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A while ago there was a discussion on the CRW email list about bicycle computer accuracy. This started what was probably the longest thread in the history of the list. The greatest scientific minds in CRW entered the debate, each one refuting the previous theory with a zeal not seen since the great cold fusion controversy. I followed this thread with interest, but came away with the conclusion that in fact there was no way to measure how many miles you’ve ridden on your bike with 100% accuracy (or should that be 110% which seems to be an emerging standard in the sports world). With all our technology, we still need to worry about tire pressure, wiggly riding, and other imponderables. We can send a cute little robot to Mars, but all my instruments can’t say exactly how far I’ve traveled. This was the cause for deep depression, until I came up with an idea. Instead of vainly trying to improve our accuracy with chalk lines and measured miles, we should go to the Earned Miles system. The airlines have done this for years. They have a rather laissez faire attitude toward reckoning the miles, as they don’t give you real miles for a flight, just some arbitrary number they figure you’ve earned. You can in fact earn frequent flyer miles not only by flying, but by renting a car, or staying in a hotel.
We can do the same with our bike mileage. We just need to keep track of Frequent Rider Miles, which would only be loosely related to how far you’ve actually ridden. Sure, you can keep your trusty cyclocomputer, but this would be more of a guide than an absolute indicator. Your actual mileage would be determined by how many miles you think you’ve earned. If it was a particularly bad headwind, if some nasty dog chased you and made you max out your heart rate when all you wanted was a leisurely ride home, you deserve credit for a few more miles. Similarly, slogging through a torrential downpour should earn you more credit than a sunny day. By similar logic, a ride that ends up mostly downhill with a tailwind shouldn’t be given full mileage credit (though I doubt this will be a real popular option).
This would have to be on the honor system, of course, so if Bruce Ingle kicked your butt on the mileage list last month, don’t go inventing 100 mile commutes to catch up. We also have to draw the line at Woulda miles, as in “I woulda gone out for a ride today, but I had to mow the lawn,” or “I woulda ridden a century today, but my inlaws turned up for an extended visit.” You need to have actually gotten on your bike and gone somewhere for the miles to count.
I’m from the old school, I guess, so I’ll continue using my somewhat flawed cyclocomputer. I’ll just make sure to always use the one that reads high.
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