I've ridden bikes off and on for the past 5 years, starting with fixed and then moving into road bikes. My friends and I used to randomly go on 30-40 mile rides every few weeks, which weren't too hard we always kept a decent pace. We just never got serious enough to ride everyday, even though we all had road bikes and fixed gears.

So, the past month and a half I've been riding Mon-Sat doing about 18mi a day average. The route is a combo of flats / short steep uphills. I try and keep an average of at least 15mph on the flats, but usually in the 18-19mph range. Uphills I usually sit about 8-10mph but my legs turn to jello after that.

While I have improved the overall time I can ride my route, I still have the same energy depletion feeling as when I went on my first real ride. I huff and puff in the same spots, and the uphill climbs aren't much easier.

I usually ride in the mornings, before I consume any food. I started to think the energy depletion came because I had no food in my stomach, does a meal help that much before a ride?

But mainly, I was wondering how long it took all of you cyclist the endurance to ride say 30miles at a good pace, without getting very fatigued.

Should I increase the distance I ride, train more hills, rider at faster paces?

Thanks