# Consistency Compounds - Insights from 6 Years of Cycling Data #Fitness #Well-Being *Last Updated: December, 2025* There’s a familiar line in fitness: _the best workout is the one you actually do_. Over time, I’ve come to a quieter conclusion. The most important metric isn’t your best day. It’s how often you show up across ordinary ones. Here's the pudding with the proof. ### The numbers, plainly stated Over the last six years, Strava tracked all my cycling. What’s striking is not how much I rode, but how little that number changed. ![[Cycling trend.png]] Most years sit between 50 and 60 rides. One year dipped. One year rose. Nothing dramatic. What changed was output. - In 2020, my average of the top five rides was **15 km**. - By 2025, that number was **189 km**. - The longest ride went from **16 km** to **302 km**. Same person. Roughly the same number of rides each year. Very different capability. ### What actually compounded It’s tempting to narrate this as ambition or discipline. That wouldn’t be accurate. The first year was about building the habit. Learning the mechanics. Making peace with discomfort. The second year came with a first long ride that felt excessive at the time and obvious in hindsight. Years three and four were quieter. Longer routes stopped being “special.” They became a normal weekend choice. By the sixth year, a 300 km ride still demanded respect, but it no longer felt imaginary. Nothing here hinges on a single breakthrough. The gains came from accumulation. From dozens of rides that were forgettable on their own and decisive in aggregate. ### The miscalculation we keep making We routinely overestimate what a single effort can do and underestimate what repetition over years makes possible. This shows up everywhere, not just in cycling. Writing. Learning to code. Building strength. Even relationships. > **We chase intensity because it’s visible. Consistency feels dull by comparison. But dull is often where the real leverage sits.** If you’re starting something new, the question isn’t whether you’ll have a standout week. It’s whether you’ll still be doing it five years from now.