What constitutes a 'long' ride?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Just wondering what people would view as a long ride, either in hours or miles covered?

I'm asking as I've seen a few things of late which make me believe my ideas and those of others, may differ quite a lot

[Taylor]

Short ride, around an hour.

Medium ride, upto 4 hours.

Long ride upwards of 4 hours I suppose.

Depends on the terrain aswell I suppose as lots of big hills make it harder so some folk will put that down as a long ride even though the distance may only be small.

Did 46 miles, loaded, on saturday in just over 4 hours, but didn't feel like it was anywhere near a long ride.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I suppose in my head something 6+ hours starts to become a long ride. I'm just always a little surprised by how many people think that 3 - 5 hours is an epic (mbr mode) ride.

I know that everyone has time constraints and you can't always stay out as long as you'd like to but it doesn't seem uncommon for the *'average' rider to panic at the thought of more than 4 hours on a bike.

* That will be as in 'a rider with normal mtb interests' not average as in fitness, although there may be a link between the two

[Taylor]

There's a lot of folk on STW that think a lap of W2 is epic. They are generally overbiked for the route and can't ride for toffee but talk a good game.

[Matt]

They are generally overbiked for the route and can't ride for toffee but talk a good game.

You called?

[Ian]

I did all the trails at Afan in one go once in just over 6 hours. That was a long ride, all things considered.
The WRT was a long ride for me in terms of duration - something like 11 hours on the bike on Sunday. Comparing the two, I think I was probably more tired from the Afan effort. I've been out on the MTB done half the miles, stop twice as often and been a lot less tired for the same duration.

I think it depends on pace, difficulty/ conditions/ severity of terrain and duration. Though having just followed the TD coverage, what constitues a normal "long ride" gets put into perspective somewhat

[didnothingfatal]

A long ride is going to Nando's post ride and ordering whole chicken platter, medium ride needs a half chicken and two sides, short ride no Nandos just cake and cup of tea.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Sorry about this and please excuse my hillbilly tendencies but ... wtf is Nando's?

[valleydaddy]

Stu, it's a Portugese chicken restaurant chain, so common now there is one in Merthyr.

grilled chicken so a healthy choice can be achieved

http://www.nandos.co.uk/

[Taylor]

Posh KFC where they serve beer

[Ian]

excuse my hillbilly tendencies

Don't worry Stu, I went into a petrol station far out in the wild west of Pembrokeshire to buy some lunch. Converation went like this:
me (browsing the sandwiches behind the glass display counter): "Can I have a BLT sandwich please?"
two ladies behind counter: "A what sandwich"
me: "A BLT"
ladies: "A BLT?"
me (pointing vaguely in the direction of the sandwiches): "a BLT, yes"
Long pause
me: "Bacon lettuce and tomato?"
ladies (coo-ing): "ooooh, is that what BLT stands for. I never knew that!"
me: "...."

The packet of sandwiches in question did have written on it "Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato", rather than BLT.

True story, I kid you not...

[Taylor]

The Welsh are a simple breed for sure.