What a difference a day makes. Also, how dependent can we be on technology?
As I detailed at the end of yesterday's post, I had some issues yesterday morning with gadgets that I usually depend on. It got me to thinking about how dependent we can become on gadgets and on measuring ourselves.
The one gadget that stopped me from riding yesterday was my headlight. Its not that I need it to see as I'm riding because admittedly it sheds very little usable light for that purpose. No, the real use of my headlight is safety. Namely to greatly increase my visibility to the bleary eyed motorists in the wee hours of the pre-dawn. Could I have ridden yesterday without my headlight? Sure I could have, but I feel that it would have decreased my safety to an unreasonable level. Now if I didn't have to share the streets with 2 ton vehicles, then I would have ridden without my headlight, no problem.
The other piece of equipment that failed me yesterday was my Garmin. I suspect the grand kids may have been playing with it and that is why the battery was dead. Regardless, the question becomes, if there is no Garmin data, and thus no Strava record, did the ride occur? I say yes, but it occurs differently. Now I don't obsess over my pace and split times, ma speed, etc. while I am riding. I normally just do what feels right at the moment with a thought to the distance I am riding, but I do depend on the Garmin record for "housekeeping" in terms of recording month to date and year to date progress, etc.
I sort of prided myself on having a complete record of my rides for the past 3+ years and now it is incomplete as I rode without my Garmin yesterday. Have I ridden before without it? Sure, but I wasn't under a self-imposed challenge to meet a mileage goal at the time. Did I worry about trying to record those non-Garmin recorded rides? Usually, no, but sometimes yes. What I'm getting at is that sometimes we can become too wrapped up in the details and the minutiae of a task and forget the important points - we are having fun and riding our bikes.
With that said - have fun and get on your bike and ride!!!!
Dan,
ReplyDeletePersonally I try to ride as gadget free as possible. I'll time my ride by looking at my phone before I start and then at the end. Then, if it's a road ride, I'll map the distance on mapmyride. If it's a mtb trail I look at the map and guess at the distance. That's good enough for me.
If I need a gps track for a map I'll turn it on, put it in my pack and forget it. Don't want a heart rate monitor either. It would be cool to be able to know your elevation - but at what point does the info become more important than the ride?
I like to head out with a paper map folded in my pack. Gives me an excuse to stop and look around occasionally.
Congrats on working on the October goal. I headed out myself last night and did a 6 mile mtb ride in the dark - great fun!
Steve Z
Steve,
DeleteI can certainly see the beauty of riding gadget free, but I know I'm addicted to the technology and having a record of the rides.
Not being as adventerous riding off road, I have yet to head out without a fairly clear indication of where I'm going.
Good for you getitng out there. I'm a bit behind my goal at the moment, but that will be changing this week.
Thanks for stopping by!
Dan.
I too love the gadgets and the numbers. (Though I never opted for a Garmin. Maps always worked just dandy for me. And don't start me on Strava addicts!)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your October riding!
Marsha (Florida by Bicycle)
Marsha,
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
I'm a bit of a Strava addict myself, but really only competing against myself. I'm not fast enough to compete withouthers, yet.
Hope you are getting out there and riding!
Dan