Log Book
#2
Been Around Awhile

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,654
Likes: 1,974
From: Burlington Iowa
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
#3
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,597
Likes: 3,528
From: South shore, L.I., NY
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
I used log books for many years, still have them. I migrated to a computer software program (Ambie Software) in the late 90's specifically for activity tracking, then went to an on-line called Endomondo (I think they still exist). When I went to a Garmin GPS bike computer, the ride and all other activity data, kayaking, hiking, swimming, etc.... all went to Garmin automatically and onward to Ride With GPS. I do edit the RWGPS entries for info as to whom I road with, the weather, bike used, etc.....
#4
For tracking my cycling, I have Excel spreadsheets for the current year with archives going back to 1989. It tracks maintenance intervals for each bike, e-trailer miles, and cumulative miles. It would have been wonderful if I'd kept an accurate log of my pre-1989 miles, but all I can do is estimate (and I'm not sure enough of my guesses to do so).

Not a great year so far (travel, illness, busy weekends), but hopefully it'll get better. The summer flat spots are due to the 110°+ heat and our annual Big Road Trips, in which I'm usually too busy to ride, even if I can bring a bike.

Not a great year so far (travel, illness, busy weekends), but hopefully it'll get better. The summer flat spots are due to the 110°+ heat and our annual Big Road Trips, in which I'm usually too busy to ride, even if I can bring a bike.
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
#5
BikeJournal is still around, and it's free. I still enter my miles there as well.
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,684
Likes: 2,602
From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
I'm pretty old school about my bicycle log book. It's a bound journal for bike maintenance, in which I make notes about replacing tires, chains, etc., with dates and odometer readings. Kind of similar to the log books I have for our cars -- date, mileage, how much gas/from where/price, or oil change, tires, etc.
I've got two parallel "logs" for rides. An Excel spreadsheet keeps track of ride lengths by date, and I make notes about each ride in an engagement calendar. This system works for me.
Note, if I were "training" on a training plan, I might want something more like average speed, intervals, training effect, etc., etc., ad nauseum. You can do a lot with a copier or printer and a hole punch.
I've got two parallel "logs" for rides. An Excel spreadsheet keeps track of ride lengths by date, and I make notes about each ride in an engagement calendar. This system works for me.
Note, if I were "training" on a training plan, I might want something more like average speed, intervals, training effect, etc., etc., ad nauseum. You can do a lot with a copier or printer and a hole punch.
#8
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,447
Likes: 4,541
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
originally why I started my 'personal log" of this forum. was pretty handy. still is, I just don't track "data" anymore. still a useful record of my travels. & sadly, also my inactivity
#9
Mister Geezer to you


Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 917
From: Glendora, CA
Bikes: Croll '94 & Cannondale Supersix '15
As an accountant-type, I used Excel for many years. Kept track of various maintenance, too.
Moved to Strava nine years ago and never looked back.
And now keep maintenance notes in a tiny notebook atop my tool chest.
The written record tells me how long tires, chains, gears, bottom brackets, etc last.
Also reminds me when to replace the dang right brifter cable every year or so!
Moved to Strava nine years ago and never looked back.
And now keep maintenance notes in a tiny notebook atop my tool chest.
The written record tells me how long tires, chains, gears, bottom brackets, etc last.
Also reminds me when to replace the dang right brifter cable every year or so!
#10
I use something like I-Like-to-Bike linked to. Just picked it up at Wally World. About once a week I copy that into a spreadsheet. Don't track maint or other costs. Just bike used, miles, times and the occasional comment.
#12
Commuter, roadie



Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 2,249
From: SE Wisconsin, USA
Bikes: Trek: Domane AL3, Checkpoint SL7; Priority Apollo 11, ZiZZO Forte + eBikes
I use Strava and Garmin Connect to get my GPS data to Strava. Ride with GPS is too complicated.
I like the idea of logging maintenance, and these tracking apps don’t seem to consider that. Especially since bikes don’t have built in odometers.
Log books seem to have fallen by the wayside since GPS and phone apps got popular.
I like the idea of logging maintenance, and these tracking apps don’t seem to consider that. Especially since bikes don’t have built in odometers.
Log books seem to have fallen by the wayside since GPS and phone apps got popular.
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-Jeremy
-Jeremy
#13
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,135
Likes: 6,360
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I use Strava and Garmin Connect to get my GPS data to Strava. Ride with GPS is too complicated.
I like the idea of logging maintenance, and these tracking apps don’t seem to consider that. Especially since bikes don’t have built in odometers.
Log books seem to have fallen by the wayside since GPS and phone apps got popular.
I like the idea of logging maintenance, and these tracking apps don’t seem to consider that. Especially since bikes don’t have built in odometers.
Log books seem to have fallen by the wayside since GPS and phone apps got popular.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#14
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 871
Likes: 115
From: Minnesota
Bikes: Cannondale '92 T600 '95 H600 '01 RT1000
Back in '88, I started logging rides on scraps of paper. In '98, I started logging rides in a csv file. I somehow managed to transcribe the first 10 years' data into that csv file. Four years later, now with multiple bikes, I added maintenance logs to that csv. They're a different record format than the rides records, so the file itself won't load as-is to say Excel without splitting it up. But I have several Unix awk scripts to make nice little reports directly from the file.
I also started an Excel spreadsheet in '91 to keep track of commutes. That has morphed to many worksheets to analyze mileage stats to death for the multiple bikes with nice graphs.
I still used old-fashioned wired computers--three bikes, three Vetta RT255L computers (red) so I know the buttons on each bike without thinking. Most of my rides are repeat so it's easy to copy a record from the last time I rode a route and change the pertinent stats, leaving the route info intact.
I also started an Excel spreadsheet in '91 to keep track of commutes. That has morphed to many worksheets to analyze mileage stats to death for the multiple bikes with nice graphs.
I still used old-fashioned wired computers--three bikes, three Vetta RT255L computers (red) so I know the buttons on each bike without thinking. Most of my rides are repeat so it's easy to copy a record from the last time I rode a route and change the pertinent stats, leaving the route info intact.
#15
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,138
Likes: 6,194
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
I use week-at-a-glance pocket calendars and have since 1988. Still have all of them in a file drawer. I've even had occasion to get them out to verify dates on a photo scanning project I'm doing. If you are cheap, buy the calendar a day or two after January 1 each year.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!







