Record keeping
 

I'm new to the forum, been lurking for a while. I just started riding after several years or relative inactivity. the question I have is how do you keep record of your rides? I used to have a Palm program, but I don't think it works on my Palm Treo.

thanks
J

I've got an Exel spreadsheet, that started simple and which now has every bit of useless information my bike computer can give me, plus all sorts of totals - how far this year, how far on each bike, how far for the tag-along, how far the dog's gone in his trailer, how far I've gone on my Brooks.

I'm quite sure some people find riding logs a useful aid to their cycling, but I reckon they're just fun :D

Richard

mycyclinglog.com
mapmyride.com

bikejournal.com

You're supposed to keep records of your riding? :eek:

A good nerd keeps records of everything :D

For what it's worth, my son thinks I'm mad :rolleyes:

Richard

I have a Garmin and download the info to SportTracks.

I'm surprised at all these "low tech" replies. I use the single-helix, bound orthogonally organized knowledge system from Mead, a/k/a a 4 x 6 spiral notebook. I keep basic numbers such as trip distance, average, maximum speed, and total miles. Also keep notes on the routes, bike repairs/adjustments, names & part numbers for accessories & parts etc. Thus far, the system has never crashed, and the battery life is phenomenal.

Obviously you can read your own handwriting - some of aren't so blessed :rolleyes:

Richard

That's close to my system, doc. I use a Officemate 520 #2 lead to log distance, route ridden, and bike ridden. I'm a simple man. :rolleyes:

I only try to record my training rides, the club rides and the recovery rides I am not too concerned about. I use a Forerunner 201, it logs everything and the training log maintains all the entries. I had written some programs that would compare speed & time between two rides on the same route but stopped using it, TMI. I look back every now and then and see how much improvement I have made from year to year.

My riding & skiing buddy records every mile logged on the bike and every foot of verticle skiied. Wants to make sure he gets enough in during a season. I am looking for quality, if I am having fun that's all that really matters. If I were training for the olympics then that would be different. I think I am training for when I'm 90...

I don't.

bikejournal.com and my own spreadsheet

I use a Filemaker Pro database I put together that tracks mileage, average speed, max speed, time cycled, the route, and riders.

Yea, but what happens when you spill coffee on this unit:D:D

I don't keep records, don't use a cycle computer anymore, don't use a HRM. Like cyclinfool says, the most important thing is having fun. Since I work full time, I can never get enough saddle time. I think I'll ride about 6000 miles this year. Wish I could do 3 times that.

+1. For biking, I use two manual palm-pilots (aka 3"x5" spiral pocket notebooks):
I keep one in my bike bag. Every now and then an idea will pop in my head that I want to remember, or I see road-names that I want to remember for a later ride, so I transmit the input into my manual palm-pilot.
I keep the other at the house. After each ride, I jot the following: Total collective miles (about 440 miles since August) ... daily miles ... monthly miles ... average speed of the total collective miles (13.2 MPH). If I were to create an excel spreadsheet, for now this is all I would want to track.

I use microsoft Word. The first part is quantitative like start time, total time, ride time, average speed, total mileage. But the most interesting thing is the commentary on the ride itself. This is where I describe my ride experience. You most likely have heard "listen to your body". Well this is where you reflect on the ride and express it. Later on, you can go back on this and figure out how and why you might have bonked, etc. I also discuss my new purchases, flat tires, helping other riders with flats, etc. during a ride, close calls with death on the road, etc.

I separate the bike log into calendar years. The important thing on the commentary is to do it right after the ride, say after showering when everything is still fresh in your mind.

+1 plus I use Bikejournal just for mileage. Really no effort, once a week do a download and more information that I possibly need is stored.

Beverly have you upgraded ST to the beta 2.0 yet? Well worth it, everything transfers smoothly, the new interface is very nice and I have only found a couple of small glitches. Some plugins are starting to become available to correct for elevation and to export course to .crs format.

Thank you all for the replies. At them moment I am also using MS Word, but was hoping there is a Treo compatible program out there. Most of what's available were written at the turn of the century.

I haven't downloaded it yet. I really need to get online and update my Garmin but I keep putting it off:( I hate messing with upgrades!

i use bimactive.com

i manually input my ride data which can be a bit of a PITA mapping longer routes. there are options to import data from some gps models and a program that works with your cellphone that requires a a monthly subscription.

I have a cumulative odometer on my bike computer.
That's about all I keep track of.

Here's a screen shot

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa32/stonecrd/ST.jpg