Got in a nice 15-mile ride Monday afternoon with my biking friend Maggie. We figured the weather forecast for the next few days doesn’t look good, and we needed to ride while we had the chance.
The ride was nothing special, but it was very special at the same time. That’s because it was a ride. It doesn’t matter whether the ride is short or long, covers new ground or cruises familiar streets. Just being out on the bike is what matters.
And that’s where I find myself regarding cycling as 2014 ends. I’m not going to set any speed records, or even distance records anymore. I just want to get out there on a regular basis.
The possibility of biking boredom was thwarted this year, when I took up mountain biking. I did it just for a change of pace. And it worked out better than I could have imagined.
One thing mountain biking led to, that I’ve referred to in the past, is that my mileage is down quite a bit. It was only by cramming in a few extra road rides toward the end of the year that I passed the 3,000 mile mark for the year. I wrapped up with 3,023.3 miles, down about 300 miles from last year. But my exertion level was as high, or higher, than in previous years. I spent 240 hours in the saddle, both road and mountain, compared to 217 hours last year.
Mountain biking has revitalized my riding, because it takes more effort. Getting up hills is a whole different ballgame from hill climbing on a road bike. Bouncing over rocks and tree roots, powering through gravel and sand, works different muscles. I feel exhilarated after a tough ride on the mountain bike.
I think I’ll get some clipless pedals for it in the new year. Again, I’ll try to get out to new areas. I did some of that on the road bike, and several times on the mountain bike. Maybe I’ll renew my recurring effort to shed a few pounds, too.
Regardless, I’ll keep pedaling. I’m having too much fun at it to do anything else.
Another good post to end the year. This weather and work has also thwarted my riding this month but to your point it better to bust out a few miles than none at all. And for clipless pedals for your mtn bike I highly recommend the Candy 1 pedals by Crank Brothers. I also ditched my old look pedals and now run the candy pedals on all my bikes. Happy New Years Noob!
Thanks, Neel. I’ll post about it when I decide.
Thanks for the post’s in 2014. Happy New Year.
Thank you, Midland.
Thanks for all the great posts!! I am glad you found mtbing again. I just found all the sunset valley trails which you would love. Hope things dry up!!
Funny you should mention them, Pat. I just ran across them on Google maps recently, and I mean to check them out. But yes, things must dry up first. We’ve got to make it a point to ride together this year. it’s been too long.
Mountain bike riding takes more effort than road riding? Seriously? I’ll try to remember that the next time I ride up Mont Ventoux or our local favorite Sierra Road.
You’re right. Mount Ventoux is tougher than 2-3 hours on trails in the Texas Hill Country. But since I will never ride Mt. Ventoux, I can only compare the rides I know.