Ride Frequency
09-22-19, 06:51 AM
#26
Full Member
Ronno6 - depends on what your goal is. If the goal is to do longer rides, lengthen your rides. If goal is to increase your speed, do the same number of rides but faster. If your goal is to get in shape for a multi-day tour, then start increasing number of times you ride two days in a row.
The simple truth is your body gets better at what you make it do - that is what training is all about. There are some other proven training techniques (like intervals) to trade more intensity for less time on the bike, but if you have a goal, then shape your cycling to look like your goal.
If the goal is just to have fun, stay healthy or get healthier, then just ride when ever you can and leave a rest day after any extra hard day.
That is pretty much the goal for me (age 62, still working) but I really enjoy long rides and a little bit of multi-day touring. So, on weekends I usually get in a 50+ mile ride and during the week I can sneak in one or two 20-30 mile rides. If I wasn't working, I'd probably be doing one or two more rides per week. But for me, the "magic" occurs on rides longer than 2 hours - both mental and physical gains!
That's my approach to "training" for the longer rides I then do periodically over the year (75/85/100 milers) or mini-tours of 2-5 days, and it fits my time, seems to work and doesn't put me on some kind of forced schedule where I get on the bike because I'm supposed to vs. I want to!
The simple truth is your body gets better at what you make it do - that is what training is all about. There are some other proven training techniques (like intervals) to trade more intensity for less time on the bike, but if you have a goal, then shape your cycling to look like your goal.
If the goal is just to have fun, stay healthy or get healthier, then just ride when ever you can and leave a rest day after any extra hard day.
That is pretty much the goal for me (age 62, still working) but I really enjoy long rides and a little bit of multi-day touring. So, on weekends I usually get in a 50+ mile ride and during the week I can sneak in one or two 20-30 mile rides. If I wasn't working, I'd probably be doing one or two more rides per week. But for me, the "magic" occurs on rides longer than 2 hours - both mental and physical gains!
That's my approach to "training" for the longer rides I then do periodically over the year (75/85/100 milers) or mini-tours of 2-5 days, and it fits my time, seems to work and doesn't put me on some kind of forced schedule where I get on the bike because I'm supposed to vs. I want to!
09-25-19, 02:02 PM
#27
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,793
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1390 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
835 Posts
About 90Hz. Oh ... that's crank RPM. I guess you meant how many days/week riding. 
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
09-25-19, 02:22 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Rural Missouri - mostly central and southeastern
Posts: 3,013
Bikes: 2003 LeMond -various other junk bikes
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 44 Times
in
35 Posts
How frequently a person "successfully" exercises is dependent on more than just time. Bear in mind that the intensity you exercise at will factor into the period you need to rest.
The original post includes a phrase like "but life gets in the way sometimes" - this kind of statement seems to be clue that other interests and responsibilities can lengthen the need for longer periods between rides.
Since this is an "over 50" forum - one could assume that exercising to fatigue repeatedly - is not an optimal cycling strategy for improving one's performance.
But hey, some of us have way too far, and far too long for longevity to be the only goal of riding.
The original post includes a phrase like "but life gets in the way sometimes" - this kind of statement seems to be clue that other interests and responsibilities can lengthen the need for longer periods between rides.
Since this is an "over 50" forum - one could assume that exercising to fatigue repeatedly - is not an optimal cycling strategy for improving one's performance.
But hey, some of us have way too far, and far too long for longevity to be the only goal of riding.
09-25-19, 04:31 PM
#29
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
Monday, Wednesday and Friday a small group of us ride for about an hour before work.
Saturday morning we usually ride about 40 or 50 miles.
Saturday morning we usually ride about 40 or 50 miles.
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
09-28-19, 11:33 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 3,461
Bikes: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1321 Post(s)
Liked 374 Times
in
288 Posts
I ride every day, unless it is pouring rain. I sold my car in Feb because I just was not using it, I was using my bike(s) and trailer. Each day is usually part errands and shopping with the trailer bike, then lunch and swap for my fast rider to get some nice exercise. Minimum mileage is 10 on super busy days. On more relaxed days, usually 4-5x a week, I ride 15-20. One of those can often be a 30 mile ride if I've the time and the weather is nice and I just don't wanna stop ;-). No matter what's going on in the world or my life, a great bike ride settles the mind and heart.
Likes For linberl:
09-29-19, 06:12 AM
#31
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,965
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,529 Times
in
1,042 Posts
Excellent response to the OP's question, especially since the OP made no mention about why he wants to increase the frequency of his rides or if raised fitness level or any other "fitness" related goal is the reason he started back riding.
09-29-19, 07:22 AM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 923
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 526 Post(s)
Liked 462 Times
in
256 Posts
I am very fortunate in where I live. I can ride a residential loop of about 2 miles right from my house,or within 5 miles of my door hit a national forest and ride dirt roads 50 miles into the next county if I want. I also have a closed dirt road of about 20 miles just 2 miles from my door. I have been riding about 8 months and ride every day at least 3-6 times around the 2 mile loop. I'm up to around 20 miles on a day long trip and have been going on those longer trips about every 3-4 weeks. I average about 50 miles in 7-10 days. It's all mountain biking though on a 2017 Marlin 5.
This is the first time on a bike again after 30 years or more of bad health. I have lost 160 lbs in one year,just trying to get healthy and eating right. Biking is freaking incredible!! I am 51 and more than twice as fit as I have ever been. I do twice as much now as when I was 25. Did I mention biking is freaking incredible!!! LOL.
This is the first time on a bike again after 30 years or more of bad health. I have lost 160 lbs in one year,just trying to get healthy and eating right. Biking is freaking incredible!! I am 51 and more than twice as fit as I have ever been. I do twice as much now as when I was 25. Did I mention biking is freaking incredible!!! LOL.
10-01-19, 09:25 AM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
Ride Frequency
If fitness is your goal, FWIW here is the concensus opinion of two Fifty-Plus all year round commuters:
I started back riding in late May, typically getting in 7-10 rides a month since then.
I have aimed to ride 3x a week, but sometimes weather and life gets in the way.
Ride length has increased from 10 miles to 20, with speeds averaging 14 to 16 mph.
Heart rate averaging 130 +/-
At what point do I look to increase the frequency?
I have aimed to ride 3x a week, but sometimes weather and life gets in the way.
Ride length has increased from 10 miles to 20, with speeds averaging 14 to 16 mph.
Heart rate averaging 130 +/-
At what point do I look to increase the frequency?
At any time. If you feel up to it, go for it. I ride between 3-5 times a week because I can.
No definite amount is required. Just enjoy the ride.
No definite amount is required. Just enjoy the ride.
Last month, out of the blue, I was asked to interview for a different position in another department of the City…
I was concerned about getting decent miles in. This is the time of year when I'd take my 17-mile long loop to work, and a 13-mile cut of it coming home.
It's not that I chase miles for the sake of numbers. It takes me 50 miles a week just to feel good and normal, I feel fantastic over 100 miles a week, and like Superman over 150.
I was concerned about getting decent miles in. This is the time of year when I'd take my 17-mile long loop to work, and a 13-mile cut of it coming home.
It's not that I chase miles for the sake of numbers. It takes me 50 miles a week just to feel good and normal, I feel fantastic over 100 miles a week, and like Superman over 150.
10-01-19, 09:47 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190
Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 526 Times
in
349 Posts
I ride 6 days a week, sometimes 7 days a week. Weekdays are solo rides so there is no benefiting from anyone's draft: 1-2 days will be an all out effort for about an hour straight (think time trial effort). Other days will be tempo, and a zone 2. I usually rest on Friday so I am ready to go hard for group rides on the weekends. If I don't rest on Friday, it will either be a zone 1 recovery or another zone 2 depending on how I feel. In another life, I trained extensively in a different sport so I have learned to listen and understand what my body is telling me. I rest when my body tells me I need it, which averages about one day a week.
Last edited by jadocs; 10-01-19 at 09:52 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MathBunny
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
3
04-29-15 08:47 AM
