Pointless Rides?
 

By that I mean rides without some kind of training or exercise objective. I had one like that today. Nearly two weeks off the bike due to long work hours. Seems like every ride lately had to have some kind of "goal" attached to it.

Today I had a few hours and just decided to ride just for fun. Didn't worry if my cadence was a little low. I didn't attack any hills at all. I coasted when I felt like coasting. I took breaks when my body said to. I stopped for a candy bar.

It was just what the head-doctor ordered. I could literally feel the stress sloughing off. I was just a guy out riding. Just about brought tears to my eyes, it was so fun.

I'm gonna schedule a few more pointless rides for sure.

Sorry, pointless riding not allowed here.

Go retrace your ride, and get back to us with average speed, feet climbed, average cadence, and a calculation of calories burned.

We'd also like photos, videos, and sound recordings.

Make sure you count every other cyclist you pass, and deduct 4 points for everyone that passes you.

Go.

I'd say that kind of ride is right on point. Needing to always have a goal for a ride seems kind of pointless to me.

Rides without a goal are good- but they never last. You go out for a pootle to see the Countryside- just stretch the legs a bit or see if the bike still works and a nice downhill suddenly appears. You have to go for it- especially as to have had that downhill- you must have had a hill somewhere that you took in a lower gear than normal (Because it is an easy ride) but you found out that you can get a cadence of 120 uphill. Then there is that rider that turns onto your ride about 200 yards ahead that has to be chased down because he is obviously warming up and you might aswell be sociable. You either don't catch him- or when you do you blast past him because you are in the "Zone" Then there are those tailwinds that just have to be taken advantage of.

I admire your intentions but don't believe you when you say you had an easy ride. There must have been something that got your heart rate out of the resting rate.:innocent:

As my signature life says; we are spending our lives daily. Spend Wisely.

Can't think of a wiser expense than what you did.

Just keeps you pumped for the next training ride!!!

These are called recovery rides, they really are not pointless. Now you don't have to be recovering from a hard training session, it could be recovery from stress at work or home or what ever. A truly pointless ride usually is one that you don't recall and certainly wouldn't write about. :innocent:

Most of my runs over the last 34 yrs have been pointless. Oh, I've trained for races (5K to Ultramarathons) over the yrs, but the vast majority of my running has just been to run. I say that, then I realize I have run over 450 races. With over 71,000 miles run--and still running--just being able to keep at it closing in on 67--I am very greatful.

As far as riding. Just started back in May. Have ridden over 2,300 miles and I can tell you ALL the miles have been "pointless". Well, maybe not. Often I decide I will ride 50 miles and I do it. Not too worried about the pace: usually a leisurly 13-14 mph. Again, greatful. Even when I run (7-10) miles then go ride ("bricks"), I think it is mostly my addiction to endorphins. Nick

All my rides are purposely pointless - oh oh!! Is that an oxymoron?

Smiles, not miles!

Thats my weekend rides (Fri,Sat,Sun) during the week after work its a 20 mile exercise push hard ride. On weekends its my recover from the work stress rides. I go out on a 4 to 5 hour ride. 20 miles out I find a place to have lunch and ride another 20 to 30 miles home. Its totally pointless and thats the way I like it. Just not having a plan is the best part of the ride. Even if I get lost I figure all roads lead to Rome at some point. :)

Those are called fun rides and IMHO when its no longer fun I'll get rid of my bikes.

That might become my new signature line.

...I just wanted to add that my major accomplishment this weekend was patching 8 inner tubes. It's pointless because I don't plan on ever having any more flats, ever. All that effort gone to waste.

My favorites. Sightseeing, strolling on wheels, pub crawls, meandering....leisurely enjoying the weather, the scenery and the bike.

When I started cycling as an "adult" in the early 1970s, the emphasis was more on touring/recreational riding - NOT constantly "training". Lots of cyclists (including me) went on such "pointless" smell-the-flowers" rides. That was the great thing about cycling: it allowed you to re-connect with your environment. A fast moving automobile insulated you from nature while a bicycle enabled you to experience the sights, sounds and smells. Club rides back then were slower-paced without pace lines or purpose. Not sure where we all went wrong . . . unless it was the lure of being able to consume mass quantities of Mexican food and beer after a "training race".

It's a good line.

Are there any nabobs in Nabob?

I'm not sure any of my rides have a point except the ride. I might think to my self at the start I'm going to go like heck and end up puttering around wondering what happened to my form. Am I getting old? Other times it will be "I am just going to take it easy": Then I'm chasing UPS trucks or girls with ACL injuries (you had to be there) or just getting angry because I got buzzed and WOW! best work out I've had.

I've got no real plan except to get out and get my HR up and slow the physical decline I feel and burn some of the calories I can't stop myself from consuming.

I love being on two wheels. I love going fast. I like breeze on my face. That's all the point I need.

I guess all my rides are pointless , just getting out is enough for me ...:50:

I go on only two types of rides.
1. To get somewhere, such as work, the grocery store, or the library.
2. For pure enjoyment.
I've never bothered to measure how far or how fast I went. I like riding pointlessly!

Pointless ride = oxymoron.

To be riding IS the point.

If you think you have to schedule pointless rides you are missing the point of being pointless. It is like scheduling sex ... it's just not the same.

I've always been a laid back guy so pointless rides are pretty much all I do. Of course when I ride with friends, then the point becomes riding with friends - so it's not a pointless ride.

Any health benefits I gain from pointless riding are merely the icing on the fun cake. As I've said before...I'd probably ride even if riding wasn't good for me.

I'm not even sure what my point is...this is a pointless post.:o

:wtf:

Your right on the money :thumb:

Pointless you say ???

Life is pretty much pointless...

Harry Nilsson? "Me and my arrow"? That's takes me back some! Sadly, I've just read on Wikipedia that Harry only barely made it to the 50+ club, dying of a heart attack in 1994.

Thanks. That's gonna make Apple another $9.99. Don't have that in my current collection and love his stuff...

Something's askew...

As many others have alluded to, the ride "is" the point, nothing else neededBud

You mean that happens? :twitchy:

+1 My wife and I do "fun" rides four or five days a week, typically 25 or 30 miles. These rides provide exercise so "pointless" is a stretch but we don't push into the true training level and there are no "goals" attached to them. I have started going to a spinning class once a week that cranks the training up to a high level. That is about all of that stuff I can stand.

I'm just gonna point out that your point is valid. :beer: