How many miles should i bike to stay fit?

Question

Im 14 and i play soccer which keeps me somewhat in shape but i just need to know.

And im road biking

Answer 1

14 is a tough age to answer this sort of question for. You're still growing and changing significantly. I'm going to assume that you want to stay fit for soccer.

First, a gem of wisdom from the greatest cyclist that ever lived. No. not Lance Armstrong, and Lance will agree with this. His name is Eddy Merckx and lance regards him as his mentor. When asked what he did that made him so good, Eddy simply replied "ride lots".

Ride as often as you can, but not in chunks that are too long. If you can make it to school in less than one hour by bike, do it as often as possible. Ride to and from soccer practice unless you'll be in the dark before you'll get home. If so, ride to practice then get a ride home.
Ride to your friends houses.
Ride to the store to pick up stuff for your mom (put the stuff in a backpack).
Hook up with a local bike club that does weekend rides.

You probably shouldn't ride to your games. It will fatigue you, and reduce your performance in the games

During the week, an hour a day will be good. Anything less that 3 hours total monday through friday and you're not getting much benefit unless there are big hills around.

On weekends, try to get in longer rides, 2 hours or more. but no more than three hours _total_ on the weekends.

In all, seven hours a week is the most I recommend for a 14 year-old. Less if the terrain around you is very hilly.

When you get older, like 16, you can start longer rides with structure, and you should hook up with a local racing club that has experience with teenagers (known as 'juniors' in cycling).

The big thing you want to avoid is over doing it. Over training can lead to fatige and even musculo-skeletal damage. I know many young racers who went too far too fast. Most end up with knee problems, but I know one who game down with epstein-barr syndrom. He kept riding when he had a cold, it turned into mononucleosis, and he kept riding, then it turned into epstien-barr. Look up Epstein-Barr Virus on the web.

Lesson - As a teenager, do not ride when you are sick or tired. Avoid riding in cold, wet weather.
You're only 14 and you should be having fun. This is why I recommend that you ride just for miles, without any real structure or routine. If you still like it when you're 16, you can think about pushing yourself harder. Untill then, think more about being a kid. It's the only chance you'll get.

Answer 2

depends how often you bike like once a week or ever day every week or 3 times a week, etc.
if you are working every day go like 20 mins a day
if you are working like 3 times a week then go around 30 mins or more because you want to work your muscles.
i don't encourage you to bike once a week
so I encourage you to bike 3 times a week so you have days where you are resting your self and days when you are working extra hard. if you want to work every day for more that half an hour that is also great but try to work your way up instead of injuring your self.

Answer 3

Age and your current fitness is the most important factor for staying fit. It depends on how much to ride to keep fitness to knowing about your current fitness.
Though there is no hard and fast rule that how much you ride. It depends on how many days or times you ride in a week.
If you ride six days in a week you may ride 20 minutes everyday it's may keep fit you.
If you ride 3 days in a week you may ride 30 -35 minutes . It's may keep fit for whole time.
But you have to make it habit. otherwise your fitness may down .

Answer 4

As many as you can ride will keep you fit. There will be no hard and fast rule. It depends on your current fitness level, age, genetics, etc.

Answer 5

depends on were u live if there is a lot of hills 1and half miles would be good but if it is a flat hill like this ______ then 3 miles

Answer 6

you should not get on a bike for anything less than an hour

Answer 7

Mad Monkeys advice was right on. Welcome to road cycling!!! Keep it up babe but keep it fun! AND WEAR A HELMET ALWAYS!!!!!!!