2009 Plans/Goals

[Aggie_Ama]

I was thinking this weekend about my plans mainly fitness related for 2009. This year I did not plan a distance on the bike because it is too restrictive. What are yours?

Mine include:
Ride Charity rides whenever close. DH works a lot of Saturdays so close is key since I will be solo.
Get more comfortable on the Mountain bike with possibility of racing an easy race in the fall.
Build on running with possibility of doing a 1/2 marathon in the fall.
Work on core with my new balance ball to lean up.

[KathiCville]

I've got a few fitness goals in mind for 2009:

---2000 cycling miles. (A mileage goal pushes me out the door!)

---Work in more yoga, pilates and light weights on a regular basis to help me get stronger, sleep better, counter stress.

---Drink LOTS more water. LOTS!

---Use my bike more to run close-to-home errands.

---*Maybe* ride my first century---an 'easy' one on friendly flat/rolling terrain. :)

[OakLeaf]

Yoga for me too.

I did what I consider to be my first "real" yoga class yesterday - small class with a 500-hour certified instructor - and it was GREAT. I'm sore all over :p (but in a good way :D). The studio opened just around the corner from my house while we were up north, and I am SO GLAD I decided to check it out!

[Fujichants]

I've got a few goals as well.

1. Participate in more century rides

2. Work on core and do yoga (this will help with cycling, horseback riding, and running)

3. Have fun and don't beat myself up if i'm having an off day, or need a few days off.

[Tri Girl]

Great idea! Sometimes writing things down makes it more concrete for me. I'd like to set a mileage goal, but I don't know what's realistic for me. I could start small (like 1000) and go up from there when I reach it).

*My immediate goal is to ride the trainer every day for at least 30 minutes until about late March when it's warm enough to ride outside. It's something I can do while watching t.v. every night.

*run a marathon in April (my 5th)

*get a new job (not fitness related really, but my job now is so far away from home I don't have as much time to workout because I spend an hour and a half or more in the car each day)

*finish a week long supported tour across Oklahoma (last year I gave up and went home after 1.5 days)

*lose some weight and increase my flexibility (especially in my hip flexors)

[jesvetmed]

Here's what I hope to do:
1) Two olympic triathlons (and actually be able to finish the run running!)
Lake Padden and Coeur d'Alene
2) Ride my first 50 miler on the road
3) Get a little more into Mountain Biking (buying a new bike will help :rolleyes:)
4) More consistent yoga to help stay injury-free and get a strong core.
5) Continue boot camp in order to stay strong
6) Run a half marathon -- probably later in the fall
7) The Breast Cancer 3-Day in October -- my 4th! Going to San Francisco for this one :D
8) Drink more water, eat less sugar.
9) All of the above SHOULD result in some weight loss, no?

[Veronica]

I had an epiphany riding up Mt Diablo on New Year's Day - ultra distance cycling really isn't that enjoyable anymore. I love the fitness level I have right now because I can do that ride and enjoy it, talk to people, sing out loud, look at the scenery...

My goal this year is to do what I enjoy doing. There are two triathlons I plan on doing - Auburn, an Olympic distance and Barb's Race, HIM distance. I'll fit in some local races around the other stuff I'm doing probably. I really enjoyed doing the triathlons last year.

I'd like to do Tour de Blast in June. Otherwise probably no organized rides. We both get frustrated by poor bicyclist behavior at events and we can often do the same ride on our own.

Thom's 25th HS reunion is this year and we'd like to go. We went to the same HS. He was a year ahead of me, so we know the same people. We had a great time at my 20th a few years ago. We're going to tie in a tour with that trip, probably Vermont. Thom's parents have now retired and are willing to do SAG anywhere we'd like to ride. :D In general I want to do more touring, that includes places nearby. There sure a lot of places to see in this world.

My goals are to keep my fitness level, get on my mountain bike some, improve my running and enjoy what I am doing.

Veronica

[Crankin]

I hesitate to set goals, since I never know how I am going to feel and sometimes setting the goal just puts to much pressure on me.
So, generally, here are my goals:
. ride at least as much as I did this year on my road bike (2550 miles)
. get on my mountain bike more than twice
. continue using my Jamis for errands and commuting to the train in the warmer weather, starting in March
. do yoga or core stuff at least 2 days a week all year round
. weight training. This is always the first to go
. more longer rides. I could have easily done 3,000 miles this year if some of my 30 mile rides had been 50 miles

[makbike]

For the first time in several years I have not written a single goal for 2009. I think the miles/time I logged in 2008 caused a bit of burnout so I decided to leave the paper blank this year. Whatever happens, happens. I plan on riding but I don't think I'll log the big numbers this season. My priorities have shifted and all for the better. Time to explore other interests. I simply want to have fun and enjoy my time on my bike.

[Trekhawk]

Hmm this thread has really got me thinking about the year to come. I only have a few goals for cycling this year but here they are:
1. Ride more than I did last year.
2. Cycle more with my husband.
3. Get my parents to look after our kids for a few days so my husband and I can ride and camp a few sections of the Munda Biddi Trail.
http://mundabiddi.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=35

[NoNo]

I only have a few goals this year, I'm not one for resolutions, but it's nice to have something to shoot for.

- Continue paying off my debts (paid off several major debts this year:D )
- Do my first century (maybe in Jersey where it's nice and flat)
- Do at least 1000 road miles (I'm not counting anything on the trainer)
- Bike to work as much as possible come springtime

[RoadRaven]

Good thread to have... have been watching with interest and reading each addition.

I have already laid out my racing goals in a thread in the forum... so don't need to detail those again...

But when I read Trekhawk's (hi Trek!!! :D ) post/goals I thought "SNAP!"

In a nutshell, that's pretty much what I want to do

1. Ride more than I did last year (6000kms would be great, but I am shooting for a minimum of 5700km on the road/outside)

2. Cycle more with my husband (over 40 rides in 2008, gotta be able to better that this year, right?)

3. Win some events in my age group (not including the events I win because only one or two of us enter :p )

[Aggie_Ama]

I plan on riding but I don't think I'll log the big numbers this season. My priorities have shifted and all for the better. Time to explore other interests. I simply want to have fun and enjoy my time on my bike.

M- This is how I was last year. That is why I left my own plans broad again for 2009. I want to ride when I want to ride and not when I don't. We really started to take an interest in hiking as well and I told DH that is what I want to do for my birthday next month- camp and hike. I find long road riding to be restrictive on time and while I still love it I find it hard to put a goal to it.
Some days I only want to give my bike a couple of hours and that is OK.

[ny biker]

- 70-mile Livestrong Challenge in Philadelphia in August.
- maintain my current weight (I lost 10 lbs last year).
- find a way to not get annoyed at all the jerks out there on the road (the ones on bikes as well as the ones in cars and trucks).
- find a new 20-25 mile training route that I can do by myself without having to worry about being stranded miles away from home if I have a mechanical problem.

[bmccasland]

After reading some lofty goals, I feel small and humble. I want to ride more. That's it. Just more. My new doc seems to be the "take a pill" for it type, and I don't want to up the dose of my no-migraine daily meds, I like the fresh air and sunshine therapy variety.

I need someone to motivate me to stuff the bike in the car, so I will ride the levee after work a few days per week.

I'd like to ride the MS tour this year. I feel like such a slacker for missing it last year.

And I want to try to ride my townie to do more local errands - it is more fun than driving.

[maillotpois]

I really truly want to not break anything or have a major illness this year. Please, just let me get through one year without a broken bone or blood clots in my lungs or a$$ thetans. :p

Beyond that, I'm planning another year coaching the Death Ride - we should have a GREAT team this year. I will probably do a few doubles, and may give DMD another shot. I also want to improve my power levels and my power/weight ratio.

Again, assuming I don't get leprosy, cataracts or break my pelvis. :rolleyes:

[gnat23]

Hang out with the ladies more often
Get outta debt
Waste less time on the internet
Touch my toes
Be fabulous!
Get my Deathride pin, thus the subgoals:
Know thyself
Bike up Hamilton and Diabolo
Eat more like an athlete*
Try racing at least once
Ride more miles (3553 mi) or hours (257h) than I did in 2008.


* Not counting the Michael Phelps diet plan

[Fredwina]

Like Veronica, I got a bit burned out by Ultra riding.
Planning on spending some more time with my "Real life " buddies
Goals>
get a recumbent - see if I like it.
Centuries - probably Palm Springs and Ride around the Bear, maybe March Solvang, and the Rally thing in Paso Robles.
brevet - possibly the 200k in utah(all of the local 200ok happen when I'm on the DL)
after that, enjoy myself...:)

[GLC1968]

I hardly rode at all in 2008 (at least, in comparison to the previous years)...so my goals for 2009 are simple.

1) ride 2009 miles

2) commute to work by bike as much as possible (how's that for wishy-washy goal setting? :p)

I really would like to join some groups and do some organized rides in my area, but being 100% honest with myself, I have to accept that cycling is no longer my first priority. If I can schedule a ride or two, great...if not, I'm not going to beat myself up about it this year. I will ride when I can and appreciate every mile I get to spend in the saddle (even if pain is involved!).

[jobob]

I got sick & tired of being the last one up the climbs so I took drastic measures.

This year is All About the Death Ride. :D

I'll be following coach maillotpois' TNT training program (god help her) and with a bit of luck & a lot of work I'll finish all five passes of that sucker. :cool:

After that, who knows. Crater Lake would be nice again.

[GraysonKelly]

Good Thread! It made me think about what I want this year.
1. Ride to work and everywhere else (rain or shine) within reason
2. Work to get my hospital to be more bicycle friendly
3. Learn to mountain bike
4. By Fall, be able to ride 70 miles at least 2 days in a row and 30-50 miles 4 times a week
5. Get involved with cycling groups both road and mountain biking to meet people and learn more
6. Possibly start running if my knee will take it. If not, find another activity to cross train

[redrhodie]

I've given this some thought, and decided it best to make very reasonable goals that even I (SLACKER QUEEN) can meet.

Every day I don't ride, I will do core exercises, and walk at least to the grocery store.

[ny biker]

3. Learn to mountain bike

This video might be worth a look for anyone who wants to get into mountain biking.

http://www.wildflowermtb.com/

[Aggie_Ama]

I got sick & tired of being the last one up the climbs so I took drastic measures.

This year is All About the Death Ride. :D

I'll be following coach maillotpois' TNT training program (god help her) and with a bit of luck & a lot of work I'll finish all five passes of that sucker. :cool:

After that, who knows. Crater Lake would be nice again.

You don't have any goals for less bruising on the dirt? I have one you would be proud of after my first endo yesterday. Big purple bruise on my thigh, it is even the swollen variety!

[jobob]

Sweeeet! :cool:

Mine have finally faded away. Except for one last little lump, that'll probably be there as a reminder for some time. :p

[mauisher]

Ride my old bike across the USA!!

[smilingcat]

2009 goal?? more of a plan.

Geeze with so many of you thinking about the death ride and the sign up is once again first come first serve basis, do I have any excuse to not sign up? Jan. 14 10:00AM PST. could do that. hmm besides, for me it would be almost 20 years since I last did the ride. If you haven't done it, it is absolutely gorgeous. Freeze your bum out of turtle rock going downhill. Come to a fork turn left and go over monitor. after about 1000 feet of climb, you'll be greeted with first encouragement sign on the road. A skull and bone with "having fun yet?"... Its a pretty ride. I still like Ebetts pass the best. hmm since I haven't gone down the back side of Ebetts. maybe I should try :D :D Maybe I can get lost in Makrleeville and dump carson :(

Would like to do the Cinderella ride again. This time I hope not to be sick so I can comfortably finish the century. Didn't even try last year.

Breathless in Agony is a fun ride. signup is Jan 12 at 8:00AM. Haven't done that in like 9 or 10 years. ride date is May 2.

Follow that by Canejo ride, its always a fun ride on that one. May 9.

hmm Fredwina was talking abuot ride around the bear. June 6 registration opens on Mar. 1 at 7:00AM. Another lovely ride. Love the downhill from Onyx summit. Oh there was one whoopdy doo hill before the long descent where you can hit 100km/hr. The lunch after ride was pretty nice.

can't find Climb the kaiser ride. Guess need to contact Fresno cycling club and find out if they plan to have the ride. This, I think its tougher than the death ride. Should be at the end of June.

Oh another really pretty ride is Sierra Classic. Does anyone know which club is sponsoring this ride? It is in the gold country of high sierra. I would like to do this ride again. You ride along sutter creek and watch men panning for gold... I loved the ride. Stopped at a winery toward the end and got well... not quite. rode safely and sober to the finish.

plan right now is to get up to 2500 feet of climb per ride by Jan 10 (this weekend) and be able to climb 5000 feet per ride by Jan 31 and cover 60+ miles. This is a reasonable goal for me. By mid February, I would like to be logging 150+ miles and 5000 feet of climb per week. Though I'm much older, I think I still can. :rolleyes:

Well like I tell the boyz at work. Talk is cheap. SHOW ME THE MONEY!! So I guess I will make this happen provided I do not get sick or yada yada yada...

[kiwi girl]

Ride 2009 miles - not counting commuting/errands
do the Graperide (101 km)
a couple of cycling holidays with my partner (probably the Otago Rail Trail again and the Great Victorian Bicycle Ride)
get back in running shape - maybe to the stage where I could do a half marathon
Lose 5 kg
Cut back on alcohol Monday - Thursday

[ClockworkOrange]

For me my main plan is to ensure I ride at least 25 miles during the week before work (although I don't start until 12.45 pm).

It is not much for most of you guys but I find fitting it in, between doing all the boring stuff, is not always easy.

I don't work Mondays, so yesterday was a good start, 12 miles AND we had a couple of flakes of snow.


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1075/3171397157_e4328fdde9.jpg......this will be heaving in the summer


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1005/3171397143_bc1b9d7d7d.jpg
.........lovely empty beaches

I rode from my place down to the seafront and all along to *Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth that they have just rebuilt, brilliant, hardly anybody else around.

Plan to go out shortly and it is -6, then to work and thaw out!

Like somebody else mentioned, providing I can stay healthy and away from injuries, I will be a happy bunny.

Clock


* Surf Reef at Boscombe Pier, Europes first Artificial surfing reef ...
The Boscombe pier reef would be double sided reef with a left hander of about 90 metres and a right hander of about a 100 metres

[GraysonKelly]

This video might be worth a look for anyone who wants to get into mountain biking.

http://www.wildflowermtb.com/
There's a women's specific camp listed on this site!! Holy cow! Thanks, NY Biker...you just made my day. Now, if I can afford it in June then I'll be really happy.
Gray

[Trekhawk]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1075/3171397157_e4328fdde9.jpg......this will be heaving in the summer


Clock


* Surf Reef at Boscombe Pier, Europes first Artificial surfing reef ...
The Boscombe pier reef would be double sided reef with a left hander of about 90 metres and a right hander of about a 100 metres


What a great pier.
Love the pics.:)

[melissam]

My cycling goal for 2009 is a big one: Have more miles ridden than dollars spent on cycling expenses.

2008 was going so well in this regard -- I was racking up serious miles training for the AIDS/Lifecycle. Then I decided to get the custom crankset. Then I saw that used Merlin in my size on craigslist. Then I discovered wool. Oy. :o

[Bike Potato]

1 - ride the 25 mile Fat Tire course at Elephant Rock with my 11 yo son in June.

2 - ride to the north end of Roller Coaster Road without stopping to recover.
The road I live on is a direct side street to Roller Coaster and I see people doing it on their bikes all the time. I should OWN that road, but alas, I've been very intimidated by it and the few times I've tried it, I have to stop to catch my breath at least a couple of times.
Here's a picture of Roller Coaster. You can't really see all the dips from this picture, but you get the idea....
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/3182971309_275ee0008c.jpg?v=0


3 - take my son skiing. I don't love skiing enough to do the 6 hour round trip very often (less than once a year), but I should at least take my son and make sure he knows how to ski. I'm strictly a whimpy green trail skiier. :rolleyes:

4 - ride my 1st century. Preferable someplace FLAT, like Phoenix, that doesn't have any roads named ROLLER COASTER.

5 - ride a "Bike Vermont" ride or something similar in/near New England in the fall if I can get a decently priced plane ticket. I've always wanted to see New England in the fall, I think it would be awesome to see it from my bike!

6 - ride to work at least once per week when the weather gets better.

[keepclimbing]

My overall goal is to ride everywhere I go unless it's absolutely impossible, in addition to a 50+mile ride each weekend. I want to average 100 miles per week. (So far this year I'm averaging 70 miles...will increase substantially when the weather improves!)

I am also making plans to ride the whole KATY trail across Missouri this summer.

[redrhodie]

I've given this some thought, and decided it best to make very reasonable goals that even I (SLACKER QUEEN) can meet.

Every day I don't ride, I will do core exercises, and walk at least to the grocery store.

So much for that! I've already not met this goal. I have, however, been riding a lot, so it's okay when a day off is a day off.

I want to add a new goal, and this is long-term. I want/hope to keep cycling part of my life for life. What I mean is, I want to be the 90 year old featured in the human interest article in 48 years, still riding her bike. I think the main way to meet this goal is to avoid injury, keep it fun, and make riding routine.

I wonder if this is attainable? I guess luck will have a lot to do with it. I'll keep you posted...

[gingerale]

My main goal is to improve on out of the saddle hill climbing. There is a 1 mile 10% grade hill near my home. I was not able to climb it last year without stopping at least twice to catch my breath. By July, I would like to be able to get up that bad boy without having to stop and being more fluid in my climbing.

[Aggie_Ama]

I was thinking this weekend about my plans mainly fitness related for 2009. This year I did not plan a distance on the bike because it is too restrictive. What are yours?

Mine include:
Ride Charity rides whenever close. DH works a lot of Saturdays so close is key since I will be solo.
Get more comfortable on the Mountain bike with possibility of racing an easy race in the fall.
Build on running with possibility of doing a 1/2 marathon in the fall.
Work on core with my new balance ball to lean up.


So revisiting my list:
1. Haven't found rides yet but there has been only one or two so far. I haven't gotten in many road miles because I am a wind weenie.
2. This is going okay but slowly as expected.
3. Well fast forward Ama and put the half in the Spring. Hold on tight!
4. Ugh. I wish I could get myself fully dedicated to this. I like the ball but have only done it a few times since the first of the year. :(

[kacie tri-ing]

Ride my bike in a half ironman, then ride it across the country! I can't really think past those two things!

[tulip]

I want to ride daily, even if it's just around the neighborhood. It's been so cold that I have not done that. I also want to do at least one long ride every weekend with my local club.

As for organized rides, I have planned these:

a week in Arizona in March, 50-70 miles per day :eek:
Cycle Zydeco in April :)
Tour de Chesapeake in May
Bike Virginia (5 days) in June
a week at the beach with my family and my bike in July
no fall rides planned--just riding. I had planned on going to Italy, but have decided to postpone that until 2010.

Pilates 4x per week, restart the pushups.

[Serendipity]

This is a great thread. Find that I have better motivation if I've set goals. These are all over the place....

1. log 1000 commute-to-work km this year (Apr to Oct)
2. train consistently for a 10 mile road race (run) in May and 1/2 marathon at the end of September
3. lose 10-15 pounds
4. to better achieve all of the above, keep away from the red wine, Monday to Thursday......:D
5. most of all, enjoy every day!
Whew!

[Zen]

A metric century with my friend who just got an insulin pump. Now she doesn't have to worry about bonking.
Me, on the other hand...:rolleyes:

[polly4711]

1. Finish the MS 150 in April
2. Continue getting heatlhy
3. Do the Hotter Than Hell race in august... don't know if i'll do the century ride though
4. Be ballsy enough to go on group rides on the weekends from my LBS (my first and only one that I've ever gone on... i bonked horribly. By the time that I made it back to the LBS, almost everyone had already gone)
5. Maybe complete my master's thesis...

[Aquila]

Wow, Bike Potato, that's a lovely road! I'll look forward to hearing that you've done it!

I signed up for a tour of Yellowstone in June, so I want to be ready for that and in shape enough to really enjoy it. (The in shape thing is an issue: it snowed today, and usually snows here into April.)

2000 miles this year, I hope, with a lot of fun involved.

[fidlfreek]

Ok so you ladies are inspiring! And Polly I was just thinking about the MS 150 in April. Are you riding w/ a team? I'm also in North Texas....

Ok. So, my goals are to
1) Sell my Bianchi so I can buy a tri bike
2) Finish 2 Olympic (or close) distance triathlons in July
3) Finish the Prairie Man AquaBike in September. Basically a 1/2 Ironman minus the run.

Anybody have ideas on base training? Especially the swim? I get SO bored in the pool....