runabout

I just bought a bike and will pick it up next weekend.

I am 52 and have been a couch slug - ok desk chair slug, for the past 3 years. Before that I was a window cleaner for 3 years and was toned and 20lbs lighter.

I have NO clue how far is reasonable to go on my first ride.

I know I will be saddle sore for sure _ buying bike shorts before then... but I have no idea if the first few times out I should shoot for 3 miles, 7 miles, 10 - more ???

Any one have a suggestion? I know everyone is different, but I really have no clue if 3 miles is a blip that is just too short to bother with or if 10 miles is kinda long or what...

I have no clue what my speed will be, aside from pretty slow... bought a Lotus Excelle and boy are those tires skinny... I was a bit wobbly on the test ride and nervous about turning, so my first few rides I want to focus on just becoming one with the Lotus and getting solid on the basics... and comfortable in handling it.

I want to have a set distance, so that I don't flashback to being 13 on my brand new 10 speed and get confused and ride too far pumped on youthful memories and then be destroyed by it when I have to make the return and live through the next few days.

Thanks much for any tips on the first 5 or so rides on the pretty bike!

GFish

Four years ago was my first time back on a bike in 32 years. Put slicks on a 80's era steel MTB and managed a 6 mile ride the first time out. I was thrilled! At the time, I didn't know the distance with no computer, so drove the route with the truck to see how far.

So how does this help you?

The point is, it's not about distance, it's how you're feeling while riding. Don't worry about time or distance, just focus on staying upright, riding safely, without over extending yourself and above all, have fun. If that works into a mile or two, or more, then great.

In time, you'll figure it out and adapt to how your feeling. Some days you'll fell strong and ride longer, then others will be short. It's not a race, there's no schedule, it's just you and the bike. There's a saying that's used often but all so true and certainly applies here............ Just get out and ride!

All the best.....

otg 

I'm pretty much in the same boat as GFish. Put some air in the old mountain bike tires and rode out and back, wasn't sure how far. I took a nap when I was done, and later drove the route to measure it. 8 miles, with one fairly long hill. Pretty much wiped me out. I kept at it, and have dropped 80 lbs over the past 4 years. I also now have a garage full of bikes, it got a bit out of control. I have no regrets at all. Lately I've been riding to work, 15 miles each way, a couple of times a week. Just enjoy yourself, I'm 59 and feel like I'm 12 when I'm on the bike!

scrming

THIS!

GFish is spot on!

mapeiboy

Your butt will tell you how far to ride .

obed7

A set distance at this point? Nope, just go ride...spin, do not mash...ride for awhile, take a break and drink some water, and ride some more....your body will tell you when you have had enough...don't push beyond that and ride again the next day...I was off the bikes for 50 years and the first time back on I went for 3-1/2 miles and took a water break, and rode those 3-1/2 miles back home....I was damn proud of myself.
Oh, and I averaged a whopping 8 mph....a couple years later and 80 lbs lighter, it takes me almost that distance to get warmed up...

fishboy316

+1 Nailed it!

Wingsprint

All of this. Just enjoy the ride for now, you can add pain and suffering later.

big john

When I started I did a 5 mile loop around a local park and it was plenty. I thought I was a badass when I was able to do 2 loops much later.
Of course, that was 1982, or so.

tsl

Everyone is different, so listen to your whole body, not just your butt or your legs.

The numbers quoted above are staggering compared to my first rides. I managed the 0.67 mile ride home from the LBS with a rest stop in the middle. For several weeks I needed to stop halfway on my two-mile commute.

These days, I stretch my commute out to 17 miles going to work, and shorten each end a bit for 13 mile rides home. When I get out with the club, I look at their 30-50 mile rides, then ride the 10 or 20 to the ride start, then again back home.

Bill Kapaun

I always recommend a VERY short distance the 1st day.
See what your legs/body tell you on day 2 and adjust upwards if able.
When I got back into riding about 12? years ago, I didn't go that far, but I was mashing.
The next day my calves were so sore, I didn't get on the bike for over a week.

just add a little everyday and in a week you'll be going much longer and not be miserable.
Spin, don't mash. Don't be afraid to stay one gear lower than you think you can handle.

wphamilton

The first few rides, time not distance. Of course we want milestones, to know that you rode farther today than ever before. But I think as a target it's better at first to think of time in the saddle than how far.

The reason for this is that after a certain amount of time - it could be 20 minutes, or any amount of time - it's just going to feel sore on the saddle. It's not the saddle - we adapt to it and as we ride more it takes longer before that feeling hits. Or eventually, stops happening. We'll also get faster just naturally, and able to sit in the saddle longer the rides naturally have more miles.

It doesn't matter where we start, even one mile or around the block, because as long as we do it consistently and strive for a little more - harder, or longer - we usually improve quickly and reach the same levels regardless of the starting point.

KenshiBiker

Lots of good advice in this thread, but when I got back in to biking (and even when I was biking, but taking winters off) the first ride of the season always seemed to feel pretty good, but it as the second ride that was the real test.

SurfNTurf

..............

DBrown9383

Don't over do it. My wife and I just got back in to cycling this spring and started with 20mi. rides. Big mistake. Saddle sore, hip and knee pain etc. etc. We did not have our bikes fitted properly, we didn't have water bottles.... the list goes on and on.

MinnMan

Don't measure anything. Just go out for a ride and enjoy it, like you did when you were 12.

All that other stuff will come.

langa

I agree with this. Your butt might get sore before your legs ever do. I suggest going out for half an hour and extending that to an hour if you are up for it. Mileage can range from 5-15 miles depending on how fast you go.

fietsbob

Use your bike to go get your groceries.. ride more daily , commute to work, Do not wait till the weekend riding binge.. .

qcpmsame 

I agree with tsl, most of the returning first and even more, rides are far beyond what I managed to pedal when I got back on the bicycle after a lot of health issues, for 25 years. I was managing to eke out 2 miles a day, 5 days a week, and felt like I had been in a marathon, or maybe a nice long forced march. It took me a bit to get my fitness where I could do the mileage I now am capable of producing, but it was worth all the effort to keep at it.

As so many said above, just ride what you feel good at doing right now, let your body tell you when its time to increase. the long rides will come to you, if you stick with cycling, and not by spending a fortune on a bicycle, although that can be fun, too.

Bill

10 Wheels

Aim for 5 mile rides..as you get stronger go for 5 miles, rest then try another 5 miles.

Practice standing to coast, then pedal in a high gear while standing.

welshTerrier2

As many have said, "how far" is the wrong question. A much better question is "what kinds of things can I do to really get into riding and stay with it for a lifetime?"

Pushing until you're sore doesn't work for too many. Even riding by time doesn't work. Get into spending some off the bike time planning routes (try ridewithgps.com). Map out routes to visit friends or to visit scenic spots or to stop for lunch at a new restaurant. Bring along a friend ... or two ... or more.

Read up on safety equipment, comfortable clothing and various bike toys. Read about bike safety. Read about hill climbing techniques. Become a motivated student.

The greatest reward will be found by learning to love cycling and staying with it for a lifetime. Building up quickly so you can ride fast and long is probably not the best place to start.

For your first ride, ride short enough so that you'll want to ride the next day and the next and the next and ...

tg16

The only reason there's not a 12 step program for bike riding is because no one wants to lose the addiction/obsession once they have it. Ride all you want and don't worry about distance.

Bill Kapaun

Probably because you overdid the first ride.

KenshiBiker

No doubt I overdid it That's kind of my point; sometimes the first ride feels pretty good , but then, the second ride . . . not so much .

John_V 

For your first ride, try riding around the neighborhood and see how you feel afterward. I started riding again after a 20 year hiatus at age 63. My wife bought me a bike for my birthday and I was anxious to try it out that night. After supper, I went for a ride around the neighborhood. Like tsl, I rode less than a mile and I was done. Couldn't walk for the next two days and swore I would never get on the bike again. If it wasn't for the fact she paid more money for the bike than what I would have spent on any bike, I would have given up. But I didn't. At age 68, I'm riding six days and 200-250 miles a week.

My favorite cycling slogan is a sign I saw hanging over the sales counter in a bike shop that read, "The more you ride the better you get and the better you get the more you ride." Listen to your body and don't start off trying to do too many miles or worry about how fast you are going. There isn't going to be any medals or chances to stand on a podium when you get done. Enjoy each ride and the rest will come to you.