Fifty Plus (50+) - Reached my goal .... Now what

Last year, my first on a road bike, the miles just mounted. By December 31, I was just shy of 2000 miles. This year I decided I would shoot for 3000. I broke through that barrier on yesterdays ride. With the weather getting colder and the holidays looming and only 6 weeks left to the year I don't know how much more riding I'll get in. There's always the trainer but trainer miles don't count. Anyone else experiencing this same dilemma? Heck, what do I shoot for next year. This year I sometimes feel like I spent too much time on the bike at the xpense of other things I like to do.

Either ride more, ride harder, or do something else that's challenging?

Just keep riding. It's even better now that there's no pressure to make your goal. I'm not quite at my goal, but I can make it with just one ride a week, so the pressure is off for me. To me, if the reaching the goal becomes to much like work (or training?) it's not fun anymore.

I reached my goal this week, too. I always do fewer long rides in the cooler weather anyway, so I'm just on cruise control the rest of the year.

Congrats! What next? Just follow my three step plan listed below.

1. Enjoy the accomplishment for a day or two.

2. Set new goal.

3. Begin work on new goal.

Just keep rinding. That's what I do.

Last year, my second season, I hit my mileage goal (4,000) during Thanksgiving week. I thought another 5% was too easy, but another 10% seemed too much. So I added on our county sales tax of 8¼% (330 more miles). Made it with 3.26 miles to spare.

This year I seriously underestimated how much I'd ride and hit my goal of 4,750 in the first week of November. But I'd also picked an arbitrary pie-in-the-sky "challenge goal" of 5,200. As of today, I'm only 233.74 miles from that.

I had also set other non-mileage goals for the year and have hit nearly every one.

Still working on what next year's goals might be.

Goals.
So your riding hinges on a number eh? Why? Don't you enjoy riding? Don't you ride to enjoy yourself? This is something you come across periodically, people who are lost because they've reached their 'goal' and I've come to the conclusion that this 'goal setting' racket is just that, a racket, a con job. It's nothing real and consequently, pointless.

This is not because setting yourself a goal to work towards is pointless in itself, it's clearly not, but it should be a minor part of the whole. Similarly, 'training' which implies riding just to meet performance goals or 'riding to get fit'.

For heaven's sake, life's far too valuable to waste chasing some nebulous thing you've made up on the spot or worse, you've been told you have to chase by marketing men or journalists.

DO THINGS on your bike. Go to the cafe for a coffee, you know, that funny little cafe in that town 50 miles up the coast. Go explore a part of your local country side - how the hell can you enjoy the scenery when you're belting through it in a 'bunch' and trying to maintain the 'paceline' and all the other nonsense that goes on with group riding. But it's not just 'roadies' who fall into this trap. Go onto the commuter forum and you'll find people who don't do anything but commute, fixie riders who are there for the 'scene' and I'm quite sure you'll find tourers who are touring just because 'it's the thing you do'.

Pah!

Make your bike part of your life and enjoy is. They are immensely versatile tools ... well, they can be when you ignore the marketing idiots. Trouble is, many people get stuck in their single purpose rut and miss out on a lot of living as a result.

Richard

take this as a general rant, kindly triggered by the OP but not directed at him

Distance goals are a mug's game. Just enjoy the ride. I have no goals further in advance than the ride I am on.

europa posted just before me so, yeah, what he said.

I guess I could do a big rant putting down those who don't want to do mileage goals, but I don't think I'll stoop to the level some here have, and I can't feature myself ever jumping into the middle of a "stop and smell the roses" thread to lecture that everyone should set a mileage goal. Instead, I'll just point out that some of us really enjoy working toward goals.

Different strokes for different folks. (and so on and so on and shoobie doobie doobie)

Each of has different wiring which determines what does and does not motivate us. Figure out what is important to you and what works to push you to accomplish it.

The bulk of my rides are solo, and stop and smell the roses. Thats why I'm wondering about next year. I think I'd like to get my speed up a bit so I can ride the same number of miles, but spend more time in my kayak, or hiking or just fishing. Looking at my log in the training center software that came with my edge 305, it took 245 hours (not counting stopped time) to ride that 3000 miles.I maybe 50+ but I'm still working full time. I just think I need to diversify a little more.

...I just think I need to diversify a little more.

Well, youngster:) you hit it in the last part of your post. The key is to diversify. Do as many different and interesting things as you can. Do things that are mentally challenging to keep the brain going. Do other things that are artistic. Yet others that are athletic in different ways.

Each will help you stay physically fit and, most important, mentally strong. Plus, most people don't diversify so you will get to meet a lot of different people; people who will enrich your life.

Live! Don't be a slave to any numbers but your bank account balance and the calculation of whether it will support your life.:thumb:

This year I was more bike-heavy than any year previous, and I'm paying for it. I'm all about balance, so I'm setting new goals to include more weight training and other activities not involving a bike. Once I sort out the time management (e.g., walk the dogs or hit the gym when it's dark, ride the trainer in the early mornings instead of reading BF [sacrilege, I know]) I'll be able to address those issues.

Really, it all comes down to what you value and what motivates you. Only you know that.

[rant]
Goals.
So your riding hinges on a number eh? Why? Don't you enjoy riding? Don't you ride to enjoy yourself? This is something you come across periodically, people who are lost because they've reached their 'goal' and I've come to the conclusion that this 'goal setting' racket is just that, a racket, a con job. It's nothing real and consequently, pointless.

blah blah blah blah


If goals aren't your thing, why did you bother to click on the thread about goals? And then spend 15 minutes typing a document about how stupid goals are?

I think you just like the clickety-click sound your keyboard makes.

Heel, Roody, heel! The dude was just adding his 2 cents just like the rest of us. Set whatever goal holds personal meaning for you but why diss someone who is only trying to encourage us to enjoy the journey?

Love ya, too, Roody

I initially read that as "reached my goat." That's what I get for reading BF too early in the morning. Do whatever feels right - maybe shoot for 3,300 miles by the end of the year. You can do it - it's cars that have problems starting on cold days, not bikes. Anyhow, congradulations on setting a goal and reaching it!

Paul

The quickest, but not the cheapest way to set more goals within biking is to buy a brand new bike that supposedly will help you set more goals.

If you want to climb better, get that carbon 15 lb bike with stiff wheels. If you want to ride long distance get that same 15 lb carbon bike. That wheelset alone will cost you more than your starter bike.

You'll go faster only because you think you can. Believe me, it will take you to a whole new level. Cervelo RS (retired senior).

I'm a bit confused about the OP. Was your ultimate goal 3k miles / year? So you are a moth who has actually flown to the sun and survived? Now back on earth you wonder at the mundane of it all. Is that it?

I'd ask why you set the goal? If it's to see how much you can do then, set the next goal at 3,500. Or set it to do a particular purpose like ride a double century or a century if you haven't. Or try a very difficult century like the Ring of Fire we have here.

Or diversify and add mountain biking with the goal of doing some spectacular trails which demand skill and conditioning. Frex, a buddy of mine finished, with buckle, the Leadville 100 when he was 45. He thought that sort of riding was beyond him but two years ago he got serious again and made it.

The choices are limitless.

As the OP, thats pretty much it. Attaining the goal did not seem that difficult after the fact. I think next year will be to ride at least one century. And hopefully that wont take as much of my time so I can get back to some of the other things I enjoy as well. I have to admit that in the current economic climate cycling is probably one of the least costly of all my endeavors.

I initially read that as "reached my goat."

I find goals are much easier to set than goats. Goats tend to wanter about on their own.

Likewise, reaching goals is easier than reaching goats, since the goats run away.

And those cycling goats, boy, they sure can climb!

At ages 76 and 73 we do not set cycling goals.
Hell, we are retired; the goal is to have fun while we still can!
Did check mileage log and got in over 4,500 miles so far.
Our worst/best riding was in 1984 when we covered over 13,000 miles on our tandem (and was working full time).
Goals are not necessary; however, to each his/her own.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

if you are 3000 miles you should at least shoot to get to 5000 kilometers

We have goats across the street. I haven't tried to set them. They are cute. The end.

I've known a number of cyclists over the decades who:

1) Got their dream bike
2) Met their mileage/race-finish/number-of-events goal
3) Went on their ultimate ride

and

4) Dropped out of cycling

tcs

Find a new favorite route
Ride somewhere you've never ridden
Introduce someone to cycling
Ride without your cyclocomputer
Increase your longest day
Ride a brevet

As the OP, thats pretty much it. Attaining the goal did not seem that difficult after the fact. I think next year will be to ride at least one century. And hopefully that wont take as much of my time so I can get back to some of the other things I enjoy as well. I have to admit that in the current economic climate cycling is probably one of the least costly of all my endeavors.

There you go!

One more factor to think about: Look for Value Not Least Costly.

All of my activities are costly from a dollars and cents point of view. But all are very valuable from either total enjoyment/satisfaction, or community service viewpoints; sometimes both.

I've known a number of cyclists over the decades who:

1) Got their dream bike
2) Met their mileage/race-finish/number-of-events goal
3) Went on their ultimate ride

and

4) Dropped out of cycling

tcs

Not a cycling thing but a goal thing. Some folks are goal oriented. It's pointless to continue when that's met. Then it's time to move on to the next goal like maybe finishing a marathon in under 3:30.

Riding to a number...brrrrr
I ride because I ride...period...miles do not matter. I seldom check my odometer...I just don't care about the numbers.
Perhaps participate in some organized rides/events...they can be fun...they can also be unpleasant if you are used to and prefer the quiet and calm of the solo ride.
Perhaps join a local riding club and make some new friends/acquaintances.

Riders ride! nothing else needs to be added.

I ride on two wheels, both motorcycle and bicycle for the experience mostly. Also I consider my truck wasteful unless I'm hauling a heavy or bulky load but I do understand that many don't feel that way.

For that matter, if others had my TV / sports habits, there would be NO baseball, basketball, football, hockey, etc. in a pro sense. But I recognize that I'm in the minority there and in my two wheel habit also.

My fitness goal is simple: 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day. I can meet that goal with any type of exercise I want. I don't have a car, so transportation cycling is my main exercise.

It's not very important, but technically we're misusing the word goal. A goal is what you're trying to accomplish, like fitness, completion of a century, average pace, etc. Talking about miles per year or time per day is actually a means to a goal. My goal is fitness; my means are exercising 60-90 minutes/day.

Why can't a goal be to ride a century or ride over X miles / year? When I was a serious distance runner, my running made me less healthy than if my goals were max health. Speak for yourself and your goals. You can't speak for the world.

My fitness goal is simple: 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day. I can meet that goal with any type of exercise I want. I don't have a car, so transportation cycling is my main exercise.

It's not very important, but technically we're misusing the word goal. A goal is what you're trying to accomplish, like fitness, completion of a century, average pace, etc. Talking about miles per year or time per day is actually a means to a goal. My goal is fitness; my means are exercising 60-90 minutes/day.

Can you give a reference?

I've never heard of this and am having trouble making a distinction between, say, 3,000 miles per year and 100 miles in a day.

They seem the same to me, with only distance and time being different.

Why can't a goal be to ride Here's one definition that I found:
a century or ride over X miles / year? When I was a serious distance runner, my running made me less healthy than if my goals were max health. Speak for yourself and your goals. You can't speak for the world.

I was only referring to the definition of the word. Sorry I upset you.

Here's one definition that I found:
goal: the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it...

By this definition, I think the OP did have a goal, since attaining it did terminate the behavior.

I was only referring to the definition of the word. Sorry I upset you.

Here's one definition that I found:
goal: the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it...

By this definition, I think the OP did have a goal, since attaining it did terminate the behavior.

OK - my goal and plan is to live to 80 years old. When I get there, do I have to shoot myself to terminate the behavior?:D

I've known a number of cyclists over the decades who:

1) Got their dream bike
2) Met their mileage/race-finish/number-of-events goal
3) Went on their ultimate ride

and

4) Dropped out of cycling

tcs
Nothing wrong with that if they moved on to some other activity/goals, hopefully ones that involve fitness.

Can you give a reference?

I've never heard of this and am having trouble making a distinction between, say, 3,000 miles per year and 100 miles in a day.

They seem the same to me, with only distance and time being different.

Here's a couple examples using the definition ("goal: the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it...").



I think "3000 miles in a year" can be a goal, if that's what you're trying to attain. If so, you'll stop after reaching the 3000 miles.
More often, people will think something like, "I want (goal) to become more fit and stay fit. I will attain that goal by cycling 3000 miles this year (means or method)." You probably won't stop after 3000 miles because you haven't acheived the long term goal of maintaining fitness.

"I want (goal) to ride a century by the end of the summer. I will attain this goal through a schedule of training rides (means)." After riding the century, the person will terminate the training rides because the goal has been attained.

[rant]
Goals.
So your riding hinges on a number eh? Why? Don't you enjoy riding? Don't you ride to enjoy yourself? This is something you come across periodically, people who are lost because they've reached their 'goal' and I've come to the conclusion that this 'goal setting' racket is just that, a racket, a con job. It's nothing real and consequently, pointless.
I don't get how having a goal in any way cheapens or otherwise devalues the experience.


This is not because setting yourself a goal to work towards is pointless in itself, it's clearly not, but it should be a minor part of the whole. Similarly, 'training' which implies riding just to meet performance goals or 'riding to get fit'.
Some riders may enjoy that. If so there is nothing wrong with it.


For heaven's sake, life's far too valuable to waste chasing some nebulous thing you've made up on the spot or worse, you've been told you have to chase by marketing men or journalists.
And replace what they enjoy with an approach that you made up on the spot?


DO THINGS on your bike. Go to the cafe for a coffee, you know, that funny little cafe in that town 50 miles up the coast. Go explore a part of your local country side - how the hell can you enjoy the scenery when you're belting through it in a 'bunch' and trying to maintain the 'paceline' and all the other nonsense that goes on with group riding. But it's not just 'roadies' who fall into this trap. Go onto the commuter forum and you'll find people who don't do anything but commute, fixie riders who are there for the 'scene' and I'm quite sure you'll find tourers who are touring just because 'it's the thing you do'.
I can't imagine anything more boring than hanging out in some cafe, whether I got there by bike or not. Paceline riding is fun, I don't do it all that much, but there sure as heck is nothing wrong with it for those who enjoy it.


Make your bike part of your life and enjoy is. They are immensely versatile tools ... well, they can be when you ignore the marketing idiots. Trouble is, many people get stuck in their single purpose rut and miss out on a lot of living as a result.
If you just want to ride your bike and "enjoy it" without counting miles, training, riding paceline, etc..that is great. I have to wonder why anyone who only wants to do that would hang out on a bike forum though.

I don't agree, Roody. I had a goal to ride a century in under 7:30. I did it. After, waiting for my buddies who were still on the course, I rode back down the course to meet up with them. I felt no compulsion to stop riding immediately upon finishing the course below the 'goal' time. Upon meeting them and then riding with them to finish again, I wasn't castigated by them for meeting my goal but then not stopping.

OK - my goal and plan is to live to 80 years old. When I get there, do I have to shoot myself to terminate the behavior?:D

Some strive to acheive their goals earlier than stated.;)

I don't agree, Roody. I had a goal to ride a century in under 7:30. I did it. After, waiting for my buddies who were still on the course, I rode back down the course to meet up with them. I felt no compulsion to stop riding immediately upon finishing the course below the 'goal' time. Upon meeting them and then riding with them to finish again, I wasn't castigated by them for meeting my goal but then not stopping.

No. Your goal was to ride a century. As soon as you finished the century, you quit riding the century. Subsequent riding was for another goal, like meetig your friends to brag about how much quicker you were.

Here's a couple examples using the definition ("goal: the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it...").



I think "3000 miles in a year" can be a goal, if that's what you're trying to attain. If so, you'll stop after reaching the 3000 miles.

I wasn't going to jump in on this one, but can no longer resist. If my goal is to ride 3000 miles in a year, and I ride 3000 miles, it does not mean I stop riding. It means that I stop riding in pursuit of that particular goal. Hence, any riding I do after the 3000 miles is no longer associated with that particular goal, because, indeed, it has been accomplished. In my own situation, I have had yearly mileage goals, as I did this year. I've reached those mileage goals, and all of my riding prior to reaching the goal can be said to be riding aimed at "X" number of miles. Upon reaching "X" number of miles, I am no longer doing any riding aimed at "X" number of miles. Therefore my "X" number of miles riding has ceased. However, I continue to ride, but now it is riding in celebration of reaching my "X" number of miles. Starting the new year, that riding will cease, and I will begin riding toward a new goal. I believe Dnvr's goal of living to be 80 is just another way of expressing this. He doesn't set the goal as an exit strategy. Rather, he sets it as a target toward which his actions are aimed. Should he get there, he may well choose his remaining years as not living toward that goal, but as something completely different.

I may well be lacking understanding of the OP's comments, but I took them to mean, he was looking for what new goals or new ways of participating in cycling might he consider. I don't believe he was looking for something to replace cycling. And, if he were looking for something to replace cycling, he might have better posted on a non-cycling discussion forum.

I think a personal goal is anything you want it to be. For some making a lifestyle change is tied to a set of goals needed to complete the change. Most people can't shed 40 lbs without making some other goals along the way. Once they have lost the 40 lbs the smaller goals need to be maintained or the target goal of 40 lbs is foregone. For me it's the same with riding. In order to enter races or ride very long distances there are subgoals that need to be established and met along the way. One subgoal I have a hard time meeting is "not riding or recovery rides", that constraint probably goes back to establishing annual total milage goals. In the past I would feel guilty not riding on some days when it was nice, wind free, warm, time was available and the fact I knew that winter was fast approaching and I still needed XXX miles to reach my goal. We all ride our bicycles for different reasons and establishing our riding goals should be based on our own expectations and not what someone else thinks is best.

OP, who said you can't count trainer miles? Your on a bike riding, the trainer provides resistance and the total effort usually exceeds riding outside where you can coast. If you use a Garmin or other device that can provide average cadence compare the average cadence on a 20 mile outside ride vs. a 20 mile trainer ride. I would count the miles if I had established a total annual milage goal. When completing training for races and can't do a scheduled interval sesson due to snow or rain I'll use the trainer to do the intervals, it works the same muscles and CV system. Additionally if I'm scheduled to take a day off from riding, going on the trainer would have the same negative effect on the training as going for a ride outside.

Sure trainer miles count. But since trainers stay in one place, their miles are always zero. ;)

Enough with our goals. Let's talk about our destiny....

Who gives a damn about the annual miles?
I do a 30 mile hilly ride every other day, all year 'round, and often throw in 60-120 mile rides.
I do it because:
- It keeps me in shape.
- It keeps my weight down.
- It keeps me sane.
- It keeps my blood pressure down.

I don't give a rat's ass about the annual mileage.

It doesn't matter how far you go. It doesn't matter how fast you go. You only need to ask yourself one question. ARE YOU HAVING FUN?

It doesn't matter how far you go. It doesn't matter how fast you go. You only need to ask yourself one question. ARE YOU HAVING FUN?

This is true only if your goal is to have fun. Or, more accurately, if your purpose is to have fun.

On a lot of my rides, the main purpose is to transport myself somewhere--like to work, the store or to meet friends at a pub. It's just icing on the cake that most of those rides are also fun.

In my circles one of the favorite things to ask one another when we are in the boonies, cold, tired, wet, hungry, sore and have a lot of miles ahead of us is: Are we having fun yet?

Or, if the circumstances are such that survival is questionable someone will state: Boy, aren't we having fun!

So, please, please, take it easy on the fun.