Posts
I've never been one to make formal goals. Maybe that's my problem, with regard to getting things done. But for the past few months, I've considered setting an annual mileage goal for 2007. I don't want something arbitrary like 10k miles, although that sounds like a good goal. I want my goal to be based on something a relevant to my life, like 20 miles per day. My ride to work is about 22 miles round trip.
The one drawback is that I'd need a computer on each bike or I'd have to keep a log book. I've seen some people put their mileage on their blogs. That looks like a good way to get in a blog entry and record mileage.
For several years, I didn't have a computer on my bikes. I decided to not worry about mileage and that has served me well. Maybe I shouldn't change anything.
If you've got any thoughts on this, let me know.
11 comments:
I don't have computers on any of my bikes. I just doesn't matter much to me how fast I'm going or how far - I just ride.
I'm always curious how far a ride is the first time I do it, but after that I don't care much. If I have a high mileage week, I'll keep track by estimating. It's more about the journey and the experience.
Having said that, one of my goals for the new year is a 100 mile ride...
Elevation gain is a big part of it too. 10 miles on a mountain bike is a lot different when you throw a 1,000 foot climb into the mix. I've been beat delirious after a 14 mile mtb ride, and refreshed after a 40 mile road ride around the valley.
I'm a compulsive mileage tracker. But, it only leaves me with a list of numbers, and I never do anything with it. So do what works for you. As long as you're riding, it's all good.
I didn't start riding more until I started to keep track of the miles. Besides, I like to look down at the computer and see 35 mph on steep hills.
I love keeping track of everything in my life, and one of those is bike miles. I have a computer on each of my two bikes.
I started out noting miles blogposts, but I added the bike log this year.
Having goals helps motivate me to ride on days when my mood is sour, and miles is a good way to measure (time is also good).
Good luck!
I've been keeping track of miles for the past 4 years. It's been a real motivator for me and fulfilling because I keep blowing away my goal. I clearly stated in my blog when I set my goal for 2006 that if the goal ever took away the fun, I'd stop the counting. For me it comes down to enjoying what I'm doing. If I don't enjoy it, trying to reach a goal would make me miserable.
I agree with Jeff, the experience is the reward. How about a goal of at least 4 good rides per week (commuting to work counting as a single ride)? Or you could get a device for yourself, to count heartbeat, instead of your bike. Then your goal could be an aerobic workout with a pulse rate greater than X for at least 15 minutes, 4 times a week.
Just because you don't use a computer doesn't mean you can't keep track of miles. All the computer does is keep you honest. I don't use a computer and ride 10,000 miles per year, and maybe a lot more!
Confession: I am a bona fide cyclometer nerd, junkie, geek, etc.
Thanks for all your ideas. I'm going to start whatever it is I'm going to do on today's ride.
Pete turned me on to http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ as a way to deal with miles without computers. Much of my riding is now on my fixie or on my old Trek, and neither has a computer. Gmaps Pedometer takes care of that, at least for road rides. Now trails I don't know.
Post a Comment