Woo-hoo--1000 miles!/Goal-setting question

[Bad JuJu]

Yesterday I met my mileage goal for this year: 1000 miles. Woo-hoo!!!

Doesn't sound like a lot to some of you, but it's been a great cycling year for me, so far. I hardly rode at all last year, because of a couple of recurring injuries, so I'm really thrilled to be back on the bike now, and so much!

I did most of those 1000 miles during the last four months, and now I'm wondering how much I can push myself to do in the closing months of this year. I'd like to do 600, but school has just started, so I won't have as much time as I did during the summer. I'm going to say, tentatively, 400-500 miles between now and 31 December.

So do you set cycling goals each year? And if so, how do you determine them? Are they mileage goals or speed goals or event goals (do a century, do a multi-day tour, etc)? I love to ride my bike for no other reason than that I love to ride my bike, but I try harder when I have some goal in mind. How about the rest of you?

[li10up]

Yesterday I met my mileage goal for this year: 1000 miles. Woo-hoo!!!
On July 31st I posted that I had reached my 1000 mile goal and you congratulated me, saying:
1000 miles for the year is my goal also. I'm about 200 miles away from it, but just started riding again in April of this year. I'm chipping away at it though. Look over your shoulder--can you see me way back there, trying to catch up?
Girl, you caught up fast! I'm so happy for you. As for your question I've only set three goals so far. My first one was to ride 1000 miles this year and to ride a metric century. I was able to do both. My last goal for the year is to reach 1500 miles. I think setting goals is a good idea. But since I'm still pretty new I'm reluctant to set too many or aim too high. If I don't reach them it may be too disappointing and end up setting me back. I'm sure those that have ridden longer can be of more help. Again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[Veronica]

I have lots of different goals.

One is to have more mileage per month than I did last year.

I want to climb more than I did last year - very close to getting this one.

I wanted to finish a particular double century, but I DNFed. I did complete 3 others. So that's a goal for next year.

Now that I'm back to work, I want to burn 6,000 calories a week cycling - either in the trainer or outside.

I want to ride my mountain bike to the top of Morgan Territory w/o stopping.

That's about it.

I tell my students a goal isn't supposed to be something you know you'll accomplish. It should be a challenge. I try to follow my own philosophy. :D

V.

[GLC1968]

I haven't set total milage goals yet, but that's mostly because I tend to set other types of goals.

This year, my goal was to complete a century (did it Aug 12th). This goal quickly morphed into completing 2 centuries (the second one is Sept 9th).

I also set goals to:
start commuting to work (done)
learn to ride in the rain (done)
get to where I can average greater than 17mph on rides over 35 miles (done)
ride a minimum of once a week through the winter
lose 15 lbs (off me...not my bike!)

I'm working on next summer's goals but they will likely be 'challenge centuries' (greater than 8000 ft of climbing) and or self-supported touring. Though...racing interests me as well. No matter what my new goals are, I still plan to continue to meet my old ones (I plan to ride the same centuries next year, too).

I think I may also set some milage goals for my commuter bike...just so that I'm forced to commute even when I'd probably rather just jump in the car! ;)

[Geonz]

Good ideas - distance isn't the only goal, eh?
My goal this year was to have more miles on the bikes than the car. I'm ahead by over two thousand miles :) So unless I drive to my sisters a couple more times... Before that, my goal was to do that for a week, then a month. (Then I got the Xtracycle, and got more comfortable with *flying* to my sister's...)
It helps me to break it down ... how many miles per week will that be - and are there going to be "bad weeks?" THanksgiving has very little riding on my schedule, usually, and while I've now expanded my commute to blazing a night-time trail, it's usually the 15-mile version in the winter, not the 35 or 40 mile version (hmmm... maybe that will be the new goal... longer cold weather miles...since I was given Gore-Tex, what's my excuse?)
KNowing that inspires me to squeeze in those Sep and Oct miles (like riding to Bloomington instead of driving), and it's fun to build up my "mileage bank account" towards my goal of 7000 - 7500 for the year... 7000 is my "know I can make it," 7500 is my "go for it!" goal. (I need goals I *know* I can achieve to "stay ahead" of... that's how my motivation works. So I started with a 5000 goal. If I'm "behind," well, I stop and smell the flowers... woops, I'm behind on the club newsletter... be back later...:p )

Set those commuter bike goals!! The more of us who are out there, the better chance we have of getting some respect by drivers and planners :) :)

[7rider]

So do you set cycling goals each year? And if so, how do you determine them?
---

Congrats on hitting the mileage mark!

My only real goal for cycling this year was to exceed the 53 days I commuted last year. I haven't counted days yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm close to that already, if I haven't exceeded it.

I am on track to beat all previous mileage based records, however. I'm at 1600 for the season, and I'm pretty confident I can top 2,000 if I stay healthy. That would be a personal best for me!

[CorsairMac]

since I bike commute I base mine on how many miles I figure I'll commute this year and then 500-1000 more for extra rides. I don't think I'll make my goal this year - and I"m ok with that.

[SadieKate]

Like the others, my total mileage for the year is only a by-product of other goals. I'm much more interested in specific events or TT speeds or climbing or tours or whatever. Total distance for the year is so variable since the intensity of rides is a huge factor (a mtbike ride can be as harder or harder than a road ride of twice the miles). My bicycling goals always let me spend lots of time with friends, also a goal.

See more here.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4588&highlight=2006+goals

[Bad JuJu]

Thanks for all the good responses, gang! I've also been thinking I need to have goals other than just mileage--so I'm training for a metric century in October. Then maybe planning for another tour next spring.

I like the calories-burned goal too, but how do you go about figuring that out?

[Veronica]

My HRM monitor tells me the number of calories. I'm using it to encourage me to spend time on the trainer now that school has started and outdoor rides will be harder to fit in.

Yeah, I'm home now, but it's 95 degrees out and I have a bunch of work to do...

I already did a 45 minute DVD this morning. :)

V.

[Crankin]

I think your mileage goal for the rest of the year is reasonable. I am about to hit 2,000, although rain has held up the last 40 miles toward this goal. My yearly goal is 2500, but I know that doing 500 between now and Dec. 31 will be hard, even though it's much less than the previous months. I'm back at school now and it will be getting cold. My goal is 250-300 for September and then we will see. I think I may be able to make it by November. Be realistic and like the others said, you can set goals for other things. My other goal was a century, which is coming up (whether I finish or not), and I also wanted to work on some technical things, which haven't gone as well. Next year, when I stop working, my goal will be 3,000, because I know i will ride more in the fall.

[Bad JuJu]

Next year, when I stop working...
Now THERE'S a goal. :D