2011-2012 in Review – Part 2 Riding

[jlwdm]

As I detailed in Part 1 Riding, I worked a lot the last two years. Although I worked a lot in the past it was not as much as the last two years. My riding was always off and on (for years at a time until I got my custom Serotta Nove at age 60. Since then my miles have been as follows:

2007 4303
2008 4775
2009 5242
2010 6007
2011 3364
2012 2897

Riding is beneficial to me in many ways: it feels good, I am in better physical and mental condition, I enjoy the camaraderie with other riders and I solve lots of personal and work issues when I ride alone. Most of my riding the last two years is in the dark before and after work so I miss out on the camaraderie.

There are ways to fit in riding on any schedule if you really want to. I tend to make excuses not to ride at times which is reflective of my lower miles for the last two years. Living in AZ and TX I never rode much in the summer time. After a pathetic first half of the year, I rode 65 days straight starting July 4th and averaged over 35 miles per day – 2381 miles. And then the excuses started again.

When I am not riding I also eat poorly – a bad combination.

This year I will double my 320 miles for the first six months of the year in January.

NO MORE RIDING EXCUSES FOR ME, AND HOPEFULLY NONE FOR THE REST OF YOU.

I will be riding this afternoon –I hope you can too.

Jeff

[bargainguy]

Good for you, Jeff, but I've come to a different gestalt.

I could care less about the number of miles I ride. I don't aim for any amount. When I don't feel like riding anymore, I stop. If I feel like riding, I go. I've been known to do several rides a day, much to the astonishment of those around me. It's all the same to me.

For me, it's not the quantity of miles, it's the quality of the ride. A loose comparison would be it's not important how long I live, but how well I've lived that life.

I do have computers on all my bikes, but for cadence only. I always switch off the distance function so I don't get bogged down in a mileage count. If my cadence starts wilting or slogging and it hasn't occured to me yet, I know it's time to get back home.

[jlwdm]

I really agree. I just enjoy all of my rides long or short. I am not riding just for miles. But the miles are an indication of how much I am getting out to do what i enjoy. Last year I did not end up enjoying my bike enough.

Jeff

[biker72]

I ride because it keeps my weight down and overall I just feel better. I go to new places to ride and keep it interesting. Denver and Minneapolis are great places to ride...:)

Being retired and working part time, there is no good excuse for not riding more. I rode 4326 miles in 2012. I was shooting for something over 5000.

The weather in this part of Texas can be very hot so early morning rides are the norm in summer.

Go Ride Your Bike....

[jlwdm]

I rode 23 miles today - thought it would be more. The wind was blowing pretty good.

I made a mistake at the 19 mile mark and stopped for a gel and water. Took my gloves off and fingers got really cold - took the short way home.

Jeff

[AgilisMerlin]

i enjoy hearing and believe,

just ride, ride as much as you can' / and so any condition given you have already trained through

http://www.theponderingcyclist.com/

"In one of my last posts I talked about how the great Eddy Merckx would do 9 hour training rides across Belgium then take the train back, sleeping all the way. This linear cycling is something I got hooked on while touring across the US. It's amazing to ride all day, without turning around."

in link above

and read how pros train / testa - halfway down page

http://books.google.com/books?id=LDmxGcjoCaYC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&dq=Eddy+Merckx+would+do+9+hour+training+rides+acro ss+Belgium+then+take+the+train+back&source=bl&ots=eOovYmkZJi&sig=eaAddohpHgRlKCQD20h9Er7xEOM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FlfjUIjDIeXV0gGFwAE&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Eddy%20Merckx%20would%20do%209%20hour%20training %20rides%20across%20Belgium%20then%20take%20the%20 train%20back&f=false

"Then he'd do it again the next day" - I love that part'

[jlwdm]

Easy excuse not to ride tonight -32 degrees. Colder than I need to ride in DFW. But I went out anyway for 19 miles - felt good.

Jeff