Jsosborn

Yup, I should have noted that I switched to a 250w pedal assist bike last year. It really upped my mileage.

encode2

I'm in my 70's and last Friday picked up a new escape2. Looking forward to some fitness rides.

Fred

bemoore

I've had a hard time eeking out time for rides this year. In the past month, though, I'm finding that 10ish mile rides work for me. I can get one in after work, or on a weekend, and not have a ride be the only thing I do for the day.

big john

Years ago I rode lots of centuries, mostly club rides, and had 1000 mile months. My work took a lot out of me but for the last 20 years I've always done 5 or 6k miles per year on the road bike. By the time I retired I was slower than ever. Thought I might get back to riding more hours but apparently it's harder than I thought it was going to be. Still, I have made some gains and people I ride with have told me they can tell.

I'm 67, a little overweight, and have other physical limitations but still do at least 55-60 on Saturdays with faster people and there is always climbing. Sunday I usually ride alone 2 or 3 hours, road or mtb. Tuesday is a group ride but they go my speed, usually 40+ miles. Wednesday alone again for 3 hours, road or mtb.

The mileage thing is relative. 20 miles of flat spinning is just a warm up, or a recovery. 20 miles of hammering the hills with young skinny people is very different.

I'll probably not do centuries anymore, haven't in a couple years. I did 80 miles with 7700 feet of climbing in April, though. Felt good, just wanted it to be done.
I hope I can do a moderately difficult 50 or 60 for some years to come. A few friends have bought e-bikes but I'm not there yet.

pgjackson

Since you are in the LA area, I assume you have done the Tour de Palm Springs Century ride. That is a really fun century. Did it twice when I lived in San Diego before moving back to Florida.

big john

Nope, never did that one but friends have and said it was fun. I've done Solvang, The Lighthouse, Cool Breeze, Wildflower, Breathless Agony, Mulholland Challenge, Heartbreak Hundred, Tour de Turkey (defunct), Cruisin' the Conejo, and others I can't think of right now. Some of them multiple times.

Gonzo Bob

Good advice. I think it's OK to compare yourself to others, but don't fixate on it. I like to compare myself to myself from about two weeks ago. An objective comparison may be difficult since terrain and weather and the bike I rode might be drastically different. So I often use the last 5 minutes of each ride to relax, spin it in, and summarize the ride (just in my head, I don't write this stuff down in a journal) and note where I felt good, and where I did not feel good. For example, I rode this afternoon on my touring/commuter (we had morning rain and the bike has fenders). I took a route that included a section of rollers that I probably ride about once a week. And this is the first ride this year that I felt good on those rollers.

And short rides are about all I do these days. Yesterday I rode my longest ride in about 7 years and it was 40 miles. Weekday rides are usually 15-20 miles and weekend 20-35 miles.

bikehoco

I have a 15 mile, local, safe route. Sometimes it’s a casual ride, other times I race against the clock.

encode2

Took my bike out for a ride yesterday found out that I'm out of shape. Only did 10 miles but looking forward to increasing that over a little time.

big john

That happens to me, too, when I take my bike for a ride.

Kanon25

With those you need variety of scenery for the motivation.