The first year I biked at least 2555 miles was 2011. This year (see photo) I reached that goal yesterday with a couple of days remaining in November. A few things have changed—I’m older and own a different bike—but my basic approach hasn’t. Ride every day no matter what. That’s worked every year since 2011.
So where did the goal of 2555 miles come from? Simply put, 2555 = 7 x 365, an average of 7 miles a day. Eight as an average is too high (for me anyway) because I would need too many 9- and 10-mile rides to make up for days missed due to out-of-town travel, snow/ice, and bike-in-the-shop time. Six as an average is too low. Not once you’ve averaged 7 and don’t want to regress.
There isn’t any magic to doing this, not if you are retired like I am. Pick a regular time, identify several local rides so you don’t get bored by always riding the same route, ignore rainy weather, and only allow the three excuses mentioned above to keep you from riding every day. Oh, and don’t get injured, sick, or too busy (excuses four, five, and six).
Most of my bike rides start from my home on Rocky Point Road. If I had to load the bike in my truck and drive somewhere for every ride, daily rides wouldn’t happen. This also makes my favorite remote rides (Chico Way, Beach Drive, North Shore Road) more of a treat and a way to beat the daily grind of always riding from home.
A majority of my daily rides are 8 or 9 miles, making up for the few days I miss. There haven’t been many in 2025. That’s why I got to 2555 early, representing hundreds of daily rides so far. December will add to the total.
A note on bike type. I ride a cross-over—a Raleigh Route 4.0, with about 37,000 miles on it that I bought new at Silverdale Cyclery in 2012. The nice people at Trek Bicycle in Silverdale have been maintaining it since Silverdale Cyclery closed a few years ago. There’s probably nothing left of the original bike except the frame and handlebars. I’ve spent more at Trek on maintenance than a new bike would cost. But I don’t care. It’s my daily ride
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