Guest poster Don Blount has been looking back at the year through his riding figures.
Lies, damn lies and statistics.
Can you really trust those numbers that you download from our bike computer?
I recently reviewed my biking stats for the year and discovered that I am well ahead of last year’s pace for total mileage.
Impressive?
Not really. I should have more miles in considering that I lost riding time last year because of a broken arm and fractured wrist suffered in a fall.
From May through June of 2010 I rode just under 539 miles, which includes time I spent on a trainer while injured. During that same period this year I rode nearly 1,071 miles. That 532 mile difference accounts for most of the 703 miles I am ahead of last year’s pace through October. For that matter, I have exceeded last year’s total by nearly 133 miles and still have two months of riding left. I may be able to reach 4,500 miles for the year.
Two numbers stand out at me and one may have affected the other: Elevation Gain and Calories.
Through October of last year I climbed 50,147 feet and burned 192,598 calories, according to my Garmin.
For all of 2010 I climbed 56,820 feet and burned 228,927 calories.
By comparison, through October of this year, I have climbed 60,428 feet and burned 495,620 calories. That is double the amount of calories burned in 2010, and nearly triple the amount through October 2010.
If I had to guess, I would attribute this year’s increase largely in part to riding more hills, they do make me work harder, burn more fat and become a stronger rider. So no matter how much they hate me, and I them, I will have to continue riding them.
Sometimes statistics can help us understand what we’re doing on the bike. I have tried to ride more often and to ride harder. These numbers show that I am accomplishing that. But even after all of the number crunching, the most important thing to do is enjoy your riding.
Jan-Oct. 2011
No. of Rides: 180
Distance: 3,633.83 mi
Time: 220 hrs 41 mins 07 secs
Elevation Gain: 60,428 ft
Calories: 495,620
Jan-Oct 2010
No. of Rides: 154
Distance: 2,931.13 mi
Time: 177 hrs 50 mins 43 secs
Elevation Gain: 50,147 ft
Calories: 192,598
Jan-Dec 2010
No. of Rides: 185
Distance: 3,501.28 mi
Time: 213 hrs 09 mins15 secs
Elevation Gain: 56,820 ft
Calories: 228,927
Interesting numbers! So does that mean you ride on average 4 times a week for 75 mins/ride and 20 miles/ride in length? Or are the rides not evenly spread?
That would be the average, although some weeks may be three rides, some five rides and lengths can vary from as short as an hour to several hours.