I rode 2,696 miles this year! How about you?

[Zen]

What does it matter how many miles you rode?
As long as you rode it's all good.

[Mr. Bloom]

Not necessarily. For some, the normal tendency toward inertia is only overcome with goals and gauging the progress toward goal.

[Crankin]

I tend to agree with Zen, although it's easy for me to say that this year, as I met and surpassed my goal. But overall, inertia plays no part in how far I ride. It tends to be more weather related and the state of my own body, i.e. my health. I always want to ride, but I have learned the hard way when I need to tone it down. By scaling down my goals during the last 2 years, I was able to raise the bar this year.
I have no idea of what I will achieve this coming season and I am not going to set any official goals until I know what kind of job I have after I graduate in May. My only goal is to start riding consistently outdoors by March 5th, resume my early morning "dark rides" in April, and do at least one long ride a week. And to try to get a job that will allow me to commute a couple of days a week.
Right now, although I am a little envious of reading the "first ride of the year" thread, I am concentrating on nordic skiing, snow shoeing, core work, yoga, etc. I've missed a few warmish days that I could have gone out on, but now that my road bike is on the trainer, I don't feel the need to take it down. I'll probably get out on my hybrid a few times in the next 2 months, but it's not the highest thing on my list. Although i was riding in temperatures at around 32 F in December and November, I seem to have lost my mojo for cold riding conditions.
Oh, and did say I rode 3,227 miles?

[aicabsolut]

A bit over 4,000 in 2010. Similar to 2009 but a little less. Considering I had 2 nasty shoulder injuries both years and sub-optimal early winter conditions (in life and weather), I guess that's not bad. I feel way behind on base this year, though. I guess the longer race distances and some long miles in the early 2010 season are what helped me keep up despite recent time off the bike. 2011 is going to be a struggle.

[Jiffer]

4368 for me, but I think I'm missing a 44 mile ride on my log, which would make it 4412 ... but who's counting?!

Zen ... what kind of silly question is that?! It DOESN'T really matter how much we rode, but why do we even come to this site if not to banter about anything and everything cycling related? You could ask that question about a lot of posts. I found this thread fun and entertaining. It's interesting to see how many miles other people here have ridden and compare it ... just for fun. No one is better than anyone else because they rode more or less than someone else. Just my two cents.

[indysteel]

Zen ... what kind of silly question is that?! It DOESN'T really matter how much we rode, but why do we even come to this site if not to banter about anything and everything cycling related? You could ask that question about a lot of posts. I found this thread fun and entertaining. It's interesting to see how many miles other people here have ridden and compare it ... just for fun. No one is better than anyone else because they rode more or less than someone else. Just my two cents.

Agreed. There's nothing wrong with keeping track of one's mileage or using it as a motivator. There's also nothing wrong with not caring two cents about it. I've done both and been perfectly content with the outcome.

To each their own, Zen. To each their own.

[SLash]

2,178.47 miles ridden on the road in 2010.

[oz rider]

What does it matter how many miles you rode?
As long as you rode it's all good.

In some ways, it doesn't even matter if you rode (although most of us would probably prefer it that way hehe). So long as we're all doing some form of exercise to stay fit and healthy.

But equally, something that tracks your progress can be invaluable, whether it's as part of structured training for a target goal or just to help with your internal motivation. I did a lot of training early last year and loved the bar charts that My Cycling Log produces - more useful to me than Garmin Connect and mucking around with files. And when in doubt about recovery week load or weekly build I could look at the charts of one of our group's elite riders to get a feel for the proportions and tweak my weekly load. I needed to build to 600km/week and logging it helped me do that. Highly recommended.

[Jo-n-NY]

Last year I had a goal of 3,000 miles and reached it. This year for the first time I did not want to set a goal but ended up with 2700 miles. I am happy with that.

[Christopher]

No idea how far I rode in 2010 but had some great rides. At one time I did log all my rides but was beginning to feel like a rat on a treadmill with a quota to fill - I have enough of that at work. So when I put together a tourer/CXer I left the computer off and haven't missed it. It's the bike I ride all the time now, hardly touch the racer.

Actually my riding is more how I used to ride when I was 14 years old: just getting out and exploring. Sometimes I combine it with hiking and swimming, sightseeing etc.

[DarcyInOregon]

6,354.91 miles for 2010. A friend did over 15,000 miles for 2010, which put my miles into perspective. For 2011 I have some cycling goals that are specific rides, but will focus on total body fitness, so total cycling miles will not be a fitness goal for me other than I will maintain cardio endurance and focus on gaining speed on long climbs. I really enjoy spin class and hope to keep it up during the cycling months. I also am learning more kettlebell routines and want to see how far I can go because the kettlebells are such a physically aerobic total body workout. And I will do more hiking and running.

[kfergos]

6,303 road miles with a couple good crashes in there. I find total mileage interesting but it's not the driving factor in my riding this year; my 20-mile each way commute drove the mileage. This year I don't have that commute, so I'm sure my mileage will drop. I hope to just stay fit and healthy and get some other non-bike exercise in for a change.