Commuting and GPS data
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 204
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Commuting and GPS data
I have to admit, I've been guilty of accruing large amounts of GPS riding data for things as mundane as my bicycle commute (I've got my phone with me, why not right?). After a year of recordings I think I've found that I get to work in pretty much the same amount of time every day given I ride the same route. On days I feel slow I am a little slower, on days I feel fast I feel a little faster.
So I've decided to stop recording myself. I'd stopped doing it when I was poking around town on weekends and now I won't do it in town period. I'll save the GPS for more spirited road rides. Feels kinda good not worrying or knowing about how fast I'm going now
Anybody else make a similar transition?
So I've decided to stop recording myself. I'd stopped doing it when I was poking around town on weekends and now I won't do it in town period. I'll save the GPS for more spirited road rides. Feels kinda good not worrying or knowing about how fast I'm going now

Anybody else make a similar transition?
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 73
From: Vandalia OH
Bikes: 2011 Cannondale Quick 5, 2014 Raleigh Revenio 2.0
I keep GPS for all rides but I don't put any stock into it except to remind myself that I need to get in more miles. It is more of an "oh yeah" thing so having it or not isn't a big deal. I mostly find it interesting.
#3
Been Around Awhile

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,661
Likes: 1,978
From: Burlington Iowa
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
I have to admit, I've been guilty of accruing large amounts of GPS riding data for things as mundane as my bicycle commute (I've got my phone with me, why not right?). After a year of recordings I think I've found that I get to work in pretty much the same amount of time every day given I ride the same route. On days I feel slow I am a little slower, on days I feel fast I feel a little faster.
So I've decided to stop recording myself. I'd stopped doing it when I was poking around town on weekends and now I won't do it in town period. I'll save the GPS for more spirited road rides. Feels kinda good not worrying or knowing about how fast I'm going now
Anybody else make a similar transition?
So I've decided to stop recording myself. I'd stopped doing it when I was poking around town on weekends and now I won't do it in town period. I'll save the GPS for more spirited road rides. Feels kinda good not worrying or knowing about how fast I'm going now

Anybody else make a similar transition?
#4
The same thing happens for cameras. After a while, it all looks the same. I used the Runkeeper app for a few weeks, but all of my commutes were within a +/- a few minutes. It was a little helpful to compare to my computer mileage, but there are also mile markers all along my route, so kind of redundant.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 794
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From: Nashville TN
Bikes: Trek 7.3FX, Diamondback Edgewood hybrid, KHS Montana
My morning commute varies very little.
The biggest factor is traffic lights/cross streets.
I have to wait on a light one day, it takes longer. If I make'em on green the next, then I'm faster.
The biggest factor is traffic lights/cross streets.
I have to wait on a light one day, it takes longer. If I make'em on green the next, then I'm faster.
#6
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mine too. Whether I take the old MTB with fully loaded panniers or the 17lb race bike, my commute takes 19-22 minutes. It all depends on the stoplights.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
I record it all and log it on Strava mainly to keep track of weekly/ monthly/ annual mileage. There are also some segments along my commute that I challenge myself with. As for the camera, I record every ride, and if nothing eventful happens, delete it.
#8
ride for a change
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,221
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata
I quit paying attention to or collecting any commuting data a long long time ago. The commute is just the same basic thing every day and I was simply wasting time dealing with numbers. I know when I feel good or bad or the wind is killing me or the tires need replacing without looking at a spread sheet.
I do still use my Garmin 200 on my recreational rides, road rides and mountain bike rides just for the hell of it. Those types of rides vary a lot more depending on routes and conditions and it's nice to be able to go back and retrieve the route from the GPS for use another day. It's more of a conversation piece on group rides than a it is a training aid
I do still use my Garmin 200 on my recreational rides, road rides and mountain bike rides just for the hell of it. Those types of rides vary a lot more depending on routes and conditions and it's nice to be able to go back and retrieve the route from the GPS for use another day. It's more of a conversation piece on group rides than a it is a training aid
#9
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 3
From: Brodhead, WI - south of Madison
Bikes: 2009 Trek 1.2
Same here. Usually I just use Endomondo to keep a running total of miles. I've been using it and Strava at times now, when I want to track AND measure myself
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