I wouldn't say you're odd, but I take a different approach. I like to explore. I like to see areas of my city I haven't ridden before. I tend to use common routes to get to different parts of the city, but then I like to take the road less traveled and see something now.

I also ride with two different groups, maybe 2-3 times a week. Both start about 8 miles from my house so I usually have 16 miles plus whatever the group rides (and sometimes some bonus miles if I take the long way home). Even then I tend to take variations of my route to the ride start, depending on how much time I've got to get there.

^^^
Ditto, that guy. I started joining a couple of the group rides he mentioned a couple of times a month for a change of pace, good company, and to learn my way around unfamiliar parts of town by bike.

Otherwise, my rides tend to be repetitive. Depending on the weather I ride the same hilly route once or twice a week, varying it only in distance from 12 to 16 miles, occasionally 20. And when my legs feel dead I ride the flatter MUP. Same route, same distances. It can either be relaxing or tedious, depending on the moon phase.

I prefer to get out and explore when I have the time.

Check: I will get rid of the candy!

Excellent point!

when you're on a schedule, going with what you know is great.
When you're not, adventure is always a bonus.

We're all odd. If we weren't, we'd all be exactly alike.

I say ride wherever you want. If you enjoy going up & down the MUP, then who's to say you're doing it wrong? If we had a MUP here I'd probably be on it all the time.

I had a strange one last week. A couple of city park workers in a Cushman were driving it like they were going to chase me and pass me on the greenway. They followed me across the top of a bluff, down through a bottom, and were likely surprised when I smoked them climbing the switchbacks up the bluff and the following hill climb. But when I crested the hill, I really took off...

Riding in groups is the safest way to ride streets, but more than a couple of bikes together is not safe on crowded greenways. The most dangerous is passing like lemmings uphill on a blind sweeper against bikes coming downhill - I've had to panic brake and a couple of times and leave the trail on my 38mm tires. Even had a woman lemming ***** me out one day, because she was passing a slower bike up hill on a blind curve and taking all of my side of the pavement - it's even striped, and I don't need a lot.

I often don't know what route I'm going to ride until I'm a few miles into a ride. Or, until I'm back home... I have areas I frequent, but I like to explore. It's how I've been biking since I was in grade school.

and there are some drags you don't want to end up on during Christmas shopping - it's the wrong kind of adventure

It may be the same route, but as the seasons change and your fitness improves, it's really not the same ride every time. Enjoy those little differences.

Do you do it 12 hours a day everyday?

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10033054

I ride the local MUPs all the time. The Withlacoochee Trail is 46 miles long so lots of riding options. The Nature Coast Trail is 25 miles and the Suncoast Trail is 41 miles. We moved here from Atlanta so I wouldn't have to ride on the road — unless I want to try some country roads for a change.

No more odd than I am. But that ain't sayin' much.

In the mountain biking Mecca of Bend, Oregon, I used to ride the same 4-5 trails over and over again.

I like to think I'm not loopy!

I liked the idea of riding with friends but the few times I've tried riding with someone else I don't like it so much and I rather ride by myself. I don't get tired of the trail even though it's the same one over and over again because I always see something new I didn't noticed before, plus My mind keeps me entertained and busy no matter the trail. I don't think you are odd.

Amazing.

another nice thing about the greenways is you can mindlessly work a workout into your schedule.
I hauled the bike along this morning, started on the greenway and blasted out 25 miles, now in the office getting the work done (small office, and I brought a change of clothes - still shorts, tee shirt and sandals, though - small office).

I'm still years from retirement, but at least the countdown is in single digits. If my plans don't change, I'll do the same. I'll get a 35-mile hilly, curvy loop, a 25-mile straight and almost flat out'n'back that is on the road but as safe as riding open roads can be (I see bicycles there every time I visit despite the 45-55mph speed limit - the shoulders are a full car lane wide), and a few other obvious bicycle-friendly routes.

I live in a rural area now. No bike lanes, no MUP's, etc., it's all local 25-35mph speed limit roads. I've been riding the same few (determined to be safe) routes for years. I don't have a problem with riding the same routes over and over. If anything, I prefer it since I know where the potholes are, where the most troublesome spots are, etc. I haven't had a "close call" (knock on wood!) in a long time.

What is MUP?
------------

Youre not odd. Theres no rules that you have to ride with a group. I know i prefer it so i can stay motivated.

Multi-Use Path - so bikes and peds and rollerbladers and joggers all share the same path.

Ahh, ok. That makes sense.

Most recreational riders could count no more than 10 routes and variations of those done on a regular basis. The other rides are because of travel away from home rides and organized "pay to ride" types.

When I saw the thread title I was immediately drawn to find out if I had a friend or competition...

No, that's not odd. At least not to me. I don't really go on group rides. I did for a couple of years because I was working at a bike shop and they had a club. I did a little bit of racing at the time. But most of my time on the bike is alone. I'll do the same trails and just go and experience it. I think it's healthy to remind ourselves of the cool things around us and, while holidays and adventures are wonderful, it's necessary to pay attention to the things we see everyday. It's a skill to be content in the present.

What is the source of your assumption?

Well, as of the time of the 2012 article linked below, the gentleman featured in the article had ridden more than 165,000 miles on the same path:

Distance Persistence

The article quotes the rider as follows:

“Some people say it’s crazy to do it, but I do it anyway,”