Where do I stand?

[Grog]

I have recorded pretty much every kilometer I've ridden on my road bikes (not necessarily my commuters) over the past seven years, but I quit recording time about three years ago. Don't miss it one bit!

[suzbyrd]

I go through stages where I record every little thing I ride, and then where I don't record anything. I'm in one of those right now where I want to show myself my progress as summer progresses.

[Catrin]

I do keep an eye on my average speed and miles, also like to see what my avg. cadence is after my ride. I don't worry too much about time - my speed is slow-moderate - I just keep track of speed and cadence as a way to measure my improvement.

I also refuse to refer to my rides as "training", though they are - I have more fun when I think of them as "rides". It is a small distinction but it makes a difference for me as a relative newbie.

[Crankin]

I'm with you on this, Catrin. Even though I might have certain goals on specific rides, I am not training. That sounds like work, and work is a, well, a job. Sure, I do my share of suffering, some intervals, and plenty of climbing. But if i call it training, I know what will happen.
I'll get burned out and stop riding.
This works for me because I don't ride with speedy groups and I am happy seeing improvements on my own schedule. Also, I've been riding long enough to know just about how long and how much I need to do to achieve certain things. For example, I am not very good at getting large numbers of base miles in the early spring, to build up slowly to long rides. I tend to do lots of short rides and then make myself suffer either with a longer ride (like yesterday, 42 miles) or a multi day tour. I just do it, it hurts a bit, but then I am at a new level. Same way I didn't train for the century I did. I did lots of riding, lots of hills and no ride longer than 68 miles. I was more than prepared for a flat century with lots of wind, and although I suffered a bit after mile 85, I think most people do. When I decide to do something, I do it and that's it.

[Catrin]

... When I decide to do something, I do it and that's it.

We are very much alike in this department. When I focus on "training" like I did last year I just burn out and hurt myself This year, while I do have some long rides planned for the fall, I have decided an approach very much like yours so it is good to hear that others do this as well.

[Artista]

I have recorded pretty much every kilometer I've ridden on my road bikes (not necessarily my commuters) over the past seven years, but I quit recording time about three years ago. Don't miss it one bit!

I'm quite the opposite. I focus more on time & perceived exertion rather than miles. Some of my rides are a few hours long on flat terrain while others are shorter rides with long hills. I also mountain bike; those miles feel very different than road miles. I don't even have a computer on my mtb.

Perceived exertion is the only constant that I can compare in all of my rides. I kind of keep track of the miles on my road bike just for fun but I know that they aren't fully indicative of what I am accomplishing on the bike.