If you had told me when I first began riding my bicycle not just for transportation but also for recreation, fitness, and charity fundraising that I would have traveled as far as I have, I would not have believed you. That distance, according to the Strava fitness app as of today is 46,127 miles. It  does not include all of 2015, roughly 3,000 miles, except for a few days in very late December when I got the Strava app. Tomorrow will be my big annual ride, and it marks the anniversary back in 2019 when I began doing what will be five years of consecutive daily cycling. That’s 1,827 days in a row. So, yeah, I’ve got some thoughts.

“If it’s not in Strava, it didn’t happen.” –“Them”

Five years of biking daily, an average of around 14.5 miles, is a pretty big accomplishment for many people. Add in my age, being overweight, and having multiple challenges to my health, it’s actually quite impressive in my book. (Quite literally, it’ll go in my memoir, if I can ever afford to hire an editor). But like one’s birthday, no one really cares after age 21, or maybe 30. It’s important to celebrate one’s successes. When the day arrives tomorrow, though, I know I will feel little to no joy. Biking daily is just something I do now. Many people do, further, faster, and higher than I. And no, I don’t want a medal. I do it for me.

But damn, has it been hard! Given my age, weight, and multiple health challenges, at times it has been extremely difficult. Overall, it has certainly taken a ton of energy, focus, and dedication, and yes, sacrifice. Tracking one’s miles, speed, elevation, etc. is a double-edged sword. It can inspire you to challenge yourself, but it can also veer into unhealthy things like biking when injured just to make your mileage goals. I’ve written about this in posts like Cyclist with an Injury Problem, or Injured with a Cycling Problem? That line is different for each person. I cross that line regularly, so with tomorrow’s milestone (literally), it’s natural to do some navel-gazing.

The thing is, I know logically or rationally that it can be counterproductive to go on a bike ride while tired, injured, or just not feelin’ it. The emotional side of me that relates to motivation, commitment to meeting goals, and not folding like a piece of paper just because of a little discomfort is winning that argument, though. Is that ride or die mentality (emotionality?) harmful? Or is it okay? Somewhere in the middle. It’s hard to say. No doctor has told me to stop; in fact, quite the opposite. Should I swap some cardio for resistance bands? Yes. Will I? Doubtful, due to old hurts and the more recent injury part 1 and part 2. But maybe.

It’s not about maintaining the daily streak into year six (which of course I will–classic dude, amirite?) as much as knowing myself. If I skip one day, it’ll be easier to skip the next. And the next. And so on. I’ve found this to be true with reading (books), practicing music, and writing (especially this blog, as you can tell by recent dearth of posts). I’ve not been doing them daily, or even regularly lately. But I’m also approaching finishing my seventh year of a streak of not eating white flour products, which has been healthy at some level. Because if I had one cookie, I wanted all the cookies.

So, yes there’s a place for streaks, both doing things and not doing things. Yeah, I still struggle with simple carbs and sugar addiction. Hey, judge not; I’m a work in progress. Frequently in regress. Hopefully, it all adds up to an upward trend. For now, I am grateful I’m able to do my 3.5 hours of walking, 3.5 hours of yoga, and 10 hours or more a week of bicycling. Until I can’t, may as well keep on truckin’.

Hope you enjoyed the read, late as it was. Enjoy these photos from my biking the last few weeks up to today. Speaking of time, that old Timex watch commercial seems like as good a motto as any:

“Takes a lickin’, but keeps on tickin’.

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