In January of 2006, I read an article about traveling around the world, after which I wondered how long it would take me to ride a distance equal to the earth's circumference (24,901 miles). I set riding this distance as a private goal. I didn't tell anyone. Why? I'm not completely sure. Perhaps it was because I didn't want to be "driven" to reach the goal. Perhaps it was because I didn't know how long it would take, or if I would ever reach it. In any event, I kept the goal to myself. Last Friday I sat down and totaled my miles for the last six weeks (I haven't been real consistent in keeping a running total up to date). With that afternoon's ride I had reached 25, 012 miles. It took 10 months longer than I thought it would (I was hoping to average 5,000 miles a year over the five years). I know that mileage is much less than some folks on this forum rack up, but for me it's a milestone. Now I've three questions bouncing around in my head. First, should I reward myself with a wheel upgrade or perhaps N+1 (I've been looking at folding bikes lately)? Second, will my wife believe me that it was a real goal and support any kind of reward? Third, what do I want to set as my next goal?

Maybe actually riding around the world. Check out Machka's posts.

We'll cut you some slack as far as the Pacific Ocean is concerned.

Well, it's 239,000 miles to the Moon. Have you got another 50 years of riding in you?

That's a pretty impressive accomplishment. Sounds like you might be a candidate to do a brevet.

Yes, you should reward yourself for reaching your goal. Unfortunately, you may have to finish a second lap before your wife supports the kind of reward you are talking about.

Great achievement. Don't sweat other people's mileage, just keep reaching out for your own goals with gusto and pleasure. You'll enjoy it and some of the pleasure will rub off and help others to do the same.

A ride across the continent.

If you choose the Northern Tier route, it's part of my commute. Drop by. I'll spring for beverages.

Congrats on a creative goal and of course on achieving it. I just told my wife about it. She rolled her eyes. I think I might go for it.

The next goal?

To keep riding and enjoy it.

If so, it's likely the next virtual trip around the world will pass by without you noticing.

Congratulations, that's quite an achievement. Personally, I think my total since I retired is closer to 7000 miles.

Congratulations.

I don't keep mileage, but I suspect . . .

N+1 for sure.

Yeah, some wives just don't get it. That's about the same reaction I got when I told my wife of my plan for a 59 mile birthday ride next month. Shoulda kept it to myself til the day of.

And to the OP. Congrats on reaching your goal.

Congratualtions! That was quite a goal and quite an accomplishment.

And, I do the same: my goals, my REAL goals, the ones that matter, I keep to myself.

But, that doesn't mean that you should not reward yourself afterwards... I agree with DnvrFox: "N+1 for sure!"

And, no I would not try to set another goal. At least not immediately. The goal will come to you when it is ready.

In the meantime, just enjoy your rides...

Congrats on riding around the world. You should have said something when you came up with the idea so that it would be documented for the misses.

I never set a goal as you did, but since I started riding again, three years ago, I started keeping track of all my mileage between the two bikes. I hardly had any miles the first 5 months as we had a very cold winter for Florida and I didn't ride. But since then, I have racked up nearly 10,000 miles (just over 7,400 on the road bikes and just over 2,300 on the hybrid). If I don't kill myself with these injuries, I may get my trip around the world.

N+1

When you ride lots of miles like you do, the cost per hour is low.
25000 miles at 16 miles per hour average is 1560 hours. So a $2000 bike is only $1.28 per hour, and a $3000 bike is $1.90 (We'll ignore tires, chains, cogs, cables, energy bars, etc, since those get used up with or without a new bike)

Well done NOS, it is the personal goals we keep to ourselves that are the most satisfying.

Bill

I would recommend N+1 and a big slice of pie. Congratulations on a great achievement.

Congratulations. You could make a custom cycling jersey that says "I just rode the equivalent of the Earth's circumference" on the front. On the rear...


"and all my wife let me have was this jersey."

What's the next goal?

Forget the 50+ shirt and go for the 25,000+ shirt. Congratulations.

Thanks for your comments. The "reward" has been decided. I’m getting a set of TRP CX9 mini v-brakes for on my commuter. Short of ditching the commuter and getting a new one with disc brakes, I think this will enhance my stopping power a good bit. Is it wrong to get excited about such a thing?

https://www.trpbrakes.com/category.ph...1040&catid=185

Never! Remember when we were kids -- we just loved the new toys without being fussy over how much they cost. We just enjoyed them.

So, enjoy your new brakes. Who knows? They could stop you quickly enough some day to make the difference between riding away and being carried away...

Some wives don't get it?? Mine does!!!
My wife Kay has ridden 234,000+ (two hundred and thirty four thousand) miles with me on tandem bicycles since 1975.
Married only 57 years and still happily riding TWOgether!
So, set your next goal . . . you can achieve it!
Congrats!

I was just wondering what the circumference was the other day, had i read this thread it would have saved me a trip to wikipedia Congratulations Mr.!

My SECRET goal must remain a secret as I know I will get to many posts telling me I can't or impossible and I don't want to be discouraged. Good news is - if I make it - with todays technology I can prove it. Congrats for achieving your goal. So what is the next one? And think bigger reward next time.

YEAH! You did it.