mynthdd2 wrote:70 miles?!?! I am a hillwalker and was seriously embarrassed by a bike shop when I said I would probably cycle 20-30 miles a day as per my perception of distance covered meant 20-30 miles sounded a long way - I am so not a lycra lad
I don't wear lycra (well, rarely). It was a guided walking holiday and I decided to get to Inchnadamph by train and bike. I had worked out the 36 miles from Ardgay to Inchnadamph was on quiet roads with not much in the way of climbing. My intention was to reverse the journey coming back, didn't quite go according to plan, and cycling from Ardgay to Inverness is more hilly as it involves slogging up from sea level along the B road that goes up past Struie hill to a bit over 200 m asl (towards Alness). Quite hard with a week of hillwalking and 36 miles of cycling in my legs, but having many hours to do the journey, it was a case of slow and steady, with a stop in Alness for a drink and snack. The cycle path across the Kessock bridge was very handy.
It is a shame if the bike shop embarassed you with something they said about your plans. Different people have different abilities, and what is a long way for one person is trivial for another. If someone is new to cycling and trying to get fitter they need encouragement, not ridicule.