It’s fitting, really, that I hit 10,000 miles (16,000+ km) in the parking lot of Willow Lawn, a mall just outside of the Richmond city limits. I stopped in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods to text my wife that I crossed the mark and chuckled to myself about all the weird places I ride on my bike. I like to head out the door without a plan and, while I have some familiar routes, I tend to ride wherever I’m comfortable. Turns out that’s a lot of strange suburban roads and locations not particularly welcoming to cyclists.
I’ve written about cycling milestones before, but this one feels special. I’m in the top 1% of riders on Strava. I ride more than anyone else I personally know. I understand a huge reason for this is the luxury of time and life circumstances, but it’s also because of how much I just love being outside on my bike (or inside on the trainer when it’s rainy so I don’t lose cycling fitness). Will I ride this much next year? Not likely. But I’m sure it’ll be a 4-digit number.
I didn’t start 2024 with a goal of 10,000 miles. After 6,500+ least year, I started with a more modest target of 5,500 since I didn’t know what lay in store. But as the year wore on and I realized 10,000 miles was in reach, I got a bit intense with all my riding. I pushed my mileage at every opportunity, and by late November my hobby started to feel like a chore. Why ride for fun if it’s not fun? On the other hand, I wanted that feeling of achievement, so I kept grinding until today. And today’s ride was a relaxing victory lap with stops at a number of favorite spots and a leisurely lunch with a good friend.
Every ride after today until New Year’s Eve? Low key, exploratory, and always with a camera. I want to ride more off-road without worrying about the lower mileage that comes with slower speeds. I want to find new places and check out more alleyways. And in 2025 I plan to mix it up a little more with a couple days a week doing something outside other than riding, like hiking. Whatever gets me outside!