2008 Goal Rides?

[Starfish]

OK, I've done it. Today, I registered for my big, scary goal ride for 2008: the Shasta Summit Super Century, August 3, 2008. I am now officially frightened. :eek:

Does anyone else want to announce a scary goal ride, or other kind of 2008 goal, to the TE community (before we can back out and change our minds) :p ??

[kelownagirl]

OK, I'll post this fast before I change my mind.

I have lofty goals for 2008.

• Bare Bones Duathlon in May
• Apple Triathlon in August
• Okanagan Half Marathon on October


:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[blueskies]

Starfish,

How is that ride different from the one that you did this year? Your account of your experience at Shasta this year was one of the first things I read here on TE, and it was so inspiring to me.

I don't have a big goal for the new year picked out yet. There are so many possibilities, how do I choose???

I know for sure, though, that I want to get faster at climbing & I want to be riding my bike in some beautiful places.

Blueskies

[Veronica]

5 double centuries - Solvang Spring, Devil Mountain Double (scary hard!), Central Coast, Mount Tam, Knoxville.

I need to pick one more if DMD goes badly. If it goes well, then maybe Terrible Two.

V.

[melissam]

If my neck & shoulder stay healthy, I'm doing the California AIDS Lifecycle ride in June.

(I'm not usually the superstitous type, but I'm really hesitating to push the Submit button on this. I swear, if my left thumb & forefinger start tingling like crazy tomorrow, I'm going to delete this post.)

-- Melissa

[Trek420]

Click that button girl, sign up (although if you do it at an event it's cheaper and or you get more SWAG). You'll have a great time, it's an incredible ride.

'fraid I'm still healing from last year so one-day events for me. Don't let that deter you, just don't change cycling shoes a month or so before the big ride. :o

My plan so far:
:) rehab the toe
:) bike to work more
:) spend more time in Aikido so my teacher remembers that I'm there and maybe get my next rank though that's entirely up to her and....
:) do at least the metric on Bike Against the Odds, even after ALC the most I could do there was the 49 mile.

[crazycanuck]

Ok, since i'll be off my bike for a while..My big bike goal is to do the Perth MTB 6hr in September...

I'll get there..slowly & carefully.

C

[melissam]

Trek,

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll probably be asking you all sorts of off the wall questions about this event.

I hope your toe rehab is going well.

-- Melissa

[makbike]

Earlier this evening I pulled out my goals for 2007 and found I had met all but one and well I sold that bike so I have a valid excuse.

My tentative goals for 2008 are:
2500 miles on my Univega
2000 miles on my new LeMond
Average speed on the road 15.6 mph
Overal (road + trainer) 6000 miles with an average speed of 15.1 mph
Ride at least 6 centuries and log 3000 club miles

Scary goals - very, very, very tentative
Ride the 3 mountains/3 states in May
Ride RAIN in July

Most importantly - take care of myself, enjoy myself and continue to move forward with a positive outlook.

[jobob]

I think I'm going to wait & see how this month goes before I start planning. :o

[Trek420]

Trek,

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll probably be asking you all sorts of off the wall questions about this event.

I hope your toe rehab is going well.

-- Melissa

Ask away. No question too off the wall. :rolleyes: Lots of ALC'ers and multi day tour experience here on TE. Much more knowledge than the "official" ALC bulletin board.

[snapdragen]

If my neck & shoulder stay healthy, I'm doing the California AIDS Lifecycle ride in June.

(I'm not usually the superstitous type, but I'm really hesitating to push the Submit button on this. I swear, if my left thumb & forefinger start tingling like crazy tomorrow, I'm going to delete this post.)

-- Melissa

Awesome mel! Prepare for the time of your life :D

[snapdragen]

My goal for 2008 is to get healthy and ride my bike! For incentive I've decided I need this as my commuter :rolleyes: :cool:

One Way (http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=424)

[jobob]

can't go wrong with British Racing Green !

[Starfish]

Starfish, How is that ride different from the one that you did this year?

Well, in August 2007 I did the century (96 miles or so), and this time, I'm going for the super century (135 miles or so, with more climbing).

And, Snap, wow, what a gorgeous bike. You must have it!

Edited to add: PS to all...I love reading about all the different things everyone is plotting...thank you for responding!!

[salsabike]

Thinking about another one-day STP on the tandem, and doing some of the other century rides around the region that we couldn't get to last year.

[Meg McKilty]

Now that I know what is wrong with my knee, my grandiose plans are back on.

Music City Half Marathon!
Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon
Music City Triathlon

Oh my goodness, what lies ahead of me... daunting, indeed.

[KathiCville]

Wow, what fabulous goals you've all set! My goals aren't nearly as ambitious, but then I've only been riding my bike since last February after ten years off.

In 2008, I'd like to:

** Log at least 1500 miles on my road bike. (This year I logged about 650 since Feb.)

** Be able to ride the 50-mile leg of the local MS 150 in June.

** Do a similar charity ride in the fall.

** Master the cadence/spinning concept (totally new to me)

** Get more comfortable on my mountain bike. (Purchased used, on a whim, months ago for riding the many, many gravel/dirt roads 'round here that are too rough for my road bike to handle.) I'm too tentative on downhills.

** Build up more climbing strength, and bump up my average speed on flats by at least 2mph.

** Leave my gas-guzzlers in the driveway and commute around town more by bike.

Good luck, everybody! :)

[OakLeaf]

You all are awesome!

I don't even want to call my next year's plans "goals," because my #1 goal is to keep competitiveness from creeping into the equation, which is what burned me out the last time and kept me off the bike for 12 years.

Plans:
Run my first timed 5k. I'm already signed up for the Daytona run they do in conjunction with the 24 hour car race. I just want that T-shirt.

Ride TOSRV again. It'll be the 25th anniversary of the first time I rode - and 15 years since the last time :eek:

Learn better swimming technique with the aim of doing a sprint tri in '09.

Continue improvement in Chi Running technique and aerobics instructor skills.

[Tater]

Penciled in for 2008...

May - 100 mi. Ride for Independence, Boise, ID.

May - 200K Brevet, Driggs, ID to St. Anthony Sand Dunes.

June - 100 mi. Bob LeBow Bike Tour, Nampa, ID

Aug. - 160-ish, Stanley Challenge. Boise, ID to Stanley, ID
or
100 mi. Sawtooth Century. Ketchum, ID

Aug. - 100 mi. Blue Cruise, Meridian, ID

Sept. - Sawtooth Bike Trek (Three day ride)

Sept. - 100-200 mi. MS Idaho Bike Tour, Boise, ID

Start riding in LBS's Sunday group rides, maybe. I am so accostomed to riding solo.

[Flybye]

2008 Goals for Spudwoman:

I'd like to do 2008 miles on my Ruby for 2008! If I do that, then next year I only have to do 2009 miles:rolleyes:

I would LOVE to do my first 100 miler in June - Little Red Riding Hood in Utah - I just don't want to ride alone like I did last year. I felt so, um, er, lonely :o

I will start running with my daughter this spring.

I would like to do a tri even if I come in dead last.

For my dear husband to get a road bike and start coming along, even though he kicks my butt on speed.

Not get hit by a car or crash in any way, shape, or form!

[Possegal]

my main goal is the livestrong challenge in philly again next year. this year my sister and i rode for our other sister who has lung cancer. we did the 40 mile ride and it was a struggle, very hilly! my goal is the 70 mile ride next year, my sister just wants to do the 40 comfortably. and we both want our other sister to be there to cheer us on. that's the biggest goal for both of us.

i'd like to do some other organized rides but haven't got any in mind just yet. my ultimate goal would be a cycling vacation in europe, but that's more a long range goal.

[Brandi]

To go on a nother long bike trip with my good friends! But leave a few behind. My last 7 day bike trip was a bummer cause my girlfriend was not ready for it. So I really stressed about her. And then i got a super bad cold 2 days before it ended and had to get a ride from a stranger to Moab to wait for the rest of our group. I want to try it again this time with no one in tow! Except dh! He's great on bike trips!

[IFjane]

Very tentative goals for next year because this year was a flop:

1. Log at least 3000 miles.
2. Get back on the bike (on the road) as early as possible in January
3. Ride the Cap2Cap Century in May
4. MS 150 in June
5. Beat the heat in July & August!
....and continue to ride, not let health or work get in the way of staying in shape and most of all...

HAVE FUN!

[indysteel]

My biggest goal next year is the Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee. It will be in northeastern Tennessee and will be a bit (or a lot) more challenging than this year's BRAT. Beyond that, I would like to do the Horsey Hundred again in May, as well as RAIN in July. There's a local century called JAWS that I'd like to do in June, but it will depend on the timing. Last year, it was just a week or two after the Horsey and I just wasn't up to it. Finally, I'm hoping that both my schedule and bank account will allow me to do Shoreline West in Michigan--another weeklong tour like BRAT. Mileagewise, I'd be happy if I equaled the mileage 5k that I did this year. The weather was so dry this summer and that contributed greatly to doing that many miles. I'm not sure if I should count on that again! For reasons beyond cycling, I hope we get adequate rain this year.

My goals for next year have less to do with mileage or specific rides and more about building my confidence. I accommplished a lot this year, but it was always with a lot of handwringing and anxiety. I'd like to continue building my speed and learning how to train and ride effectively. I'm pretty sure that I didn't build in enough recovery time this year, especially after bigger rides. I paid a price for that by the end of the year.

Good luck to all of you in reaching your goals!

[Starfish]

May - 100 mi. Ride for Independence, Boise, ID.


Here or in a PM, could you tell me a little about this ride, and maybe shoot me the website? I'll probably need a century goal in May, and we have a good one right here, but honestly, it is almost always cold and rainy on May 20, still! :eek:

I love Idaho, and it might be fun to get out for some sunshine and a century!

[sundial]

Here's mine:
1. Quit falling on the mtb. :o
2. Quit tearing up the computer after I fall on the mtb. :o
3. Remember to write down my mileage in my little pink book before my
computer tears up. :(
4. Ride through the winter.
5. Beat the Madone on hills. :)
6. Do a metric century by May.
7. Learn how to pronounce Etxe Ondo and splurge on the stuff. :p

[MillieNZ]

Sport wise....
complete 3 trialthons over summer
Multisport race in Taupo in April
Auckland Cycle Challenge in May
Auckland half Marathon October
Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge in November....

Personally
get married in April ;)
have a better year than this last 6 months have been for me....:rolleyes:

Having read the report for the Shasta race this year I'd love to come over and do that.... but I think we'll be in Monterey area in June instead........... Is there any bike rides in the SF area around that time that I could bring my bike over for ?? :D

[michelem]

So many rides from which to choose! These are the ones I'm eyeing at the moment . . .

Party Pardee - April
Chico Wildflower - April
Wine Country Century - May
Sierra Century - June
Death Ride - July
Tour of the Napa Valley - August
Tour de Tahoe - September
Konocti Challenge - October
Foxy Fall Century - October

[Aggie_Ama]

First and foremost I want to be healthier!! I have had 4 illnesses knock me off the bike for a week each time. :(


Five Centuries
Enchanted Circle Century in New Mexico. This will be a test of my skills- mental and physical!
Ride the Tri County Hill Hopper and finally kick its butt.
4,500 miles
Find time to do a Duatholon for fun.

[solobiker]

I too would like to be healthier so I can ride more. I have had several medical issues that have been keeping me off my bike(s).

Goals:
1) solo century
2) Ride 4,000+
3) Climb one of the local hills in under 38min (1,700 elevation in 6 miles)

[Pedal Wench]

Scary goals - very, very, very tentative
Ride the 3 mountains/3 states in May
Ride RAIN in July

Most importantly - take care of myself, enjoy myself and continue to move forward with a positive outlook.

I'm planning on 3States/3Mountains in May too (the one out of Chattanooga) again. This year, I plan to ride those last 50 feet up Burkhalter Gap.
In addition:
Ididaride
BikeSebring
Ride The Rockies
Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour

I'm already training...

[lauraelmore1033]

Gee, I was just thinking about goal setting today and remembering about how I had to really dig deep to get through the Apple Century and to ride 80 miles of the Headwaters Century. My first impulse was to aim for the same sort of goal, but to do it better and faster. but then I remembered how far I've come since last year and I realize that it was the act of struggling through something a little too ambitious that brought about the change. So maybe I'll shoot for a Double Century in 08. Stp? Rsvp?

[dex]

I really wanted to try to do the RSVP in 2008, but I don't know how realistic that goal is, since I have no idea when I'll be allowed/able to ride my bike again.

At the moment, my 2008 riding goal is simply to rehab my knee to the point that I can ride regularly again.

(I may try to register for RSVP anyway, just as a wishful thinking/just-in-case-things-go-better-than-I-think kind of thing.)

[RoadRaven]

A few of you have said "Have fun"

That continues to be my number one goal.

Number two is more time riding with my fave training partner... my life partner... we seem to end up on bikes not-together too often :(

Most of the rest of my goals involve better times in rides I have done every year - time trial courses, club champs, tour of the bay (50km leg) and tour de beautiful (50km leg) ... etc

BUT
I do want to ride in the interclub races and champs in 2008 (mmm... another trip to Gisborne and excuse to walk the beaches :D )

I would love to compete at National level - but this might have to wait til 2009 or 2010...

[SouthernBelle]

I just want to find some good places to take my teardrop trailer and bike and camp and ride and have fun.

Also want to get the exterior redo of the trailer done asap.

[Pedal Wench]

I just want to find some good places to take my teardrop trailer and bike and camp and ride and have fun.

Also want to get the exterior redo of the trailer done asap.

Have you seen these ladies: http://www.sistersonthefly.com/

I want to get a trailer just so I can join them!

[Veronica]

A few of you have said "Have fun"

That continues to be my number one goal.




Having fun is always a given with me. :D It's just that sometimes my idea of fun is a little insane.

V.

[Fredwina]

how about a 400K? :o and depending on how I feel, a 600K:eek:
Seriouly right now, the only thing I've got is a 200K on 1/12 and the Tour De Palm Springs on 2/8. Still debating about doing the Triple Crown, plus one of my buudies is trying to get me to do a fleche

[Veronica]

Yeah, I'll probably do some 200 Ks and maybe some 400s but they are training rides for the BIG ONE.

V.

[northstar]

Well, I had loftier goals before we found out we are expecting in July '08. I had hoped to get in at least 2,000 miles (500 more than this year) at least one century, a half marathon (had one picked out for May to do with my brother), two duathlons and what would have been my first tri. I will plan on giving those a go in 2009! Now I just hope to spin and jog/walk throughout most of my pregnancy.

I might have to volunteer at a few events just to feel like I'm still involved in cycling some way.

[SouthernBelle]

Have you seen these ladies: http://www.sistersonthefly.com/

I want to get a trailer just so I can join them!


Oh I wish they had an eastern chapter! I don't have a horse and have never been fly fishing. But I can fish for crappie and ride a bike!

I think you all need to get TTTs (Tiny Travel Trailers).

[Starfish]

Having fun is always a given with me.

Same here. For any given goal event, I have several goals. The first one is to have a good time and stay positive. It is the best thing I have a shot at controlling, even if all else goes south.

I mean, if cycling isn't fun, why do it? :)

[teigyr]

Hmmm. My goals are always quirky! One year it was get a pedicure (my feet are THE ugliest ever), one year it was being (ahem) waxed, and then I had the pole dancing year. I did two sprint tri's this last year.

I think this upcoming year I want to get cases for our bikes and:

Ride Cinderella in April (I think it is?) which is 65 miles in Calif

Ride the Amtrak Century in Sept. It's 100 miles and in Calif.

I've ridden the Amtrak before but DH has never done a century. I think it would be a fun one and it's relatively easy for the miles.

I might try for an Oly tri but then again I'm also thinking of doing a half marathon. Or both :D

Lastly, I graduate college in one more quarter (about freakin' time!) so that goal will be completed and I will have more time! And I want to organize the house. Oh and finally combine our bills and stuff because after a year of marriage you'd think we'd be organized but no. We are not.

Oh and maybe go to Ireland and/or Scotland. And wine tasting/snow shoeing in Kelowna :D And a baseball game at Yankee Stadium because it's their last year in the old one.

Ok, and really lastly, I would like to do a distance ride up here. I've put it off due to rain and hills and I guess I like Calif riding better but I need to suck it up and just ride.

[Veronica]

Tour de Blast in June was a nice ride. We didn't have nearly long enough at Mt St Helens last year, so I'd like to go back there this summer.

I would like to do a self supported tour down the coast again too.

V.

[Starfish]

Checkout this ride up here in WA:

http://www.cascade.org/EandR/raw/index.cfm

It is this year's Ride Around Washington (RAW) tour by Cascade Bicycle Club. I did the tour in 2004, and it was extremely well supported, and loads of fun. This year, it is in southern WA in the mountains, and it is called:
"Tour of the Volcanoes".

I WISH I could do it!! But, it falls exactly at the same time as Shasta, first week of August. I'm bummed. They do different parts of WA state every year, and I've been waiting for them to head back into the mountains. But, this year, I have a date with Mt. Shasta that week.

I recommend this ride, though. They limit the riders to 200, so if you're interested, good to sign up early.

[divingbiker]

1. Ride to work every day except for snow and ice.

2. Do Cycle Across Maryland in July (met some great women there and am looking forward to the reunion!)

3. Do a bike tour--either Womantours in Hawaii in November or Banff to Jasper (Backroads?) in the summer...but I need to get my act together and register if it's going to happen.

4. Do local ride events--Civil War half or metric Century, Tour du Port in Baltimore, SheGotBike, possibly Seagull Century.

5. Muddle my way through the Irongirl Triathlon.

6. Reach the weight I've decided merits a custom bike, and then get the bike.

7. Do a mountain bike ride (preferably with TE friends) at least once a month.

8. Not bike-related, but get out on the water in my new kayak (preferably with TE friends) at least once a month.

[maillotpois]

I think I'm going to wait & see how this month goes before I start planning. :o

I'm with you.

I've had 3 years in a row of big goal rides. 3 Triple Crowns in a row (9 double centuries total, including Devil Mountain), a brevet series (200, 300, 400 and 600k - though not in the same year! ;) ), myriad 200ks. I've coached people to do the Death Ride 2 years in a row, and am doing that for sure again this year. This may be a year, though, where I don't do much else by way of super long rides. My overall speed has really dropped as the miles have pushed out, and I am not particularly happy about that.

I've also got a LOT going on personally and professionally right now, and I don't think I can add the doubles into the Death Ride coaching rides and still keep it all together.

Things may change. But this is where I am right now. And I'm okay with it. (2 sentences in a row started with prepositions - crabs! I meant conjunctions! - and I don't even flinch!! See how laissez faire I have become!!! Perhaps the end IS near.)

[RolliePollie]

My goals for 2008 may be changing...I'm working on recovering from tendonitis in my ankle and foot and everything will depend on how that heals.

#1 - complete a century. I did two metrics in 2007 (I believe the second one is responsible for the tendonitis!), but I didn't attempt a century.

#2 - log 3,000 miles. I'm at 2,722 for this year and that will probably end up being it since I doubt I'll be back on the bike before the end of this month. I had every intention of making it to 3,000 this year, but alas, stupid ankle and foot have disrupted my plan.

#3 - learn how to stop and dismount the bike gracefully with one foot still clipped in. And how to start going uphill.

#4 - ride up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Nat'l Park in WA. Just have to figure out the logistics of getting my bike up there or finding a suitable bike to rent.

#5 - force myself to start crosstraining. My PT says I should be running. Ugh. I hate running. Maybe fast walking? OK wait, I guess this is supposed to be a goal...so the goal is to run a little bit twice a week.

#6 - have fun and no more injuries!

[Bklynmom]

My goal for 2008 is to spend more time on the bike with my family, and to get faster and better at climbing. I went from new biker to a 111 mile charity ride, last year, but I really missed a whole Spring and Summer with my husband and 2 sons because of training.

Last year was about distance, this year is going to be about speed and power. Less time on the bike away from the family, but more productive intense time on the bike.

To ride up to and over the George Washing bridge with my son, who will then be 10 years old.

To pick up DH after work and bike home together a few times a month.

To go on a few family bike rides with the four of us.

To get up the hill in Prospect Park on a regular basis at 12-14 MPH.

To average 16 - 18 MPH around Prospect Park (instead of 14.6).

To be fast enough to jump on the Peleton in the Park and crack the guy who called me a stupid ***** last year.

To do the River Road, NJ hill at 5-7 MPH.

Oh yeah, and to continue loosing weight and see if improving your muscle mass ratio really works :) .

[Starfish]

(2 sentences in a row started with prepositions and I don't even flinch!!

With your perspective & experience, you will find the best path for yourself. Over time, you have developed wisdom. Under your current circumstances, waiting to set your goals makes sense. Around here, you will get only support. Upon posting, we will rally around you! :rolleyes: ;)



#4 - ride up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Nat'l Park in WA. Just have to figure out the logistics of getting my bike up there or finding a suitable bike to rent.

Woohoo!! Let me know if you want a riding buddy, or if you want me to provide on-road support with my car and happy smile! :D

[Pedal Wench]

Oh I wish they had an eastern chapter! I don't have a horse and have never been fly fishing. But I can fish for crappie and ride a bike!

I think you all need to get TTTs (Tiny Travel Trailers).

The woman that I know who's a member lives in Georgia, and was meeting up with them locally. Keep looking!

[smilingcat]

ride more...
heal up my poor back
may be for old time sake try one of

breathless in agony
ride around the bear
climb the kaiser (a real wishful thinking)
death ride (if I can get in. It would be 15 years since the last one)
redland classic (just the fun ride not the stage race)


put cycling near the top of my must do list. I want to lose weight. I want to be fit again...

not too much to ask?
smilingcat

[Trek420]

:) spend more time in Aikido so my teacher remembers that I'm there and maybe get my next rank though that's entirely up to her and....

Seems this needs to be at the top of my list. It's still not up to me, it's my teachers decision but I may be closer to my next promotion/test than I thought. :eek:

So I'm going to be more of someone who does Aikido but also bikes than someone who bikes but also does Aikido. ;)

[maillotpois]

ride more...
heal up my poor back
may be for old time sake try one of

breathless in agony
ride around the bear
climb the kaiser (a real wishful thinking)
death ride (if I can get in. It would be 15 years since the last one)
redland classic (just the fun ride not the stage race)


put cycling near the top of my must do list. I want to lose weight. I want to be fit again...

not too much to ask?
smilingcat

Hey cat I hope you do Death Ride. We'll be there for sure and it would be great to meet you. (Don't pitch your tent on any ant hills this time, ok? :D )

[RoadRaven]

Personally
get married in April ;)

Hmmm... I missed this when I posted my goals
Congrats
:)

[ummbnb]

2007 was the year of getting back on the bike after a 6 year absence - in Sept. I was riding daily until DST then went to weekend rides. My longest ride was 56 miles. Once upon a time centuries were a regular thing for me. So I have a couple goals for '08:

1. Work up to a century
2. Ride RAGBRAI (used to ride it every year....many years ago)

[Susan126]

1. RIDE A LOT MORE THAN I HAD IN 2007 but also have FUN FUN FUN while doing so!

2. Ride the RAMROD for the second time in my life (first time was 2004)

3. Maybe ride the STP (still tossing that one around)

4. Ride in as many organized rides as I can

5. Try to ride every single day this summer.

Sue :)

[OakLeaf]

2007 was the year of getting back on the bike after a 6 year absence - in Sept. I was riding daily until DST then went to weekend rides. My longest ride was 56 miles. Once upon a time centuries were a regular thing for me. So I have a couple goals for '08:

1. Work up to a century
2. Ride RAGBRAI (used to ride it every year....many years ago)

Oh girl we are twin sisters from different mothers! 2006 was my year of getting back on after a 12 year absence. Back in my other life I'd ride 100 miles at least one day of every weekend, sometimes both (never called it a "century" when it wasn't an organized ride :cool: ), and TOSRV every year for 11 years in a row. Riding TOSRV again is one of my plans for this year. So go... let's do it!

[shootingstar]

1. To restart and integrate cycling in my convoluted work commuting journey when weather stops pouring rain.... (1.5 hrs. one way, of which cycling comprises only 30% of it). I hope not to lose my commitment as the construction site gets more dangerous to walk through (after I park bike midway)

2. Just ride, ride during off-work days.

3. Lose 5 lbs.

4. Somehow transfer my cycling drive to my other non-cycling passions which are lying latent and yearning to burst forward. :o :rolleyes:

[KnottedYet]

1. Bike commute more often!

2. Ride the Chuckanut Century. (benefits the Hospice that helped us care for my dad when he was dying)

It might be nice to do another tri or two, but I'm not making that a goal. Just icing on the cake!:D

[newfsmith]

1. RETIRE (me, not my bike) so that I will have more time to ride in daylight, even if I have to spend more time caring for my mother.
2. Learn lots at the UBI course I'm signed up for; then start looking for a bike shop job.
3. Crack the $4000 mark for PMC.
4. Get back to >3k miles for the year, which may be unrealistic while caring for my mother, but it would sure help me deal with the stress of caring for her.

[elk]

I keep my athletic goals small...

I want to ride down my driveway and go LEFT instead of right and make it up that hill easily...:rolleyes:

I did get strong enough to go up the hill I encounter to the right...and it only took 2 months...

[RoadRaven]

Elk, excellent goals...

I always tell the students to keep their goals smart...

S pecific
M easurable
A chievable
R ealistic
T imebound

I had a couple of "get up THAT hill" goals this year... one I am transferring to 2008 :D

[Crankin]

I hesitate to set a goal because of my health issues, but with that in mind, here they are:
Ride at least 2500 miles (which I did this year) and if things are going well, ride 3,000 (which I did last year).

Don't focus so much on speed this year
Do core work/weights at least twice a week
Ride to work at least once a week, starting as soon as daylight allows it, since I am only going back to work from Feb. 25-June 15. Don't worry about how long the commute takes, either (my fastest was 56 minutes for 14.8 miles)
Stretch, rest well, and continue acupuncture
Do some rides longer than 55 miles. I want to do another century, but not a very hilly one. We will see.
Lead at least 3 rides for my club with my husband. We will NOT lead any show and go rides this year; too many unknowns with the people and I don't like that, when I can't screen them.

Generally get my focus off of my health issues
Apply for admission to the MA program at Lesley University to become a licensed mental health counselor, with an emphasis in holistic psychology, and start in Jan. 2009. This will be 3 long years of a lot of work and internship, but it will allow me to work with women on issues of weight management, exercise, body image

[LadyinWhite]

Hi everyone - as you may recall, last year was a major milestone for me in the regaining of my health by riding in the local tour de cure. Like anyone who had never ridden in a charity ride, ridden more than 50 miles in a single go and who had never ridden with a group of people, I was terrified. With the encouragement and support of readers/writers like you - I plunged ahead, completed the ride successfully and moved on.

Now, as winter is closed in around me and the girl and I are relegated to the tiny basement on a trainer, I find myself once again focusing on my motivation. I have already registered for the 2008 Tour de Cure ride but this year I'm looking to continue my personal growth. With that in mind, I've gone ahead and registered for Terry's Wild Goose Chase ride in Maryland.

This feels like such a significant step for me. Actually packing up the girl and heading out of town by myself to go for a ride. Riding with people I don't know. So it is with a rush of excitement, anticipation, inspiration and deep satisfaction that I sit here and review the information for this ride in Maryland. 2008 will be the first year I have done 2 such rides (metric centurys). I might even do one of them in a group though so far the only two times I've ever crashed on my bike were when I was riding with someone else. (the road rash on my face is still healing from the most recent, thats when the trainer came inside!! )

So I'm sitting here, smiling to myself about this new ride - wondering if any TE'rs will be there.

T.

[ummbnb]

Oh girl we are twin sisters from different mothers! 2006 was my year of getting back on after a 12 year absence. Back in my other life I'd ride 100 miles at least one day of every weekend, sometimes both (never called it a "century" when it wasn't an organized ride :cool: ), and TOSRV every year for 11 years in a row. Riding TOSRV again is one of my plans for this year. So go... let's do it!

Indeed!!!!

[elk]

Elk, excellent goals...

I always tell the students to keep their goals smart...

S pecific
M easurable
A chievable
R ealistic
T imebound

I had a couple of "get up THAT hill" goals this year... one I am transferring to 2008 :D

thanks RR. I agree. I tell my writing students to set a time when they know they can write for 3 minutes every day...and keeping that app't is ALL they have to do...except they have to write for 3 minutes nonstop....not THINK about writing....2 things happen
1. They often go more than 3 minutes and feel like champs ( as opposed to setting a goal for 1 hour, only doing 10 minutes and feeling like a loser)
2. They are AMAZED at how many pages start piling up after a month...

complicated tricky things these human brains!!!
so here's to the hills!

[divingbiker]

With that in mind, I've gone ahead and registered for Terry's Wild Goose Chase ride in Maryland...So I'm sitting here, smiling to myself about this new ride - wondering if any TE'rs will be there.

I hadn't heard about this ride, but it looks like fun. I think I'll probably register, since it will motivate me to start riding longer distances early in the season. The jersey is very cool!

I look forward to meeting you there!

[7rider]

With that in mind, I've gone ahead and registered for Terry's Wild Goose Chase ride in Maryland.

So I'm sitting here, smiling to myself about this new ride - wondering if any TE'rs will be there.

T.

Well, hi!
There will be at least 2 other TE'ers there. You inspired DivingBiker and me -- and maybe a few others -- to try this ride!
Perhaps we'll have a big TE group there!
Check out the Mid-Atlantic discussion forum....a whole thread has started on this ride!
Fun....already looking forward to spring!

[jobob]

OK, here goes (deep breath ....)

My main goal for 2008 is to do a 200K or longer brevet or permanent for 12 consecutive months to earn the RUSA R-12 award (http://www.rusa.org/r12.html).

So I've signed up for the San Francisco Randonneurs 200K brevet at the end of January (gulp!).

SFR has a 300K brevet the end of February, but that's way too early for me to attempt a 300, so at the moment I plan to do a 200K permanent on Feb 16 in case anyone would like to join me.

In March I'll have 3 different 200Ks to choose from in the Bay Area/N Cal. I wish they didn't schedule them all in the same month !

Beyond March, I'll do the local permanents, and I'll have a good excuse for the occasional road trip. :) Maybe I'll manage a 300K at some point, but I don't plan to go beyond that.

Apart from the brevets, I'd like to do the Mt. Hamilton Challenge, which is the same day as the Devil Mountain Double & follows some of the same route but in the opposite direction. So maybe I'll get to wave hidey-ho to Veronica as we pass each other. :cool:

Maybe the Davis Double. It all depends on how the spring goes.

[Veronica]

Where are the 200Ks in March? RUSA only lists Santa Rosa on the 15th. That one is on my calendar as is your 200K permanent in Feb. Which one are you planning on doing?

V.

[jobob]

Davis (http://www.davisbikeclub.org/ultra/2008/default.htm) is on March 8, Santa Rosa (http://home.pacbell.net/donnk/) is on the 15th, and Santa Cruz (http://pages.prodigy.net/scrandonneurs/) is on the 22nd.

Since the Santa Cruz 200K route will be same route up to Half Moon Bay & back as the permanent (so I'll probably do that route a lot this year), I'm leaning more towards either Davis or Santa Rosa.

Last year's Santa Rosa 200K was a lovely, easy route and it ended at a brew pub :cool: and it looks like it's going to be the same route this year. Davis is out to Pope Valley & back.

As for the permanent in Feb, I'm still trying to decide between the Marin (SF Randonneurs) & Santa Cruz routes. Probably the Marin one. Perhaps we can talk MP into a cameo appearance? BTW, the 16th is the day before the start of the ToC. Maybe we'll get lucky and see pro riders whiz by us on Hiway 1, although probably all we'd notice is the sonic boom. :rolleyes:

[maillotpois]

I loved that Santa Rosa route. I almost want to just go do it sometime in January because I probably won't have time to otherwise.

We've got team rides set now (I finally did the calendar!). My "free" dates are 2/23 (but we'll likely be in Tahoe), 3/8, 3/22 and 4/12. Just keep me in the loop as to when you're riding and if I can make it, I will.

Looking at our ride calendar for Death Ride team is making me a little nervous. And I'm the one who created it! :D

[silver]

thinking about these:



3 state/ 3 mountain - 5/3

Horsey hundred - date?

RAIN 5/12

Hilly Hundred