Fifty Plus (50+) - Not counting

Just curious. Are there many/any other cyclists on the 50+ Forum who regularly ride bikes, and do NOT record or track their daily mileage, time spent cycling, bicycling expenses, etc?

I track mileage and average speed of 'training' rides, but none of that other stuff.

I have never recorded how much I've spent on cycling--it just doesn't seem necessary. I've only recorded that total amount of mileage at the end of the year, and even that's not very accurate, as a couple of my bikes don't have cyclocomputers on them.

I can tell you that I do not spend enough time cycling!

East Hill

Wouldn't say I regularly ride, but try to sneak in a ride every chance I have. I have cyclometers on my bikes, but I don't track or record it. Just like to know how far a certain loop I might try is, or max speed, but no, I don't keep track of it.

I only track the original cost of a bike. I don't think I want to know how much I spend on cycling clothes, equipment, tours, etc. I do keep the receipts for bike maintenance/repairs at the bike shop. The cycling clothes take up quite a bit of room in my closet:)

I track hours for the volunteer bike patrol and miles for the cycling club.

My main reason for the bike is for exercize so I don't worry much about anything statistical...however I have been keeping a rough estimate on the mileage just for the fun of it. On the other hand, as others have said, I don't lose sleep if I am not accurate. keep on biking.

I never really kept track of mileage except for individual rides, it diminishes the pleasure cycling for me. I bike to relax and get away from the pressures of life and tracking miles seems like work to me. Others are more goal oriented and like having a record.

I still wouldn't keep track but I joined the Clydes’ mileage club…

Part of me wishes I could be more casual about my riding, but that's a dream for my next life. I track my weekly accumulation, my average ride time (one of my mini-goals is to increase my average mph on a couple of my favorite rides), and my annual accumulation. I used to keep an exercise journal so I could track my progress, but that took the juice out of the ride for me.

Now I have tandem mileage/average mph to track, too. Whoo-hoo!

I don't track anything. I thought about it several years ago, but decided not to. I bike just for the sheer pleasure of it, and tracking mileage, expenses, etc., seemed to diminish that in my mind.

I don't keep track of any of those things.

Also; I don't take photos.

I just want the experiance.

One road bike and the MTB have cyclometers on them and I enjoy seeing some of the stats. The road bike has a HRM but I wear it about 2% of the time. Unfortunately, the road bike is wireless and it's always acting up (so much for $140 spent). The MTB wired cyclometer just stopped recording. It'd be nice to track milage by week/month/year but with more than one bike and malfunctioning cyclometers it won't happen.

My wife tracks the expenses and according to her it's equivalent to a car payment. I have my doubts - I know, one day soon, I'll my base set of equipment and gear complete :)

I ride the same route five days every week, year round. Similarly, expenses are also constant, as they mostly consist of paying the bike shop to put the studded tires on in December and take them off in March, plus a few tune-ups. What's the point in keeping track of things that never change?

The important things that do change include the size and position of the moon, the presence of snow, colored leaves, green vegetation, and wildlife. I prefer to just experience them, though.

Paul

I log my miles & don't keep track of $ spent over time but my "cheap" genes encourage me to seek out bargains on parts & gear. Don

I used to, but haven't had a computer on my bikes for 5 years. I know from other people and from route slips that I do 5000+ miles per year, but speed, etc., is meaningless. If you've tried motorcycles, boats, alcoholism, or divorce, you know the expense of cycling is minimal.

I have a cyclometer - most basic type. Aside for checking to see if I am slowing down or speeding up on my commute - I really don't pay attention.

I do look at my overall distance - but that is more of a curiosity than anything. Not very serious. I am currently riding at a higher level than I thought I would ever do - so that is good enough for me.

The important things that do change include the size and position of the moon, the presence of snow, colored leaves, green vegetation, and wildlife. I prefer to just experience them, though. Paul

Like the day I went out early for a ride on the local MUP--Big Soos Creek--and heard some very strange sounds...the sounds were made by RIVER OTTERS! It seems that they come up the creek every year, briefly. Very, very few people know that they are there, and even fewer have seen them. I was lucky enough that first time to be standing on a bridge over the creek when they swam by, and was not more than three or feet away from them.

East Hill

I don't keep records of any statistics. I do have computers on the 2 bikes I do long rides on, the road bike and the tandem. I mostly look to see how far I've gone or what time it is. I'll check avg speed just to see if how I feel relates to how fast I'm riding. I often check mileage to various points along a regular route for reference when laying out rides for the club.
I've stopped resetting my computers annually because I don't really care what my annual mileage is. Doesn't make sense to track it when so much of my riding is mountain biking or on bikes without computers.

No computers, no logs, no expense tracking.

i do about 50km/day, more on weekends...used to have a cats-eye computer until it broke a few years ago, so i'm not tracking nowadays

my wife, hoever, does keep track of how much i spend on bikes

Wow, lots of responses and every one interesting and enlightening to me. I expected more uniformity of thought based on other threads on 50 Plus. Nice to see the variety of approaches to the subject.

I don't track what I have spent, but I keep detailed estimates of what I need to spend on the projects and upgrades I'm planning.

I used to track everything and write it down, but as the years go by, all I care about is the experience of riding and the excersize...so no, nothing gets written down anymore. I keep an eye on the miles per trip and the total miles on my current bike, but just for fun. And, being in So Cal, I can ride all year round, so I try to bike every other day, or every third day at a minimum. Usually 40-60 miles...but I don't write it down!

No computers, no logs, no expense tracking.

+1 (almost).

I do have a computer on my wanna-be bike. Unfortunately, the feedback tells me that I go down the Alpine passes at the speeds the pros go up them.

I have a bike computer, and note my mileage, average speed and time after each ride, but don't log it. I like knowing how many miles I do a year, roughly, but haven't set any goals. My riding has to fit in around my work schedule, and I don't want to let riding become another chore that I HAVE to get done. I enjoy it too much for that. I like to ride when I can, miss it if I have to, and not stress over missing a ride, or feel I have to "double up" to make up time missed.

As hobbies go, at least for me, it's pretty inexpensive. Factor in the health benefits, and it's PRICELESS!!

I do at least one hour/day biking or trainer biking plus 15-30 minutes upper body exercise. I bike as much as time allows on weekends and vacation. I am still working so that means that time is of a premium.
No sense for me to track what I do because time pressure dictates what I do.

It will be a different ball-game once I retire. I am sure that exercise will take a central place in my priorities.

It will be a different ball-game once I retire. I am sure that exercise will take a central place in my priorities.
Given what you've already accomplished, Will, that's a frightening concept!!! :eek: :)

Have a computer but the only statistic that I track is the number of days that it takes me to put 100 miles on the odometer (am mostly a short-distance rider).
Used to track my time and average speed on my usual fun ride (10-mile loop) but now that my wife rides with me I don't bother with that any more.

Keep receipts for cycling-related expenses, but never look at them.

My one computer died sometime early last year and I don't miss it much.
my other vintage bikes don't have computers .
no logs, no fancy software, I just go out and ride.

marty

I have a basic Cat-eye, fun to see how fast I am going, but have no inclination to start tracking any information.

Just curious. Are there many/any other cyclists on the 50+ Forum who regularly ride bikes, and do NOT record or track their daily mileage, time spent cycling, bicycling expenses, etc?

The only thing I record anymore is SPM


















































That is Smiles:D per:D Mile:D


Wow, lots of responses and every one interesting and enlightening to me. I expected more uniformity of thought based on other threads on 50 Plus. Nice to see the variety of approaches to the subject.

And that is the great thing about a forum like this. So many different ways of accomplishing goals, and they are all good, because they meet the personality and "time in space" of that particular individual.

For me to track I would need a locomotive.

I have flip flopped on that. Some years I tracked nothing, other years I kept a mileage log. Never tracked purchases at all though.

I'm keeping track of my cadence, mph, and distance because I'm curious to see how far I can stretch myself. I'm 2 months into being 50+ and figure I've entered the "use it or lose it" phase of life. I have a VERY sophisticated data recording system (steno pad on my workbench). Expenses, not so much--almost all the cycling stuff I buy is used from Ebay or big discount closeout stuff.

I forgot to post my reponse. No tracking of mileage. I do have the original receipts for bikes I've purchased somewhere, but don't know where. I forgot to track where I put them. Must be this old age thing.

I track maintenance on cars by mileage and date, record cost and let spread sheet calculate cost per mile.
I usually for a month also track fuel use on car, a significant drop would tell me something is wrong.
I track home improvements and add cost to purchase price to establish the tax cost.
I track monthly home Kilowatts and cubic feet of gas use.
I track monthly income and expenses at car wash business.
I track blood pressure, hdl, ldl, sugar, etc. from each blood test.
So it stands to reason with me I have to track bike miles, time, temp and let spread sheet calculate average speed. Just all part of the experience for me. Not staring at odometer, usually forget my start time. Only time I let mileage rule my ride is when I know 32 miles for example will give me a nice round number at end of day, so will take the long way, rather then usual 25 mile route.

I track all of that with my running. I should for biking but I'd rather just enjoy it.

>>> regularly ride bikes, and do NOT record or track their daily mileage, time spent cycling, bicycling expenses, etc?

After a ride, I'll mentally tote up an estimate of mileage just for the gee-whiz factor, but honestly all that recording, documentation, and analysis guts the joy right out of cycling. [By the way, as a 50+er I've been around the block enough to appreciate "joy" as the only meaningful metric in cycling or any other part of life. For that I’ll proudly wear the label, “hedonist” and give up the “serious cyclist” honorific.]

Time spent? Nope. I hold a couple of hours per day in my time budget for physical activity which loops through cycling [highest “joy” factor], hiking [almost as good], and running. In the winter, I add gym to the mix, though sucking hot dusty air in close proximity of sweaty humans is a drag. Point being that the “time factor" is already “factored in” to my life. . .'bout two hours.

Expenses? I’m a big boy now and have a time-tested internal barometer for bankrolling this part of my life. In the end, cycling is a hellovalot cheaper than some other things I’d certainly be into if it weren’t for it. . .the fair sex comes to mind.

I only record maintenance mileage such as: new tires, replaced components, crash repairs, etc. and total miles on the bike. I don’t track any expenses because I know it is expensive, but +1 for Big John’s explanation on minimal expense. During a ride I look at my cadence and after each ride I look at my average mph and total miles for that ride, but I don’t record it. I always take a disposable camera and take pictures on my charity/fun rides. Get a CD made of the pictures throw them on my web site so I can share. I don’t care anything about photographs.

I keep a log of my mileage, speed, cadence, heart rate and time of ride from my computer. I also make a few notes about the weather, any interesting wildlife sightings, problems with my equipment and how I am feeling right after the ride. If it's just a quick trip to the coffee shop or I'm riding a bike without a computer, I don't bother. I have never kept track of money spent on any avocation.

Given what you've already accomplished, Will, that's a frightening concept!!! :eek: :)

Big Paulie:
See what Obsessive Compulsive gets you if you channel it?:rolleyes: :D :( :eek: :)

I certainly do not want to keep track of everything I spend on our bikes. Each bike has a computer for total mileage (ODO) and whatever else we want it to do for us on any given ride. I only track mileage in my head for a week at a time. I set my weekly goal and then work towards it through the week, then forget it. On a long tour I log each days ride to see that I am not riding too many long days in a row or too many short days in a row.

I log my miles & don't keep track of $ spent over time but my "cheap" genes encourage me to seek out bargains on parts & gear. Don

+1 I want to know my mileage--I don't want to know (or want anyone else to know) how much I spend.

I don't really track any of that stuff. I do have a record of milage, time HR and everthing else my Garmin Edge gives me, but I do not track it.

Big Paulie:
See what Obsessive Compulsive gets you if you channel it?:rolleyes: :D :( :eek: :)
Willie D:

I look in the mirror and see what OC gets you if you DON'T channel it!!!

I couldn't care less about what I spend on unkeep and I'm not anal or focused enough to log anything.
That's not why I ride, anyway. I do like to know how far I've ridden on any given day and I keep track of my accumulated miles because my cyclocomputer stores that

Being a scientist for 35 years and in finance for 5 years I love numbers. I just let my Garmin collect all of the information and upload once a week. When I get interested I go back and check stats, but I can't say this is a daily or even a weekly thing I do. That is the nice thing about the Garmin I really don't have much to do but put on the HR strap and turn it on.

Track all the obvious due to training this year for several distance events and trying to finish a couple in same time or better than when done 15 yrs ago. Expenses? I'm with Coyote!, I could easily have (and HAVE had) more expensive hobbies. Raising 2 girls is the only expense I'm forced to keep track of:eek: :eek: :eek:

Tracking how much cycling stuff cost can be dangerous; if the spouse ever found the list.

The only thing I have ever tracked is the distance, time, average speed of a single ride. Once the ride is over, the data is of little use to me other than remembering how far it is to some landmarks.

I have done approximate calculations on how far I have commuted, just to get a feel for how much money cycle commuting has saved me over using a car. Usually done just before buying a new bike, to remind spouse that cycling saves money rather than costing money.

I'm not counting the $ I spent on upgrades to the ride this winter. Mostly so I don't have to tell my better half. bk

There are some entertaining responses here.

In setting a mileage goal for 07, I do track mileage. I use the Italian bookkeeping method to track expenses
One set of books my wife can see and another set with the actual numbers. No offense to anyone of Italian heritage, just read in Forbes once that it was common for small biz in Italy to have one set of books for the Govt. and the real ones.