072 - Local Loop
6/8/12 - 19.23 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186819265 - Walton / Altofts Loop
6/9/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187133501 - Local Loop (Extremely Windy)
6/10/12 - 31.17 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187440447 - Local Loop
6/12/12 - 31.41 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188296066 - Local Loop
6/13/12 - 31.21 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188596883 - Local Loop
6/14/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188896122 - Local Loop
6/16/12 - 23.62 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189489816 - Notton Walton Altofts Loop
6/17/12 - 34.66 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189799150 - Local Loop
6/18/12 - 56.33 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190328912 - Howden Selby Lollypop
6/19/12 - 30.61 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190663418 - Local Loop
6/22/12 - 22.52 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191551618 - Walton/Altofts MTB

MTD - 500.08 miles
Month Target - 500 miles (100.016% complete)
LRG - 50 miles - completed 6/18/12 (56.33 mile actual ride!)

Way to go!!!!! That is fantastic work!

Brengild

To the person who mentioned something to work towards, how about riding across the state of Iowa(roughtly 500 mi over a week). Its called Ragbrai. My daughter and I did it a couple of years ago(we live in Iowa). and it is a blast!

TheBigYin

6/1/12 - 31.42 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184355608 - local loop
6/2/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184659274 - local loop
6/4/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185553431 - local loop
6/5/12 - 31.34 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185889863 - local loop
6/6/12 - 31.32 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186182072 - Local Loop
6/8/12 - 19.23 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186819265 - Walton / Altofts Loop
6/9/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187133501 - Local Loop (Extremely Windy)
6/10/12 - 31.17 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187440447 - Local Loop
6/12/12 - 31.41 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188296066 - Local Loop
6/13/12 - 31.21 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188596883 - Local Loop
6/14/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188896122 - Local Loop
6/16/12 - 23.62 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189489816 - Notton Walton Altofts Loop
6/17/12 - 34.66 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189799150 - Local Loop
6/18/12 - 56.33 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190328912 - Howden Selby Lollypop
6/19/12 - 30.61 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190663418 - Local Loop
6/22/12 - 22.52 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191551618 - Walton/Altofts MTB
6/23/12 - 21.95 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191895162 - MTB Loop (windy)

MTD - 522.03 miles
Month Target - 500 miles (104.4% complete)
LRG - 50 miles - completed 6/18/12 (56.33 mile actual ride!)

TheBigYin

6/1/12 - 31.42 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184355608 - local loop
6/2/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184659274 - local loop
6/4/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185553431 - local loop
6/5/12 - 31.34 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185889863 - local loop
6/6/12 - 31.32 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186182072 - Local Loop
6/8/12 - 19.23 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186819265 - Walton / Altofts Loop
6/9/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187133501 - Local Loop (Extremely Windy)
6/10/12 - 31.17 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187440447 - Local Loop
6/12/12 - 31.41 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188296066 - Local Loop
6/13/12 - 31.21 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188596883 - Local Loop
6/14/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188896122 - Local Loop
6/16/12 - 23.62 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189489816 - Notton Walton Altofts Loop
6/17/12 - 34.66 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189799150 - Local Loop
6/18/12 - 56.33 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190328912 - Howden Selby Lollypop
6/19/12 - 30.61 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190663418 - Local Loop
6/22/12 - 22.52 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191551618 - Walton/Altofts MTB
6/23/12 - 21.95 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191895162 - MTB Loop (windy)
6/24/12 - 31.02 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192242584 - Local Loop

MTD - 553.05 miles
Month Target - 500 miles (110.6% complete)
LRG - 50 miles - completed 6/18/12 (56.33 mile actual ride!)

CricketKate

4 miles today. It felt so hard, I was glad that I didn't try the longer ride. When I got home I looked at my phone and discovered that I was riding through a heavy wind advisory. I'm glad it wasn't just me.:blushing:

wheezybreezy

Awesome Kate! This is really inspiring. Question: my husband bought me a "comfort bike" at wal-mart a while back, and I've been riding it home from school occasionally. It is seriously so hard. I've been a little inconsistent with my workouts lately, but is this normal? I live in a pretty hill-y area, but dang! This is rough. I'm only riding about four miles too :frown:

TheBigYin

6/1/12 - 31.42 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184355608 - local loop
6/2/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184659274 - local loop
6/4/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185553431 - local loop
6/5/12 - 31.34 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185889863 - local loop
6/6/12 - 31.32 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186182072 - Local Loop
6/8/12 - 19.23 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186819265 - Walton / Altofts Loop
6/9/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187133501 - Local Loop (Extremely Windy)
6/10/12 - 31.17 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187440447 - Local Loop
6/12/12 - 31.41 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188296066 - Local Loop
6/13/12 - 31.21 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188596883 - Local Loop
6/14/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188896122 - Local Loop
6/16/12 - 23.62 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189489816 - Notton Walton Altofts Loop
6/17/12 - 34.66 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189799150 - Local Loop
6/18/12 - 56.33 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190328912 - Howden Selby Lollypop
6/19/12 - 30.61 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190663418 - Local Loop
6/22/12 - 22.52 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191551618 - Walton/Altofts MTB
6/23/12 - 21.95 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191895162 - MTB Loop (windy)
6/24/12 - 31.02 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192242584 - Local Loop
6/26/12 - 31.41 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/193019324 - Local Loop

MTD - 584.46 miles
Month Target - 500 miles (116.9% complete)
LRG - 50 miles - completed 6/18/12 (56.33 mile actual ride!)

CricketKate

Awesome Kate! This is really inspiring. Question: my husband bought me a "comfort bike" at wal-mart a while back, and I've been riding it home from school occasionally. It is seriously so hard. I've been a little inconsistent with my workouts lately, but is this normal? I live in a pretty hill-y area, but dang! This is rough. I'm only riding about four miles too :frown:

I don't know if it's normal, but it is definately how I feel. I have been trying to do 4 miles at least 4 or 5 times a week, and it is still a struggle. My plan is to continue with 4 mile rides through June and then in July hopefully bump it up to 5 or 6 miles. We'll see. Please come back and post. I will probably start another thread in July.:happy:

CricketKate

4 miles again today. Another windy night, going in the opposite direction.

cavewoman15

i commute to work and sports on my hybrid, but i'm happy to log my miles somewhere! i average 11 mph and love in the foothills.

monday 6/25: 4.5 miles
tuesday 6/26: 6 miles

Merrysix

Its good to start with reasonable amount of mileage and build up bike muscles. Core and shoulder position very important -- and yes the quads, glutes, calves, etc. When I injured my knee I couldn't ride for a while and it was terrible. I started after my knee was better at 5 mile ride, adding 5 miles distance to my rides each week. I am now at 25 hilly miles for my long ride each week. It is fun, and reminds me when I used to ride 3 miles to and from school every day, ages 6 to 9! I am 58, so biking can be good at any age. It is really, really, really important to stretch afterwords! Good luck

TheBigYin

This time last year I had just had knee surgery for a damaged pre-patellar bursa. I was recommended to try gentle exercise to keep the knee supple - "ride an exercise bike on low resistance for a couple of miles a day" they said. Well - I mentioned to them that prior to damaging my knee, I did actually ride a bike a couple of days a week, and I had an indoor trainer for it for winter. Fine they said - use that.

I started out to ride for 5 minutes on the turbo-trainer indoors. Not only was my knee awful, but there was a pool of sweat under the bike and I felt like almost 400lb of hammered crap!. Next day I felt better, at least my knee was freeing up. And so it went. A month later I met with my Dr. and asked for a full medical before I started a serious attempt to lose weight and get fit. He gave me a checkup from scalp to soles and pronounced me fit enough to start riding the bike properly "as long as you get a Heart Rate Monitor and keep under 150bpm" - give it a try, and come back in a month, where i'll have the Dietician in attendance and we'll work something proper out.

So I did, and we did, and I'm on here logging my food, and riding my bike...

Do you think it's working yet ??

Recovering from Knee surgery - just under a year ago


Six months in


A couple of days ago


So there you go - riding a bike can certainly help you get fitter and lose weight - though it doesn't help when it comes to hairstyles I'm afraid...

TheBigYin

6/1/12 - 31.42 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184355608 - local loop
6/2/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184659274 - local loop
6/4/12 - 31.43 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185553431 - local loop
6/5/12 - 31.34 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185889863 - local loop
6/6/12 - 31.32 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186182072 - Local Loop
6/8/12 - 19.23 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186819265 - Walton / Altofts Loop
6/9/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187133501 - Local Loop (Extremely Windy)
6/10/12 - 31.17 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/187440447 - Local Loop
6/12/12 - 31.41 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188296066 - Local Loop
6/13/12 - 31.21 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188596883 - Local Loop
6/14/12 - 31.24 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188896122 - Local Loop
6/16/12 - 23.62 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189489816 - Notton Walton Altofts Loop
6/17/12 - 34.66 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189799150 - Local Loop
6/18/12 - 56.33 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190328912 - Howden Selby Lollypop
6/19/12 - 30.61 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190663418 - Local Loop
6/22/12 - 22.52 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191551618 - Walton/Altofts MTB
6/23/12 - 21.95 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191895162 - MTB Loop (windy)
6/24/12 - 31.02 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192242584 - Local Loop
6/26/12 - 31.41 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/193019324 - Local Loop
6/27/12 - 31.01 miles - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/193341654 - Local Loop

MTD - 615.47 miles
Month Target - 500 miles (123.0% complete)
LRG - 50 miles - completed 6/18/12 (56.33 mile actual ride!)

dotti1121

Awesome thread! Too bad I'm just now finding it!

Sunday 6-24 Rode approximately 10 miles (have GOT to get a bike computer to measure speed, distance, etc.)
Monday 6-25-12 Rode approximately 5 miles.

Hoping to ride again tonight! Like some of you, we've just recently taken up bike riding and absolutely LOVE it!!!

TheBigYin

@dotti1121 - Welcome aboard - I keep mentioning this, but one of cheapest/easiest ways to sort out your mileage on the bike if you already have a reasonably recent smartphone (Android or iPhone for example) is to use a GPS application for the phone - just search for "Endomondo" or "Strava" for examples. They're dead easy to use, and you have all the fun of showing your friends a map of where you've just been. I think they have free versions, but even the paid-for app. is way cheaper than a bike computer.