May 2019 Biking Cycling Bicycling Bike/ Bicycle/Unicycle/Tricycle Challenge!

Machka9
Machka9 Posts: 24,706 Member
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 bicycle ... or unicycle, tricycle, tandem, etc.

Do you bike to work? Do you pull your children to the park? So you ride weekends? Do you spin at home or in the gym? Is Zwift your thing? Do you race crits, ironman, or centuries? 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.

There's no set challenge across participants - this is a mixed-ability / mixed-experience / everyone welcome group. Just pick your own target that you want to achieve this month, post that when you join the thread, and post updates throughout the month as you're working towards your target.

Move into May


(BTW - Thanks to @CricketKate for starting all this back in 2012)
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Replies

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,706 Member
    Review ... (Distances include cycling + walking + a bit of rowing)
    Mar-15 … 489.8 km (304.3 miles) = 38 hours 4 min
    Apr-15 … 491.94 km (305.6 miles) = 43 hours 6 min
    May-15 … 361.81 km (224.8 miles) = 35 hours 50 min
    Jun-15 … 569.53 km (353.9 miles) = 41 hours 53 min
    Jul-15 … 230.7 km (143.35 miles) = 32 hours 45 min
    Aug-15 … 211.3 km (131.3 miles) = 28 hours 8 min
    Sep-15 … 306.7 km (190.6 miles) = 35 hour 2 min
    Oct-15 … 441.82 km (274.5 miles) = 47 hours 43 min
    Nov-15 … 660.21 km (410.23 miles) = 60 hours 41 min
    Dec-15 … 499.91 km (282.8 miles) = 54 hours 56 min
    Jan-16 … 864.79 km (537.35 miles) = 65 hours 36 min
    Feb-16 … 470.53 km (292.4 miles) = 40 hours 39 min
    Mar-16 … 917.73 km (570.2 miles) = 66 hours 13 min
    Apr-16 … 417.83 km (259.6 miles) = 40 hours 23 min
    May-16 … 267.09 km (165.9 miles) = 36 hours 10 min
    Jun-16 … 552.1 km (343 miles) = 54 hours 48 min
    Jul-16 … 709 km (440.5 miles) = 60 hours 41 minutes
    Aug-16 … 775.9 km (482.1 miles) = 54 hours 52 minutes
    Sep-16 … 371.3 km (230.7 miles) = 32 hours 20 min
    Oct-16 … 649 km (403.3 miles) = 49 hours 46 min
    Nov-16 … 403 km (250.4 miles) = 52 hours 16 min
    Dec-16 … 511.05 km (317.55 miles) = 52 hours 2 min
    Jan-17 … 741.9 km (461.0 miles) = 70 hours 3 min
    Feb-17 … 600.5 km (373.1 miles) = 57 hours 30 min
    Mar-17 … 1113.2 km (691.7 miles) = 78 hours 25 min
    Apr-17 … 1181.9 km (734.4 miles) = 76 hours 45 min
    May-17 … 426.6 km (265.1 miles) = 39 hours 21 min
    Jun-17 … 575.7 km (357.7 miles) = 41 hours 53 min
    Jul-17 … 714 km (443.7 miles) = 52 hours 23 min
    Aug-17 … 475.8 km (295.6 miles) = 38 hours 41 min
    Sep-17 … 455.5 km (283 miles) = 41 hours 25 min
    Oct-17 … 647.1 km (402.1 miles) = 57 hours 19 min
    Nov-17 … 427.0 km (265.3 miles) = 50 hours 4 min
    Dec-17 … 553.5 km (343.9 miles) = 52 hours 12 min
    Jan-18 … 590.2 km (366.7 miles) = 57 hours 49 min
    Feb-18 … 826.9 km (513.8 miles) = 57 hours 35 min
    Mar-18 … 582.01 km (361.6 miles) = 50 hours 11 min
    Apr-18 … 176.23 km (109.5 miles) = 29 hours 47 min
    May -18 … 167.6 km (104.1 miles) = 29 hours 08 min
    June-18 … 349.9 km (217.4 miles) = 36 hours 58 minutes
    July-18 ... 324.2 km (201.5 miles) = 24 hours 26 minutes
    Aug-18 ... 210.1 km (130.6 miles) = 25 hours 59 minutes
    Sep-18 ... 261.7 km (162.6 miles) = 25 hours 11 minutes
    Oct-18 ... 230.8 km (143.4 miles) = 30 hours 15 minutes
    Nov-18 ... 216.8 km (134.7 miles) = 30 hours 3 minutes
    Dec-18 ... 285.2 km (177.2 miles) = 37 hours 49 minutes
    Jan-19 ... 241.6 km (150.1 miles) = 27 hours 2 minutes
    Feb-19 ... 175.5 km (109 miles) = 19 hours 8 minutes
    Mar-19 ... 170.3 km (105.8 miles) = 28 hours 21 minutes
    Apr-19 ... 160.3 km (99.6 miles) = 25 hours 4 minutes

    Goal: More than April. Actually, it looks like I kinda need to step up my game. I haven't cracked 30 hours of exercise in a month yet this year!! Health ... I need health!!


    Blank slate!!


    2019 Monthly May
    Walking Distance (km):
    Walking Time (min):
    Cycling Distance (km):
    Cycling Time (min):
    Stairs Climbed Number:
    Stairs Climbed Time (min):
    Other Distance:
    Other Time:

    Totals
    Total Distance (km):
    Total Distance (miles):
    Total Time (min):
    Total Time (hr):
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,706 Member
    How's it going? Anyone out cycling yet this month? :)
  • nelja
    nelja Posts: 282 Member
    edited May 2019
    Hi @machka9.
    Started with the cape epic training workouts from Annika Langveld yesterday on Zwift.
    Did 28km.
    Good luck with your 30 hours.
    Machka9 wrote: »
    How's it going? Anyone out cycling yet this month? :)

  • George8383
    George8383 Posts: 69 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    How's it going? Anyone out cycling yet this month? :)

    Hi cycled 14 miles yesterday did it in 67 minutes not bad for a 53 year old🚴
  • nelja
    nelja Posts: 282 Member
    Well done!
    Hi cycled 14 miles yesterday did it in 67 minutes not bad for a 53 year old🚴

  • sharondesfor935
    sharondesfor935 Posts: 89 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    How's it going? Anyone out cycling yet this month? :)

    Just indoors on the trainer. 😥 Rain, rain, go away.

    May 1: 7.6 miles, 35 minutes, avg 12.9 mph.
  • sharondesfor935
    sharondesfor935 Posts: 89 Member
    Indoors on the trainer again.

    May 3: 8.0 miles, 39 minutes, average speed 12.4.

    Today I did a little better at keeping my cadence smooth. Tried to stay between 60-63 rpm for a while, then 65-68, then 70-72, and so forth. My cadence is still far from perfectly even, but just paying attention made a big difference. This weekend the weather is supposed to finally be dry and not too cold. I'll see if I can keep a more even cadence when I'm on the road and not just on the trainer!
  • Panini911
    Panini911 Posts: 2,325 Member
    new to the group. Bought my first bike since high school a week ago. i'm trying to take it slow as I am going into cycling following various other injuries (which are being taken care of hopefully).

    I have no goals beyond getting out 2-3x a week (building up to more) and hopefully build up to cycling to work (it's a 10km ride). Also brushing up on road safety and cycling rules/laws.

    April 28th: purchased bike and rode the 6km home!
    April 30th: 9km
    May 2nd: 10.5km
    May 5th: 11km
  • sharondesfor935
    sharondesfor935 Posts: 89 Member
    Today was my long ride, and I'm finally getting closer to not being embarrassed at sharing my mileage after I say that.

    20.4 miles, 1:50:49, 11 mph average.

    As expected, my seat was the limiting factor on ride duration. I just can't quite sit for two hours on that saddle yet. Patience, I'm getting there. I was surprised at a few other sore muscles today. I must have been up on the horns more than I thought, because my hands are sore in the vee between my thumb and forefinger. Also, neck ache! You forget how holding your head up from the aero position causes neck strain. I was reminded quite vividly today.

    I lost my cadence meter reading at around 55-60% of the ride duration. However, up until that point I was paying very good attention to it, and had evened out quite a bit. I was mostly in the low 70s today, which was very nice. I did manage to lean my turns again for part of the ride. I noticed that I'm pretty consistent at leaning if I'm over 13mph. Below that it's iffy.

    I went over my handlebars today on a quick stop. I handled it as well as I could, I think. Stayed on my feet, which means I got out of the pedals perfectly without thinking about it. I didn't hit the car and the car didn't hit me, so that's a win. But it was certainly a visceral reminder to stay mindful of my surroundings and think about where any traffic could possibly appear. And an equal reminder that road cycling is about much more than technique.
  • LindaGilpin59
    LindaGilpin59 Posts: 233 Member
    Getting back into the groove of cycling. Between May 2016 and July 2018 I biked 7500 miles. I fell and broke my ankle on August 1st last year and was off the bike until January when I was able to get three rides in during a brief warm spell we had. The rest of the winter was not compatible with riding so didn't get any more riding done until late March. So far in May 4 rides in for 74.85 miles. I had set a goal last year to get to 10,000 miles and after goal interruption I have reset the goal to complete it by end of this year. Almost to 300 for the year so far. Bought a new bike in April and so am ready to roll.
  • LindaGilpin59
    LindaGilpin59 Posts: 233 Member
    Panini911 wrote: »
    new to the group. Bought my first bike since high school a week ago. i'm trying to take it slow as I am going into cycling following various other injuries (which are being taken care of hopefully).

    I have no goals beyond getting out 2-3x a week (building up to more) and hopefully build up to cycling to work (it's a 10km ride). Also brushing up on road safety and cycling rules/laws.

    April 28th: purchased bike and rode the 6km home!
    April 30th: 9km
    May 2nd: 10.5km
    May 5th: 11km

    good idea to brush up on safety issues. I have had some close calls. Don't assume that the car coming up to a stop sign is going to stop even if you have the right away. Congrats on your new bike and happy trails.
  • AgileK9
    AgileK9 Posts: 257 Member
    We finally had a break in our weather. Doubled up on a ride Saturday because the weather predicted rain for the next week :'(

    May 4 - Road 21.8 miles
    May 4 - Trail 7.8 miles (Saturday was International Women's Mountain Bike Day so I had to hit the trails!)
  • garystrickland357
    garystrickland357 Posts: 598 Member
    edited May 2019
    New to the challenge group.
    I rode 75 miles on Saturday (4th) I have about 100 miles so far this month.
  • sharondesfor935
    sharondesfor935 Posts: 89 Member
    Indoors on the trainer today.

    9.27 miles, 45 min, 12.4 mph avg

    I actually finished the entire video workout today. It felt soooo hard, but I had to laugh while I was moaning about it because I have at least a dozen videos in this series and this one is by far the easiest and shortest. It felt really good when I finished. If I can nail this one a couple more times, I'll move up to the next in the series. (Or maybe the weather will actually turn to spring and stay that way so I can be outside? Nah, that's just crazy talk.)
  • Bocch
    Bocch Posts: 191 Member
    edited May 2019
    Rain and family matters are preventing me from stringing multiple road rides . However - May 8 - 22 miles road ride.
  • sharondesfor935
    sharondesfor935 Posts: 89 Member
    Indoors on trainer again. This is getting tedious.

    8 miles, 40 min, average speed 11.9 mph.

    Still haven't got my cadence sensor working. It picks up my rpm for a minute and then cuts out again. I'm guessing that means the magnet is loose and not staying in place.

    Hmm, where did I put my teeny-tiny zipties???
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,811 Member
    Cycling is having to fit in around family commitments at the moment so although I'm training it's not recognisable as a training plan. Three consecutive days riding: fast, faster and then hilly rides sort of worked if the goal was to wear myself out and make my quads ache.

    Then a prolonged break but a short trip to the gym clocked up 2,000 miles for the year so far.

    Did a solo gran fondo from home today, 64 miles / 104km.
    Need to work up the distance as I've entered the Prudential Ride London 100 riding for charity in memory of my father-in-law and brother-in-law who both passed away this month from cancer. That will be my first closed roads Century.

    170 miles so far for the month.
  • AgileK9
    AgileK9 Posts: 257 Member
    The weather was finally decent...yeah!

    May 4 - Road 21.8 miles
    May 4 - Trail 7.8 miles (Saturday was International Women's Mountain Bike Day so I had to hit the trails!)
    May 10 - 8.1 Trail
    May 11 - 13.9 Road
    May 12 - 6.2 Trail

    It was a good biking weekend!
  • sharondesfor935
    sharondesfor935 Posts: 89 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    Cycling is having to fit in around family commitments at the moment so although I'm training it's not recognisable as a training plan. Three consecutive days riding: fast, faster and then hilly rides sort of worked if the goal was to wear myself out and make my quads ache.

    Then a prolonged break but a short trip to the gym clocked up 2,000 miles for the year so far.

    Did a solo gran fondo from home today, 64 miles / 104km.
    Need to work up the distance as I've entered the Prudential Ride London 100 riding for charity in memory of my father-in-law and brother-in-law who both passed away this month from cancer. That will be my first closed roads Century.

    170 miles so far for the month.

    Some weeks, wearing yourself out and making your quads ache is the best you can do. And if the other option was being a couch potato, then you've done well, young Padawan.

    Life happens. It's really difficult to reconcile life with a serious training plan, and yet we're all adults and have to deal with this constantly.

    You have more than two MONTHS left, to worry about the Prudential century ride. Catch 70-90 miles each week on a long ride and you'll be more than ready. Work those hills once a week, keep up the weekly long ride, and do a few tempo rides each month. You could do it now; by August you'll be ready to shine!