Beginner cycling - advice?
basilandbalm
Posts: 15 Member
Hello! I'm looking for advice on how long a reasonable ride length would be for a true beginner. I'm going on a short vacation next week, and deliberately planned a few days in an area with plenty of flat, easy bike trails to start getting really comfortable on the bike (I live in an urban area and don't yet feel comfortable riding here). Several of the available trails are loop trails averaging 25-30 miles. I assume I'll need to treat them as shorter out-and-back rides, as 25 mi sounds a lot... Any advice on distance? Or, in fact, any aspect of starting cycling?
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Two limiting factors spring to mind:
Fitness
Bike comfort
Fitness limitations are actually easy to modulate on a bike, you don't have to push hard it you don't want to (cycling is very efficient).
Bike comfort is often harder to cope with and also quite individual, if you aren't comfortable time in the saddle at whatever intensity will severely limit your enjoyment. You do acclimatise over time and fairly quickly but the time involved to cycle 25 - 30 miles at a gentle pace does sound ambitious for a "true beginner".
Advice?
Build up steadily.
Buy some good cycle shorts.
Use your gears to your advantage.
Set up your bike with care.
My history was building up steadily (and quickly) from 10 miles to 20 to charity rides of up to 60 miles. Buying better bikes. Going further. Getting better cardio fitness than ever. Cycling becoming my predominant hobby.
Mileage in the last six years has increased from 1,000 miles p.a. to 5,000+ miles p.a. and let me explore new and beautiful places at home and abroad.
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For a true beginner I would say less than 10 miles, but there are a lot of factors to take into consideration, as mentioned by sijomial.
Do yourself a huge favor and buy the best cycling shorts/pants you can afford.3 -
Everyone is different. Some people can't make it to the end of the block. And some people can ride 100 miles after a few weeks.
My first bike ride as an adult, at my highest weight, I rode a mile from home, promptly exhausted myself and turned around. I worked my way up to biking the 7 miles each way to work over a month. That was spring 2013. By the fall, I was regularly biking to work and biked 40 miles with my dad (the left side of my profile picture). This year I rode 235 miles across the state of Wisconsin in one weekend with minimal training (although it would have been a much easier ride if I had trained rather than rely on general bike commuting fitness) and can hop on my bike to do 50+ miles on the weekends no problem.
You do you. Get good biking shorts, make sure you've got lots of water and some snacks, budget a few hours and set out on that 25 mile loop. Take it easy, stop to rest when you need it and you should be able to cover that distance. Otherwise, go out a few miles, turn around and head back. Add a bit more distance each time you ride and you're on your way to a life of cycling
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It depends on how beginner you mean by beginner. I got my bike a year ago, hadn’t ridden a bike in 35 years. I did several rides at the local park, consisting of a few miles to get used to my bike. Within 1-2 months I easily worked up to 10-15 miles. This summer I rode a few times a week and worked up to 25-30 miles for a comfortable ride. Fitness wise I could go longer but I tend to experience a lot of shoulder and arm pain, so that limits me. (Yes, I’ve had a bike fit and many smaller adjustments.)
Have fun!!1 -
For a true beginner I would say less than 10 miles, but there are a lot of factors to take into consideration, as mentioned by sijomial.
Do yourself a huge favor and buy the best cycling shorts/pants you can afford.
And know that they are meant to be worn without underwear (otherwise that's a recipe for chafing).2 -
A rule of thumb that seems to work is you can probably do any 10 mph on flat and paved ground. Maybe around 7 (?) if the trails are dirt, it takes more energy to ride on unpaved surfaces.
Bike posture takes some getting used to. I wouldn't recommend spending 3+ hours on your first go. On the other hand, if you stop to enjoy the scenery, have a picnic, etc, it tends to be easier. And, as you said, you can turn around at any time.1 -
good bike shorts. no undies.0
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Got the bike shorts (they feel weird but I suspect I will be thankful!) and am planning a leisurely full day of riding to try one of those longer rides. If the bike is kind enough to my body, might even do a second day. And @Madwife2009, I got the helmet right along with the bike - I worked in a trauma center some years back and as far as I’m concerned they should be mandatory. Thank you for bringing it up. So important. Thanks all! I’m very excited for this trip 😊4
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Ditto the bike shorts. I suspect if you start cycling 25 miles from nothing cold turkey, your butt will be the factor that limits the length you can go.3
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All good advice! I used to live on my bike growing up (my dad biked for the Phoenix FD in the 80’s and 90’s) and my parents and I did 25 mile rides together a few times when I was 10 or so. I was trying to decide if I could attempt something like that now, but my body isn’t ready for more than a few miles at a time (bike shorts might be in my future because that is the WORST part for me!) My kids are wanting to do more biking and so we are working towards that now - We have an old canal tow path nearby so that is where we are going to start on since it is fairly level ground. That is one thing to pay attention to on a longer out and back ride, because a slight downhill grade will make for an easier ride out but be brutal coming back when you are already tired...1
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Also be aware that the type of saddle can affect your seat comfort - cushier is not always better - and a professional bike fit at a local bike shop is also very important.1
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basilandbalm wrote: »I got the helmet right along with the bike - I worked in a trauma center some years back and as far as I’m concerned they should be mandatory. Thank you for bringing it up. So important. Thanks all! I’m very excited for this trip 😊
Sorry for preaching to the converted! I always was enthusiastic about cyclists using helmets, even more so after my six year old took a tumble (hit a kerb, fell off, suffered some bruising) but after being knocked unconscious by a stupid car driver (and I can state with no doubt whatsoever that he was being stupid as he was breaking multiple laws when he hit me) I am a bit of a zealot about them now. I get so annoyed when I see parents out with children, none of whom have helmets. Or parents without helmets but children with them - who's going to look after the children if the parent is knocked out??
Have fun with your cycling!3 -
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basilandbalm wrote: »Madwife2009 wrote: »
Sorry for preaching to the converted!
Omg, not at all! Keep preaching!
After an incident today, I probably will.
I stopped to help a young man who's bike had skidded in the rain; he fell off and smacked his head against the road. No helmet. Nasty head wound, which could have been avoided, had he been wearing a helmet (and given his medical history, he should have been wearing a helmet).
Poor guy. But apparently he's okay (in hospital but okay).
And I do wish that everyone - including those in the health care field - would learn a bit of first aid. The young man had fallen off his bike, the car driver behind him was clueless but at least had the sense to call for an ambulance. We were stationary so I jumped out of the car and ran up the road to help him as he was lying in a busy road. Blood was everywhere but luckily the car driver had a clean muslin cloth that we applied to the wound. I know enough about first aid to be able to help someone, because of my midwifery training (plus I was a company first aider for ten years).Then an off-duty health care professional turned up, and to be fair, was just trying to help but actually didn't have a clue about first aid. Probably knows loads about heart attacks and strokes but nothing about immediate first aid.
But the young man is okay. Which is the main thing.4 -
I started out doing two miles so 25 is a fair bit
Enjoy it, nothing beats outside exercise... I now do centuries fully loaded after three years as it's such a good boost for mental health and fitness - plus you meet a load of new friends - have fun!
PS I'm a heretic and wear tight cotton knickers under my shorts as it stops my inner labia chafing. There is no hard and fast rule, everyone finds their own way eventually x1 -
Madwife2009 wrote: »basilandbalm wrote: »Madwife2009 wrote: »
Sorry for preaching to the converted!
Omg, not at all! Keep preaching!
After an incident today, I probably will.
I stopped to help a young man who's bike had skidded in the rain; he fell off and smacked his head against the road.
Also it's important to know that your brakes work by stopping your wheels and creating friction between your tires and the road. Water acts as a lubricant and reduces your braking power. Visibility too but to a much lesser extent. It's ok to ride in wet conditions but important to be aware of this and not outride the brakes. Helmets are a great too but only part of the picture and it's much better to avoid a crash in the first place.2 -
Whilst I agree with most of what you've written, there are some accidents that cannot be avoided, due to the behaviour of others.
That's why I was grateful for my helmet when I was hit from the rear by a drunk driver (a dry day with clear visibility). Yes, I was knocked unconscious and am still suffering the effects of that. Yes, I ended up with broken bones and other injuries. But I was alive. I was told by the police investigators that when they heard the call go out, they expected me to be dead. The ambulance crew said the same. The A&E consultant told me that I was lucky to be alive and if it hadn't been for my helmet, then I probably wouldn't be. A totally unavoidable incident.
Helmets are a vital part of cycling as whilst you CAN control YOUR cycling behaviours, you cannot control the attitude and abilities of other road and cycle path users.5 -
It's not an either/or, it's ideally both. 🙂2
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Oh. My. Word. I am hooked. I just had the most pleasant 5 mile ride along a “rails to trails” path. Hopped on the bike as soon as I got down here just to give it a try. Thank you so much to those who said bike shorts were mandatory - they absolutely were a godsend. I feel I could go forever. Bonus is that there are so many cyclists here that the motorists are fairly courteous. Tomorrow: starting off on that 25 mile trail and we shall see how far I get!10
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Focus on time not distance. As a new rider, on a flat trail 30 minutes out and 30 back is as much as you want to take on. If you have a basic fitness level that shouldn't be difficult for your legs, but often times other aches become the limiting factor (e.g. butt, lower back, wrists, knees, neck) depending on your bike position. Generally speaking, many new cyclist tend to have their seat too low. Make sure you can comfortably extend your leg in the down position (heel down) with just a bit of flex.2
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First of all, shame on the person who "disagree"d with the recommendation to always wear a helmet.
Second of all, I am a very new bike rider. I mean, I can ride a bike, but I've just started riding for exercise. My first ride out last weekend I did 7 miles. I probably could've done 10, but not more than that. I also think that in the early stages, it's going to depend on your pace. Just listen to your body and have fun!4 -
Thanks! I ended up doing 29 flat, easy miles and most of me loved every minute of it. My wrists, however, were unhappy. This has resulted today in the purchase of an actual (albeit entry level) road bike that was fitted to me. First real ride tomorrow on the new toy!! And this time I’ll take the wise advice above and build mileage slowly 😋3
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What sort of road bike did you get?
I love cycling and I just wanted to say that you're never stuck with the saddle, handgrips and pedals that the bike comes with. All of them can be changed (wider saddle, ergonomic handgrips or gel pads under your bar tape, larger pedals, etc) for relatively little money.
You can also get a bike fit at many bike shops to make sure your position on the bike is correct and not causing you unnecessary pain. A bike fit may seem expensive and unnecessary, but it can transform your riding experience, especially when you're on a new bike.2 -
I picked a Liv (Giant but women’s fit) Avail. I liked the feel of it and the fact that the tires could be exchanged for gravel tires easily. Not that I don’t like the old steel hybrid I had before, but this is a world better for “fun” riding! They actually did a complimentary fit with the bike as well. I am quite pleased with the results. My frustration this week has been actually having to go back to work (ugh real life lol) and not being able to play with the new toy! Thanks for the tips 😊2
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Liv are a great brand, I used to ride a Giant myself. They offer great value for money . I have been riding bikes for many years, but have only been back to seriously logging my caloric intake this week. My Google fit app is synced with MyFitnessPal, so I was pleased to see the effect of a 40km bike ride with my (newly) reduced calories.
Have you set any goals with the new bike? One of my regrets, from the first time I started to take cycling for fitness seriously, is that I was not ambitious enough in setting goals for myself. It was only much later that I realized what is possible after only a few months of cycling.1 -
I would also recommend gloves, even just fingerless mits and chamois cream.
The gloves will protect hands on the steering wheel and if you come off.
The cream because its another layer of protection for your......nethers.....when wearing cycling shorts.
Enjoy!0 -
Hmm, I keep learning new things... I will take a look for these!
@PDKL45 I’d love to know what you mean by setting more ambitious goals. I’m just having fun and doing what I want right now (and tbh will probably keep doing that for some time longer just because the work schedule right now is killer).
Would be curious how you envision goal setting and what can be achieved, given your own experience0 -
I’ve been riding for exactly a year. My goals have been shorter time frames, like increasing my mileage for the next few rides, getting up a hill, riding a certain route, etc. Signing up for organized ride events can give you a goal to shoot for. I signed up for a 30 mi ride in June so that gave me a great eArly season goal. I’ve also done a few triathlon events. In my first year I’ve logged 925 miles with a goal to get to 1,000 before winter sets in. It should be very doable. But a year ago, or even 3 months ago I wouldn’t have thought that possible. Your main goal should be to have fun and build your confidence on every ride!!🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️2
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Only 75 mom's to go @lorrpb. You've got this.1
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