I reached my cycling goal today...

[Crankin]

I got to go out for a 20 mile ride late this afternoon and with a little extra riding (actually found a new street with a hill), I met my mileage goal.

3,031 miles.
2,895 on the Kuota Kebel
136 on the Jamis Coda

It seemed a lot easier than the only other time I rode this much. Not sure why?

[Biciclista]

means you're getting stronger? Maybe next year make a bigger goal!

[tulip]

Overseas tours have that effect. Congratulations!

[PamNY]

Congratulations. That's very impressive.

[Crankin]

I am not sure if I am stronger. Stronger for some things, maybe. I don't have to use my granny gear as much on some hills, but if it's near the end of a ride, that wipes me out and hurts my knee. I guess not using my granny to get up Strawberry Hill is an accomplishment. I used to think it was really hard... before I moved to a street with a bigger hill! I did more 40-60 mile rides, consistently, and that made a difference. But, I have a different attitude. It's mostly been fun, with little emphasis on speed, although at the peak of the season, my speed was up where it was 3 years ago, which is fine for me. I did about 10-15 club rides and was able to hang with the faster group, but they are not fast by most club standards... we're too social.
Yes, the tour helped, but it wasn't a tour with huge mileage-- just about 30-40 miles a day for 8 days. Just hard climbing! Unlike last year, I didn't do a lot of errands on my Jamis, which counted for about 300 of my miles in 09. It was just too hot to be running around to farm stands and bakeries when it was 95 out.

[redrhodie]

But, I have a different attitude. It's mostly been fun, with little emphasis on speed, although at the peak of the season, my speed was up where it was 3 years ago, which is fine for me.

I noticed this. When you stopped worrying about speed, your ride reports got more positive.

It's really hard to not be concerned about speed when you're geared that way (pun intended ).

[OakLeaf]

Yay! Sounds like a great year and there's still six weeks left.

[alpinerabbit]

My first thought - so now you're quitting?

[Bike Chick]

Awesome, Crankin! The year's not over yet

[Crankin]

No, I am not quitting. This weekend looks to be great weather, high 50s. I'll probably ride Friday a bit, too. My cold tolerance has gone way up; although Hirakikubou wisely convinced me not to ride tomorrow at 6 AM. It's going to be 25 degrees and although I was willing to try the temperature, there's still a few residual puddles from the rains we've had. Not many, but since my friend broke his hip last March from riding through a shallow puddle that was really black ice, I tend to be wary.
I probably won't bring the road bike inside for the trainer until after Thanksgiving or so. I tend to get the Jamis out if there's sunny days after that, and the roads are OK, but around here, it's dicey. We might have a year without a lot of snow, but even then the roads can be full of mud, slush, salt on the shoulders. I don't have a winter bike and right now I am starting to look get antsy about x country skiing.

[emily_in_nc]

Congratulations - that's amazing mileage! I can just barely remember when I used to ride like that. I feel like I've gone on a lot of rides this year, but they've all been short (nothing > 25 miles) and no more than 2x a week, so I'm still hanging in at 725 miles. Got a late start to the season and was really busy traveling and moving in the spring and early summer, so I'm not kicking myself. I'd hoped to hit 1000, but I'm not going to be too hard on myself if I don't make it.

[lph]

Congratulations! But...um... I have to ask - why 3031? Why not a nice round number? *just curious*

[Catrin]

Congratulations on reaching your 2010 mileage goal! That is awesome, and it sounds like you had a lot of fun getting there.

[Crankin]

LPH, my goal was 3,000. I just happened to pass it yesterday.
Emily, I think the way I did this was setting my "usual" goal of 2500 miles, which seems to be my set point. I really wanted to try for 3K, but knowing myself, if I put too much pressure on myself, it doesn't work. But, when I hit 2K at the end of August,I knew I could surpass 2500. Also, I was pretty motivated when I came back from Spain, and it was only June 1st. The last time I did 3K, in 2006, I didn't make my goal until 12/25... before my Jewish Xmas dinner of Chinese food . It was a really warm day that year and I still remember what I was wearing!

[lph]

oh, I see. Pretty obvious I guess . Well done!