Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
TOMBSTONE, Arizona, 2/9/2022 – Dirty Desperados UTI & KI Deliver the Deadly Shots
Well, pardners of the iron horse, I regret to have to inform you – especially you faithful followers who have kicked up your spurs and hooted and hollered for me to never leggo the reins – that the bronc has bucked me off and my cycling streak has met its demise.
Even had the doctors plopped me on an exercise bike in the hospital physical therapy room, I would have fallen to the floor. Such was my state of incapacitation from the urinary tract and kidney infections that took me down. I was basically out of commission, lying in bed for three days and as I type this I’m still taking the meds and weak as a kitten.
My Streaking History and Stats
My epic streak started December 30, 1993 and was stopped cold February 9, 2022. That’s a total of 10,269 days of consecutive rides. Or if you prefer, 28 years, 1 month and 11 days. Or 337 months, 11 days.
I actually had two streaks. The first one was just prior to this latest one – only 6 days separated the two. Streak one ran 1,087 days or 8 days shy of 3 years, so pretty good, but nothing compared to the latest. A crash resulting in a broken hip killed my first streak.
What the Heck is a Streak?
In case you don’t know, for cyclists, a riding, biking or cycling streak is riding as many days as possible in a row. I’m not sure if streaking started with running or cycling, but I believe it’s a more prevalent practice among runners. And as far as I have been able to determine, running is the only sport that has an actual record-keeping organization for streakers. https://www.runeveryday.com/.
Recently, the late Joe Shami who is known as The Legend of Mt. Diablo, set a different type of streak. Instead of riding every day, for 615 straight weeks (11 years and 43 weeks), Joe rode up the famous and tough Northern California climb once every week. I believe he was 87 years young when he wrapped up his streak – amazing. There’s a wonderful tribute to Joe here: https://blog.trekbikes.com/en/2021/04/22/you-are-my-hero/.
On my streak athletes webpage, I tell the story of streak runners and bikers who have inspired me. Please note that I have not yet updated it to reflect that my streak has ended. https://jimlangley.net/spin/streak.htm.
What Were the Requirements for a Ride to Count Toward My Streak?
Every streaker gets to determine what counts as a ride or run. My streak began with a simple pledge to myself only to see how many days I could ride in a row. I set the criteria that for a ride to count it had to be a “real” ride of at least “about an hour.” When I started I was recovering from a broken hip and couldn’t ride outside yet. So, riding on a trainer was allowed.
That was the entire rulebook. I did not track any stats. I felt it would be difficult enough if the streak kept going to keep it going, without having to do any record-keeping. The idea wasn’t to gain fame or beat anyone else’s stats but to see what I could do. I knew about runners who had streaked for decades. I hoped to match them.
Are You Now the World Record Cycling Streaker?
I highly doubt it. I haven’t been able to find very many other cycling streakers. And I don’t know of any organization that tracks it either. It’s not in the Guinness records.
Cyclists have been doing amazing things since the two wheeler first appeared back in the 1860s. So I have to believe someone at some time has topped my achievement. If you have or have heard of other streakers now or in the past, I’d love to hear about them and will happily add them to my streakers webpage.
How Many Miles Did You Rack Up?
Like I said, I didn’t feel keeping records would help me keep streaking, so I don’t have actual figures, I can only estimate. In order to do that, I look at all the ways I’ve ridden over the years.
I started this streak at 40 years old. Now I’m 68. During the streak I’ve ridden just about every way possible except on a velodrome (well I did take a lesson at T-town in Trexlertown, PA once but didn’t count it toward the streak https://thevelodrome.com/). I ended my triathlon career in 1985 so that missed the cut.
But, commuting, road riding, road racing, criterium racing, time trialing, mountain biking, cross country MTB racing, cycling camp, tandem, century and double century and even antique bike riding were all part of it.
From about 2005 to 2018 I raced for the Spokesman Bicycles masters team and trained seriously under Coach Mark Edwards. Under his program I won the California NorCal Districts 65+ State Time Trial Championships and my share of hill climbs, time trials and road races.
A couple of years ago I was introduced to the amazing virtual world of Zwift indoor cycling and am currently on level 45 out of 50, have covered 16,496.4 kilometers and climbed 169,840 meters. So, I have logged many miles on my trainer, too.
Approximately 256,725 Miles
Back to my cumulative mileage, if you pressed me on it, I’d punch into the calculator 10,269 days x 25 (as in 25 miles a day). That results in 256,725 miles. There were lots of days I rode easily for an hour and seven minutes. (The seven minutes were a bumper in case the clock was wrong or I made a mistake.)
But there were years of much longer rides every chance I got and cycling events with long days every day. Plus, the years training for racing during which I was on a schedule including longer workouts. So, I think 25 miles is close. Still it’s just an estimate.
Will I Start Another Streak?
I don’t plan to begin another streak because while I think it’s a lifestyle with some major benefits, it’s a passion that comes at a cost (keep reading). I was super psyched at every milepost: 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. At the quarter century mark, though, I was starting to feel a bit beat-up and almost decided to call it quits.
But, I knew that another biggie for streakers is the 10,000 days mark. So I forged ahead and got another 3 years under my tires. Since then, though, the motivation to keep going has waned a little. That done-that, been-there feeling grew. The little aches and pains became more serious.
And the costs that I mentioned weighed on me more and more. A streak is basically a selfish habit. It’s you doing your thing on your own. As I’m sure you can imagine, this isn’t always compatible with the family’s plans (I’m married and have two daughters).
Only So Much Time to Get Your Daily Ride In
To keep a streak going, every day your top priority has to be getting your ride in. Say you rise and shine at 5 a.m. each day. That means you have 19 hours to get your ride in.
As the minutes whizz by on a Saturday, Sunday or busy workday, it can be 3:30 or 4 p.m. before a window of opportunity opens. At that point, if you hesitate to suit up, climb on and get pedaling, you might be playing Russian roulette with it getting dark or your partner’s dinner plans.
If you use up the entire day and evening with activities, there’s always the late night slot just before the new day rolls around. But, for me that was the most difficult time to ride because I had to complete about an hour and I hated the pressure of having to get it done with no margin for error. Had I suffered a broken spoke or worse that delayed the ride, it would have meant the end of my streak.
For me, the plan that worked the best was riding in the wee hours well before work. Ditto on the weekends but I would sleep in a little since I didn’t have to work. On workdays I was lucky most of my streak years to have flexible jobs that allowed riding during lunch breaks if I wasn’t able to get my ride in that morning.
On business trips or family travel involving flying, I always took along my wonderful Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro. It packs in a suitcase and flies free as regular luggage usually. If I expected snow, I would pack a trainer, too, or arrange to borrow one. Whatever it took to get my ride in I’d do it.
The Benefits of Streaking
While it takes commitment, discipline and preparation for every possibility to maintain a cycling streak, which can wear on you eventually, I would still say the benefits are worth it. And, you don’t have to streak for years to get them.
For me, these included:
- Always feeling comfortable on the bike – never needing to get used to the saddle again, etc.
- The ability to quickly raise my fitness as needed to do any fun ride, event or race and be competitive if I wanted
- Strong motivation – every ride motivates you to keep riding as your streak total grows
- See the world on two wheels – due to my daily ride requirement I have ridden in all kinds of places I probably would not have otherwise and I have wonderful memories of these adventures
- Keeps you healthy – As soon as I started streaking I noticed I almost never got sick and if I did feel a little off I would bounce back after riding (the sickness that ended my streak is the first time I’ve been that seriously ill since a battle with pneumonia in college)
- Keeps you young – during the streak I’ve been told many times from friends, competitors and family that they’re surprised how young I look (and I feel younger than my age). So I think there’s something to this.
- Streaking is something to be proud of – friends and family may think you’re a little crazy, but it’s highly satisfying to keep riding every day for a while and it’s not something very many cyclists do for very long. I know it’s inspiring to other riders, too, because they’ve told me so.
- Streaking will likely lead to other positive lifestyle changes – for me, it required having a plan for my rides, my bikes, my work, my nutrition, rest and everything else. I think having to organize your life and have a set schedule and healthy habits like this is a wonderful thing especially for achieving goals. It did not make me less productive, either, it made me more productive.
The Streak TV Show
One of the highlights of my streak was it becoming part of a sports TV show. At that time I had completed 17 years. They also included a runner (#2 all time on the streak runners roll) and an amazing surfer. I think you’ll enjoy the show:
Thanks again for the support and get in touch if you’re a wannabe streaker!
In wrapping up, I truly appreciate the attaboys! and go Jims! over the years. I couldn’t have achieved this without your support.
And, if you want to give streaking a go I would be delighted to answer any and all questions to help you achieve your goals. There are plenty of tricks to stay motivated and ensure you get your rides in even if your busy life may make it seem impossible.
10,269 Daily Rides in a Row
Jim Langley is RBR’s Technical Editor. He has been a pro mechanic and cycling writer for more than 40 years. He’s the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop in the RBR eBookstore. Check out his “cycling aficionado” website at http://www.jimlangley.net, his Q&A blog and updates at Twitter. Jim’s cycling streak ended in February 2022 with a total of 10,269 consecutive daily rides (28 years, 1 month and 11 days of never missing a ride). Click to read Jim’s full bio.
One streak that’s still going: Day in and day out, there’s not a nicer guy in cycling than Jim Langley. Congratulations, Jimbo — my friend, colleague and role model since the ’70s.
What a terrific tribute, Ed. Nicely done.
Thanks so much, Ed. Your amazing cycling accomplishments are what motivated me to begin my streak in the first place. Thanks for the support and encouragement over the years!
Hey Jim, congratulations on the streak. Mind boggling to we mere humans. Loved the AT&T piece. Thanks for including it and allowing your fans and admirers to take a peek into your world.
Jim, All things must pass. More important, I am sorry for your illness and hope that you will soon recover fully. Congratulations on fulfilling your goal of streaking to such an exceptional extent. Your closing comments sound like you may have been emotionally ready to let it be, You probably would have preferred to quit on your own terms as did baseball’s Cal Ripken, who ended his consecutive game streak just because he had decided it was time. Often times, however, life just deals us the cards, and those are the ones we must play. It is said there are no mistakes in the universe; this was the time for your streak to end. I admire your aplomb in accepting it. Congratulations again. Your streak is an inspiration to all who respect the value of setting goals, and to have the discipline, determination,and ability to achieve them.
Thanks very much, Fixieguy. I do believe what you wrote, ‘that there are no mistakes in the universe and that it was just time for the streak to end.’ I had been thinking of when would be right to stop, but fate stepped in and decided the matter for me. I’m happy with how long it lasted and that it helped inspire others to set and achieve their goals.
Thanks again!
Jim
Just another congrats and get well from a long-time fan of your columns and admirer of the streak! BTW, I hope to be riding in Santa Cruz in the latter half of March.
Thanks, Chris! When you get here if you need any riding suggestions, please let me know.
Best,
Jim
Jim-Congratulations on your amazing streak. Hopefully you will recover quickly from your kidney/urinary problems and be out there riding again…this time with no pressure.
Good job, Mr. Cycling!
Congrats Jim. Your streak was inspirational but having down triathlons for 30 years, it does interfere with family life. My modest streak of biking every month in Minnesota was interrupted with ankle surgery.
Now get well and enjoy the days you can bike and those you chose not to bike!
WELL DONE, Jim!!
As painful as kidney infection was, ending your streak with a broken spoke would have hurt more, right Jim? Well done for 28+ years my friend. On to new challenges and getting up later.
Awesome Job! It’s hard to imagine riding that many days in a row. Part of the word in Awesome is Awe! and I am in Awe of that accomplishment. Your such an inspiration to me and many others around the world that embody cycling. Hope to see you out there some day. Healing thoughts for a quick recovery.
Best Regards
Mike Andalora.
Thanks a lot, Mike! It was a great run and I enjoyed all the training rides and races we did together as Spokesman teammates!! Great fun!
I will see you back out there sometime soon I hope,
Jim
What a streak indeed !! Just fabulous that you’ve been able to ride that long and competed as well ! All good things come to and end and that’s just the way it is ! Congratulations !!!
JIm,
So sorry to read of your recent illness. May I have your email address again? I am unable to locate it and my email list of contacts is of no help.
Thanks,
Robert Ames
Hi Robert,
My email address is [email protected]
I look forward to hearing from you,
Jim
Sir, you are a hero to me, in whatever and every sense of the word ! This is the kind of accomplishment that tells as much about the character of a man than the exploit itself.
Congrats!
Pierre Champagne
I am a nobody, and years ago you took time to answer me back directly regarding a technical cycling question … I still appreciate …
Thanks very much for the kind words, Pierre. I appreciate it. You are not a ‘nobody’ to me. You’re a cyclist just like we all are here and that makes us all family 😉 And, I am always happy to help with cycling questions, too!
Thanks again!
Jim
Jim, I’m sorry to hear that your amazing streak has ended, but congratulations on an incredible feat of discipline and determination. We should all be as dedicated as you!
Brian Nystrom
Thanks so much for wonderful comments everyone, very much appreciated! As I said in the story, I couldn’t have kept the streak alive so long without all of you rooting for me. And you have inspired me with your cycling accomplishments, too.
Thanks again and keep on riding!
Jim
Record keeping for riding 20 miles or more a day with a minimum of 365 consecutive days. http://www.365x20club.com
Nathan
Thanks, Nathan. This looks like your site and something relatively new with 4 entries so far. It looks like it’s Strava-based, too.
A requirement of 20 miles a day is a high number. One of the longest cycling streaks I’m aware of and write about on my streak athlete’s page required 3 miles a day https://jimlangley.net/spin/streak.htm . The official runner’s streak tracking organization has in its official rules the requirement of at least 1 mile a day.
Good luck with your website and streaking – thanks for sharing!
Jim
Sorry Jim, but an opportunity to do some things you could not before. Get well and keep on riding.
I am building a set of wheels using your excellent video as my guide.
All the best!
Thanks, Will, and have fun building your wheels! I’ve been impressed by how many people have watched the video (almost a half a million now) and even more by the hundreds of new wheel builders who have told me they completed and are now riding on custom wheels they built themselves. In case anyone needs the link, here it is:
https://youtu.be/XUqul03hbZ8
Thanks again!
Jim
My doctor has always told me that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a big deal. Now I know how big — one of them felled the mighty Jim Langley! I’m glad you’re in good hands there.
This was a wonderful essay — about what’s good and bad about long streaks. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
P.S. February in Pennsylvania, where the ground is covered with ice today, means my daily routine is the Trudge to Nowhere on the YMCA dreadmill. 21 out of 24 days so far this month. Not much of a streaker, but I’m doing my bit for heavy breathing.
Thanks for the great note, John! I’m happy you enjoyed the story. 21 out of 24 days on a YMCA “dreadmill” 😉 is nothing to sneeze at! Well done, sir!
One more congrats. Too bad to have to end involuntarily, but you can honestly say you never quit. And thanks for all the great bike advice you have managed to squeeze in between rides.
I hadn’t thought of that, Jon – thank you so much for making that point – a nicer way for me to think about my streak’s end!
Thanks for making my day!
Jim
Jim, so sorry to hear about your illness and hope you are well by now. It is mind-boggling to me the number of years you rode without missing a day. You have been an inspiration to me for years now and are the reason I started streaking. I made a little over 1800 days before having my knee replaced. Until you’ve tried it you don’t realize how hard it is to ride every day. I said I’d never start another streak again. That lasted about 6 months and I decided to give it another try. I’m closing in on 800 days this time around. Only 26 more years to go to catch you!!
Thanks a lot, Robb! 1,800 days is an impressive streak! Congratulations! And, great job recovering from knee replacement and starting streaking again and already knocking out 800 days. That’s awesome! It was a broken hip and the recovery from it that jump started my long streak so with the motivation of a new knee, I think you have an excellent chance of surpassing me. Good luck, I’m rooting for you!
Jim
I’ve followed your streak for a long time, Jim. It is an amazing feat to have completed over 10,000 days of continuous daily cycling. Your streak is an inspiration to me of consistency, one day at a time.
Thanks, Tim, I appreciate the kind words and am happy to hear my streak inspired you. You summed it up right with “one day at a time.” I think it’s a rule that works for so many things not just cycling streaks!
In cycling,
Jim