jakefromst8farm

What sort of goals do you lay out for yourself for a year of riding? Miles? Hours? Kind of feeling ambitious for riding in 2017 but not sure how to goal set for these very different kinds of riding.

yak bacon pie

Similar goals for both.

Have fun. And have fun.

alcjphil

Me too, me too

Wileyrat

Yeah, I ride both.

I don't really set specific goals other to improve as a rider and have fun.

ZIPP2001

My goal for 2016 was to get all my bikes into a better rotation. Most weeks I'm out 6 days a week weather permitting until after Thanksgiving when work goes crazy and I won't see a bike until 2017. I made sure I was on my Mountain, and Time Trial bike's at least once a week. I pulled out the Single Speed bike at least once every other week, and the Road bike got the remainder of the work. I did find myself pulling the Mtn. and TT bike out more than once a week often quite often. I really have had a fun cycle season and am so looking forward to a great 2017.

jakefromst8farm

That's a cool goal and a good way to make sure you're keeping active in both activities. Thanks for the reply.

DaveQ24

First ... what is your purpose or goal? Competition, recreation, fitness? How much time do you have to devote to riding in total? What mix of the two disciplines have you done so far? Do you have one that you like better?

jakefromst8farm

Purpose is recreation and fitness.
I can devote average 1 - 1.5 hours per day but tend to take some longer 3-5 hour mountain rides about once a week. Mountain biking would be my preference. I primarily road bike for commuting purposes but want to get into it from a recreational angle since the weather kills my mountain biking plans sometimes.

TimothyH

If you don't have a written plan then you don't have a goal. All you have is a dream.

A goal has to be measurable, achievable and realistic.


-Tim-

jakefromst8farm

I agree. I'm just not sure how to quantify the goal between the two types of riding which is why I was hoping to gain some insight into how others do it.

Machka 

I ride long distances on the road ... so that's my main goal structure.

I've been working on climbing on the road ... so that's next.

And then I do other sorts of riding ... touring, a bit of mountain biking, maybe some beach rides, etc. and I just kind of toss them into the mix when I want something different.

friday1970

Mostly road, and I had a goal of 4000 miles this years. I've reached it, so now I might just do more mountain biking. I can retain more heat on a mountain bike than my road bikes, and this is the key to enjoying our colder Michigan months.

Repack Rider

I own a road bike. I know it's around here somewhere.

Wileyrat

I'm going to disagree on the written part. You can definitely have a goal and a plan in your head that's still measurable, achievable, and realistic.

I.E. I can set a mileage goal for the year, and my computer will tell me if I hit it or not. I don't need a note thumbtacked to the wall to remember what my goal is.

fietsbob

I have a Mountain bike I ride on the road, My town is built over a steep Hill many would consider a Mountain

if it did not have a street grid covering It.




I'm Probably 2~3 X your age too ..

cyccommute 

Quit sounding like someone from HR Goals are things that other people tell you that you have to do and that you have to demonstrate by achieving them and measuring them.

Dreams are things you want to do for yourself and no one can tell you that you have to do them. If they come to true perhaps they were a goal. If they don't, there's aways next year.

Look down there ⬇️ to see a whole lot of dreams that were never written down so that they could be measured but became real nevertheless.

Seattle Forrest

I don't understand these kinds of goals. I mean, I understand why Garmin and Strava offer them as trackable goals, because they're easy to track, but riding some number of miles isn't my ambition, and it's hard for me to see how that's what's most important to anyone.

For MTB, I want to do the Angels Staircase loop. For road, Slate Peak and some other stuff. For running, a 7 minute mile.

jakefromst8farm

The reason (at least in my case) people set these goals is that by committing to a certain number of miles per week or year or whatever, I am guaranteeing I will ride more. Sometimes I shirk riding for something easier when I am tired from work or something so this is a way to make myself feel more inclined to ride more consistently and in a broader range of hours, weather and situations. Just a little self motivation is all it is. And there is a sense of accomplishment that comes from achieving goals like this that take dedication over a period of time. I understand why others may not set goals the same way I do, and that's the entire reason for this thread. I am curious how others do it.

SpeshulEd 

I ride both and used to track mileage, but now I track time. I shoot for between 8-12 hours a week.

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakefromst8farm

What sort of goals do you lay outfor yourself for a year of riding? Miles? Hours? Kind of feeling ambitious for riding in 2017 but not sure how to goal set for these very different kinds of riding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimothyH

If you don't have a written plan then you don't have a goal. All you have is a dream.

A goal has to be measurable, achievable and realistic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wileyrat

I'm going to disagree on the written part. You can definitely have a goal and a plan in your head that's still measurable,achievable, and realistic.

I.E. I can set a mileage goal for the year, and my computer will tell me if I hit it or not. I don't need a note thumbtacked to the wall to remember what my goal is.

To each his own, but I’m a data wonk, and I find a graphic chart of my mileage-to-date to be a satisfying and effective motivator.

My annual goal as a busy professional and family man is 5000 road miles per year nearly entirely by commuting (no mountain biking), never attained. My current miles-to-date are at least 2700 miles (since some short trips are not recorded and some trips are estimates). For reference, I have considered a hard core cyclist (and one probably less encumbered) does 10,000 miles per year.

On my spread sheet, I have a field entitled “excuses,” most often working late, and a bout of plantar fasciitis.

Repack Rider

A few decades ago I worked as an editor for Bicycling Magazine. I wrote this story about a guy who documents and spreadsheets every ride. It was satire, but when I pitched it at an editorial meeting, every head swiveled to one senior editor. Who. Was. Not. Amused.

He knew ever inch he had ridden in his life, and the average speed.

So I got fired for making fun of spreadsheet riding data. (I still think it's a joke. Read the story.)

NYMXer

You have options, it isn't an either or type of situation. Ride both, or if funds don't allow 2 bikes, get a mtb and ride it on the road too.
We are talking about bicycles, a simple machine that is easy for most people to ride so let's not overthink them, but enjoy them.
I hope the OP gets out and rides to his content, on whichever discipline he chooses.

Wildwood 

When I meet people who start talking about their cycling goals and accomplishments and data = i usually seek other conversations.

People who talk about their bikes and where they ride offer me more enjoyment.

My main goal is 'saddle time'. 5X per week in most months. More specific goals come up based on seasonal needs, ie = work up to that magical century mark, prepare for a tour with lots of climbing, get better with skinny tires on fire roads, etc.

canklecat

I don't set firm goals because my schedule... isn't a schedule at all. My weeks are too erratic to plan anything. I'd be setting myself up for disappointment trying to commit to a written plan for cycling, which is my respite from a stressful job.

When I resumed cycling last year my only goal was to avoid going more than two days without riding unless I was sick. I know from previous experience, and watching most folks who give up on their resolutions to exercise, if people begin to stretch out those intervals between workouts to longer than a couple of days they'll soon stop exercising at all. Usually I've stuck to that, riding every other day or about 3-4 times a week. That's about all I have time for and it's worked out.

And I set small personal challenges, such as getting comfortable riding off road. Hated anything but smooth pavement when I rode 30 years ago. We don't have mountains here but I do occasionally tackle some rough patches of gravel, whatever I can find, just to get more confidence off the paved roads.

Jiggle

For road I prefer to stay above 4 w/kg but for mountain and cx I just ride for fun.