2014 Mileage Goals.

Strava says 4,136 so far, which puts me on track for my “reach” goal of 8k this year. But I don’t really care if I fall short. Baby schedule constrains riding, but it is getting easier to ride early AM. And I didn’t ride as much this winter (compared to last – thanks to FS). My main riding event goal was Diabolical Double, so that is done. I lost ~12lbs this year which made a huge difference in my climbing fitness, made the DD enjoyable (but of course still tough). I am doing a couple road races, which is new, so looking forward to that. My goal is to get out of cat 5, but that won’t happen until next year. So I am happy with my work this year.

@mayurgodbole 89147 wrote:

I came here to post my goal then read all the other posts and now feel completely silly. I have a modest goal of 1,500 miles this year. I am upto 900 so far. Hoping to keep coming back to this thread to keep myself going.

1,500 miles is a lot of miles for a new biker! I rode less than that (15-20 mile rides only on weekends and only in temps >65F*) for years. And 900 miles in six months means you’re ahead of your goal.

*no comments from all you cold weather lovers, i don’t even want to hear it

A comment on goals in general, courtesy of Robert Browning:

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what’s a heaven for?”

@mayurgodbole 89147 wrote:

I came here to post my goal then read all the other posts and now feel completely silly. I have a modest goal of 1,500 miles this year. I am upto 900 so far. Hoping to keep coming back to this thread to keep myself going.

Laugh. Most of the people here that obsess about miles, heart rate, speeds, etc. are on the extreme end of the spectrum. I mean you are talking about folks that own multiple bikes, have their own bike rooms, build bikes for fun, etc.

1,500 miles is *very* respectable. Everyone has their own goals and challenges; and some folks, *gasp*, also run, swim, play tennis, walk, golf, etc. so do not bike much.

Just aim to get a few rides in every week to maintain the fun and fitness factor and you will be AWESOME!!!!

I didn’t set a specific goal for the year but I obsess over my milage and can tell you how much I rode last week, what I’m on track for this week, how many miles I have this year and over the last 12 months.

Is it “healthy” to obsess over these numbers? I dunno. But I would rather be fussing over bike miles than golf or bowling scores so why fight it? As I’ve told Kathy (ArlingtonRider) several times, this forum is like a support group for my “illness” and makes me feel not so crazy or alone for having this obsession. Of course, the forum does a lot more as well in terms of community, friendships, and great information

I don’t have a specific thing I am training for (although the Civil War Century looms in my head a bit) and I’ve come to the conclusion that for now anyway, my daily bike commute is the most important riding I do for me. This makes it easier to skip a weekend ride when other things come up. At the same time, I worked very late last night so I am working from home today which doesn’t bug me at all. What is stuck in my craw is missing my bike ride today and FCC. I seriously considered getting up early this morning and riding in after getting home at 2am. But I didn’t so…progress!

To each their own. I save all my judgement for car/taxi/truck drivers. Anyone on a bike doing whatever they are doing is fine by me.

Btw, riding the CCT and MoCo roads in the middle of the night is a thrilling experience. Kind of spooky to be so alone — I saw more deer than cars! — but very neat. I highly recommend it if you have the chance.

I didn’t have a mileage goal and hadn’t really thought about it. I didn’t even keep track of my mileage (as in recording it) until I joined the NBC. My goal was to make my commute every day for one week (42.8 miles x 5), and as it turned out, the NBC motivated me to do that every working day in May. I rode 1003 miles that month, which I’m sure surpasses any previous personal best month by 350 miles or so.

And I’ve noticed this week that I am 1-2 gears stronger than I was on May 1st, so all that riding in May paid off!

So my goal for the remainder of the year is to ride as often and for as long as my body and schedule permits, making the full commute 3-5 days per week. The important thing is that I feel much better when I commute than when I don’t. And feeling good is, well…good.

@vvill 89179 wrote:

====Originally Posted by Steve O====
1500 miles translates into 45-60 minutes of physical activity 3-4/wk

Only if you average 13mph or less. /ELITE

True. For you I guess it’s closer to 25 minutes twice a week then.