NY..sounds like you did have a training plan of sorts. I started getting into plans in college when I started doing long brevets. I've accumulated enough knowledge about putting one together and my strengths and weaknesses that it’s much easier to do now. I only do them in detail now for a much longer ride (200+) or a long hard multiple climbing one like the Death Ride last year. I guess I just like the structure and motivation they can give me. I'm sure the mileage of the ride i plan for will also change as i get older....but it will probably still be about the structure/motivation.

Hard but beautiful ride into the santa monica mountains today….made even better being with alex. Temps were mild and in the 60’s to low 70’s which is usual for this time of year. We had a slight headwind going out of santa monica but little wind in the mountains and not much of a tail wind by the time we were back down to the pacific coast highway and then bike paths going home. Coming home it was good to feel the cooler ocean air after the climbing too. Some good climbs, beautiful views and wonderful feelings of togetherness. The SM’s have more motorcycles on the weekend and we do roads that help to lessen that and especially auto traffic. Met a couple of good friends half way into the ride and we stopped together for a nutrition and stretching/relaxing break. It was good to see them and share the combination of our olive/sundried tomato rice cakes, homemade energy bars and dried fruit with each other while sitting on grass under the shade of a color turning big oak…..one of those unexpected feelings of connection and conversation that makes a day better. We took separate roads leaving as they came into the SM’s from their home on the eastern side.
A few more climbs and a great descent past Pepperdine University and we were back on
PCH. We did stop at the Malibu Country Mart on the way home to sit, relax and drink some thai iced tea boba and eat some yummy dark chocolate covered apricots from K chocolatier….the blessing of calories burned on climbing.
76 good miles