john4789

Alright commuters-

I've started to track my miles this year since I purchased my ideal commuter. The point of this is to do preventative maintenance and keep this bike going for a very long time, as well as track costs.

Now that I've got some data I've noticed streaks - how many days in a row I've ridden to work, how many days in a row I've taken the 'long route', how many days I've gone w/o a flat, how many days I've ridden w/o spending any money on cycling.

Currently I've ridden to work every day for 10 weeks, the only thing that broke the last streak was getting my bike stolen and buying my current one!

So, to all of you, what streaks do you track and what streaks are you currently on? When a streak is broken, what causes it for you?

bluegoatwoods

It's a shame that you're not getting any answers. Even this is a non-answer, because I've got nothing to say on the matter.

I just don't keep track of stuff like that. I doubt if I spend more than $50 a year maintaining my bike. Maybe $75 in a year where I buy two tires.

Though I have been thinking about buying a set of studded tires right now-in the spring. I'll bet they'll be at least a bit cheaper than they'd be in October.

Anyway, I don't spend much and I don't have many breakdowns. Simplicity is one of the reasons I like biking.

tarwheel 

I track all of my rides, mileage, time, speed, etc. However, I don't really run up streaks that long due to the need for recovery or rest days. The most days I have ridden in a row is probably something like 10, but that's not a record I try to break. I find that my legs start getting really tired and sore if I ride too many days in a row, so I purposely schedule off days when I don't ride -- typically when the weather is lousy anyway. However, I usually get some form of exercise on days that I don't ride, generally walking or kayaking.

JReade

I track my mileage, speed, and average time.

[TABLE="width: 192"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64"]Mar
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, width: 64, align: right"]0:38:02[/TD]
[TD="width: 64, align: right"]15.448[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]April
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]0:40:22[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]15.23[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]May
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, align: right"]0:36:44[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]16.14[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

First column is Average commute time for the month, and second is average speed for the month. I'm working hard at getting the commute time down a bit more and the speed up a bit more. This is only 20 data values, my work schedule is fun like that.

MMACH 5

5000 miles without a rear flat.
That's about the only streak I've kept track of.

robert schlatte

I don't keep track of streaks but I can say that I've ridden nearly every day, rain, shine, or snow for the past six years. I can count on two hands the days I have missed in that time period. My commute is not overly long- only six miles each way- and not difficult- most of it on a dedicated bikeway that travels into the downtown area of Columbus. Also, Franklin county metroparks does an excellent job of maintaining the trail including prompt snow removal. It is so easy, I am amazed at the amount of drivers out there who find no end of things to complain about in the local paper- gas prices, congestion, and... bicyclists. Go figure.

hubcap

This coming summer it will be 2 years ago that I transitioned to biking every work commute. During that timeframe the longest I have gone without cycling is about a week when I have been on vacation without a bike near me. Every once in a while, i.e. once every couple months, there might be one day of the weekend that I don't cycle because I don't need to leave the house for anything in particular. I just don't keep track of mileage or consecutive days biked.

Guitarfool5931

I keep track of these things with my app called Endomondo. As a big excel nerd I find it interesting to look at all the data I've compiled over a month or two. It doesn't take out any of the fun out of riding for me. It just adds to it.

no motor?

I'm up to day 7 of not riding, and that's not the kind of streak I want to keep. Between the weather, meetings and then finding a broken spoke I'm ready to end this.

Ridefreemc

That is impressive, especially for a Buckeye Go Blue! Just getting little Light hearted ribbing in (assuming you are one), but every day for six years is impressive - especially given the climate in your area.

As to the OP's question, at one time I kept track of everything, even heart rate, the wind direction, temp., and wildlife spotted. But then I found that was upsetting me when I missed logging in. After awhile it helped me burnout on bicycling so I got back on the saddle with the idea that I will just ride and ride and ride - no matter the weather, the jersey, the bike, the desitnation.

To each his own of course. Also, my maintenance cost are very low, mainly new tubes and patch kits. I don't do a lot of preventative maintenance and the bikes last a very long time. Take care of tuning, lube the chain, check spoke tension now and then. With so many parts sealed there doesn't seem the need to open things up - especially since we see little inclement weather.

robert schlatte

That is impressive, especially for a Buckeye Go Blue!

Ouch!!! Oh well, Urban has now returned to his home state so Blue and Gators had better watch out.

Surrealdeal

Like some of the guys in the previous comments I track as much data as I can - Total mileage (broken down as commuting vs. other), total elapsed time, total moving time, Av speed (Elapsed) Av speed (moving), max speed, av heart rate, max heart rate, calories burned.

I don't worry about streaks but I do set and work toward goals. I intend to make 75 commutes this year and hit at least 3000 commuting miles. These numbers could be easily higher but I will also be using my summer to train to run in a marathon in October (Another goal of mine)

Ridefreemc

Slight hi-jack to OP - sorry

I am looking forward to things getting back to normal at OSU and UM. All this other stuff is a distraction from the game. Urban M. should make it exciting (funny that his initials are UM).

Keep ridin" Robert!

AlmostGreenGuy

The only thing I constantly track is the total mileage per year on my main bike. I like a general idea of how many miles I get to ride per year. I just zero out my computer once per year, so there's nothing that I actively have to do.

I sometimes check my main bike's computer to see my average speed or trip mileage, but it's just a passing glance. The main function of my bike computer is the cadence measurement, which I watch constantly.

osephjey

I don't keep track of anything really, but my wife seems to remember every little thing I've bought regarding bicycling since I started just over 2 years ago. It's hard sometimes to constantly defend what I do to her, and the little money I do spend on things I need and..."need".

MK313

Congrats to the OP on an impressive streak. I doubt I will ever hit 10 weeks in a row. I do track my miles & rides, but I don't really go back & look for streaks, I just like having a total of how far I rode & I like some of the competitions that endomondo & Strava put on.

I would guess, without looking that my streak for riding every day is about a month. I don't ride if it's raining when I leave home & I don't ride in the winter.

robert schlatte

Now that the "the game" is apparently back, all things in the universe are aligned.

AdamDZ

I don't keep track of any numbers related to my cycling. The only exception is that I like to know my max speed and how far I go when I ride my road bike on weekends. Otherwise, I don't care, I just ride. I have four bikes, I ride all of them. Just like I don't keep track of how many breaths I took each day, how many steps I walked, etc. It's just a way of life basically. I found a while ago that keeping track of numbers is an unnecessary distraction.

jeffpoulin

I track a lot of bike-related data. One of my stats is the number of days in a row where I go for a ride (holidays/weekends included, not just work days). Last year, I rode every day from from May 9th to July 13th (67 days). My current streak is 23 consecutive days.

formula4speed

My consecutive riding days aren't terribly impressive but I did go 9 weeks on one tank of gas in my car, and put more miles on my bike than my car last month. I was pretty happy about that.

monsterpile

I have gone over 3 weeks of commuting to work each day. Of course I had extra motivation for that streak because my car was in the shop. After getting the bill I have motivation to keep riding. LOL. I don't know what my longest streak of riding to work is, but I am probably getting somewhere close to my record if I haven't hit it already. This last 3 weeks and before I did alot of riding when doing errands and stuff too. I think people will be surprised at work if I drive my car now. I felt like a dork driving it because its like driving a totally different car with a new clutch I killed the thing a bunch of times. It reminded me of when I learned to drive a stick in the first place.

john4789

Thread bump.

I'll hit 6 months of commuting to work everyday possible (vacations not included) in the next couple of weeks. Also, I've just had my first flat in 2700 miles with my stock kendra tires on my Kilo WT. I was going to upgrade to continental touring tires first thing but these have held up well so I am sticking with them until they wear out and then will upgrade. Not a bad couple of streaks.

Now that I've been going this long I plan to make it an entire calendar year before having to take public transpo to work again. We'll see if a blizzard ends the streak...

jeffpoulin

My number of consecutive riding days (quoted above) ended at 93 days, a new personal best.

After 3.5 years and over 25000 miles of flat-free commuting, I finally got a flat. It even went against Murphy's law. My front tire flatted on a quiet street on my way home one pleasant summer afternoon. Easily repairable and the 20 minute break was actually rather nice. I wouldn't want to have to fix flats often, but that was about as easy a flat as one can get.

treadtread

Somehow, a title of "Commuter streaks" doesn't suggest the actual topic. I was wondering if I even wanted to click on the thread - curiosity got the better of me though

spivonious

Ha, me too. I was expecting some interesting pictures, or at least a funny story.

As far as me, I track my mileage and speed when I remember to start the SportsTracker app on my phone. I'm currently two weeks without any issues. I'm tempting fate by not bringing along a repair kit and frame pump.