> Hi tara,

> That said, whats something to aim for in kayaking?

FUN IS A GOOD GOAL, otherwise you might try paddling for the same time it takes for you to cycle 100 miles.

In response to your other questions, I would suggest using your experience cyclying as a reliable guide. How long did it take for you to be comfortable sitting on a bike non-stop? How many strategies did you discover to maintain comfort and deal with pain?

I used to tour then race bicycles in my twenties, I am able to sit in the kayak for about the same length of time that I can ride,but much more wobbly getting out of a kayak after 4 hrs than a bicycle . But maybe thats twenty years difference and different level of training.

But for gross generalizations I think 25 miles in 6 hrs would be a good weekend warrior effort comparable to 100 miles in 6 hrs.

I remember in the first year of serious cycling listening to a national class racer in his late 20's saying that anybody can sit on the bike and ride all day at 18mph (me struggling up the hill,uh huh) but it's another thing to be fast, or develop speed and maintain it, then get really fast and recover.

Just be as kind to your joints and connective tissue as you are in cycling. Hands,wrists,arms and shoulders are a lot smaller than legs. So be careful about applying your aerobic strength developed from cycling into your wrists and shoulders before they are conditioned for it.

In cycling one can get away with overuse injuries and simply get off the bike and stick out your thumb. If you should decide to push your physical limits in kayaking make sure that you have similar bail out strategies that don't leave you drifting into unmanageable conditions. I remember in cycling there were extremely fit but new to racing individuals that developed chrondomalacia from pushing too big of gears.

get a light paddle, fit the boat out for comfort. get with more experienced paddlers for your own safety and learning. cheerio