TerraCottaGamer

Alright Gang,

As 2015 quickly approaches I have been doing some serious thinking about what I want accomplish this coming year. Being a noob (bike ownership less than a month) this is my first opportunity to set some goals for an upcoming year. I personally like to stick to the SMART acronym for setting goals as it has worked for me throughout my life.

For those that don't know; SMART means:
S - specific
M - measurable
A - attainable
R - realistic
T - timely

Using the S and the M - obviously a number of kilometers/miles is the best way to go.
The T is easily covered because we are looking at the 2015 calendar year.
So that leaves the A and the R - what is attainable and realistic yet will stretch me to work at reaching the goal? Tough call, so I am going to set 2 goals - 1 I think that will take a bit of work but is definitely attainable and then one that is a serious stretch goal.

So with all that in mind I thought I would start a thread to give us all a chance to set some goals. Hopefully we can keep this thread going with encouragement for each other. It is likely that some who start will not reach their goals but that is ok. We can keep each other moving forward and celebrate when goals are reached.

My goals for 2015:
1st Goal - 2500 km. (basically 50 km a day - thinking 10 km per day 5 days a week).
2nd Goal - 5000 km. (simply double the basic goal - thinking 10km per weekday and 50 km on weekends).

I hope I reach my goals - but more than that, I dream of blowing these up so that halfway through the year I have to set some new goals for the remainder of 2015.

rick458

My first cycling goal for 2015 is to ride from my house to the Monument Inn and back without throwing up, passing out, or getting squashed by a tanker.
Non bike specific goals are, re ignite my weightloss and hit my 235 goal, eat a clean diet, and spend much more quality time with my family.

bassjones

2 goals for the year, cycling related:
1: First Sprint Triathlon in late June - I'm most concerned about the swimming for that one as an 18 mile bike and a 5K run/walk are already doable. Together, with the swim is tougher but I'll get it.
2: Apple Cider Century in late September.

FarHorizon

My cycling goal for 2015 is to not set goals. This is a hobby for me, not a job. I have too many goals in my life already, thanks.

The goals that I do have are to work on my next book, to love my wife and daughter, to improve my health, and to enjoy my job (in no particular order)...

Life is too short to make my hobbies into goals.

D1andonlyDman

I agree with this - don't make it into work. If it's fun, you won't mind doing it. I've never set my mileage on the bike as a goal. I have set my weight as a goal, because that's what I actually NEEDED to accomplish. I tend to look at the biking as an enjoyable way to allow me to eat what I like. If I bike 15-20 miles in a given day, I don't feel guilty about having a meal I enjoy. On days I don't bike (or swim at least a mile - I will do them interchangeably if the weather and circumstances allow) I tend to be much more stringent on my food intake on those days.

And so far, it's been working pretty well, as I'm now below 196, from my starting point just above 284 pounds a year and a half ago.

indyfabz

+1. While there are some thing I am planning that I hope to execute (e.g., A tour in S. Dakota and NW Nebraska, third consecutive tour across Pennsylvania), I don't set goals.

Black wallnut 

Excellent way to derail a thread about setting goals. For some setting goals is necessary for motivation. For others goals simply provide direction.

I set goals for my cycling. I plan out what event rides I will do, actually some of these require registration far in advance. Because many of the events I do are centuries setting goals and establishing a training plan I am prepared when the event comes. For me all this goal setting adds to the enjoyment of cycling. I also set goals that are performance related.

My goals for 2015 are:

1. maintain my healthy lifestyle
2. 6000 + miles in the year
3. STP
4. Spokane Tour de Cure
5. Race a full season of CX plus a few races
6. Become a Knight of Sufferlandria
7. finish Tour of Sufferlandria
8. enter and finish at least one road race

My performance based goals have yet to be formed for next year.

MRT2

I see nothing wrong with setting goals, but if cycling becomes a chore, then reasses. A general mileage goal is fine, and 2500 km in a calendar year is certainly feasible, though hardly the only measurable goal you can set for yourself.

scrming

I'm working on a "list" for 2015... find it helps me get motivated on those days when i feel like going back to my old unhealthy habits...

2015 List

Doing 3 gravel road races - (2) in March and (1) in October
Doing at least 3 centuries... (1) of them is pretty tough and at the end of July. Not sure on the date for the other (2). It will however be a back to back centuries...
Would like to lose another 20 pounds by April.

MikeRides

I rode about 2500km this year, even with a busy schedule so I don't see it being too unrealistic to do it again. However, I tend to set higher than realistic goals so I'm aiming for 5000km (3106.9 miles) for the year.

Smaller goals:
- Sean's Ride - 50 mile county tour (sounds reasonable for my first group tour)
- First Century ride in July to celebrate my 28th birthday (route/destination unknown at this time)

1loosemoose

I will have 1600 miles this year. I started in late march with a 1.9 miles ride and it kicked my a**.

Next year I'm shooting for 3,000 miles and continued weight loss and gains in health.

I want to thank all for the knowledge I've gained here since starting.

TerraCottaGamer

I certainly was not intending to force anyone to set goals. And, of course, we are all at different levels. Having just started riding again after a decade off I want to start slow and work up to bigger things.

For instance, I have a route planned out that I rode today on my motorcycle (just to get a good feel for it) that is about a 15 km circle. The first half is uphill - severely in places - and the last half is a mix of downhill and flat. I want to work up to be able to take this on.

But whatever works for you is what is important. I think in the clydesdale section, all of us likely want to lose weight. For me if I just say 'lose weight' as a goal it won't work. But if I put goals on things that move me in that direction then I will ultimately make then big goal happen.

Dave Cutter

I am a solid 2000 mile (3218 KM) a year cyclist. This generally keeps me well within the CDC (Center for Disease Control) 90 minutes required aerobic exercise per week. Last year I met an older cyclist (in his 90's) who advocated his 5 miles a day... EVERYDAY routine.

I honestly don't know what is best... miles, time, or daily exercise. I would guess... they all count. And... I suspect that enjoyment is an as-of-yet unaccounted for factor as well.

So for 2015 I have already decided to do more destination cycling. Come spring/cycling season the idea is to at least once a week go for a ride with a fun or interesting destination. It can be a park, lake, coffee shop.... 20 miles away or a 100KM away. It doesn't matter so much as long as it has some tiny amount of interest. Then take a selfie with the bike and post about it on facebook. Hopefully... this might attract friends to do something similar.

I still plan to ride 2000+miles per year. I am not recording my winter weather spinner miles (the Midwest has crappy winters) however the trainer/spinner miles keeps me regularly exercising. And... I do get outside and ride whenever possible. I think this covers the Miles, time/hours, frequency, and... enjoyment needed in an exercise plan.

With all that said (posted).... I don't really think of exercise when cycling. I just REALLY enjoy bicycling!

Willbird

I guess I do not have a "fixed" goal for 2015 really :-). I thought I was done with outdoors riding when the temp dropped in November, but after some resistance roller riding in November I put a carbide studded tire on my Hybrid, then did the run in on dry pavement as the mfg suggested.

And that was like putting a rocket back on the launch pad :-)...looks like Dec will go well over 200mi :-) outdoors. There will be lots of riding in 2015 for sure :-). I'm actually thinking of something insane like "1000k in May" :-).

practical

I don't really set goals but I aspire to bike 100 miles per week. I'll soon turn 60 and a couple of years ago riding 100 miles in a week seemed very ambitious but so much now. I biked about 1,800 miles this year and hope to break the 2,000 mark next year. I think I'll map out my own century ride. Go biking in Montreal. Have fun.

americanrecluse

I'm so inexperienced that I'm struggling to come up with a goal. Since my riding since getting my bike on Wednesday has consisted solely of wobbling around parking lots trying not to be spooked, I'm going to set my end of year goal as a single 20 mile ride.

MRT2

Same here.

Dave Cutter

It can take a little while to get used to bicycling! And then acclimating to traffic and everything... it can take a little while. Some of us are bean-counters by nature.... so we constantly break-down any goal into little mini assignments. Like... at a very relaxed easy pace of only 10 mph a simple 4 mile ride would easily provide the needed 20 minute aerobic workout. That's a mere two miles out... and back.

I remember I was so wobbly I could hardly stand after my first ride... which was LESS than one mile. But it doesn't take anytime to speak of to advance to short easy rides. You won't have any trouble at all getting benefits from cycling in short order.

Willbird

That is entirely reasonable :-), my first ride in June was like 8.6 miles :-). This is not my first time a cyclist. I did a century ride in 1992.....I think that changes things in some ways. 20 miles with a fairly upright posture is a fairly long ride, I did 75 on my hybrid, there might have been a century if I had not gotten a road bike :-).

You may be shopping for a saddle before you reach your 20 mile goal, very few people "marry" the factory saddle on any bike :-).......if you start visiting bike shops within driving range explore which ones have saddle trial programs, they are a great way to try before you buy :-).

Flatbroke

My first an formost goal is to try and ride 3-4 times a week
second goal is already been set for April 2015 with registration paid for a 100k with 2 friends. I have never ridden farther than 50 miles and that was 4 years ago. My farthest ride since starting again first of November was 37 miles. That 37 miles was a 3 water bottle and 4 gel pack ride for me

3rd goal is not to be the last guy in the pack. Way back in the pack, chewed up and spit out like a 1 cent bubble gum that lost flavor in 5 min

4 goal is to ride 100 miles in one outing.
5 goal is to get to 250# by years end 2015. I weigh 340 pounds and fluctuate between 325.

If the Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise I think all are attainable

im lucky to hAve a childhood friend and 3 friends from the LBS to ride with. They offer encouragement, motivation and will double back to pick me up so I can grab a wheel and catch a breath. They slow down just enough to push me but not blow me up. Great people to ride with

cyclist2000

my goal is to ride a week tour, I've been doing this for years. I do have 1 rule for when I ride, I ride a minimum of 20 miles, no excuses.

Gnosis

After accomplishing my 200 mile Jim Thorpe, PA ride in the late summer of 2013 (at age 57), I knew I was finally ready for my greatest challenge, that being a 250 mile ride to and from my father’s house in the mountains which I accomplished on July 18, 2014 (at age 58). Via one of the route 125 mountain descents, my 35 pound Trek Wahoo 29er hardtail achieved a new max descent speed of 52.6 MPH which was awesome!

I’ve been commuting exclusively via bicycle for the last 3.5 years and I’ve ridden a grand total of 7,204 miles (mostly via my portly mountain bikes, only 905 of those miles via my lightweight road bike).

On October 28, 2014, I rode my 32.6 pound Giant Rincon mountain bike to and from the Conowingo Dam in the state of Maryland, a 120.71 mile ride. I’ve also ridden to Delaware several times. I’d like to ride to Cape May, New Jersey (family living there) and I’d like to ride to the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Though I’d love to cross the country via bicycle, I don’t have the funds to make that challenge a reality.

earthgirl

I read the first post about being SMART about goals - But what if you don't even know where to begin? I'm a newbie, like americanrecluse up there. But I was thinking I could get to 20 miles in about a month or two. I was hoping to do one of the bike tours in my area - the beginner rides are around 20-30 miles. Am I being ridiculous with that goal? How much would I have to ride to get to that point?

MRT2

It depends. How far can you ride now?

earthgirl

I don't know. I just started today! I think I may have rode about a mile today - I'm not sure. I didn't realize I should be tracking everything. oops!
I turned around and went back home because it started raining.

But I understand that I should track what I'm capable of if I ever want to do long rides. I'm just at ground zero right now - wide eyed and naive! But I'm learning quickly! (I think)