So we're counting recreational miles too? I'm fine with that as it makes it easier to track (and increases my total ;))

JeffPoulin_______________________81.9 (total miles YTD)
K'Tesh_________________________31.2
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Tarwheel _______________________22
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
TwoHeadsBrewing________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1

JeffPoulin_______________________81.9
Drummingpariah_________________40.2
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Tarwheel _______________________22
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
TwoHeadsBrewing________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1

Someone dropped off Drummingpariah, so I've re-added him, and updated my own total YTD.

IMHO, recreational rides aren't commuting. This is, after all the commuting forum. Guess I'll bow out like I did last year ...

If it were commuting only, would you participate? I, for one, would like to see you in this year.

Personally, I think it's more interesting to make it commuting miles since this is, after all, the commuting forum. Otherwise, it's just another mileage thread and there are lots of those around. Besides, several dozen posters in the road and long distance forums put up over 10000 miles/year and if they started posting here, they'd blow away the commuters pretty quickly. On the other hand, just tracking commuting miles is hard unless commuting is 100% of your riding or you have a bike w/ computer dedicated to the task. Also, there's all kinds of hair splitting involved with commuting miles. For example, is taking the "scenic" route home from work commuting or recreation? Does running errands while on a recreational ride make it a commute? Then there are those who put in their total miles regardless, so the list becomes a mixture of the two systems. Tracking total miles removes these ambiguities.

Perhaps we could include both figures in the list. Something like:

jeffpoulin_____ 24.5 (81.9 total)

to indicate 24.5 commuting miles and 81.9 for the year. The list order could be by commuting miles to keep the spirit of the thread about commuting.

K'Tesh, what do you think? It's your thread this year, so it's your call.

More than likely. But I'd like to see some baselines. Commuting to me is back and forth to work/school/etc, or at a stretch, utility riding (to the store, etc). The century you may do on Sunday, or the 25 mile recreational ride that you did in full kit on your carbon fiber road bike carrying nothing more than a smile really isn't commuting IMHO. If you did 20 miles on your road bike in full kit wearing nothing but a smile to work/school/etc it sure should count. If start point is home and end point is work or vice versa and you took the scenic route or stopped at the store it should all count. But a "commute" in a car isn't a trip to the department store on Saturday, so it really shouldn't be counted on a bike either IMHO.

Here's an example... I had XXX *commuting* miles last year.. but XXX total miles for the year. Difference was nearly 3500mi. Almost a 3.5k difference is enough to skew the numbers, and you (briefly) had one here at the top of the heap in the 2010 list because of a recreational ride. If we got to the end of 2009 and you had been reporting commuting miles and I beat you out because I'd been reporting all miles instead it's not really fair to you. Mind you, I'm not faulting him/her because of reporting it, it's really no other reason than it's not clearly defined.

And yeah, I'm competitive by nature before that question gets asked. But it begs the larger question of "define commuting" that has started more than one holy war around here, something I'm really not trying to do. :)

JeffPoulin_______________________81.9
Drummingpariah_________________40.2
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
Tarwheel _______________________22
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
TwoHeadsBrewing________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1


How about commuting miles with totals in parentheses for kicks as suggested previously?

JeffPoulin_______________________81.9
Billb58_________________________53.3
Drummingpariah_________________40.2
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
Tarwheel _______________________22
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
TwoHeadsBrewing________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1


How about commuting miles with totals in parentheses for kicks as suggested previously?

JeffPoulin_______________________81.9
Billb58_________________________53.3
Drummingpariah_________________40.2
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
TwoHeadsBrewing_____________23
Tarwheel _______________________22
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1

JeffPoulin_______________________81.9
Tarwheel ______________________66 (114 total riding)
Billb58_________________________53.3
Drummingpariah_________________40.2
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
TwoHeadsBrewing________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1

My understanding was this thread was ALWAYS just supposed to include commuting miles only -- that is, mileage riding to work, school, etc. Miles running errands should probably count as well, since that person would otherwise be driving. If people want to include total miles in parentheses, that's OK, but I would rank people by commuting mileage not total since this is the commuting forum.

I could live with the parenthesis. So, I went back and added the modification to the original post. I would leave the entry location is the decison of the rider.

Now, I personally don't make a difference between commute miles and total miles, as I don't live with a car. The vast majority of my miles takes place somewhere between home and work, so I feel that it all counts. Also, for much of the year (March-December), I have a 2nd job which makes my work week 7 days a week.

Tarwheel ______________________66 (114 total riding)
JeffPoulin_______________________54.9 (113.1 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
Drummingpariah_________________40.2
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
TwoHeadsBrewing________________23
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1

Adjusted my entry back to commuting miles with my total miles in parentheses.

Tarwheel ______________________66 (114 total riding)
JeffPoulin_______________________54.9 (113.1 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
2su___________________________47
Drummingpariah_________________40.2
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
TwoHeadsBrewing________________23
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1

In that case, I'll have to adjust my number... but by now my 'straight commuting' numbers are about the same as recreational. I don't drive anywhere any more (excepting the very rare track day) and knee problems prevent me from walking any respectable distance (a mile at a time is pushing it) so I bike everywhere. I bike to/from work, grocery shopping, dropping off FedEX packages, visiting friends, and sometimes I take the scenic route, so it's a little difficult to define exactly what 'commuting' miles actually are. If we can get a firm definition of what commuting miles are being referred to, I'll be able to give an accurate number by that definition. Here's the closest I could come, based on the definition proposed by Tarwheel:

Tarwheel ______________________66 (114 total riding)
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
JeffPoulin_______________________54.9 (113.1 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
TwoHeadsBrewing________________23
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
rhm____________________________7.7
Andy_K_________________________7.1

S: (n) commute (a regular journey of some distance to and from your place of work) "there is standing room only on the high-speed commute"

:)

Tarwheel ______________________66 (114 total riding)
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
rhm____________________________56 (76 total)
JeffPoulin_______________________54.9 (113.1 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
TwoHeadsBrewing________________23
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
Andy_K_________________________7.1[/QUOTE]

For simplicity's sake, may I suggest we adopt a uniform style (there are five, so far), and lose the decimals?

Tarwheel ______________________66 (114 total riding)
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
rhm____________________________56 (76 total)
JeffPoulin_______________________54.9 (113.1 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
TwoHeadsBrewing________________30 (Total 63)
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
Andy_K_________________________7.1

JeffPoulin_______________________86 (144 total)
Tarwheel ______________________66 (114 total riding)
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
rhm____________________________56 (76 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
TwoHeadsBrewing________________30 (Total 63)
mtnwalker______________________24.3
Red Warrior____________________23.6 (Total: 61.3)
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
Andy_K_________________________7.1

+1 regarding commuting miles only.

Regarding tracking commuting miles only, I know how far it is from my house to my work, and I know how many times I've ridden. Computing commuting miles is a matter of simple multiplication.

Paul

That only works if you take the same route every day. If you vary your route from day to day (as I and many others here do for various reasons), it's not so easy to track. In my case, all my bikes have computers and I track each day's rides in a spreadsheet (including whether or not they were commutes). Most people are not this anal, of course, and even if they are, it's still a lot of work create and maintain such a tracking system (hey, I'm bored, and it beats watching TV!). Now that you mention it, though, I'm curious how others keep track of commuting versus total miles. Aside from taking the same route every day, or having a dedicated commuter bike w/ computer, or using a GPS, is there better way?

JeffPoulin_______________________86 (144 total)
Tarwheel ______________________66 (114 total riding)
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
rhm____________________________56 (76 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
Red Warrior____________________47.2 (84.9 total)
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
TwoHeadsBrewing________________30 (Total 63)
mtnwalker______________________24.3
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
Andy_K_________________________7.1

Here's an idea on how to define commuting miles: if you're adding extra length just to ride more, then that amount should be subtracted. So your commuting miles should only be the length of the direct ride.

Not that I have a strong opinion, but this might be a way to clarify.

This thread gets sillier almost each time I check.

What is the purpose of the thread? What is a commute? What is total? What is combined?

A matter of days ago, back in 2009, it was pretty simple.

it's the same as before, only the number in parentheses is total miles ridden year to date. A commute is whatever you define it to be. For me, it's riding to work and back and nothing else. For others, it's all riding. BTW, it was like that in the 2009 thread too. The only thing different this year is that people can put their total miles YTD after their entry if they want to.

I agree. I'll sit down now. The lack of clarity was one of the issues I had with the 2009 thread, which is why I didn't participate. Sorry to stir the pot this year, thought that there might actually be guidelines. I'm out.

Aw, c'mon, don't be like that. We're trying to make this as clear as possible: the miles stated refer to commuting miles, as you suggested, in a strict sense. The number in parentheses refers to some larger, less strict, number. In my case, this will include errands I could have done in the car, but didn't; bike tours that replace vacations that might otherwise have included a car; and recreational bike rides that could never involve a car. I suppose we could have separate categories for all these things... how silly would that be? What you chose to include is up to you. No one is checking on you. So... join the party! But... your call.

Tarwheel ______________________88 (136 total)
JeffPoulin_______________________86 (144 total)
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
rhm____________________________56 (76 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
Red Warrior____________________47.2 (84.9 total)
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
TwoHeadsBrewing________________30 (Total 63)
mtnwalker______________________24.3
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
Andy_K_________________________7.1

The whole thread is all in fun. Some of us like to track our mileage, and it provides an added incentive to bike commute. I could care less if we track total mileage as well, but the list is ranked by commuting miles. Whether you include errands or whatever is up to you. It's not like you are going to be audited by the IRS or anything. I keep track of my mileage for my own purposes, and it helps motivate me on days when I would be tempted to lie in bed longer and drive to work.

Tarwheel ______________________88 (136 total)
JeffPoulin_______________________86 (144 total)
SDr6___________________________70
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
rhm____________________________56 (76 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
Red Warrior____________________47.2 (84.9 total)
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
TwoHeadsBrewing________________30 (Total 63)
mtnwalker______________________24.3
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
Andy_K_________________________7.1

Tarwheel ______________________88 (136 total)
JeffPoulin_______________________86 (144 total)
SDr6___________________________70
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
rhm____________________________56 (76 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
Red Warrior____________________47.2 (84.9 total)
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
TwoHeadsBrewing________________37 (Total 63)
mtnwalker______________________24.3
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
Andy_K_________________________7.1

JeffPoulin_______________________100 (159 total)
Tarwheel ______________________88 (136 total)
SDr6___________________________70
Drummingpariah_________________56 (121 combined)
rhm____________________________56 (76 total)
Billb58_________________________53.3
Red Warrior____________________47.2 (84.9 total)
2su___________________________47
K'Tesh_________________________38.7
TwoHeadsBrewing________________37 (Total 63)
mtnwalker______________________24.3
kmcrawford111__________________20.6
duckbill________________________20.4
Scoatw_________________________17
JPprivate________________________15
Underground____________________15
EKW in DC_______________________14
Arcanum________________________12.19
Andy_K_________________________7.1

Sorry, tarwheel, I just had to leapfrog you again with my last commute of the week. :) All in all, it was a tough start for the new year with two snowstorms forcing me to take the train a lot more than I wanted. It was all I could do to eek out 100 miles. Hopefully, the snow will let up and I'll get back into my regular routine before long.