Good Cycling - Better Cycling

I measure stuff. I count the cyclists on my way to the office. I log my bike miles and the cost per mile to operate the bike. I particularly enjoy watching my fitness improve: weight loss, resting heart rate, how fast I can climb a hill. By measuring, I can see the results of the work I put into my cycling and can judge if I'm making improvements.

A ride that improves my fitness is a good ride. What makes it a better ride? Are there other ways to measure a ride?

Besides physical fitness, I take note of my mental fitness. Even a rainy, cold commute to the office when I could have worked from home is more uplifting than the most pleasant of car trips. A better ride sets our spirit free.

Since most car trips are within a couple miles, bike trips can replace many of these car trips. A better ride would save some gas, reduce demand for road and parking space, and help improve air quality.

Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation in the US and will probably remain dominant -- at least until perhaps September or so . A better ride would make the best of sharing roadways with traffic. Each negotiation for space between cyclists and motorists is an opportunity to earn mutual respect and improve our capacity for courtesy and safety. A better ride would leave smiles on everyone's faces.

I wish I had an odometer that recorded not just the miles, but also the good karma I've created by riding my bike. By any measure, cycling is good karma made real -- fitness, air quality, sustainability, and an improved sense of community -- yet it remains hard to chalk up. Can anyone invent a smile-o-meter?