Cycling Moms, Question on How to Prepare for a 50 Mile Ride

Congrats, L.! I am excited for you. I just started biking 2 months ago. I have never done a race or tour, but I DID just sign up for the Ragnar Relay which is a team running race where I will run between 15-20 miles through the Wasatch mountains. Woot!
Since I am just getting into biking, my best advice would be to get a nice gel cushioned seat to help your bum. Push yourself to go a bit further each time. When I first started biking, I would go around the block a couple times, then the next week it was about 1.5 miles to the park and back, now I am biking all the way to the trails and also going to get groceries on my bike and lugging them back in the trailer. I am to about 5 miles each time now.
It is great that you are biking each morning. Maybe push for further distance, or add in a few lunchtime trips to the park for a picnic lunch? Try to go for a longer ride by yourself on the weekends? I also think it is helpful to have a GPS (I use Map My Ride on my Iphone) so I can keep track of my miles and push myself a bit further each day.

Hopefully you have bike trails like we do. Just find one that is about a three mile loop. That way you go once, feel okay, go again, feel okay, go again. That way when you hit that wall there is only a mile or so to go before you get back to your car.

Obviously if you think you can do more than a three mile loop find a bigger loop.

I am training for a 2 day bike ride that same weekend. Good luck to you, biking is a fun activity but can be time consuming.

I would try to find some time on the weekend to get in a couple of longer rides so your legs won't be in shock. Maybe a 25 and 40 mile ride between now and then. On the day of the ride, STOP at every rest stop they have and hydrate and eat a little (especially after you have been riding over an hour). Pace yourself and don't go out too fast. It is tempting to try to keep up with all the faster folks at the start...but try to get an idea of what YOUR comfortable pace is and be aware of it on the day of the ride. Even if you don't get in a 40 mile ride...if you can try for 25 to 30 at least once you will probably be ok...just maybe a little sore.

im not pro but if i were you i would just start slowly increasing your morning ride.. mayb just by a little bit every few days to build up your stamina.. if you only have a half hour between the time your 5 yr old and 4 yr old go to school maybe wait til after they leave so u cantake a little longer ride if possible

Hi L.,

I am a mom of two (6 & 8) and this will be my third time doing the 5 Borough. It is a lot of fun and a very easy ride given it is mostly flat road. The only time you will encounter an incline is when going over the bridges. The Queensboro is steep but short and the Verrazano is a long climb but not too steep. You will also have an incline on the Gowanus Expwy which is a pretty long climb and moderately steep. Now having said, given you only have 1/2 hour each morning to bike you should try to keep your bike shifter on a high gear (not sure what kind of bike you have) to ensure your legs are fit and that you are increasing your stamina. When I prepare for the ride I typically take an intense 1 hour spin class twice a week and do an 8-15 mile trail on Saturday. My goal is to build up my endurance and I do this by focusing on my cardio. When I did my first ride I had never rode more than 8 miles and I was perfectly fine - so my advice to you is cardio, cardio, cardio!! Drink lots of Gatorade to avoid cramping and bring a few energy bars. Good luck. I will be the woman in pink in black on a cute pink and black road bike;-)