How long are you comfortable cycling for on a regular basis?

[Electric_Andy]

My limit was about 2 hours. I could have gone on longer with a quick rest and a snack, but my backside was in so much pain I had to stop. I remember I cycled to my parents house which took just over 2 hours, I intended on having lunch and cycling back, but I had to stay the night because my arris had not recovered. I guess I should have had it ergonmoically set-up by a pro but I didn't

 

[Punkawallah]

My limit was about 2 hours. I could have gone on longer with a quick rest and a snack, but my backside was in so much pain I had to stop. I remember I cycled to my parents house which took just over 2 hours, I intended on having lunch and cycling back, but I had to stay the night because my arris had not recovered. I guess I should have had it ergonmoically set-up by a pro but I didn't

YouTube is your friend, here. Cade Media had a ‘bike-fit Tuesday’ series that talked a lot of sense, and showed how it is done.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

My limit was about 2 hours. I could have gone on longer with a quick rest and a snack, but my backside was in so much pain I had to stop.

If you haven't tried one already, try a quirky shaped Selle SMP saddle, with ~11mm drop between the peaks. Game changer for me indoors and out, because they support far more of the skeletal bones down there.

 

[Dogtrousers]

If you haven't tried one already, try a quirky shaped Selle SMP saddle, with ~11mm drop between the peaks. Game changer for me indoors and out, because they support far more of the skeletal bones down there.

With the proviso that we all have different backsides and what suits one may not suit another ...

It was the Selle SMP (Trk to be precise,) that freed me from similar range limitations.

 

[cyberknight]

Couple of hours with a break , then a couple of more hours .Usual club ride is about 4 hours in the saddle .

 

[esoxlucius]

Quite short for me. I'm happy going out for just an hour to be honest. Though most of my rides are probably between the 1 and 2 hour mark.

I don't cycle to go places, meet people, or stop off for sightseeing, or even do cafe stops. I cycle purely to keep my heart healthy. I get on the bike, get it done, and back home. And to give my heart a fair workout I tend to push quite hard. Even going out for just an hour I can get off the bike after and be happy with my workout.

However, i retire next year and my current cycling regime may change a little. Maybe a few longer more relaxed rides. I may even introduce cafe stops into my riding!

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Mine varied with age. As a youngster all day club runs were the norm and from then I could easily do five or even six hours till I stopped racing when I reached forty. After that it gradually reduced, the last couple of years I rode an hour was enough.

 

[presta]

A more relevant question for us oldies, is "how far can you cycle without needing a comfort break".

Sometimes the question is how far can you cycle and how many punctures can you mend when you do need a comfort break. Frantically trying to get out of town before I wet myself whilst stopping on the way to mend a puncture eventually taught me never to enter a built up area without stopping behind a hedge first.

 

[rydabent]

Im 87, and my usual trike rides are between 3 and 4 hours, with no strain at all.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

I started exploring in my bike riding from a pretty young age and have continued since. 10 plus mile out on local roads was normal from the ago of 12.

At the age of 14 I ventured out with a friend on a ride that took me from Airdrie to Falkirk and back. Up until then I never knew Falkirk existed 😂. Thinking back I was 15 miles from home without anything. No money, no puncture repair kit, no food or drink and no watch to give an idea of time. That 30 mile round trip lead onto a lot more exploring.

 

[Pblakeney]

Sometimes the question is how far can you cycle and how many punctures can you mend when you do need a comfort break. Frantically trying to get out of town before I wet myself whilst stopping on the way to mend a puncture eventually taught me never to enter a built up area without stopping behind a hedge first.

I use cafes or garages for that kind pf pressure stop. You may have to buy a little something for the privilege but I think it's worthwhile.
There's even a convenience store on one of my loops where the owner is a cyclist and will let us use their staff toilet.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Usually family responsibilities cap things at about 6-7 hours presuming I can get enough water and calories in me.
I did have a lightbulb moment once when we were really torturing the kids, it was getting late and we needed to stop at a pub for tea. The ride after the food felt almost like starting a new day. Now, if I'm wild camping, I'll just keep going until I've run out of daylight.

 

[tyred]

It's hard to say. Long, meandering rides that fill the whole day are the type I like best, but I'm never riding non-stop as I stop to examine anything of interest that I pass, or to photograph things.

I've probably ran out of daylight now to achieve my 2025 aim of riding my first imperial century since shattering my ankle, but I did manage several 80 mile +

I use Brooks saddles on any of the bikes I'm likely to use for long rides and have never had a problem with saddle discomfort.

I'd probably eat something every couple of hours or so on long rides.

 

[bighipspeddler]

Oh! seems like this thread generated quite some interest. Interesting to see I am right on the upper end of average given other's replies. I had read through the another cycling forum and was reading how their averages, at any age, were like 6-10 hours or something like that.

Not that I am competing to be up there with anyone else as I ride alone anyway! As per my OP it is due to feeling like there are different vistas just beyond the next brow I have yet to explore.

Four hours is a long while to go without food, if you stop to eat you might find you're more in the mood for going further.

The most I'd generally do without food was a couple of hours. In a three hour ride I'd stop to eat once, and anything more than that I'd stop for about ten minutes in every hour. As far as mileage goes, how many miles a day depends on how many days I'm keeping it up for.

I would say water is the more important and 4 is comfortable for me. I used to only go on 500ml but since got myself 2x 1200ml bottles and much better for it. 1200ml is probably ok for a 4 hourer out of summer I have found on the last few rides but the extra one is there for longer/hotter rides.

I can ride for about 30 miles or three hours, whichever comes first

Ah this is where I have little idea how far I am going, apart from a rough one, and will be interested to know once I get my odometer.

I like going out all day, but don't cycle for more than an hour to hour and a half in one stint. I need to give my bum a break, have a drink, something to eat and walk around a bit before going on. Something like 8 hours in all is quite doable.

Oh, indeed. For such a ride stops to take in sites would be a given for me. Also that is partly why I like paper maps. It is part of the experience to park up the bike and look at the sites by a farm gate while checking where I am. Imo, better than head down on a garmin or whatever they are called.

For me I would envision stop at 4 hours to eat and take in the surroundings and stop every now and then whenever I feel like it along the way for a quick drink or map check or whatever I feel like.

Also as to comfort stops, I am in my 40s but always been frequent in that department, up to 30 minutes at a time, which is usually more in the morning then settles down after that as the day goes on. Been told I should 'get it checked' which I have in the past but just one of those things they said if it doesn't bother you then just leave it, as any interventions would have more risks for something which is not causing apparent harm, which I have.

It has made me be reticent sometimes about doing activities with others as I know it would seem 'odd' though friends in the past I found get used to my constant stops after a bit. Maybe I should just ride with the old boys and we will all be hedge diving in unison!

 

[Rusty Nails]

. I had read through the another cycling forum and was reading how their averages, at any age, were like 6-10 hours or something like that.

The averages are meaningless unless you are talking just about the average of a self-selecting cohort of people who like cycling for hours as recreation/exercise and are on cycling forums.
I doubt that average/most cyclists cycle for anything like these times or distances.