Even when not training for anything, I’ll usually do a 5+ hour ride every saturday. Nothing like getting up early and leaving in the dark, watching the sunrise, getting home before lunch. Fall is my favorite, getting home and turning on college football and take a nap on the back porch. I’ll often meet up with my club ride for ~3hours of the ride, but also enjoy the solo time in the early AM. The “A” races I target can be very long, so I don’t think of a 5 hour ride as a long day and the time tends to fly by.
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Given the chance, I would gladly go on a 4+hour ride every weekend. I enjoy the scenery and finding new roads. For me, it’s a break from reality.
I’ll gladly go on a long ride with a good friend, but I prefer to just go solo most of the time. I’m very much a morning person and I love to get rolling before sun up and be able to watch the sun come up while I’m riding. I don’t have many takers when I say I’m starting a gravel ride at 5 or 5:30 a.m. That also let’s me get in a solid 4-5 hour ride and be home with plenty of day left to be with my family.
Long rides are just good for my soul (and fitness).
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It takes me an hour to start feeling comfortable with my effort in the saddle nowadays.
Plus the longer I pedal the more fresh and interesting places I can explore (and the more cafes I can reach for tea and scones!).
regardless of the answers here, this is all you need to know.
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I think if you lived in a cycling Mecca, specially off-road, you’ll probably delete your question.
You get use to it.
I remember when I started running before cycling I found a 30minute run to feel like AGES. Now a ‘normal’ ride for me is around 3:30-4 hours. with long rides closer to 6 (purely moving time).
Honestly, you do something often enough you get used to it. Time stops, your mind stops, and you meditate as others have said. That meditative state is why I have grown to love cycling.
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Joy.
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I get scolding looks from my wife while I eat half the groceries in one sitting.
And fitness gains. As long as I dont find the oreo’s.
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Just back from almost 5 hour spin in glorious sunshine and mountains (2000m over 130km).
Out with my best mate who I hadn’t seen for a month so a good catchup and laugh! Felt strong on the bike, enjoyed the mountains. For me this is why I do workouts in the first place as it enables me enjoy tough spins and feel buzzed up when I get home.
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What a glorious thread to stumble upon. A whole bunch of people loving long rides simply because it makes them happy.
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^^^ agreed!!! love hearing how much people love their bikes.
i am going to train to do some longer rides.
I enjoy riding my bike with a purpose…to get somewhere…not so much just doing an exercise.
that’s why I chose commuting for my rides. (I do enjoy as structed-as-possible training during the commutes).
so this thread gave me some ideas. I am going to work up to longer rides for sure to try out. I am thinking my wife and I like vacationing within a few hours of the house so we can bring the dogs. I’ll get up and leave early and ride out for our next trip. then work up to where it takes me two days to get somewhere, etc.
or just picking a town a few hours away and grabbing a coffee. I can see myself liking that.
scenery and conditions are maybe C+ / B- around me…so not the best to just hop on and see nature…but not the worst. I think i’ll enjoy a journey / challange.
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mountains!
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This is me. I’d rather bike 100 miles than drive 100 miles. 
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South Dakota here; feel the same about wasting good weather. 
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Parent for 6 1/2 years now and I really, really miss long rides. As a bit of an introvert it’s a fantastic way to recharge. Also, gets you places you wouldn’t usually get to if you don’t like driving. The way I did it wasn’t constructive from a pure training point of view but always had a ball. And it was sort of validating for someone who didn’t exercise or do any sport until his forties. These are a couple of my biggest but not soul destroying in any way. Just not wanting to stop :-).
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