This morning I hit my 1,000 mile goal that I set for myself on 8/19. By my math, that averages to just over 13.5 miles every calendar day... which isn't too shabby, given that there were plenty of days I couldn't or didn't ride.
It was a cold ride in this morning and I overdressed... so I managed to give myself a miserable ride by being way too hot in the core and way too cold in the fingers and toes, and way too chilled by the wind to know which was which until I got to work and couldn't figure out if I should shiver or pass out. Still, as with everything, I learned something (rain jacket is only for sub-freezing temperatures, not NEAR freezing, or actual heavy winds or rain) and put in my remaining 0.9 miles as part of a real ride, rather than just going up and down the street to round out the 1,000.
Now if I were to keep up that average for a full year, I would be just shy of 5,000 miles... Hmmm... I can't decide if I need another goal yet. :) First, let's see if I keep it up through the winter!
Since I started my specific goal, I've managed to lose another 5 pounds and I've put a few more holes in my belt, so I can keep using it. I've spent way more on my bike and other stuff than I've saved on gasoline in my commutes, but I still figure I've put $130 or so less in the hands of Oil Companies and probably reduced my maintenance costs on my car a bit, too. I'm faster than I was, even if not a LOT, and my endurance is much better. I can aaaalmost keep up with my Dad on the occasional 75 mile round trip to Augusta, KY now. I've got a new bike which I really enjoy riding (I originally typed "love" there, but it's irrational to love an inanimate object, isn't it?) and which is helping me to get stronger and faster all the time. I'm really happy with what cycling has let me do and I feel like I'm in better shape than I've ever been as an adult... probably better than ever before in my life. Suddenly doing TOSRV with my dad isn't sounding so far fetched...
I just hope I can keep integrating cycling into my life in a bigger way. Who needs stupid cars anyway?
