New Years Resolution: how many miles?

[Mikey]

I know we are a few weeks out but I was thinking about how many miles I plan to do next year and thought it would be interesting to see how many as a group we plan to do.

Starting in 2008 I told myself I would ride 2500 miles, but I pulled a little under 300 by the end of the year. The next2 years I promised myself 2000 miles, and reached a little over 500 and a little under 900 respectively. Last year, I jumped in with both feet, left the car at home and hit 2207 miles. 2012 was a nice year and I should hit 4500 miles some time next week, before going on christmas break.

My goal for 2013 is 5000 miles.

Topic

[Greenbelt]

@JoeB 39538 wrote:

Thanks! I work at Thomas Circle, so the actual bike riding part of my commuting plan is pretty straightforward. The problem (as always) is getting the logistics sorted out and breaking out of all the network effects that have locked me into commuting by car. I picked up a solid commuting bike in December, and just need to add lights & fenders and get a bag for the rear rack and then I think the hardware should be good to go. I’m a member at a gym across the street from my office (Balance – great spinning classes there, btw), so while it may take a while to get the office shower arrangement worked out I’m hoping to get started with a “once a week” plan just using the showers at the gym. (Which happen to be under construction right now, but are supposed to be back online soon.)

Small confession: when I first got this job back in 2005 I actually managed to bike it to the office several times a week (sometimes every day) for about the first three months. Then I ended up spending about six months working at a client site in Alexandria, with weird hours and random meetings outside the office – which was basically that first small crack rock of car commuting such that I never got myself back into a bike commuting routine to get downtown. Until now…

“Network effects” — geez, another economist! Welcome!

[KLizotte]

@Greenbelt 39548 wrote:

“Network effects” — geez, another economist! Welcome!

Hey we economists rock! Just don’t ask us how to fix the economy.

[DismalScientist]

Bah humbug.

[JoeB]

@Greenbelt 39548 wrote:

“Network effects” — geez, another economist! Welcome!

Nope, worse: lawyer. Meaning I throw around terms like “network effects” without a particularly thorough understanding of what they mean. But thanks!!

[JoeB]

@Tim Kelley 39542 wrote:

I’ve been out there a few random mornings when its been pretty cold. What bike are you on?

I’m pretty easy to spot. Pretty tall and on a black and pink bike.

Blue Ridley. Great bike, but woefully underpowered. The frame and the wheels and the fork and the seat and the shifters and the drivetrain are all spectacular but the engine needs a lot of work…

But I don’t think I’ve bumped into you yet – I’ve only done their hills ride two or three times and I would have remembered that bike!!

[jwetzel]

I’ve resolved to stop counting.

[consularrider]

@JoeB 39564 wrote:

… and I would have remembered that bike!!

Don’t confuse it with Dirt’s stable of pinkos.

[Dirt]

@consularrider 39566 wrote:

Don’t confuse it with Dirt’s stable of pinkos.

I’ve got an orange-o on the way that is going to be really interesting.

[culimerc]

@Dirt 39583 wrote:

I’ve got an orange-o on the way that is going to be really interesting.

Unlike so many of your other bikes.

[Dirt]

@culimerc 39592 wrote:

Unlike so many of your other bikes.

This will be much more.

[Terpfan]

@Terpfan 37623 wrote:

No set goals, but I was thinking of biking down to Charlottsville-area and back at some point. Just time-consuming and I have some big things coming up next year to deal with so I’ll probably just get in my commuting miles and some extra rec miles or tag-on commuting I do. Maybe make it a goal to tag the loop on once a week instead of just nice weather days. Also, on my goals list, not to get irritated by no one calling passes on MVT .

I thought I would top the Goals thread re the halfway point thread since I couldn’t remember what I said.

I haven’t been adding a lot of loops, but I also doubled my commute, which I think suffices for that goal. Same no-call scenario, but I’ve been too busy to heed much attention so less irritated. Nothing yet though on long ride down to Charlottsville. It would tempting on Thursday, but I worry there are too many drunk idiots out on the 4th who are liable to run me over.

[KLizotte]

@acl 37686 wrote:

So you’re taking the word of someone who admits to being weak at hills that this is a worthy one? That seems like questionable judgment.

But if you really want to know– the hill is on Belle View Boulevard, south of Alexandria (22306) from Fort Hunt Road to Quander Road.

You can substitute the big scary hill (Belle View) for a much, much smaller one by taking Ft Hunt -> Swan Terrace -> Bluebill Lane -> Princeton Drive -> Cornell Drive. That takes you practically to the top of Belle View and you won’t lose any time given how slow it is to bike up Belle View. I take this route all of the time.

[Rootchopper]

I don’t ride miles. Miles ride me.

[Amalitza]

@KLizotte 72790 wrote:

You can substitute the big scary hill (Belle View) for a much, much smaller one by taking Ft Hunt -> Swan Terrace -> Bluebill Lane -> Princeton Drive -> Cornell Drive. That takes you practically to the top of Belle View and you won’t lose any time given how slow it is to bike up Belle View. I take this route all of the time.

Well, yes, but that’s cheating.

I do take a variation of that if I have a very heavy load I’m bringing home. It’s still a nice bit of a climb up Princeton but maybe I think it’s worse than it is cause I only ride it well weighted down.

[jrenaut]

@jrenaut 38281 wrote:

From February until last Tuesday, I did 2097. I’d like to do 3,000 next year, and I think that’s a reachable goal.

Ugh, I thought my goal was 2500, and I’m not even going to hit that. I’m probably at 2300ish for this year.

[Author]

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