Someone on another thread mentioned that he needed a cyclocomputer so he could keep track of the miles he rides. My first thought was: why? But it got me thinking, and I realized that there could be any number of reasons; so I'm wondering what peoples' reasons are.

My accountant tells me I can deduct all my commuting-related bicycling expenses (which, if I've given up recreational cycling, equals all my cycling-related expenses, right?); can I also deduct $.50 per mile or something? I know, I should ask my accountant.... Is any of you fellow bike-commuters doing that?

Rudi

I log my miles but mostly for fitness reasons. It's also good for maintenance reasonings. I don't deduct any cycling related expenses. I didn't think you could do that unless it's part of your business and not merely transportation to your business.

I deduct everything regarding my bike, repairs, etc. (sometimes pie) But, here in Costa Rica a bike is considered transportation. Shoot, I can even buy a new bike and deduct it.

I just have a cyclocomputer for fun - I really don't pay much attention.

A chain lasts 1000-2000 miles. A cassette lasts around 5000 miles. Tires last me around 2000 on the front, and 1000 on the rear.

I track them because i count them as training miles. I log them on routeslip.com and bikejournal.com.

I like to keep track of how much father and faster I can go as I improve.

Also, it's just fun to know!

eh, my cyclocomputer tracks them for me. It's not that hard, I ride 6.5 hilly miles each way each day.
I used to ride 2.5 flat miles each way each day.
Eventually I'll start riding more.

Right now I'm working up to a baseline of health and biking ability, then I'm going to start training to do a century, so knowing how far I'm going in how much time will eventually be important. for now, the most usefull thing on my cyclocomputer is the clock

-- James

I got my computer to work this weekend. The only thing it gives me is some humble at pie at how slow I am and that those "epic" rides I thought were double centuries are really only like 20 miles.

what are doing to that poor bike? you're throwing money away if you replace that stuff that often.

1000 miles is only about a month and a half of riding.

I don't have a cycleputer and don't want one. For an IT support tech, I'm really low tech away from work. Part of bike commuting and becoming car free was to simplify my life as much as possible. If I want to see how far I rode or will ride I just map it out on https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/. I commute about 15 or 16 miles RT 5 days a week and put in several (usually easy) miles on my days off doing store runs, errands and joy rides.

With my commute, 1000miles is two years which would sound about right for replacing basic parts.

I just like my cyclometer to tell me how far I've gone so when I'm following directions like:
Follow the main path for 4557 meters and then turn left down the little clay lined path etc.

It's good to know that I'm on the right one.

I look at my mileage day to day and week to week. Besides that I do not log my miles. However, for maintenance reasons I may start doing so.

I log every ride I take.

For me, it's both fun and useful. It's fun to see how your time or speed improves over the same course and I enjoy seeing how many miles I ride per month versus the same month in a previous year.

I just enjoy collecting the data.

I'm a data junkie, its in my blood. I want to know speed, distance, cadence, time, and how many total miles I've ridden, etc. It gives me something to shoot for (faster time, etc) It also gives me a good idea for maintenance stuff too (cassette wear, tire wear, chain wear, etc.) Of course its not totally necessary...but for me, its a fun little extra.

I don't formally log my km (canadian here!), but I do look at the odo on my computer all the time. For me it is a form of cheap entertainment.

BTW I had to replace the stock chain after about 2000 km on the one bike, and my rear tire after 2000 k on the other (shredded by glass). I guess I am tough on my parts, but then again I ride rain or shine. My winter bike needs all sorts of new stuff as salt is definitely bad for components.

Yes, I log my miles. Why? For personal pride. I've biked more since I started bike commuting than I ever have before. I recently hit 700 miles so far in 2007, I'm excited to see what my total 2007 mileage will be.

Probably more important than mileage, is tracking type of transportation used to get to work. My wife has a big monthly planning calendar, and on each workday I write how I got to work (bike, car, bus) or if I took vacation. At the end of the year I can add up the number of days I've biked to work versus days I driven my car.

+1
I just like to keep track -
I've averaged 5000+ per year, nice to see those big 4-digit numbers on the odo.
It's also fun to keep track of the average speed over a week or so and see if i can get it to slowly creep up as i get fitter.
It's not a big part of riding for me, my mtb doesn't have one, but it's a fun cheap accessory on the daily ride

I had one before I started commuting, for training purposes. Now I just find it kind of interesting to see what the distance is for various routes.

I tracked every mile for every day I rode last year. This year, I decided not to bother and eventually took the computer off my bike after it died (again!). Makes me feel like a kid again and not only cuz I have one gear and can do hockey stops.

I don't track yet, but I plan on starting here in a week or two (waiting until I can get some maintenance junk completed and start with a freshly fixed bike). I want to start logging miles just so I can see how far I ride each week and push myself to ride more the next.

I have a distance goal for the year and want to keep track. Also, my wife -- who apparently loves me -- got me a Garmin Edge 205 for our anniversary. For those who don't know, it is totally based on GPS (i.e., calculates speed without a sensor on the bike) and it maps every ride you do. I can also download others' rides and have it guide me places I've never been. Mostly unnecessary, but it is a very cool gadget. Of course, this also let's my wife keep very close tabs on my whereabouts.

I used to log my miles, but since going car free 15 months ago, it seemed rather moot.
I'm consistently putting in over 120 miles a week, so I don't bother with the actual number anymore.

What did you do that she didn't get you the 305?

I log mine for fun and bragging rights. In an area like rochester bike commuting is odd, so being able to claim you have however many thousands of miles for the year is mind blowing to most people.

The dreaded "double decade" ride!

I have a computer because it makes my obsessive nature easier to manage. Now I don't have to calculate my average speed based on distance and time. And I have new stats like "max speed" to keep track of.