15+ Mile Ride Tonight!
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
September 20, 2009 10:21pm CST
Well, I went on another real bike ride tonight... as opposed to just the exercise bike. Now I know what that pain in my right foot is from! It's the place I always stand up on the pedal with. But I always stand on the right foot. I know, weird.
I could have done more miles, but it got dark and I haven't put the headlight on my bike yet. I was disappointed with how slow I was going though... an average speed of only 11.5 miles per hour. That won't cut it for the race. However, the race course will have more distance in between inclines and it won't have the hills to go up. I think the hills killed my average speed. So I'm crossing my fingers that I can do much better later.
I think I'll try to start off earlier and do another ride next weekend. Unless I'm too sore from the 5K on Saturday.
3 people like this
4 responses
@maezee (41988)
• United States
21 Sep 09
That is awesome! You make me & my friend walking 4 miles tonight look like.. pathetic in comparison. 
. Oh well, right. At least we're trying.
I'm not an expert at biking, but I know that biking on a stationary bike has to be the most boring and redundant thing ever. I used to manage to do that for an hour each day (as a method of exercising) -but I have to tell you, biking outside is much more realistic and enjoyable if you ask me (I LOVE nature and sight-seeing while exercising, don't you?) - and it probably helps you prepare much more for your 5k (with inclines, curves in the road, and rough terrain) than just being on a stationary bike.
And unless you're super competitive (which sounds like you might not be - considering a 5k is only a little more than 3 miles, which doesn't seem TOO hardcore) - you don't have to WIN the race. For a lot of people, it's more about feeling accomplished with yourself for finishing the race period, no matter which place you're in. Or at least that was how I was with my run/walk 5k that I did a while ago!
P.S. What is your 5k supporting? (Usually there's some kind of cause with it, right? Somewhere that the registration money goes to - like towards a social cause?) Just curious!
Anyway good luck to you! I'm sure you'll do great, even if you don't come in first place and whatnot.
. Oh well, right. At least we're trying.
I'm not an expert at biking, but I know that biking on a stationary bike has to be the most boring and redundant thing ever. I used to manage to do that for an hour each day (as a method of exercising) -but I have to tell you, biking outside is much more realistic and enjoyable if you ask me (I LOVE nature and sight-seeing while exercising, don't you?) - and it probably helps you prepare much more for your 5k (with inclines, curves in the road, and rough terrain) than just being on a stationary bike.
And unless you're super competitive (which sounds like you might not be - considering a 5k is only a little more than 3 miles, which doesn't seem TOO hardcore) - you don't have to WIN the race. For a lot of people, it's more about feeling accomplished with yourself for finishing the race period, no matter which place you're in. Or at least that was how I was with my run/walk 5k that I did a while ago!
P.S. What is your 5k supporting? (Usually there's some kind of cause with it, right? Somewhere that the registration money goes to - like towards a social cause?) Just curious!
Anyway good luck to you! I'm sure you'll do great, even if you don't come in first place and whatnot. 1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
21 Sep 09
Aw, walking is still good though. I never had the patience to walk. I just don't feel like I'm exercising.
The stationary bike is incredibly boring. But it is good training because around here there are so many hills. So even though the bike throws "hills" at you, it really seems flat the whole time. But the catch is, the exercise bike I have is generator powered... so you have to ride it at 20 mph the whole time. So far I can ride it for 40 minutes. I hope to be up to an hour soon.
I should have mentioned... the 5K this weekend is a run. :) It supports the local hospital and some youth programs too. I don't plan to win it at all though! I am competitive, but I know my limits. I'm just shooting to do it in under 30 minutes.
The bike race I'm training for is a marathon, 26.2 miles. Still, not very far but I'm hoping to finish in under 2 hours.
My grandpa keeps thinking I'll win the bike race though. LOL, I didn't get his cycling genes! He was fast.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
21 Sep 09
This Saturday is the 5k? Wow.Good Luck.I will keep my fingers crossed too. Have fun!
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
23 Sep 09
Thanks, I will! Tomorrow I'm previewing the course with the group. And tonight I went to a running store that's actually fairly close, and got some ankle supports. It was an awesome place and I think I'll go there again when I need new shoes too.
1 person likes this
@john_essex (199)
•
29 Sep 09
15 miles is a good distance to go, I've recently been getting back into cycling and managed a 20 mile ride the other day. My average speed is about the same as yours, not including stops (I stopped a couple of times on my ride).
What sort of bike are you riding? Mountain bike, hybrid, road? The weather here in the UK has been perfect lately for bike rides, I'm lucky enough to live in the east and we hardly ever get any rain (unlike the rest of the UK where it rains all the time).
Hills are certainly hard work, but its always nice going down the other side :)
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
30 Sep 09
I have a mountain bike currently. I do notice that it slows me down, but the road bike I had before was just too tall for me so I got rid of it. I'm thinking about getting a hybrid eventually.
The weather here has hardly any rain, so that is good for cycling I suppose. But it is still fairly hot which makes long distances difficult (since either part will end up being in the heat of the day, or part will end up being in the dark).
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
20 Jul 11
Well it's been a few years since you did this, so did you win the race? That's a lot of miles to go! I actually need a bike to get to and from work when I get a job, from. It'll be like 8 miles, no where near the 15 miles you did, but I hope to average like 20 miles a day before I actually do start working so my body will be used to it and it won't effect my work ethnic! Was this for a charity by chance?
