Long distance biking and hiking - suggestions?

[kristadb]

I got my bike just as the snow fell last year, so I only got to ride it to work once. :( As well, my bf and I are investing a large amount of money to replenish my backcountry gear* and to set him up so he can come along.

So this is 2 fold. First, I need to get back into hiking long distances for the summer (since we're planning to do that 2-3 times**). Also, I want to start biking to work in the spring (30km roundtrip).

I do have a stat bike. If I can build myself up to the 30km a day on the bike part, would the hiking automatically be easier for me, or would I also have to work on that independent of the biking?


*Most of mine was lost in the divorce
**I wasn't able to get the time off that I wanted for my British Isles trip during the warm season, but I can get a series of shorter periods off. Postponing the BI trip and doing the camping instead.

[Walter]

Wow, that's quite a bike trip! Back and forth to work for me is around 7km, but with all of my side trips, and where I bike on my days off and such, I'm sure my average is probably 12-15km/day. That still doesn't compare to 30km! Is it very flat?

Well, I think that biking should help your hiking ability, but I'm sure there are going to be some muscles that just aren't used in biking that are used in hiking. I'm in ok shape from the biking that I do, but I still can't go for a run for the life of me. I'm ready to stop after just a minute of trying! And when I hike out of where I live (instead of biking out) I can almost always feel it in my calf muscles, as if I never use them!

But still, I don't do 30km a day!

[kristadb]

I used to bike 40km back and forth to visit my bf (later husband) in university, so I know I can do it :D It's very flat. I gain a total elevation of about 4 inches :lol:

Good point about the calf muscles. I used to train by filling up my back and walking to work with it, shopping, etc. I can do that again.

[Hansbos]

I think the biking would be very helpful for getting in shape for hiking. That amount of daily exercise and you could probably climb Mt. Everest in a year or so! :)

[kristadb]

30km just doens't seem that far. My one trip was 45 min each way. It's 1 1/2 hr on bus one way...you can see why I want to bike :D

[bethanie]

Yes, I think if you're bike training (particularly long distance) everything comes easier. When I was living in SF and biking a fifteen mile round trip to school and back, i was able to participate in a half marathon without even really preparing for that in any major way...I mean other than taking a few jogs around the neighborhood. I completed it and did well I might add...though the next day, every joint in my body did ache. But yes, I do think the biking will prepare you.

B

[Walter]

30km just doens't seem that far. My one trip was 45 min each way. It's 1 1/2 hr on bus one way...you can see why I want to bike :D
If it's flat, then it shouldn't be too bad! 30km in San Francisco would be very tiring. :D

Biking is almost always faster than taking the bus (other than at night time when there's no one taking the bus and no traffic.)

[kristadb]

Also, if I bike to work, then I can class that time as exercise AND be able to eat a lot :D

[bethanie]

Yes, that's always the big bonus of working out for me...LOL, I was asked by one of the parents this morning if I'd be volunteering again in the spring for girls on the run (which is a running/self esteem program for girls 3rd grade through 5th). I looked at her and said, "Well that's really a no brainer for me. Show up in the afternoon and get in a good work-out..AND do something nice for these girls."---not to mention I get to eat more. :) In fact, I went in to work this morning and had one of the pastries that had been left, and as I walked out of the office with it hanging from my mouth I mumbled to another teacher, "Hey, I ran this morning, I'm entitled."

B

[kristadb]

Yes, the eating is always a wonderful justification :D