Jeremiesmith77

I am very close to achieving a mileage goal I set for 2019 that seemed impossible to me at the time.

I’ve always enjoyed bicycles and had a decent Trek hybrid for many years but last summer (2018), I bought a solid hybrid bike from a LBS (Roll: Bicycles) and the interest became an obsession.

Prior to July 2018, I’d never ridden longer than 30 miles in a ride or 150 miles in a month. After doing a little over 2000 miles the second half of 2018, I set the stretch goal of riding 5000 miles in 2019, thinking that I would be unlikely to hit the huge number but it was worth shooting for…

Here are my mileage totals for the last 17 months:
Jul - 305
Aug - 540
Sep - 389
Oct - 213
Nov - 368
Dec - 329
2018 6 month total - 2144 miles

Jan - 148
Feb - 168
Mar - 254
Apr - 413
May – 503
Jun - 749
Jul - 683
Aug - 544
Sep - 592
Oct - 531
Nov - 122 and counting
Dec - ???
2019 running total - 4707 miles

My strategy for stacking miles has been to combine a 30-mile round-trip work commute with long rides, whenever I can fit them in on the weekends. I bought a house last October that is located specifically so I can ride to my office, about 80% on great bike paths. From my house I can take bike trails for hundreds of miles from Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Xenia, Dayton, and Cincinnati. If you like riding bikes away from cars and flat roads with gentle hills, central Ohio is a cycling paradise.

I tend to do the long rides early in the morning to avoid cutting in to family time too much. I also did 2-short multi-day tours, completing the 340 mile Ohio to Erie Trail (Cleveland to Cincinnati) in June over 5 days and in October rode from Columbus, Ohio to Madison, Indiana, 220 miles, over 2 days.

How I got my miles, a fun statistical breakdown:
30-mile round-trip commutes – 73 times
50-60 miles – 7 rides
60-70 miles – 7 rides
70-80 miles - 4 rides
80-90 miles - 3 rides
90-100 miles - 1 ride
100-110 miles - 2 rides
110-120 miles - 1 ride
120+ miles - 3 rides (133 miles was longest ride of the year, while fully loaded for touring)

I am 42 years old and a big guy, 6’5” and currently about 295lbs. Last June, I was about 350 lbs. I have learned a lot about my body and a bit about bicycle durability in the last 18 months. Mostly, I feel stronger and healthier than I have since I was 25 years old.

I have realized that I especially love really long rides and that feeling of being 100% tapped out after a huge effort. My goal for next year is to earn super Randonneur status (https://rusa.org/pages/award-sr) by completing a series of 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k rides within specified time limits.

18 months ago, I was a bike novice and began reading these forums, encouraged by learning about other big dudes riding bikes. If you are reading this and wondering if you can ride big miles while being a giant, know that you can indeed. Ask me anything, I am happy to try to help (as are many others in this awesome community)

My Strava Profile - https://www.strava.com/athletes/33462396



Great Miami River Trail


Bike and Graffiti


Cincinnati, OTET Day 5


Hanover College - Ohio River Overlook


OTET Camping


Cleveland, OTET Day 1


Little Miami River Trail

cyclist2000

Great accomplishment.

tallbikeman

Keep up the great riding you are doing. I love hearing about all the bicycle only trails. I'm envious of the amount of miles you have. We have quite a few trails around here but you end up on the highways between towns a lot. Some are better than others. Love your camping setup.

shelbyfv

OP is now at 5215 miles for the year on Strava. Congrats for hitting your goal!

sdmc530

Congrats!! I am hoping to hit 2,000 miles this year for the first time. Going to be very tight. I have never hit 2,000 miles in a year. I don't usually set mileage goals but ride time is more important. You would think they would go hand in hand but not true. I rode 5 more hours so far this year than last and am behind 77 miles. Last year I had 1927 miles. I need 108 miles for 2000. That will be difficult with holiday travels.

More riding with the kid this year, slower but much more fun!

congrates on the 5K that is really awesome!!

Jeremiesmith77

Thanks!

Jeremiesmith77

Good luck! My kiddo is young but I cannot wait till he is old enough to join me on rides/tours.

aplcr0331

Wow, great accomplishment!

Well done, I’ve never made it over 4,000 for a year, you should be proud.

Kobe 

At 6'6" and 278lbs 5 years ago I realized 300 was coming up quickly. My goal was 4000 miles per year and 215lbs which I have achieved for the past 5 years.

Surprisingly it's not the actual biking that keeps the weight off, it's the thought of riding hills carrying a Labrador Retriever on my back.

Good luck with the Randonneur series. Looks like a lot of work and fun.

TheDudeIsHere

Wow! That is a great amount to record in one year, congrats!

Pfft! Lucky if I hit 2,000 this year. The last 3 years have been plagued with family deaths, illnesses, extensive hospital stays by people who refuse to take care of themselves and enjoy life styles of bad habits, like alcohol and drug abuse. No, it is not just your life that is affected. Two family members alone has cost us about $15000 in 6 months. A little taste of why my numbers have been low last 3 years and a real struggle to get on the bike losing time to those who don't care about anything or anyone around them.

Last 3 years have been around 2,000 miles. But keeping the faith that I will once again return to my cycling life without too much interference from these people.

But the good thing is that I have been on the bike 23 consecutive years. Highest in 2005 at 7300 miles. Many 5,000 and 6,000 mile years. Figure an average of 4,000+ each of those 23 years other than the last 3 at 2,000.

So, keeping my faith that I will once again return to those 5,000+ years.