The end of the year always seems to bring with it a bit of reflection. A little over a year ago, I was inspired to start tracking my mileage. Throughout 2009, I dutifully logged all the miles I pedaled, and here's the rough breakdown:
- 211 total rides for a distance of about 13,000km (8075mi)
- 157 commutes to work (6992km ~ 4344mi)
- 17 Randonneuring events (4100km ~ 2545mi)
- 12 MTB/off-road rides (245km ~ 150mi)
- 25 other rides (1668km ~ 1035mi)
What the numbers miss though, are all the laughs shared with friends and the quiet miles alone with my thoughts. The tailwinds and the headwinds. The pain and suffering of a tough ride. The feeling of freedom, adventure and shear euphoria of simply going for a ride. The lovely sunsets and the crunch of fall leaves under my wheels. An ice cold soda on a sweltering day. A hot cup of tea after a biting cold commute to work. The frustration of chasing dogs and inattentive (or aggressive) drivers. The pleasantness of a sharing a smile and "Good Morning" with another person on the greenway trail.
All in all, I had a wonderful year on the bike -- hope you did too. Best wishes to everyone for a Happy New Year!