After averaging 120-130 miles cycling a week in 2018 and 2019, I moved to a new town in 2020. I had my routine thrown out and slacked off on my riding, to the detriment of my mental and physical health. I think I ended 2020 with less than 1000miles for the year.
Today I just finished two weeks in a row of 6 mornings per week cycling 11 miles on a quiet gravel and bitumen road loop from my house. This morning I attacked some of the undulating hills and finally started to feel fit and powerful on the bike, beat my best time by 3 minutes. I forgot how important that regular, intense effort in the beautiful still morning hours was to me, and how it sets up a great base line for the rest of the day. I feel so good after this 2 weeks that I'm going to continue and target a modest 60mi/week for the rest of the year.
We'll see how far into the southen hemisphere winter I can keep to the goal (it falls below freezing regularly in the winter mornings here).