NUMBER OF MILES vs NUMBER OF DAYS OF BIKING

December 6. 2023

For many years I have tracked the number of miles I ride each year. The only reason I can think of that I do that is for motivation to ride more. 95% of my riding is done solo, and motivation to go for a ride is sometimes at a low. Having a goal of a number of miles I want to ride for each month, helps get me out and on my bike many DAYS of each month.

Currently, and for at least the past year, I have been trying to not track the miles, but track the days I get to ride. I know this will bring me similar miles but with less stress to reach a certain number each day. IF I can get myself to do that! Not terribly successful at letting go of those miles yet, but I did go back and count days ridden each month this year.

Let’s take a break here for some photos I have not posted on my blog. I have posted them elsewhere on Facebook, but would like to have them here to know where they are if I want them ;’-).

Most of the 95% solo rides are done from home on 5 good routes I have mapped out for myself. Plus I can vary each of those routes for something a little different. Miles vary from 12 to 30+ with possible shortening when weather hits or I get bored or tired.

I so reluctantly let go of summer for the change of season, but was pleased to have this happen as fall came into view.

Every so often I do get a friend or more to do a ride. These gals rode with me on the new addition to the Eastlake Trail along Lake Sammamish.

Kathy, Janet, Meri, Kim

We heard a noise overhead while snapping this photo and look what we got to see.

Soon November was ending and December was near enough for some to decorate around their homes.

I noted that this Santa makes be feel JOY

On one of my routes there is a monthly stump display that I may have written about in a past post. I met the homeowner, Mara, so now call this my Mara Stump Route.

The following photos are in no particular order and are from some of the routes I ride.

From a small lake near home

A sculpture at the Everett Waterfront

Fishing from the dock at Everett waterfront

Monument to the fishermen

Sleeping geese

A gull landed and perched on the van when Susan and I were parked having lunch at the beach on a rainy day.

Getting nothing from us, may as well fly off…

Back to the regular program – the message of this post.

The fewest number of days I rode this year were in February with 14 rides.

The most number of days were in April with 30 rides. Caveat here is that every year I join the Ride 30 Days Of April challenge ;’). Other than that month, my most days ridden were 25 in June. Another way I try to motivate me to ride solo, which works, is to join “challenges”: Teaneuring, Bicycle Ride & Seek; Erranddonneuring, Ride in the Rain; Ride 30 Days of April, and any others that pop up.

I have not counted rides in December yet, but counting all 365 days for the year, I have ridden my bike 62% of all days through November. I’m happy with that.

Three more photos and I will let you go…

November held many beautiful days perfect for riding my bike. December is starting out just the opposite and today is the first day in four that I have gotten out to ride… in less than stellar weather.

My indoor activity for December involves my TEA CALENDAR. I found this as a gift for our son-in-law, Jeremy who likes tea almost as much as I do.

Every day has a different tea to sample

I could not let this happen without ME having one as well! So, with the same tea samples, Jeremy started us writing each other ‘tasting notes’ each time we have our tea of the day.

It has been great fun to do this with Jeremy, and I am thinking we may have started a ‘tradition’ ;’).

Now Holiday frenzy begins for some, and for us it is fairly mild. We will see all the Grands and have special time with them before this year ends.