Just curious...miles per year?

[CorsairMac]

Good luck and let us know how it goes! There are quite a few bike commuters here on the board and I don't think any one of us would trade that ride in for our cars if we have a choice! It is Such a great way to start and end your day!

[RoadRaven]

Well... also feeling a little daunted by some of the miles here... I'm a numbers gal too and like to keep track of distances, averages etc etc, but mainly so I can (hopefully) see progress in my cycling ability...

In my first year I did 2532 km on the road (plus some time indoors on the trainer).

My goal for this, my second year, is at least 3500... I have made a good beginning as for the first three months I have managed 751km - not bad considering how demanding work and family have been on my time thus far...

[Barb]

I will make you feel better! I bought my bike two years ago in May. In July I broke my thumb and could not ride because I couldn't hold the handle bars...until October. I live in Michigan and did not try to ride in cold weather. Total miles for that year 600. Last year I bought a mtn bike. Planned to ride across the state on rails to trails in July. BF mom became terminally ill and I helped out, and hung close to home. Less than 300 miles.

Now it is finally fine riding weather. Tomorrow I start really training. I have a 52 mile one day tour in May and in June the PALM (Pedal Across Lower Michigan). I better log some miles or my butt will fall off trying!!!! I can't wait, I am sick of the trainer!

[Bike Goddess]

I started riding in August of 03. My first full year (2004), I did about 3000 miles. This is when I discovered I could do century rides and feel good afterwards. I even managed a double metric that year, much to my surprise.

Last year, I clocked in just under 7500 miles. BUT, I did a lot of cycling to make that goal. 5AM rides, longer rides on my days off, lots of century rides. Since I have a full time job (37-40 hrs/wk) cycling has to fit into my work schedule.

This year, my strategy is a little different. I haven't been doing early morning rides. Instead, when I have a day off, I go out earlier than the rest of my riding pals so I can get in more miles (metrics) and still socialize with them on the way home. My original goal was 2 metric centuries a week. March weather has put a dent in that so we'll see if I can catch up later. My goal this year is 7500 miles. If it ever stops raining around here, I MIGHT make it!

In December '05 I got a new bike (Scott CR1)which is lighter and more appropriate for my riding style. Now I'm contemplating doing more double metrics and at some point might even try a double century (just to see if I can do it). For me, it all started with 10 mile rides which turned into 20 miles, and then pretty soon it was metrics, then centuries, then double metrics. I just keep looking for where my limits are. So far, so good!

You gotta start somewhere, so don't let those of us who have been riding awhile intimidate you. Just know we were all newbies to this at one time or another in our lives and we also wondered how others racked up those long distances!

[songlady]

My first year of focused cycling was 2004, I was riding a Trek hybrid and managed 1600 miles. Feeling very pleased with myself, I tried to work a little harder in 2005. On Dec. 31st, I sat down and added up the miles with my calender and calculator (just to double check) and got 1993.5 miles. If there had not been snow on the ground and a bitter (single digit) wind chill, you bet I would have been out there for those stupid, measily 7 miles!!
Got my first road bike a month ago, absolutely loving it. Should be interesting to compare mileage this year!

[Geonz]

When I got my first bike-shop bike with a computer, it was over a year later I think when I went back for a new helmet to celebrate 1000 miles. (The helmet was older or it didn't fit or something.) Probably rode a little more the next couple years but it was mostly summer. THen I added sometimes commuting (2.5 miles each way) to work.

It's gradually taken over. I'm up to 7500 + for the last two years, but this year that Xtracycle (well, and the state of the world) has pushed me across a threshold of reluctance to use the car for anything at all close. I'm only 7 miles from work, but often I take a 15 mile route to get here. I hit 1000 miles in mid March, my earliest, and I'm 'way ahead of the car (1275 bike - 596 car). I'm afraid that 30 mph winds and thunderstorms weren't enough to get me in the car this week... I've found I don't dissolve (or get cold) in the rain.

There are lots of creative ways to commute, though: "park and ride" at either end, etc. At least find a route so that on a really nice day, when you feel like it, you can make it a great bike day and ride in. Give yourself that extra 15 minutes for cleaning up... maybe let 'em know hey, you're trying something new and might be late (have a cell phone?).

Also figure out how to use the bike for all the little local stuff, though there are some parts of this town I really don't like to drive to... but my tolerance has been getting better and I'm getting more willing to negotiate traffic. Drivers are still amazingly nice. I think the main thing is to gradually increase what you do (like all addictions - you don't start out thinking you'll end up obsessed! It sneaks up on you!), at your pace.

We have this idea that cars are *so* much mroe convenient than bikes, but actually it's because we've gradually developed habits. I realized that now, the car is almost less convenient than the bike because *it* is the thing that is different and I have to ask myself "okay, what do I need to have?" I'm the most disorganized absent minded slob (spontaneous, creative genius?) yo'ull ever hear about... but I count off on my fingers "helmet, sunglasses, water, keys, pump, gloves, phone" and I'm out there (usually without at least one of those thigns because I can't find it, but at least I know I can't find it).

[betagirl]

I rode about 2800 miles last year, which was from about the end of March til the end of September. I live in Chicago, so we have a rather short season. Well, where it's warm enough for me to ride The year before that I did about 2000 miles.

I set my goal on Bike Journal for this year at 5000 miles. I recently moved where I'll be doing a lot more riding, so I hope that that means I am able to meet that goal. We'll see