This, and it is important. The more you ride, the less milestones will mean. Hitting 20 miles? Yeah! Averaging 15 mph for two hours? Yeah.

Averaging 16 mph for two hours ... ummm ... yeah, okay. Riding 31 miles (half a metric century)---meh. Already did 30 in under two hours. Riding 33 miles in two hours ... well, it's something. Goals need to get bigger (as big as 20 was from zero) or they lose meaning. You will still hit milestones, but they will be smaller, and the big ones will be rarer.

But the simple joy of riding a bicycle---having the capacity to go riding and not be exhausted after a short while, having the ability to ride until you feel like heading home? Priceless.

I was working on increasing range when I broke my shoulder. Then I had to work on riding at all. Now I am supposed to be increasing fitness ... but the past few days I have just headed out on my normal short loop, and on my touring bike, which is a tank. My average speed is low, my mileage is low ... and I still love it. Just cruising down the road with the full moon shining ... I don't care how fast I go or how far ... I don't even want to know the numbers until I get home. I am out Riding a Bike, and it is its own reward.