Fifty Plus (50+) - 2011 Mileage Goal - On Track or Derailled?

For those of us who insist on setting a mileage goal for the year, how is it going? For some, the die is cast; weather is closing down the riding season (not that that matters to TSL!)

For others, we are still stomping out the miles, and for a select few, you may have already reached it.

Mine is in my signature.

Care to share your progress/accomplishments/sorrows?

Didn't really have one, but now that I see where I am, I'm shooting for 5000 miles since Jan 1st. If I add in my winter trainer/spinning time I'm already there.:o

I exceeded the number of miles I thought I'd ride this year even though I made no 'goal'. I'm at about 1,100 miles so far.

I started the year without a strict goal. However, I have kept my routine and should go beyond my usual 4000 miles/year.

I didn't have a specific goal, but was thinking 6K would be good. I'm at 6.3 so far.

Mine was to exceed 3500 from last year. I'm at 4100 so all is good. :)

Goal was 3k, did 2600 in 2010. Am at 3384 as of today and may reach 3700 if the weather cooperates.

Didn't have a specific goal, and still don't. However, unless I'm very lazy over the next couple of months - and I won't be - I'll top 10000 miles for the year. Under the circumstances, it's remarkable that I'm still too fat!

10,000 miles? Yikes!!

I've never set a mileage goal but generally have close to 3000 miles each year.

This year I have set a goal. I want to reach 1000 miles and I'm currently at 940. Sixty miles isn't a lot but at the present I can only tackle around 10 miles each day. We've had some great weather but I've been doing some much needed yard work instead of riding. Guess I need to let the yard work go and do some riding:)

10,000 miles? Yikes!!

It's pretty easy to do if you commute regularly, as I used to, or if you don't work for a living, which is my current situation. Either way, it's only about 12 hours per week on the bike.

I've switched to "Can I climb this hill." goal. I have two left that I haven't tried yet. I may, or may not make it by years end. I will, however, make it. (them?)

Low mileage year for me.
Did get in 1100 miles last month.

I'm shooting for 2000 and have about 300 to go. Without good weather, by which I mean dry roads and above freezing temps, I may not get it and around here weather becomes a crapshoot this time of year. Even if I don't, however, no big deal just a bit of a small one :cry:. To put in perspective, when I went for my physical this year, my MD commented on how nice it was to have a patient who did more than sit on their butt and watch the TV all day! Positive re-enforcement for any and all miles.

Don't set milage goals and I rarely ride with a computer. In fact this year with the problems I had earlier on- the only goal I had was to get out on the bike. Done around 2,000 this year which is not startling but my goal has been to get a few new riders started this year. Both those had exceeeded my capabilities now but still have set training rides with the pair of them. Next ride is to get them to pace themselves better. 30 miles up hills and by the 3rd hill I still have to lead them out. My problem is that my pace is Century pace- Even if it is only 30 miles so when I get the chance- I have to re-train to find some speed.

I don't set milage goals but the computer keeps track of miles for me. I don't use a computer on the mtb or vintage bike rides. Right now it shows around 6,650 miles for the year and I should get a few hundred more the next 2 months although I'll be on the mtb, fixie and cross bike more frequently than the road bike.

My informal goal was 8,000 because that's what i did last year. But I'm currently at about 11,700 and should hit another 2,000 by year's end. I wound up doing a lot more randonneuring than I anticipated at the beginning of the year.

I'm at 1,542 miles so far this year. I started riding in May of this year so that puts me at an average of 257 miles per month. I have been trying to put in 300 per month but family and buisness curtails it a little. I would like to finish out 2011 with 2000 miles or more.... That seems like a realistic goal for me.

I didn't set a goal this year, which turns out to be a good thing. I've had extremely bad luck with speedometers this year; my wireless just quit working in February and battery changes didn't fix it. The next two (a Cateye and a Bell) were wired. The Cateye would stop recording when I got below 5 mph, and I'm very slow going uphill. The Bell was erratic--I'd be cruising along at 12 mph and then it would show 6 or 4 and then back to 12. So, I just ride; maybe I'll try another next year.

aRoudy1, I have a Bell and it does that too(speed fluctuation), but I use it as a guideline. I've found that the time is still accurate as I used a watch and checked the duration at the end of the ride--if the time is off, it's by only a few seconds--it was right on when I checked. Using the car, I measured my route and I'm sure I'm within a tenth or quarter mile in knowing the actual distance. So, I just use distance/time to get my overall average and use the speedometer to just keep to a certain pace or improve.

I've only been riding since April '11 and guestimate my distance so far as 2800 miles. As of 2 months ago, I've been doing 20 mile routes at least 5 days a week, and probably 2/3rds+ of the time doing 6 days/week(so 100 to 120 miles/week now).

I'm less than 200 miles to my goal and should have no trouble making it. Being in Tampa helps a lot. :D

My distance goal is to beat last year, which I did, I also beat my best year to date, 2007.... :D

Derailed by two carpal tunnel surgeries. However, riding no longer induces excruciating pain in my hands. It's about time. bk

My goal is 5000.... I'm at about 4550 and I will make it easily unless something very bad happens.

I'll reach my 5000 mile goal tomorrow. Hope to get a few hundred more before the snow is here to stay.

I'm doing much better than I thought that I would with the shoulder surgery in March. I was back on the bike by June and I've racked up 3300 miles. I was hoping to get 2000 miles for the year, so yeah, I'm good.

I voted "no goal", but I did set out to ride lots and I have.

I just started riding a little over a year ago so really didn't have a goal for this year. I believe that around the beginning of the year I would have thought that 20 minutes/ 3 times a week was pretty good. So 12 mph X 1 hour X 52 weeks = 624 miles. Actual 3241 logged miles with easily 500 more unlogged. So 3700 miles give or take. My mph is only 13-14 average but my smiles per mile is off the chart.

I don't really have a goal and just ride every chance I get. However, since I got the road bike a year ago, I have put 2,784 miles (as of yesterday's ride) on it and just over 2,300 miles on my hybrid in the 15 months that I have had it. So I'm a little over 5,000 miles for 15 months. Would have had a lot more if we didn't have all those rainy days this past summer.

Stupid work got in the way this year, way too much travel for work (Brazil, UK, Thailand, Poland, Canada, Mexico). While I've yet to hit my annual goal of 5000 commuting miles, normally I've been 4600-4800 and slightly increasing each year. Some year I'll learn to ride when out of town, but so far the bike doesn't pack up well and no money to put in ouplers and buy a bike case.

Rocky Raccoon derailed my sorry butt - to the tune of several broken bones and 5 weeks off the bike.

Has there been a thread on "over 50" bone healing?

Not gonna make it. Crash in feb put me out of commission for a month and am only just now getting back into the swing of things. Next year will be better!

After my knee was replaced 11/2009 I got back into riding after more than 30 years. I set a goal of 1,000 miles for 2010, I failed at 657 miles, mostly due to shoulder Surgery 07/2010.

I then set a goal of 1,000 miles for 2011 (switched to trike), but as of today I am failing, have 523 miles year-to-date, with weather turning bad. I once again lost multiple months due to a hip replacement 06/2011.

Perhaps the third time is a charm? I will set my goal at 1,000 miles for 2012, and, to ride my age for the first time as well.

Won't make 5000 this year. Did 4500 last year but only up to 3000 when I took a fall 19 days ago (down the stairs) and busted my left scapula and also have a herniated disc). May never make 5000 in a year but I am sure the 7500 I did in the past two seasons will and is having a positive affect on my recovery. Having never spent a night in a hospital since being born (well, maybe I had my tonsils out but I don't remember that) it was quite an experience. What a lot of wonderful loving people there are in the world that care for those who are injured or sick! My wife of course is the most important example.

Behind what I hoped for. Life interrupts art.

With a March automobile encounter I lost and Daddy duties greater than I anticipated, looks like I'll come in around 7500 miles +/-. Climbing volume will be down about 20% from last year though, and I've felt it on all of my mountain events.

If I can get my climbing legs back again next year with the improvements in my ability to stay with the faster groups and improved ability to bridge and sprint, it should be a great 2012. Here's hoping:D.

Since Im in the snow belt, my goal is 2000 miles a year. Right now I am at 2250, and except for a rare day or two my riding for the year is probably pretty much over. In the last 3 1/2 years my Stratus has 8000 miles on it, which I dont think is too bad for a 73 yr old in the snow belt.

After riding 3600 miles last year, I was aiming for 4000 in 2011. Just now barely to 3300, so 4K is out of range, but that's OK.
On a good note, after getting in just shy of 300 miles on our previous tandem last year, we hit 700 miles this year on the new recumbent.
Had never kept track of yearly ride totals before last year.

For those of us who insist on setting a mileage goal for the year, how is it going? For some, the die is cast; weather is closing down the riding season (not that that matters to TSL!)

:)

The studded snow tires are still resting quietly in the basement.

Based on the long-range forecast for November, I've actually added miles to my goal for the year (4,500). I still won't reach my challenge goal (5,000), but as someone said above, life sometimes gets in the way.

I took a rest day today, first in three or four weeks. Club rides tomorrow and next Saturday. On Sunday, I plan to finish a ride started with the club last month where everyone (including me) bailed at the halfway mark due to rain and wind.

Got in long rides on the way to work all week this past week, and the coming week is looking like the same.

After my knee was replaced 11/2009 I got back into riding after more than 30 years. I set a goal of 1,000 miles for 2010, I failed at 657 miles, mostly due to shoulder Surgery 07/2010.

I then set a goal of 1,000 miles for 2011 (switched to trike), but as of today I am failing, have 523 miles year-to-date, with weather turning bad. I once again lost multiple months due to a hip replacement 06/2011.

Perhaps the third time is a charm? I will set my goal at 1,000 miles for 2012, and, to ride my age for the first time as well.

What's all this "failed" crap?

Compared to 99% of the US population over 50, you succeeded admirably. Congratulations.

I've switched to "Can I climb this hill." goal. I have two left that I haven't tried yet. I may, or may not make it by years end. I will, however, make it. (them?)

Make that one hill left.

Original goal was 7,000 saw that I was going to surpass that so increased it to 8,000 currently at 8,810. Should hit 10,000 with no trouble. Don't know if I can top that next year. If I don't have any health issues and can get an early start in January, February, March, it could be possible

5k is the goal, I'm at about 4150 and I'm working hard to hit the goal - now is the time of year it's really worth it to live in Florida. Did the toughest century I've ever done last weekend - 103 miles in the Space Coast Intracoastal Century in an all day 15-25 mph wind. I really want to hit this goal.

Knowing how tough 5000 miles will be for me, those of you who do 7k or 8k or 10k just boggle my mind.

New to the over fifty group - just turned Oct 25. My goal this year was 4000 miles. I was on track but got hit by truck on Oct 3 and am waiting for new bike and possible shoulder and knee surgery. Might be out for the rest of the year. 3764 miles. Better than last year by 400 miles and would have made 5000. Really need to get back on the bike. The worst part of the withdrawls are over now I just have the shakes.

What's all this "failed" crap?

Compared to 99% of the US population over 50, you succeeded admirably. Congratulations.

Well, thank you. But compared to either what I wanted and hoped to do, and all these others with 3K to 8K goals, my results *are* rather sad. True, compared to '08 and/or '09 (zero miles) these last two years are wonderful. Am simply tired of the surgeries, and making plans I can not meet. Am hoping for 2012.

I didn't set a mileage goal; I set training goals. I achieved and exceeded all of them, and am very pleased with those results.

Last year I rode over 7K mi. between the tandem and road bike. Today I'm at 5700+ and that includes a time trial bike. I spent more time training, and logged fewer "junk" miles. I also trained for and ran a 4.7 mi. leg of the Big Sur Marathon in May, and am currently training for the Big Sur 1/2 Marathon 11/20. Since Sept. 6th my cycling time has been shelved in favor of the running.

Cycling is much more fun.

Totally derailled this year. In fact, I think by February 1st I was already totally derailled!
But between lots of precipitation on weekends throughout the year, plus a few business trips, and a period where I scaled back my riding time as a form of solidarity with my wife when she crashed and had to stay off the bike, I expect to wind up about 1,000 miles shy of my goal.

The wet spring put me behind last years pace and I have never caught up.

Derailed by two carpal tunnel surgeries. However, riding no longer induces excruciating pain in my hands. It's about time. bk

How long was the recovery? I'm positive I will have to have the surgery, at least for my right hand.

I reached my goal about a month ago. I was riding 2011 miles in 2011 to raise money for our local food bank, so that was a great motivator. Unfortunately, almost as soon as I reached it, I got sidetracked by some busy weeks at work, and haven't done much since. Raising money for the food bank really helped me stay on track, so I need to do something like that again for next year.

I really like stapfam's goal of getting more riders on the bike as part of a goal. We're talking about doing something like that for the food bank in 2012, and adding nutrition goals into the mix to encourage lifestyle changes. I'm looking forward to it, but I need to get back on the bike now, and not wait for the start of the new challenge! :-)

Next year, I'd like to aim for 3000 miles, and maybe a metric century or two, since I've never done that.

My goal was to get in at least the 2700 miles I did the first full year I had my road bike. Right now I'm at a little over 2600, but that doesn't include over 200 miles on the trainer last winter. I think I included trainer miles in my first years number.