The_Veg
D'OH!
Am I just thinking way too far 'inside the box' or is this mileage accumulation gig really only a game that those who live in the deep south can casually play and, if retired, can play without a clock? Yes, I'm tired of the cold and snow and maybe a bit critical. - Bob
Hi Bob, long time no see!
Speaking as a southerner, living down here ain't all that it's cracked up to be. In the middle of summer I really envy northern riders because their summers are nice and pleasant but down here it can at times be just too danged hot to enjoy the ride.
But I also, and I'm going to tread into heretical waters here, have been thinking that we as a community need to rethink our approach to mileage-accumulation. Between what it truly costs to ride a whole lot (figure in all those tires, your insurance, gear, etc...), and how we live in denial about questioning the amount of fuel we burn for what really boils down to joy-riding, I think that mileage-pride as we've known it for ages needs to be moved on from in favour of a smarter way of going about it. I haven't worked out exactly what that smarter way is, but having been a budget-strapped rider in the past I was always looking for ways to maximise the enjoyment of my rides since I couldn't take as many rides as I'd wished to take. As I hinted a moment ago, environmental consciousness plays into it too. Our bikes get pretty good MPG but cars are catching up to that and bikes don't burn their fuel near as cleanly as cars do, owing to just not being big enough vehicles to carry as much emission-control equipment.
No soapbox intended here, just some food for thought.