Issue 153 Last Word: Weights and Measures

ColumnSingletrack Magazine

by 5

Hannah proposes a new system of measurement, putting quality over quantity. Miles covered and feet gained seem to me an inadequate measure of mountain biking. Kilometres and metres likewise. Hours…

There's more to this story...

BUT IT'S A MEMBER-ONLY STORY.
JOIN US TO UNLOCK IT AND MORE FOR LESS THAN 6p/DAY

If you have an account, please log in. If not, you can get access to some of our features by registering here for free.

View Membership Options
Make a Donation

A message from all of us at Singletrack magazine

For over 20 years Singletrack has been a source of information, news and entertainment for millions of mountain bike enthusiasts and as an important focal point for an amazing community of like minded riders from around the world. But it has also been a provider of jobs and income for dozens of families of our team as well as a source of revenue for hundreds of freelance contributors.

We want to keep going through this uncertain period and create great content to inform and entertain you, but we will need your help to do it. More than anything else we want to have a reciprocal relationship with you and the best way to make that happen is through our memberships. We’d love you to join us as a paid member of the Singletrack community – we promise you a return on your investment through the content we have and will create for you plus the numerous added benefits included with all our membership options.

Author Profile Picture
Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

More posts from Hannah
Overview Chat Bike Members News Women
Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Issue 153 Last Word: Weights and Measures
  • Bruce
    Full Member

    I have independently adopted something similar to what you are proposing. My activity book covers walk cycles and paddles. Every activity has a descriptive name of the activity, What I have seen of significance anything exciting that happened and distance.

    For example

    Ride of Goats is a road ride from home to Alderley Edge and back on a circular route in the Chesire Lanes. Things I saw 7 goats, 5 alpaca, 4 pigs and a Buzzard. Distance about 31miles.

    Paddle from Plockton to Kyle of Lochalsh saw 2 Black Guilemots, 2 seals and a starfish Distance about 10 miles.

    Posted 2 months ago
    chilternderek
    Full Member

    Issue 153 just landed on my doorstep. Looks awesome and can’t wait to dive into it.

    Looking at my Strava feed I see a recurring themes of lack of light (waiting for the sun), pancakes, sunset mentions, puddles (return of), cold (measured by toe-ometer), and celebrations with friends.

    Posted 2 months ago
    Pyro
    Full Member

    That’s a lot like what the Focal Events guys did when they couldn’t run The Distance event during the years of the Lurghi and it became ‘The (socially) Distance(d)’, with Bingo in 2020 and Blockbusters in 2021 – “I’ll have a pee please, Bob” seemed even more appropriate.

    You can still see the cards online:
    Bingo

    Posted 2 months ago
    stwhannah
    Full Member

    And something else similar: https://singletrackworld.com/2021/05/finding-motivation-bingley-bike-ride-bingo/

    Posted 2 months ago
    bigblackshed
    Full Member

    I thought I’d pop a comment on this because your article really struck a chord with me, @stwhannah

    I’ve never been a racer, never tried to outdo others or even myself. I started using Strava as a tool just to keep track of rides, but always in a journal type of way. It’s sometimes nice to see I managed a particular climb a bit better than previously, but I’ve never gone out to push myself time wise or speed or distance. It’s only ever about having fun. All of my Strava logs read about where I went, what I saw, and most importantly about the fun highlights that it contained.

    Like the one where Shaz lost a shoe, the one where we got lost and had to put the hammer down and hightail it back to the cars to pick the kids up from school, the one where we took a short cut to the off-licence for a cheeky can which turned into an all afternoon beer garden session, the one where it pissed down and we left puddles on and under the café chairs, the one when we got chased by a boar, and so on.

    Lots of people forget that it’s supposed to be fun.

    Posted 2 months ago
Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Overview Chat Bike Members News Women