End of the line
12-12-13 | 09:46 AM
#51
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,963
Likes: 5,210
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
tsl, do you think your buddies at BikeJournal CCC would allow me to "bend" their rules to fit my situation? I keep my car at work, and occasionally drive it home at night and back to work in the morning (until Feb, "occasionally" is "weekly", but generally it's monthly or less). Thus for me, a "commuting round-trip" is evening and morning, not morning and evening. I wouldn't want to get dinged two days for a single use of the car, so I would report a full commuting day if I rode home->work some morning, and rode work->home at the end of the previous workday. It's kind of like I "live" at the office (where I have a car), and "work" at home; or have a night-shift job with a whole lotta hours.
12-12-13 | 09:48 AM
#53
Pedaled too far.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,851
Likes: 9
From: La Petite Roche
Don't feel bad. All streaks come to an end. Now you have a target to shoot for. Your record is far better than mine.
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12-12-13 | 10:42 AM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Yes. In that case it would count as multi-modal since there was some cycling involved.
On Tuesday night, there was not even an attempt at cycling--I never swung a leg over the saddle, never clipped-in--so it doesn't count.
Yes, I could have had my boss drop me a block from home, ridden the block and called it multi-modal. That would have been to the letter of the rules, but not in the spirit of them.
For reference, the rules I play by are those of the Commuter Cycling Century Challenge (CCCC) over on BikeJournal.com, where the goal is 100 commuting round trips in a year, with several other bonus recognitions for other achievements. Join us! I've been doing that challenge for seven years now, and did two years as the recording secretary.
And seriously, four inches of unplowed snow with road tires and close fitting fenders? What sort of ride would that have been? It was easier to carry the bike. Pushing it jammed up the tires in the fenders within a couple of revolutions.
Most importantly, what would that say about my integrity?
Certainly I could bend the rules to fit my numbers. Worse, no-one here or on the CCCC would have known about it at all had I not fessed up. Yes, I could lie.
See, integrity is something that's really important to me now. It matters to me even if it doesn't matter to anyone else. Time was when, without any thought at all, I would lie, cheat, or steal to get what I wanted. What many here don't know is that I'm a recovering alcoholic and crackhead. As of today, I have 4,924 days clean and sober (13 years and change).
One day at a time.
One slip and it all goes away.
I don't put nearly as much weight on cycling as I do my sobriety, although cycling goes a long way towards keeping my sanity, and thus my sobriety. I've always given myself permission to not ride the bike. I've just never done it. I don't give myself permission to pick up a drink, or have a bump. Or to lie, cheat, or steal.
And I don't take today for granted, let alone tomorrow.
Life for me is much better this way.
On Tuesday night, there was not even an attempt at cycling--I never swung a leg over the saddle, never clipped-in--so it doesn't count.
Yes, I could have had my boss drop me a block from home, ridden the block and called it multi-modal. That would have been to the letter of the rules, but not in the spirit of them.
For reference, the rules I play by are those of the Commuter Cycling Century Challenge (CCCC) over on BikeJournal.com, where the goal is 100 commuting round trips in a year, with several other bonus recognitions for other achievements. Join us! I've been doing that challenge for seven years now, and did two years as the recording secretary.
And seriously, four inches of unplowed snow with road tires and close fitting fenders? What sort of ride would that have been? It was easier to carry the bike. Pushing it jammed up the tires in the fenders within a couple of revolutions.
Most importantly, what would that say about my integrity?
Certainly I could bend the rules to fit my numbers. Worse, no-one here or on the CCCC would have known about it at all had I not fessed up. Yes, I could lie.
See, integrity is something that's really important to me now. It matters to me even if it doesn't matter to anyone else. Time was when, without any thought at all, I would lie, cheat, or steal to get what I wanted. What many here don't know is that I'm a recovering alcoholic and crackhead. As of today, I have 4,924 days clean and sober (13 years and change).
One day at a time.
One slip and it all goes away.
I don't put nearly as much weight on cycling as I do my sobriety, although cycling goes a long way towards keeping my sanity, and thus my sobriety. I've always given myself permission to not ride the bike. I've just never done it. I don't give myself permission to pick up a drink, or have a bump. Or to lie, cheat, or steal.
And I don't take today for granted, let alone tomorrow.
Life for me is much better this way.
12-12-13 | 10:48 AM
#55
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39,897
Likes: 3,865
From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
I really respect Tsl's streak, but I'd respect it equally if he had 5 streaks of 1/5th that length.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
12-12-13 | 11:02 AM
#56
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 0
From: Memphis, TN
Just curious, why would it matter? I assume you're commuting because you want to, so whatever's working for you should be fine. Why count or keep score? I've been 99% car free for 4-1/2 years, and happy with it. Sometimes I miss the car, sometimes I rent one for specific trips, and on days where I don't want to ride to or from work, for whatever reason, I take the bus. I don't worry about the 1% because I'm enjoying the 99% and as far as I'm concerned, that's what counts.
I really respect Tsl's streak, but I'd respect it equally if he had 5 streaks of 1/5th that length.
I really respect Tsl's streak, but I'd respect it equally if he had 5 streaks of 1/5th that length.
I agree, by the way, that tsl's streak is admirable and that several smaller streaks would also have been admirable. I find 1756.5 rides out of 1757 just as impressive as 1757 out of 1757. But as much as I admire the streak, I admire tsl's integrity even more.
12-12-13 | 11:07 AM
#58
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39,897
Likes: 3,865
From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Thanks for explaining. I wasn't aware of the game, and keeping score on stuff like this is foreign to me.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
12-12-13 | 11:08 AM
#59
Thread Starter
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,971
Likes: 15
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
tsl, do you think your buddies at BikeJournal CCC would allow me to "bend" their rules to fit my situation? I keep my car at work, and occasionally drive it home at night and back to work in the morning (until Feb, "occasionally" is "weekly", but generally it's monthly or less). Thus for me, a "commuting round-trip" is evening and morning, not morning and evening. I wouldn't want to get dinged two days for a single use of the car, so I would report a full commuting day if I rode home->work some morning, and rode work->home at the end of the previous workday. It's kind of like I "live" at the office (where I have a car), and "work" at home; or have a night-shift job with a whole lotta hours.
12-12-13 | 11:36 AM
#60
Unlisted member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 435
From: Chicagoland
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
Indeed, that's even more inspiring! Integrity and safety should win out over the record streak any day, you know who you're really competing with and don't need to justify anything to the rest of us. You've got way more integrity than the posers who trailier their motorcycles to places like Sturgis so they can stand around and talk about "living the biker lifestyle".
12-12-13 | 12:19 PM
#61
Banned.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 1
Yes. In that case it would count as multi-modal since there was some cycling involved.
On Tuesday night, there was not even an attempt at cycling--I never swung a leg over the saddle, never clipped-in--so it doesn't count.
Yes, I could have had my boss drop me a block from home, ridden the block and called it multi-modal. That would have been to the letter of the rules, but not in the spirit of them.
For reference, the rules I play by are those of the Commuter Cycling Century Challenge (CCCC) over on BikeJournal.com, where the goal is 100 commuting round trips in a year, with several other bonus recognitions for other achievements. Join us! I've been doing that challenge for seven years now, and did two years as the recording secretary.
And seriously, four inches of unplowed snow with road tires and close fitting fenders? What sort of ride would that have been? It was easier to carry the bike. Pushing it jammed up the tires in the fenders within a couple of revolutions.
Most importantly, what would that say about my integrity?
Certainly I could bend the rules to fit my numbers. Worse, no-one here or on the CCCC would have known about it at all had I not fessed up. Yes, I could lie.
See, integrity is something that's really important to me now. It matters to me even if it doesn't matter to anyone else. Time was when, without any thought at all, I would lie, cheat, or steal to get what I wanted. What many here don't know is that I'm a recovering alcoholic and crackhead. As of today, I have 4,924 days clean and sober (13 years and change).
One day at a time.
One slip and it all goes away.
I don't put nearly as much weight on cycling as I do my sobriety, although cycling goes a long way towards keeping my sanity, and thus my sobriety. I've always given myself permission to not ride the bike. I've just never done it. I don't give myself permission to pick up a drink, or have a bump. Or to lie, cheat, or steal.
And I don't take today for granted, let alone tomorrow.
Life for me is much better this way.
On Tuesday night, there was not even an attempt at cycling--I never swung a leg over the saddle, never clipped-in--so it doesn't count.
Yes, I could have had my boss drop me a block from home, ridden the block and called it multi-modal. That would have been to the letter of the rules, but not in the spirit of them.
For reference, the rules I play by are those of the Commuter Cycling Century Challenge (CCCC) over on BikeJournal.com, where the goal is 100 commuting round trips in a year, with several other bonus recognitions for other achievements. Join us! I've been doing that challenge for seven years now, and did two years as the recording secretary.
And seriously, four inches of unplowed snow with road tires and close fitting fenders? What sort of ride would that have been? It was easier to carry the bike. Pushing it jammed up the tires in the fenders within a couple of revolutions.
Most importantly, what would that say about my integrity?
Certainly I could bend the rules to fit my numbers. Worse, no-one here or on the CCCC would have known about it at all had I not fessed up. Yes, I could lie.
See, integrity is something that's really important to me now. It matters to me even if it doesn't matter to anyone else. Time was when, without any thought at all, I would lie, cheat, or steal to get what I wanted. What many here don't know is that I'm a recovering alcoholic and crackhead. As of today, I have 4,924 days clean and sober (13 years and change).
One day at a time.
One slip and it all goes away.
I don't put nearly as much weight on cycling as I do my sobriety, although cycling goes a long way towards keeping my sanity, and thus my sobriety. I've always given myself permission to not ride the bike. I've just never done it. I don't give myself permission to pick up a drink, or have a bump. Or to lie, cheat, or steal.
And I don't take today for granted, let alone tomorrow.
Life for me is much better this way.
I used to think that I liked you, TSL...
Now, I know that I do!
I respectfully salute you and wish you much continued success
Last edited by WestPablo; 12-13-13 at 06:04 AM.
12-12-13 | 12:31 PM
#62
Thread Starter
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,971
Likes: 15
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
I've found I learn as much by failures as I do success. So I report both in case it works the same for others.
Not that I consider Tuesday night a failure. If anything, it's a sign that I do stupid stuff a lot less often lately.
I don't ride for the numbers, even though I keep track of things by number. I ride for the joy.
Coming home Tuesday night in the truck, it wasn't the number that gave me disappointment. It was looking at the road, seeing the lines I'd take and knowing I'd be all over that, and probably passing cars--if I'd had sense enough to ride the studded tire bike to work.
It was the joy that I missed.
It was all made right again riding to work the next day. And home again that night. Mashed potatoes, brown sugar, hardpack, grease, patches of ice, even some wet clear pavement. Man it was a nice ride.
EDIT: In case it didn't come across, my dedication is to the joy. Just an old guy on a bike having fun going back and forth to work.
Last edited by tsl; 12-12-13 at 12:45 PM.
12-12-13 | 01:25 PM
#63
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,963
Likes: 5,210
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
ANYways, long story not quite as long as it could be, I started tracking my bike commuting manually in a spreadsheet, but that fell by the wayside, and I am not tracking my goal. The BikeJournal CCC offers a community and an element of fun (like here at BF) that would help me track my bike-commuting goals better.
12-12-13 | 01:28 PM
#64
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,963
Likes: 5,210
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
BTW, FWIW, when I roll up to the garage tonight I expect my CatEye MITY 8 odometer to read 4999. I know it doesn't mean a lot (the reality is already over 5K because of some trips without the computer), but numbers can just be fun sometimes. After dinner I want to roll around in the culdesac with the boys until I trip 5000. (Also because last night I overhauled one of my son's wheel bearings and brakes, and I want to get him on the bike to see whether can feel a difference)
12-12-13 | 02:28 PM
#65
www.ocrebels.com
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles area
Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.
Originally Posted by [B
tsl[/B];16319474]One-thousand five-hundred ninety-six... and a half, if you count the ride to work. Just one week shy of seven-and-a-half years. Two-hundred five (and a half) for 2013.
Rick / OCRR
12-13-13 | 12:15 AM
#66
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 3
From: Garner, NC 27529
Bikes: Built up DT, 2007 Fuji tourer (donor bike, RIP), 1995 1220 Trek
TSL:
Congrats!
I grew up on Oneida lake, went to UB for 6 years, and lived in Rochester for 8 years.
Your streak would be impressive even if you drove a snow plow as your personal vehicle.
Congrats!
I grew up on Oneida lake, went to UB for 6 years, and lived in Rochester for 8 years.
Your streak would be impressive even if you drove a snow plow as your personal vehicle.
12-13-13 | 03:20 PM
#67
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
…I don't ride for the numbers, even though I keep track of things by number. I ride for the joy.
Coming home Tuesday night in the truck, it wasn't the number that gave me disappointment. It was looking at the road, seeing the lines I'd take and knowing I'd be all over that, and probably passing cars--if I'd had sense enough to ride the studded tire bike to work.
It was the joy that I missed
Coming home Tuesday night in the truck, it wasn't the number that gave me disappointment. It was looking at the road, seeing the lines I'd take and knowing I'd be all over that, and probably passing cars--if I'd had sense enough to ride the studded tire bike to work.
It was the joy that I missed
…It was all made right again riding to work the next day. And home again that night. Mashed potatoes, brown sugar, hardpack, grease, patches of ice, even some wet clear pavement. Man it was a nice ride.
…EDIT: In case it didn't come across, my dedication is to the joy. Just an old guy on a bike having fun going back and forth to work.
[From the personal narratives of the Second Annual Fifty-Plus Ride]…Miss Kenton also wins the "You're So Sweet" award for for saying to Yrs Trly last night, "You look so much more youthful than your avatar." And I couldn't even convince her it was my under-eye moisturizing cream.
12-13-13 | 04:05 PM
#68
Thread Starter
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,971
Likes: 15
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
Wanna see my AARP card? 
Only 11 to 14 years to retirement, depending on if I go at 67 or 70.
I could fit a couple of 1596-day streaks in there.
Only 11 to 14 years to retirement, depending on if I go at 67 or 70.
I could fit a couple of 1596-day streaks in there.
12-13-13 | 04:09 PM
#69
High Plains Luddite
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 682
Likes: 102
From: Colorado
Bikes: 3x8 & 3x9
tsl, I'm a newcomer here but have really enjoyed your posts in the short time I've been here. Thanks.
--a fellow library lover who visits at least twice per week, and sometimes on my bicycle.
--a fellow library lover who visits at least twice per week, and sometimes on my bicycle.
12-13-13 | 04:13 PM
#70
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
Great run! it was only a year ago I did my first consecutive month. You have given me a new years resolution to commute car free for 2014.
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