I agree with you on goals. Faulkner wrote: " “No battle is ever won. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools”. Good New Year video.
Hey Russ, PNWer here! I'm not a huge goal guy either. However, for 2025 I have set the goal of averaging 100 miles a month on the bike. Sitting at a desk 8hrs a day is not the best and I have recently reignited the biking passion and have averaged 100 miles p/month since September. I feel so much better and want to keep this going. Cheers man!
The destination is _THE JOURNEY_ Reminds me of a poem by Robert W. Service: There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; So they break the hearts of kith and kin, And they roam the world at will. They range the field and they rove the flood, And they climb the mountain's crest; Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood, And they don't know how to rest. If they just went straight they might go far; They are strong and brave and true; But they're always tired of the things that are, And they want the strange and new. They say: "Could I find my proper groove, What a deep mark I would make!" So they chop and change, and each fresh move Is only a fresh mistake. And each forgets, as he strips and runs With a brilliant, fitful pace, It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones Who win in the lifelong race. And each forgets that his youth has fled, Forgets that his prime is past, Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead, In the glare of the truth at last. He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance; He has just done things by half. Life's been a jolly good joke on him, And now is the time to laugh. Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost; He was never meant to win; He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone; He's a man who won't fit in.
For me my goals are more lifestyle changes rather than end points or milestones, they may lead to some long term desired result but the goal is the action not the result. For example your “goal” to speak more Spanish, starting a Spanish cycling channel is a means to the goal and not the goal itself.
Excellent content. Goals tend to put a lot of pressure on us and the striving can become a chore rather than allowing us to enjoy our pass time. For me, it wasn’t until I couldn’t keep up with the local club group ride any longer, started riding solo, slowed down a tad, that I began enjoying to ride again. Thank You
Totally agree and can absolutely relate. This happened to me this summer and after making some changes and also cycling alone, happiness and fun went through the roof. Can’t wait to start the year with the same energy and happiness I ended the last year with.
My fitness has taken quite a dive as well, some of it health related, some work related. At one point a century ride was no big deal, currently 25 miles is a push. I am hoping/planning to spend more time riding and running, not as a resolution but simply as a goal. My stroke last year was a real wake up, I need to get back in shape or I'll be facing another one, probably the game ender for me.
I remember when we both got to 100k subscribers a few years ago, we talked about how it felt. The TH-cam plaque is cool for a day or two, but then it's back to business as normal. I'm the same way where goals can feel restrictive since I'm overly ambitious in setting goals and feel like a phony when I don't accomplish them. Heck, even today, I scheduled to write 100 bike video ideas, 100 2nd channel video ideas, and to outline 2 videos. It's 2:30 PM. We both know that's not happening. I learned I suck at planning (might just be an inherent part of being Filipino), so I try to make goals something small and input-based I can do every day rather than "achieving" something externally: ride my bike for 5 minutes, journal for 5 minutes, write for a video for 30 minutes. When I focus on building habits instead of accomplishing something, it makes external goals feel like they'll happen at their own party pace while I can focus on enjoying the process. It's about the ride, not the destination, or so they say. But sometimes, you don't feel like riding. Maybe it's about just being happy with being. I'm down for a stream/podcast episode if you still do those. Let me know if you ever want to chat about life and bikes publicly on the internet again.
Right on Russ. Time is an artificial creation of man, and with it removes appreciating and living in moments. Moments of experience, instead of moments of time.
Re: fitness goals. I had a friend who was an ultra distance runner, and he said something that shifted my thinking. He would ask me on Monday at work my about my rides on the weekend. I'd tell him what I rode and he would answer back, "hmmm yes that'll pay big dividends." He told me that whatever I did in the moment would pay dividends in about 2 weeks time. 2 weeks isn't far away and I actually felt excited to see what those small dividends would be. And sure enough there were little differences, and I started looking forward to seeing these little differences each weekend. It broke it up into snack size bits with something to look forward to. This, in contrast to punishing myself for some distant fitness goal.
Well said and I think you’re doing it right. 61 and just fully retired. Planning on completing my bike tour across the states this year. Now without any goals!! Thank you and Happy New Year!
Cycling in the warmer, drier months makes me happy. Especially two or three week cycle trips in Europe (France). So my goal over winter is to force myself out, keeping up my fitness, so I can enjoy those longer summer bike rides. That's it.
I set a “goal” of doing 2 vids/wk for 2 years and I think that’s a huge part of my success on YT. I’m finished with that in May. I also have the 100k milestone in mind A LOT, but it’s not a “goal”. One thing I learned in recovery is that you can’t think your way into good action, but you can always act your way into good thinking. I bet if you started a 2nd Spanish channel and committed to 1 video per week and answering comments in Spanish you’d be way more satisfied than if you had a “goal” of being fluent by Thanksgiving or whatever. At the end of the day, we both work very hard to not have a job. That’s my #1 goal and driving force - to never have a job again.
January 2025! I hit 70 this month and am the happiest I have ever been in my adult life. A big lesson is to realise the enormous privilege to go to bed every evening with a full belly and a nice warm bed. My dog gets walked 2 to 2.5 hours daily and we hit 2100 miles last year; being outside is excellent in all weathers and feeds mental health. I cycle when I can and even did most of my shopping on my bike for a month and a half. A weeks cycling holiday in France was incredible fun. I suppose I am saying just keep life simple. Have gentle expectations. Savour every mouthful of life. Happy New Year Russ n Laura. 🎂🐾🍻
I often have to remind myself that the goal is usually to enjoy myself, not completing whatever project i've started. Some projects are really just explorations, and they can be finished without being 'complete'.
I spent most of September and part of October hospitalized with a perforated esophagus that resulted in sepsis. After being in the best shape of my post 30s before this, I’m trying to get back into shape and practice what I learned about the advantageous of slowing down the pace of life in my ongoing recovery. I would love to hear from Laura about how it was for her coming back to cycling after illness. Your channel was my cycling friend when I came home from the hospital.
it depends on the goal/resolution… a few years i yelled at a driver about giving bikes more space and it turned into a pretty serious road rage situation. so i decided to not yell at drivers, not start any arguments, just let them keep on going and focus on enjoying my ride. it worked out pretty well to focus on the positive aspect of my own ride and not worry about other people and it had a new start every time i went out on a ride instead of one big impossible overwhelming task
Good luck Russ, I think we are all embarking on a long, strange trip. Very cool to hear your thoughts about it. I have no advice, but I do have some suggestions about PLP future videos: * More about carless living in a non-American city/town. * Can Brompton(like) bikes and trains replace heroic 100 mile rides? Isn't that why they invented Europe? * The definitive guide to 2 [stretch goal: 3] party pace front chainring derailleurs for BRIFTERS. I can mullet everything front and rear, but it's the FD that doesn't work. * I have COPD and am currently OLD. Party pace and each situations are compatible. I will now embark on an epic quest to increase my Patreon thing.
You are doing a great job, balancing out all the racing and sports oriented content out there. Even if that must be touch financially. Best of luck this year!
Lets ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!! Goals are the reward and the system is the ENJOYMENT....where we start doesn't matter , it's your mantra "Pathless Pedaled" ...HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
Very insightful and introspective. You nailed it, enjoy the ride, explore, have fun. And I tell my grandsons often when they say they're bored to find a way to enjoy that luxury.
(Long-time listener, first-time caller....) This is a brilliant and wise video, Russ. Thanks much for sharing it. Have a wonderful new year filled with health, happiness, and many exciting and satisfying plot twists in the "forward-moving narrative."
I was riding with a friend out in 60 degree weather and beautiful sun, that moment was the path or the moment that needed to be enjoyed. Although I have and enjoy reaching goals they are more of just an end to path taken. Cheers to you.
This is refreshing to hear. After becoming a father at an older age (42), I have had alot of internal monologue that sounds alot like the content of this video. A lot of the work we do individually is to make peace with ourselves and that involves tuning out what the rest of the world is doing. Although I can be too introverted at times to go on group rides, I enjoy riding in solidarity to your ideas and concepts expressed on youe channel. Thanks Russ!
You get it, you’re taking the right approach, Goals are a hollow construct It’s about winning or losing who needs that pressure? and to what end. Like the cliche says “it’s about the journey, not the destination”. I lived in rural Alicante province as a teenager, my dad was an artist, my very sudden & abrupt immersion into Spanish culture was life changing i’m so grateful for that experience & am still reaping those rewards decades on. The “expat” community is a very murky place to be tread with care.
props on the spanish dude, i was in the same boat with dutch and the only thing the caused the big switch for me was finding someone who i could only talk dutch with, within 1 year the difference was night and day. we all gotta just be a but more greatful for the amazing situation most of us are in. another great vid
Si haces un canal en español sobre bicicletas, definitivamente me suscribiré. Puedo hablar un poco espanol ahora, pero un poco solamente. Puedo entender mucho mas que puedo hablar. Sin embargo, no conozco ninguna de las palabras sobre bicicletas.
My goal is to be more consistent with the rides. I feel often there is a good excuse as a business owner and parent for obligations before fitness consistency. No numbers, just more rides.
I like your philosophy Russ! Take 'er easy. I visited Girona this past fall and it's such a lovely place. I wish I could live there too, at least for a little while. Cheers
So glad you mentioned Schopenhauer, one of my favorite philosophers, who was kind of a bastard in his own life. Existentialism involves the acknowledgement of being, living in the moment, in an uncertain world. Camus or Sartre recognized that this involves coming face to face with the terror of living itself. Keep pedaling!
Excelente iniciativa de aprender español. Yo soy de Nicaragua, estoy seguro que tienes muchos seguidores latinoamericanos, y hay una gran necesidad de canales alternativos como el tuyo. Saludos!
This is great. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yes, anything you can share about life in Spain would be great. I keep thinking of moving to Girona. I actually had the good fortune of meeting you had Laura on the street a year ago when I was there on vacation (randomly on a street corner one night during a holiday parade ). Anyway, thank for all of the stuff you produee. I love this channel and your thoughtful approach :-)
I think about this quote from Oscar Wilde a lot, and I think it’s kinda what your talking about: “If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment. If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know you will never become anything, and that is your reward.”
Like you, I'm trying to improve my Spanish while living in Banyoles. Locals are tolerant of my Spanish and I seldom get English back as a response. My separatist-leaning bike mechanic prefers English over Spanish but always tells me to "learn Catalan!". I will try to learn both if my visa comes through. Catalan is a tough one, with much fewer resources for learning. The wife and I are gravel-riding down to Girona today to return some shopping and have a bite at La Fabrica. Life is great here! Love your vids!
The journey is is a big part of a goal, be in the moment. Learn to be grateful and content, and always remember health is wealth. It all sounds cliché, but its all so true.
Trust! Have you ever tried trust? Some people also call it faith. What I mean is the conviction that things will work out. I don't know how it will turn out, but it will be good. It also has something to do with self-fulfilling prophecy. Having a goal helps and hinders. If you are on a cycling trip and have booked a hotel or a campsite, then you have a goal for the day. If you reach it early in the day because things are going well, it prevents you from continuing, because you have booked. If it is very nice at a place on the way, it prevents you from staying, you have booked accommodation and have to continue. Another goal would help - be on the road - experience and enjoy the world....
Me gustó escucharte hablar Castellano. Sería suave ver contenido shorts en el que reacciones a rutas ciclísticas y cultura y tal. De esta manera produces oraciones con un contexto claro, y puedes terminar con los proyectos más seguidamente
Having recently retired I am still working through having to generate my own motivation to not turn into a screen zombie. Some of that is by building routine in the form of regular group rides, household upkeep, and chasing self created goals. For me achievements create core memories. I need bike tours to look forward to, events to train for, and dreams to chase. I don’t disagree that goals can lead to hollow achievements, but it is not necessarily a guaranteed curse.
I often have the "now what" feeling after reaching a goal. Or when you share your excitement after completing a goal, no one else gives a crap. I also agree with someone else here that goal setting puts a lot of perceived pressure on yourself. I've set some bike goals only to have weather, illness or some other obstacles get in the way. On a positive note, I'd love an occasional video ¡en español!
I’ll be 70 this spring. My yearly goal has always been to at least do as much as I did in the previous year, there or thereabouts. I don’t however get too wound up if I don’t make it. Maybe it’s more a target than goal. My thought for life at this point is “What are you doing? Why are you doing it.” Safe and healthy new year to all.
I feel the same way about goals and agree with softer, I’ll just try to focus or improve incrementally on this or that. Yo también estudiar español y tiene que a mejorar. Feliz año nuevo!
In my experience, the trap with goals is the period of time you set to accomplish them. If you set a reasonable amount of time, you will enjoy the ride and stay motivated. In other words, you're in the flow state. If you set a short period of time, you will become anxious, tired and the goal will lost meaning. And if you set a very long period of time, you will lost interest and the goal will not be reached. The right amount of time, my friend, is just set by called self knowledge.
My 2025 plan was extensive, months of touring and travel. Then my elderly parents had big issues and that has all changed - but ironically, I too had a "cardinal direction" and not a "goal", so this has been more of an adjustment, not devastating and disappointing. I may not be able to do everything I wanted, but am also gaining something from this experience as well. Even at 63, knowing the road isn't endless, I'm AOK with that. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
…Russ, thanks for your work! You have many talents. Awesome to see Laura’s (sp?) health improve too! Outstanding! …I wish we could have coffee and talk in person. I have tons of questions. -- …As for goals, I’m successful professionally & personally but I’m not a goal driven person per se. I just try hard with things (effort!). …My goal for 2025? The same as every year before: Stay on the bike! …Why? Answers to life’s complex questions/challenges seem to organically present themselves to me through bicycling. …For example, I got married on my bike! I didn’t see that coming 😍!!! LOL! -- …Russ, you and Laura are amazing! Keep asking awesome questions and keep riding🚲! The goals/answers will come. …Path Less Pedaled is top notch! 🏆
In between being an on-again off-again commuter and much later, mostly riding for fun, I raced triathlons. After every race, especially the bigger ones, the ones that I trained for months, the day after was quite depressing. All that work. All those seemingly endless hours of training, and now what? Eventually, I realized that the day after a race or a non-competitive multi-day tour, was much like the day after Christmas. Kind of empty inside. A mix of relief that it was over, coupled with mild depression that basically stemmed from "now what". My last race was almost 7 years ago, and I have become a puffy old bastard, only riding the occasional non-competitive cycling event. Regaining my fitness is my current goal. Not to race again. But, to ENJOY the rides ahead of me in my retirement, and live happily ever after.
I do like setting goals, but also have this things you speak about with reaching goals, get antsy, sad, etc, then try something else. It's all sort of a mess. Right now we have some health issues in my family and all I really care about is for this to be resolved this year.
I live my life in a similar fashion. Stuff happens and messes with anything that I might have planned out, so I started seting broad goals and just figuring out how to get there. Letting go of expectations can remove a lot of stress and sadness from one's life 🙃.
My life certainly is simply making it up as I go along….remember very well the first bike touring trip around France mid1970’s. Spent weeks “planning” my route,distance each day etc,etc. Met a lovely American girl on the first day cycling from Cherbourg to Rouen…spent a wonderful few weeks cycling down through France and around. Realised that all the ‘plans’ were for my insecurity and fear,in order to set off!
Suggestion: Don't know if you've considered this, but it might be cool to find a local to be a "co-host" on some videos. Especially if you start doing videos in Spanish. I remember you visited a few cool bike shops in one episode, might be fun to have a local bike mechanic in some videos. Happy New Year, and thanks for all the great content.
I have the same thing with riding longer distances. One way to help that is going somewhere by car and ride from your parking spot. I did that when running trails with the rule of having to run at least as long as the combined ride (to there and back). I'm a bit anxious though on how to deal with the situation my bike breaks down (been there) and being hours away (by car) from home or even my car.
Great video. We're considering Portugal and Spain so my wife is learning Portuguese and I am working on Spanish. I like the idea of your social rides so would definitely be interested if I do a tour in your area. October was our tour from Mérida to Madrid... love Spain!
Russ, this is excellent food for thought. Thank you. In randonneuring, the purpose of awards for meeting goals is to prod us into riding more, and I understand that. It is an effective motivator for many members. Still, someone pointed out that I've made my fun hobby into a job! Example, riding 10,000km of events in one calendar year. It seems that when one goal is met, there is a search for a new goal. Best wishes in 2025 with learning more Spanish, enjoying life at a party pace.
Focus on your process and the product will come along with satisfaction, even if only momentary before the work begins again. I ran construction projects for 30 years. My moments of pure satisfaction were the 10-15 minutes on the job site before I drove away for the last time. During the job it is was work balancing sanity and progress forward. You are doing a good job, keep up the good work
I think a better title or way to describe your mindset is not having strict goals and being mindful of enjoying the here and now, rather than "not having goals"
Hi from the Aragón región. Not using Instagram but will write here when I have the chance to go to Girona to join one of your rides. In the mean time, if you feel like visiting this side of the pyrenees just whistle! Best of luck in Girona.
Wife and I are visiting northern Spain this year with an eye toward relocating there in the future if we like it. Would love to join a party pace ride sometime on a visit to Girona.
Some very good thoughts and goals here. Well said! I moved to Germany from Rhode Island 35 years ago, thinking I would only stay for 2 years. Europe kind of grows on you! If you get close to Berlin on any of your journeys, I would be more than happy to put you up.
I'm with you on goals, there's always another one and it's easy to spend your life pursuing them (i speak as a recovering workaholic ) 'Until it's not fun anymore' is a good metric, I'm actually learning mandarin right now, fairly focused aphroach (i live in japan and speak japanese well enough to...do a bit of youtube😅) so I know it's a comnitment of time every day. But only until it runs its course, and no stressing.... for 2025 I'm making a career change so that's a pretty big goal, but again I'm trying to hold my ideas of the end result lightly, and just gradually transition while seeing how it's working out (i do hane to make a living, but I can continue my oldcareer part-time so I don't have to make any suddne big-risk moves) anyway timely video for me, a good reminder (and reassuring to hear someone share similar thoughts) thanks for sharing your perspective. oh, and in the coming yaars/ decade or two: yeah I think we're going to miss the quiet boring times...-good to build some personal emotional resilience while we can... cheers from okinawa
Retired guy here. Not huge on goals, but am a huge believer having something in your life that you really enjoy and is a strong motivator to get up in the morning (as espoused by Viktor Frankl). For me my main motivators are a daily morning yoga and meditation practice and getting in some aerobic exercise. Fortunately I love swimming, biking, and running so can alternate to keep things interesting. From this base I work in other interests like spanish practice, vegan cooking, etc. I am not at all interested in keeping up with the Jones on Strava or trying to be 'busy' in comparison with others. I am just content doing the things i love doing. The only real 'goals' I have are planning for the occasional bike tour! While working, I did have one huge goal and that was saving and investing so that I could retire early.
I have loose goals, too. I think of them more as moving in a certain direction. I want to get more fit and ride further. I also would like to work on my Spanish, it is not good. Most Spanish channels are native speakers, and they speak so fast I have a hard time keeping up. I am looking forward to your new channel as I could understand more of what you were saying. since you are also learning and speak slower.
Really good topic. I have really felt this dramatically in cycling. Win a race, don’t really feel happy about it afterwards. Ride 150 miles in a day, same thing. Often you work so hard that when you achieve the goal all you want to do afterwards is take a break from cycling. What’s the point of pushing super hard for something that ends up taking most of the joy out of cycling?
Great vid. I'm also in favor of non-rigid goals. I liked your point about enjoying the mundane, really resonate with that. I've stopped using my Garmin and don't pay attention to cumulative miles. I still use Apple watch to track individual rides but don't pay attention to the amount really. It's very freeing to just go explore. I converted my drop bars to a Jones H-bar and the new upright posture has eliminated my neck, shoulder, and back pain. It's gonna be a good year! (i hope). 🙂
I always start out with goals because I feel like I need them to motivate. Then I always feel like a failure when I miss them. Always a balance. Podemos hablar en español en cualquier tiempo tú tienes. Trato practicar cada día si possible. Voy a tratar usar mas español en mis videos tambien. Pero, por supuesto, mi español es malo.
Paraphrased from Darren Hardy. Goals are not always for achieving. Setting goals and approaching them with total faith and commitment is the key. The success or lack of success is not important. Growth from the 100% effort is the important part. Setting goals and approaching them appropriately makes you the type of person who sets and achieves goals.
Just do things you enjoy and that make you happy. Many impressive numbers sneak up on you that way when you aren't really "looking" following progress toward goals.
I agree with you on goals. Faulkner wrote: " “No battle is ever won. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools”. Good New Year video.
Love this!
Hey Russ, PNWer here! I'm not a huge goal guy either. However, for 2025 I have set the goal of averaging 100 miles a month on the bike. Sitting at a desk 8hrs a day is not the best and I have recently reignited the biking passion and have averaged 100 miles p/month since September. I feel so much better and want to keep this going. Cheers man!
The destination is _THE JOURNEY_
Reminds me of a poem by Robert W. Service:
There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood,
And they climb the mountain's crest;
Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don't know how to rest.
If they just went straight they might go far;
They are strong and brave and true;
But they're always tired of the things that are,
And they want the strange and new.
They say: "Could I find my proper groove,
What a deep mark I would make!"
So they chop and change, and each fresh move
Is only a fresh mistake.
And each forgets, as he strips and runs
With a brilliant, fitful pace,
It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones
Who win in the lifelong race.
And each forgets that his youth has fled,
Forgets that his prime is past,
Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead,
In the glare of the truth at last.
He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance;
He has just done things by half.
Life's been a jolly good joke on him,
And now is the time to laugh.
Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost;
He was never meant to win;
He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone;
He's a man who won't fit in.
For me my goals are more lifestyle changes rather than end points or milestones, they may lead to some long term desired result but the goal is the action not the result. For example your “goal” to speak more Spanish, starting a Spanish cycling channel is a means to the goal and not the goal itself.
That’s a really good way to look at it. Thanks for that!
Idk anything about goals but the purple seatpost and yellow frame looks sick
Excellent content. Goals tend to put a lot of pressure on us and the striving can become a chore rather than allowing us to enjoy our pass time. For me, it wasn’t until I couldn’t keep up with the local club group ride any longer, started riding solo, slowed down a tad, that I began enjoying to ride again. Thank You
Totally agree and can absolutely relate. This happened to me this summer and after making some changes and also cycling alone, happiness and fun went through the roof. Can’t wait to start the year with the same energy and happiness I ended the last year with.
My fitness has taken quite a dive as well, some of it health related, some work related. At one point a century ride was no big deal, currently 25 miles is a push. I am hoping/planning to spend more time riding and running, not as a resolution but simply as a goal. My stroke last year was a real wake up, I need to get back in shape or I'll be facing another one, probably the game ender for me.
I remember when we both got to 100k subscribers a few years ago, we talked about how it felt. The TH-cam plaque is cool for a day or two, but then it's back to business as normal. I'm the same way where goals can feel restrictive since I'm overly ambitious in setting goals and feel like a phony when I don't accomplish them. Heck, even today, I scheduled to write 100 bike video ideas, 100 2nd channel video ideas, and to outline 2 videos.
It's 2:30 PM. We both know that's not happening.
I learned I suck at planning (might just be an inherent part of being Filipino), so I try to make goals something small and input-based I can do every day rather than "achieving" something externally: ride my bike for 5 minutes, journal for 5 minutes, write for a video for 30 minutes. When I focus on building habits instead of accomplishing something, it makes external goals feel like they'll happen at their own party pace while I can focus on enjoying the process.
It's about the ride, not the destination, or so they say. But sometimes, you don't feel like riding.
Maybe it's about just being happy with being.
I'm down for a stream/podcast episode if you still do those. Let me know if you ever want to chat about life and bikes publicly on the internet again.
Right on Russ. Time is an artificial creation of man, and with it removes appreciating and living in moments. Moments of experience, instead of moments of time.
finding the magic in the ordinary is a beautiful direction. I'm in.
Re: fitness goals. I had a friend who was an ultra distance runner, and he said something that shifted my thinking. He would ask me on Monday at work my about my rides on the weekend. I'd tell him what I rode and he would answer back, "hmmm yes that'll pay big dividends." He told me that whatever I did in the moment would pay dividends in about 2 weeks time. 2 weeks isn't far away and I actually felt excited to see what those small dividends would be. And sure enough there were little differences, and I started looking forward to seeing these little differences each weekend. It broke it up into snack size bits with something to look forward to. This, in contrast to punishing myself for some distant fitness goal.
Don’t set the bar so high. Remember the slow bike mentality? Look around. Take it all in. Keep it fun.
- Nick
Well said and I think you’re doing it right.
61 and just fully retired. Planning on completing my bike tour across the states this year. Now without any goals!! Thank you and Happy New Year!
Cycling in the warmer, drier months makes me happy. Especially two or three week cycle trips in Europe (France). So my goal over winter is to force myself out, keeping up my fitness, so I can enjoy those longer summer bike rides. That's it.
Started jogging a couple days a week over winter because winter riding does not agree with me. We'll see how it pans out this spring.
Vivo en EE. UU., hablo un poco español, y quiero aprender y practicar más. ¡Estoy muy emocionado para su nueva canal en español y espero que lo harás!
I set a “goal” of doing 2 vids/wk for 2 years and I think that’s a huge part of my success on YT. I’m finished with that in May. I also have the 100k milestone in mind A LOT, but it’s not a “goal”. One thing I learned in recovery is that you can’t think your way into good action, but you can always act your way into good thinking.
I bet if you started a 2nd Spanish channel and committed to 1 video per week and answering comments in Spanish you’d be way more satisfied than if you had a “goal” of being fluent by Thanksgiving or whatever.
At the end of the day, we both work very hard to not have a job. That’s my #1 goal and driving force - to never have a job again.
I set a goal of not having any goals and I failed by accomplishing my goal
January 2025! I hit 70 this month and am the happiest I have ever been in my adult life. A big lesson is to realise the enormous privilege to go to bed every evening with a full belly and a nice warm bed.
My dog gets walked 2 to 2.5 hours daily and we hit 2100 miles last year; being outside is excellent in all weathers and feeds mental health. I cycle when I can and even did most of my shopping on my bike for a month and a half. A weeks cycling holiday in France was incredible fun.
I suppose I am saying just keep life simple. Have gentle expectations. Savour every mouthful of life.
Happy New Year Russ n Laura. 🎂🐾🍻
I often have to remind myself that the goal is usually to enjoy myself, not completing whatever project i've started. Some projects are really just explorations, and they can be finished without being 'complete'.
I spent most of September and part of October hospitalized with a perforated esophagus that resulted in sepsis. After being in the best shape of my post 30s before this, I’m trying to get back into shape and practice what I learned about the advantageous of slowing down the pace of life in my ongoing recovery. I would love to hear from Laura about how it was for her coming back to cycling after illness. Your channel was my cycling friend when I came home from the hospital.
it depends on the goal/resolution… a few years i yelled at a driver about giving bikes more space and it turned into a pretty serious road rage situation. so i decided to not yell at drivers, not start any arguments, just let them keep on going and focus on enjoying my ride. it worked out pretty well to focus on the positive aspect of my own ride and not worry about other people and it had a new start every time i went out on a ride instead of one big impossible overwhelming task
Good luck Russ, I think we are all embarking on a long, strange trip. Very cool to hear your thoughts about it.
I have no advice, but I do have some suggestions about PLP future videos:
* More about carless living in a non-American city/town.
* Can Brompton(like) bikes and trains replace heroic 100 mile rides? Isn't that why they invented Europe?
* The definitive guide to 2 [stretch goal: 3] party pace front chainring derailleurs for BRIFTERS. I can mullet everything front and rear, but it's the FD that doesn't work.
* I have COPD and am currently OLD. Party pace and each situations are compatible.
I will now embark on an epic quest to increase my Patreon thing.
You are doing a great job, balancing out all the racing and sports oriented content out there. Even if that must be touch financially. Best of luck this year!
Lets ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!! Goals are the reward and the system is the ENJOYMENT....where we start doesn't matter , it's your mantra "Pathless Pedaled" ...HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
As a long time mexican follower (since the brompton touring guide), it was very cool to hear you speak Spanish
Very insightful and introspective.
You nailed it, enjoy the ride, explore, have fun. And I tell my grandsons often when they say they're bored to find a way to enjoy that luxury.
(Long-time listener, first-time caller....)
This is a brilliant and wise video, Russ. Thanks much for sharing it.
Have a wonderful new year filled with health, happiness, and many exciting and satisfying plot twists in the "forward-moving narrative."
I feel you. I'm looking to get a fat tire bike and see where it goes.
I build one up from frame last year and it became my most ridden bike all over the year. It is so awesome!
@sam8007 thinking of the surly ice cream truck or trek Farley 9.6 if I can pull it off.
i'm all about enjoying the moment and taking things slowly. good stuff, russ. keep it up!
I was riding with a friend out in 60 degree weather and beautiful sun, that moment was the path or the moment that needed to be enjoyed. Although I have and enjoy reaching goals they are more of just an end to path taken. Cheers to you.
The courage to be, just finishing a few creative things, that’s my ‘goals’ this year. It’s big and brought and Tillich and Sartre would be proud ❤
If I hold no expectations in life, I will never be disappointed.
The unaimed arrow never misses.
This is refreshing to hear. After becoming a father at an older age (42), I have had alot of internal monologue that sounds alot like the content of this video. A lot of the work we do individually is to make peace with ourselves and that involves tuning out what the rest of the world is doing. Although I can be too introverted at times to go on group rides, I enjoy riding in solidarity to your ideas and concepts expressed on youe channel. Thanks Russ!
Glad you’re finding some folks to ride with. Love the show, happy new year.
Wishing you both well. Thanks for your efforts to keep cycling grounded.
You get it, you’re taking the right approach, Goals are a hollow construct It’s about winning or losing who needs that pressure? and to what end. Like the cliche says “it’s about the journey, not the destination”.
I lived in rural Alicante province as a teenager, my dad was an artist, my very sudden & abrupt immersion into Spanish culture was life changing i’m so grateful for that experience & am still reaping those rewards decades on. The “expat” community is a very murky place to be tread with care.
props on the spanish dude, i was in the same boat with dutch and the only thing the caused the big switch for me was finding someone who i could only talk dutch with, within 1 year the difference was night and day.
we all gotta just be a but more greatful for the amazing situation most of us are in. another great vid
I love your comment about the joy fading at the 2/3 cross-country mark. I felt the same in 2010...I just thought it was Tennessee.
Kudos on goals and for starting a local ride group. Hopefully they will embrace sharing a flask :)
Si haces un canal en español sobre bicicletas, definitivamente me suscribiré. Puedo hablar un poco espanol ahora, pero un poco solamente. Puedo entender mucho mas que puedo hablar. Sin embargo, no conozco ninguna de las palabras sobre bicicletas.
My goal is to be more consistent with the rides. I feel often there is a good excuse as a business owner and parent for obligations before fitness consistency. No numbers, just more rides.
I like your philosophy Russ! Take 'er easy. I visited Girona this past fall and it's such a lovely place. I wish I could live there too, at least for a little while. Cheers
Happy New Year 🎉 Happy to having found your channel and curious for the new content
So glad you mentioned Schopenhauer, one of my favorite philosophers, who was kind of a bastard in his own life. Existentialism involves the acknowledgement of being, living in the moment, in an uncertain world. Camus or Sartre recognized that this involves coming face to face with the terror of living itself. Keep pedaling!
Excelente iniciativa de aprender español. Yo soy de Nicaragua, estoy seguro que tienes muchos seguidores latinoamericanos, y hay una gran necesidad de canales alternativos como el tuyo. Saludos!
This is great. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yes, anything you can share about life in Spain would be great. I keep thinking of moving to Girona. I actually had the good fortune of meeting you had Laura on the street a year ago when I was there on vacation (randomly on a street corner one night during a holiday parade ). Anyway, thank for all of the stuff you produee. I love this channel and your thoughtful approach :-)
I think about this quote from Oscar Wilde a lot, and I think it’s kinda what your talking about:
“If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment. If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know you will never become anything, and that is your reward.”
I’ve never resonated so hard with a video on goals. I often get so discouraged *after* achieving a goal.
A great line of thought to share. Not many would be so honest, as this view on goals tends to attract unjustifiable criticism.
Like you, I'm trying to improve my Spanish while living in Banyoles. Locals are tolerant of my Spanish and I seldom get English back as a response. My separatist-leaning bike mechanic prefers English over Spanish but always tells me to "learn Catalan!". I will try to learn both if my visa comes through. Catalan is a tough one, with much fewer resources for learning. The wife and I are gravel-riding down to Girona today to return some shopping and have a bite at La Fabrica. Life is great here! Love your vids!
The journey is is a big part of a goal, be in the moment. Learn to be grateful and content, and always remember health is wealth. It all sounds cliché, but its all so true.
That window handle brings out the Monk in me.
Trust! Have you ever tried trust?
Some people also call it faith. What I mean is the conviction that things will work out. I don't know how it will turn out, but it will be good. It also has something to do with self-fulfilling prophecy. Having a goal helps and hinders.
If you are on a cycling trip and have booked a hotel or a campsite, then you have a goal for the day. If you reach it early in the day because things are going well, it prevents you from continuing, because you have booked. If it is very nice at a place on the way, it prevents you from staying, you have booked accommodation and have to continue.
Another goal would help - be on the road - experience and enjoy the world....
Me gustó escucharte hablar Castellano. Sería suave ver contenido shorts en el que reacciones a rutas ciclísticas y cultura y tal.
De esta manera produces oraciones con un contexto claro, y puedes terminar con los proyectos más seguidamente
I completely understand what you are saying! Thank you!
Having recently retired I am still working through having to generate my own motivation to not turn into a screen zombie. Some of that is by building routine in the form of regular group rides, household upkeep, and chasing self created goals. For me achievements create core memories. I need bike tours to look forward to, events to train for, and dreams to chase. I don’t disagree that goals can lead to hollow achievements, but it is not necessarily a guaranteed curse.
I really enjoyed this video. Goes along a lot what I have been thinking at the end and begining of the year. Thanks Russ.
I have never set goals in life and this has allowed me to take advantages of opportunities as they were presented to me
I recently read the book; "Antifragile." Your video today is a perfect example of this reality. Best to you in Girona!
I often have the "now what" feeling after reaching a goal. Or when you share your excitement after completing a goal, no one else gives a crap. I also agree with someone else here that goal setting puts a lot of perceived pressure on yourself. I've set some bike goals only to have weather, illness or some other obstacles get in the way. On a positive note, I'd love an occasional video ¡en español!
I’ll be 70 this spring. My yearly goal has always been to at least do as much as I did in the previous year, there or thereabouts. I don’t however get too wound up if I don’t make it. Maybe it’s more a target than goal.
My thought for life at this point is “What are you doing? Why are you doing it.”
Safe and healthy new year to all.
I feel the same way about goals and agree with softer, I’ll just try to focus or improve incrementally on this or that. Yo también estudiar español y tiene que a mejorar. Feliz año nuevo!
In my experience, the trap with goals is the period of time you set to accomplish them. If you set a reasonable amount of time, you will enjoy the ride and stay motivated. In other words, you're in the flow state. If you set a short period of time, you will become anxious, tired and the goal will lost meaning. And if you set a very long period of time, you will lost interest and the goal will not be reached. The right amount of time, my friend, is just set by called self knowledge.
My 2025 plan was extensive, months of touring and travel. Then my elderly parents had big issues and that has all changed - but ironically, I too had a "cardinal direction" and not a "goal", so this has been more of an adjustment, not devastating and disappointing. I may not be able to do everything I wanted, but am also gaining something from this experience as well. Even at 63, knowing the road isn't endless, I'm AOK with that. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
…Russ, thanks for your work!
You have many talents. Awesome to see Laura’s (sp?) health improve too! Outstanding!
…I wish we could have coffee and talk in person. I have tons of questions.
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…As for goals, I’m successful professionally & personally but I’m not a goal driven person per se. I just try hard with things (effort!).
…My goal for 2025? The same as every year before: Stay on the bike!
…Why? Answers to life’s complex questions/challenges seem to organically present themselves to me through bicycling.
…For example, I got married on my bike! I didn’t see that coming 😍!!! LOL!
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…Russ, you and Laura are amazing! Keep asking awesome questions and keep riding🚲! The goals/answers will come.
…Path Less Pedaled is top notch! 🏆
In between being an on-again off-again commuter and much later, mostly riding for fun, I raced triathlons. After every race, especially the bigger ones, the ones that I trained for months, the day after was quite depressing. All that work. All those seemingly endless hours of training, and now what? Eventually, I realized that the day after a race or a non-competitive multi-day tour, was much like the day after Christmas. Kind of empty inside. A mix of relief that it was over, coupled with mild depression that basically stemmed from "now what". My last race was almost 7 years ago, and I have become a puffy old bastard, only riding the occasional non-competitive cycling event. Regaining my fitness is my current goal. Not to race again. But, to ENJOY the rides ahead of me in my retirement, and live happily ever after.
I do like setting goals, but also have this things you speak about with reaching goals, get antsy, sad, etc, then try something else. It's all sort of a mess. Right now we have some health issues in my family and all I really care about is for this to be resolved this year.
I live my life in a similar fashion. Stuff happens and messes with anything that I might have planned out, so I started seting broad goals and just figuring out how to get there. Letting go of expectations can remove a lot of stress and sadness from one's life 🙃.
Healthy reflection. Life is a meandering journey with hills and valleys. We need one to enjoy the other.
My life certainly is simply making it up as I go along….remember very well the first bike touring trip around France mid1970’s. Spent weeks “planning” my route,distance each day etc,etc. Met a lovely American girl on the first day cycling from Cherbourg to Rouen…spent a wonderful few weeks cycling down through France and around. Realised that all the ‘plans’ were for my insecurity and fear,in order to set off!
Whoa. You hit the nail on the head about goals and achievment's denouement. Ride safe. “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
Suggestion: Don't know if you've considered this, but it might be cool to find a local to be a "co-host" on some videos. Especially if you start doing videos in Spanish. I remember you visited a few cool bike shops in one episode, might be fun to have a local bike mechanic in some videos. Happy New Year, and thanks for all the great content.
I have the same thing with riding longer distances. One way to help that is going somewhere by car and ride from your parking spot. I did that when running trails with the rule of having to run at least as long as the combined ride (to there and back). I'm a bit anxious though on how to deal with the situation my bike breaks down (been there) and being hours away (by car) from home or even my car.
Great video. We're considering Portugal and Spain so my wife is learning Portuguese and I am working on Spanish. I like the idea of your social rides so would definitely be interested if I do a tour in your area. October was our tour from Mérida to Madrid... love Spain!
Oh man I'm so into the idea of a partypace ride in Spain!
Love the philosophical video. I'm definitely guilty of trying to cram too much in.
Russ, this is excellent food for thought. Thank you. In randonneuring, the purpose of awards for meeting goals is to prod us into riding more, and I understand that. It is an effective motivator for many members. Still, someone pointed out that I've made my fun hobby into a job! Example, riding 10,000km of events in one calendar year. It seems that when one goal is met, there is a search for a new goal. Best wishes in 2025 with learning more Spanish, enjoying life at a party pace.
Focus on your process and the product will come along with satisfaction, even if only momentary before the work begins again. I ran construction projects for 30 years. My moments of pure satisfaction were the 10-15 minutes on the job site before I drove away for the last time. During the job it is was work balancing sanity and progress forward. You are doing a good job, keep up the good work
I think a better title or way to describe your mindset is not having strict goals and being mindful of enjoying the here and now, rather than "not having goals"
Hi from the Aragón región. Not using Instagram but will write here when I have the chance to go to Girona to join one of your rides.
In the mean time, if you feel like visiting this side of the pyrenees just whistle! Best of luck in Girona.
I resonate with the idea of "cardinal direction". Yes.
Wife and I are visiting northern Spain this year with an eye toward relocating there in the future if we like it. Would love to join a party pace ride sometime on a visit to Girona.
My goal is to join a Party Pace ride in Girona one day.
Some very good thoughts and goals here. Well said! I moved to Germany from Rhode Island 35 years ago, thinking I would only stay for 2 years. Europe kind of grows on you! If you get close to Berlin on any of your journeys, I would be more than happy to put you up.
I'm with you on goals, there's always another one and it's easy to spend your life pursuing them (i speak as a recovering workaholic )
'Until it's not fun anymore' is a good metric, I'm actually learning mandarin right now, fairly focused aphroach (i live in japan and speak japanese well enough to...do a bit of youtube😅) so I know it's a comnitment of time every day. But only until it runs its course, and no stressing....
for 2025 I'm making a career change so that's a pretty big goal, but again I'm trying to hold my ideas of the end result lightly, and just gradually transition while seeing how it's working out (i do hane to make a living, but I can continue my oldcareer part-time so I don't have to make any suddne big-risk moves)
anyway timely video for me, a good reminder (and reassuring to hear someone share similar thoughts) thanks for sharing your perspective.
oh, and in the coming yaars/ decade or two: yeah I think we're going to miss the quiet boring times...-good to build some personal emotional resilience while we can...
cheers from okinawa
Retired guy here. Not huge on goals, but am a huge believer having something in your life that you really enjoy and is a strong motivator to get up in the morning (as espoused by Viktor Frankl). For me my main motivators are a daily morning yoga and meditation practice and getting in some aerobic exercise. Fortunately I love swimming, biking, and running so can alternate to keep things interesting. From this base I work in other interests like spanish practice, vegan cooking, etc. I am not at all interested in keeping up with the Jones on Strava or trying to be 'busy' in comparison with others. I am just content doing the things i love doing. The only real 'goals' I have are planning for the occasional bike tour! While working, I did have one huge goal and that was saving and investing so that I could retire early.
Great video man. Find your joy and share please, we are here for it!
I have loose goals, too. I think of them more as moving in a certain direction. I want to get more fit and ride further. I also would like to work on my Spanish, it is not good. Most Spanish channels are native speakers, and they speak so fast I have a hard time keeping up. I am looking forward to your new channel as I could understand more of what you were saying. since you are also learning and speak slower.
buen suerte con sus metas. Tengo fe en ud.
Love it! I have much the same experience with goals, and a similar approach.
Goals are a learning experience so you can continue to improve and grow and changing some desires
Really good topic. I have really felt this dramatically in cycling. Win a race, don’t really feel happy about it afterwards. Ride 150 miles in a day, same thing. Often you work so hard that when you achieve the goal all you want to do afterwards is take a break from cycling. What’s the point of pushing super hard for something that ends up taking most of the joy out of cycling?
Great vid. I'm also in favor of non-rigid goals. I liked your point about enjoying the mundane, really resonate with that. I've stopped using my Garmin and don't pay attention to cumulative miles. I still use Apple watch to track individual rides but don't pay attention to the amount really. It's very freeing to just go explore. I converted my drop bars to a Jones H-bar and the new upright posture has eliminated my neck, shoulder, and back pain. It's gonna be a good year! (i hope). 🙂
My new years resolution was to greet each day without expectations.
I always start out with goals because I feel like I need them to motivate. Then I always feel like a failure when I miss them. Always a balance. Podemos hablar en español en cualquier tiempo tú tienes. Trato practicar cada día si possible. Voy a tratar usar mas español en mis videos tambien. Pero, por supuesto, mi español es malo.
¡Feliz año nuevo! Me gusta la idea de un canal en español. Puedes hacer colaboraciones con gente hispanohablante.
Paraphrased from Darren Hardy. Goals are not always for achieving. Setting goals and approaching them with total faith and commitment is the key. The success or lack of success is not important. Growth from the 100% effort is the important part. Setting goals and approaching them appropriately makes you the type of person who sets and achieves goals.
Just do things you enjoy and that make you happy. Many impressive numbers sneak up on you that way when you aren't really "looking" following progress toward goals.
Party pace rides in Girona sound awesome! That would be the highlight of my vacation there.
Sería genial tener un canal del "Camino Menos Pedaleado", y seguir empujando un ciclismo diferente en España!
Goal. Follow the beacon of your truth!