DnvrFox

O K, I just posted a poll with these instructions:

https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50/542618-did-you-ride-sunday-may-17-yes-no.html

Did you ride Sunday May 17 Yes or No

You don't need to tell how many fabulous mile you rode or didn't or how fast you went or didn't.

Just "yes" or "no" please
========================

Yet many folks felt called upon to tell us their mileage for their rides.

So, what gives?

10 Wheels

That is what bike riding is All About.

I don't swim, walk, run, lift weights, watch TV, listen to the radio, or go to movies.
I am very happy with miles.

They can't read.

cranky old dude

I rode 0 miles today but I hope to ride more than that tomorrow.

Phew, glad I got that out of my system....

BengeBoy 

You said we didn't *need* to report miles. I figured it was optional.

I'm not obsessed w/miles. But it's a good, quick way to communicate the nature of a bike ride.

People who are *not* obsessed with miles should not be obsessed about whether other people are obsessed about miles or whether we are just keeping track of miles so we don't obsess about everything else that adds stress to our lives. Like, helping our daughters pick prom dresses.

BTW, I rode 20.6 miles on my commute today. Says a lot about how I started and ended my workday...

DnvrFox

I am obsessed with your obsession about people who are obsessed about people who are obsessed about reporting mileage.

Whew - I am obsessing over whether or not I got that right!

And I don't have any daughters.

The Weak Link

DnvrFox has a point. Two weeks ago I went on a group ride, forgot my Garmin, and concluded that the ride did not exist.

The French might call it 'la maladie du GPS'.

Velo Fellow

I know, I know....cycling is supposed to re-create us as we spin freely down the road open to all that wonder that comes rushing into eyes, ears, nose. None of the usual constraints of schedule, demands from others, etc. Except................

Many of us being goal-oriented, always needing reassurance we're worthy, liking a challenge...well, we want to achieve. And miles/time/steeper, longer hills and such draw us on like a heat shimmering road mirage.

I almost, just almost, envy those people who love to meander. But many of us have trouble with such aimlessness. Just like speed creeping up on a supposed recovery ride.

Pitifully or gloriously, miles bring us smiles. Just ask the Davis Double guys.

smorris 

Some of us are just anal about stuff. I still keep spreadsheets with avg MGP, $/mile, miles per year, % otf total miles per year by vehicle, etc. for two of my scooters and one of my cars. When I get gas in the other car, I feel like I forgot something, because I didn't record my data.

Oh, BTW,I can't find my bike computer, and the battery is probably deqd after all these years anyway. So that three miles in the other thread was really just a guess. It might have been a little more, or e a little less.

I need to start a spreadsheet!

10 Wheels

Texas roads have Mile Markers.

Doohickie

I ride uninstrumented a lot of the time, and don't really pay attention to the odometer on my one bike so equipped. I sometimes go back after a ride and plug it into bikely.com from memory to get an idea of how much I rode, mostly just on the longer rides. Keep track of miles on a regular basis? Why? That would take the fun out of it.

Tom Bombadil

I really enjoy 105,600' rides.

geofitz13

I just voted "yes".

Can I put in my miles now?

Or not. It was a nice ride, tho.

cccorlew

If you go to a concert and don't buy the tee shirt, did you really go?

I know I panicked when my battery extender gave out at 180-something miles. If I hadn't been able to score batteries I don't think the ride organizers would have coughed up the shirt or patch.

Documentation is reality, ask a lawyer or journalist.

unterhausen

I won't tell you how many miles, but I rode for 20 1/2 hours on Saturday. Happy now?

cccorlew

He may be, but I want photos and details!

BengeBoy 

Weren't those kilometers?

mud

Eerrrr Ahh_____ I can't help myself!!!!!!!!!!!! 30 today, 20 yesterday, over 100 total for last week.

Tom Bombadil

I don't have computers on two of my bikes, but when I take a ride I usually still know how many miles I've ridden because I know the trails well. Not that the miles are very important to me, I just know them.

Jim from Boston

So nice of you to ask. Here's my antipated mileage for the next 10 weeks:

maddmaxx 

Some are proud of how far they rode.
Some are proud of how old they are.
Some are proud of how much weight they've lost
Some are proud of how light the new bike is.


Ain't America grand.

The Weak Link

And some people make it happen.
Others let it happen.
And others wonder what happened.

NOS88

I only voted yes, with no narrative posting at all. I guess it's the same as our "obsession" with weight (I never could understand why when a new baby is born it's almost always announced with its weight), or time (e.g., I swam for 30 minutes, lifted weights for 20 minutes, and took an hour nap), or just the general counting of so many things. It must be one of those higher order cognitive things that come with people. I seriously doubt that dogs, or birds, or bears, or alligators count things. Plus, in reading your directions it seemed odd that you'd give them in that manner. Hence, I suspected there was a "hidden" reason.

billydonn

I'm about to finish my rookie year of real riding and knowing the total distance and time is, for now at least, extremely satisfying. I try not to obsess about it while riding though.

donheff

Heck - you all make me obsess about miles and speed because I can't keep up. Bunch of old geezers!

bikegeek57

1+ I do obsess but I still can't keep up with these old geezers.