The results are in:

tsl's 2014 Commuting Stats

208 workdays out of 212 (98%)
4,293.27 miles
279:40:34 time
15.51 Avg Speed
37.00 Max Speed
86 Avg Cadence
115 Max Cadence
139 Avg HR
173 Max HR

For several reasons I didn't get many recreational miles in this year. I tried to make up for it my using my longer routes commuting as much as possible. Looks like I succeeded.

82.6% of my miles in 2014 were commuting. For the record, had I used my direct route both ways every day, the total miles would have been only 1,872. I took the long way a lot. To the tune of about 55%.

I missed four days this year. Two in January were due to a mechanical. My left lever broke, and while I had a replacement in-stock and ready, I was out of bar tape. Doh! I lost a day each in February and March due to conditions.

What doesn't show up in the ride log is how many people I rode and chatted with. My long loop includes a portion of Adventure Cycling's transcontinental Northern Tier route. My commute to work is around lunchtime. In peak touring season I'd run into touring riders daily. Sometimes several of different groups.

Lots of Californians this year, but the record was a guy from Switzerland touring solo. Weirdest was a couple from Arkansas touring with their two huskies. The dogs absolutely refused to use the kiddie trailers. So they put their panniers and stuff in the kiddie trailers, and the dogs ran alongside. For thousands of miles through dozens of states.

This year I forgot on the one day I try to avoid my long loop. So I commuted west against 500 cyclists heading east on the Parks and Trails New York's annual Cycling the Erie Canal bike tour. You'll never see so many hybrids all in one place. It's not that I'm anti-social or anything, but it is a bit overwhelming riding against all that traffic.

I come across lots of locals too, naturally. I see lots of the same faces out for thier lunchtime spin. We talk when we're heading in teh same directions. Coming home too, even though my hours are weird. Like last night. It was snowing, there was about an inch on the ground, but I wanted some solitude so I too the long loop home. What I got instead was a wide ranging conversation with scientist from the University. We run into each other occassionally, so we've already exhausted all the small talk. Two old guys riding along in the dark, in the snow, sure beat the solitude I'd had planned.

I'll be back at it again on Monday. Happy New Year to all.