What is your goal for 2006?

[KatieBelle]

I love this thread! My goals for 2006:

1) Finish the MS150
2) Ride more
3) Run the Disneyland 1/2 marathon
4) Train for the Disney World marathon (going for 26.2)

[newfsmith]

After a very mixed year in 2005 when my mileage has taken serious hits due to injury, family responsibilities and work requirements; I'm nervous about setting goals that I might not be able to keep. Here they are anyway:

1. A winter century, which I have never done. Hopefully on Jan.1.

2. Both days of the Pan-Mass Challenge, which will require raising a
thousand dollars more than I did this year.

3. Turn the Pan-Mass into a Trans-Mass, and start the Friday morning
from Stockbridge, MA and ride to the Sturbridge, MA start of the
PMC, then continue on to Bourne and Provincetown. That would make
it roughly a 270 mile, 3 day ride.

4. Complete the seat mounted hydration system I'm working on. If speed
is not a concern, it should be doable for much less than the NeverReach
system.

[rn2binca]

Ok so these are more than just fitness:

#1 (and this is top priority): Graduate from my ADN (RN) program in May
#2 Pass the NCLEX
#3 Do the above and begin a fitness, bike riding, gym going program. I have the bike, helmet, clothing, just need to get my new/used bike fitted to me so it's comfortable.
#4 Use the fitness/bike riding to decrease the tremendous amount of stress in my life and increase my physical well-being.
#5 Laugh more with my children and spend more time with my husband
#6 Realize there is more to life than hard work and the hard work feels better when there is more enjoyment of life.

Tracy
(I sure did need to read this subject today, I needed a pick me up)

[Crankin]

Like newsmith, I am afraid of setting a goal, because I didn't make mine this year, due to no other reason than laziness. My goal was 2500 miles, which I though was a stretch for me, since the year before I only did 1795. I am at 2375 and with snow on the ground and a temperature of 28, my riding season is over. Some have said to count my spin class miles (roughly one hour equals 15 miles?) since October, but I think that is cheating. I certainly haven't stopped exercising, but looking at some of these goals (ultra endurance or even triathalons), I feel like a wimp. I am in shape and look fine, but I just can't seem to do more than I do. That said, I would like to try the 2500 mile goal again and perhaps pass it a bit. Definitely do a century. I rode 70 miles a couple of times the year before this, but didn't do many 50 mile rides this year. I also would like to do a longer charity ride, but i am not ready for the Pan Mass, mostly because I don't want to beg people for the $ 3000! But secretly,I would like to do it someday.

[bikerchick68]

Like newsmith, I am afraid of setting a goal, because I didn't make mine this year, due to no other reason than laziness. My goal was 2500 miles, which I though was a stretch for me, since the year before I only did 1795. I am at 2375 and with snow on the ground and a temperature of 28, my riding season is over.

I feel like a wimp.

Robyn... your goal should be reasonable for YOU! Good lord, I read some of the goals of the other women here and I KNOW there is NO WAY I could keep up! For my first 3 years of riding my goal for the following year was to ride ONE MILE more than the year prior! First year, 700 miles... goal for second year was 701 miles!

You are SO not a wimp! Anyone who rides 2375 miles in a year should be VERY proud of that... I know a whole lotta people who won't even consider dusting their old bike off and riding to the coffee shop! My personal opinion (not that you asked... hey isn't cyber space GREAT? ) is that YOU are a kick azz rider!!!


allabouteva... LOL yep, all in one day. It sounds MUCH more difficult than it is... I truly, truly believe that anything above 50 miles in a day is MENTAL! The hardest part after 50 miles is believing that you can do it! Corsair is right on... time is the biggest issue. My avg century is 6 1/2 to 7 hours ride time... I'm slow, but I always finish!

[Trekhawk]

The hardest part after 50 miles is believing that you can do it! Corsair is right on... time is the biggest issue. My avg century is 6 1/2 to 7 hours ride time... I'm slow, but I always finish!

bikerchick68 - I dont think 6 1/2 or 7 hours is slow. If I get to do a century next year I will post the time and then you will know slow. Looking at my current averages Im thinking if I can do a century in around 8 to 8 1/2 I will be happy. Mind I would be happy just to finish one even if everyone else had already gone home.

[MomOnBike]

Gosh, is it goals time already? OK, here are mine (subject to change without notice, duh.)

1) Finish the ride I started last year. I thought that ending in Sioux City was fine and that I was OK with it. It's not. I'm not. I have to finish. Sioux City to Lincoln, here I come. At least now, my daily mileage planning will be more in line with reality.

2) DH and I are going to ride the Katy Trail (most of the way across Missouri, no hills to speak of) and play tourist to a fare-thee-well. This one will NOT be about raw mileage, but being a couple. I'm really looking forward to it.

3) Increase my mileage goal by a thousand miles (again) this year. I hit 2005 (this year's goal) in August and promptly lost all motivation. So. 3000 miles it is - unless I decide on a virtual RAAM - what ever that mileage will be in 2006. The two tours I'm planning (which are NOT about mileage) will help no end with this. Hey, did I claim to be consistant?

4) Um, do something about my core strength. Pilates, yoga, weights, magic, something. The 'bent and the desk job are not kind to the shape of my middle.

[AllezGirl]

2) DH and I are going to ride the Katy Trail (most of the way across Missouri, no hills to speak of) and play tourist to a fare-thee-well. This one will NOT be about raw mileage, but being a couple. I'm really looking forward to it.


I love the Katy Trail...I grew up in MO and went to collage at Mizzou (no Huskers football comments, please!) and used to ride my MTB on it quite a bit. Are you doing the ride in June that goes from end to end, or going it alone?

[luv'nAustin]

Wow, I am so inspired by everyone and their goals for next year! What an honor it is to hang out in cyber space with all of you! Good luck to all....be strong and ride on!

Karri

[allabouteva]

Newbie here. Do you do the century in one go? Does this literally mean 100 miles without stopping?!!! Gosh!!! I live in Australia, and we talk in km, and I take my hats to ALL of you I've still yet to do 50 km which would be a great goal for me for about March.

I'd like to do the Sydney to 'Gong ride which is about 80 kms by late next year!

[mtbdarby]

I love reading all these - great motivation and energy here!

1) to count my mileage, lol
2) complete a century
3) complete a 12 hour solo endurance mtb race
4) teach my 3 yo to ride a bike
5) learn bike maintanence and

HAVE FUN!!!

[AllezGirl]

* a century a month from March to November
* at least 2,000 miles for 2006, logged on bikejournal.com
* increase average speed from 15 MPH to 17 MPH
* double century in August

All of these are very obtainable goals for me. The hardest being the double, but even with that, I'm being "mentored" by a friend who is a randoneer. Our training program starts this month, so I feel pretty confidant that I can do it. I too have enjoyed reading everyone's goals...perhaps a sticky could be placed on this thread so we can all check in with our progress throughout the year?

[Trekhawk]

Newbie here. Do you do the century in one go? Does this literally mean 100 miles without stopping?!!! Gosh!!! I live in Australia, and we talk in km, and I take my hats to ALL of you I've still yet to do 50 km which would be a great goal for me for about March.

I'd like to do the Sydney to 'Gong ride which is about 80 kms by late next year!

Hey allabouteva - I use to live about an hour or so south of the Gong before moving to the USA. The Sydney to Gong ride would be beautiful so good luck with that and I would love to hear all about it after.

[CorsairMac]

Newbie here. Do you do the century in one go? Does this literally mean 100 miles without stopping?!!! Gosh!!! I live in Australia, and we talk in km, and I take my hats to ALL of you I've still yet to do 50 km which would be a great goal for me for about March.

ROFLMAO - well yes! Sorry hun, your line just cracked me up!! I did my first 1/2 century in May, did my first metric century the following week and my first full century the third week. What I learned was: it isn't the miles, it's the time. How much time do I have to ride today and how far can I go in that time? I'm betting you can do a 50K, I'm betting you can do 62K! You just need to think of the time instead of the miles!

oh...and I did all 4 of my centuries completely self-supported since I live alone and have no one to SAG. If it wasn't for the wonderful ppl both here and on BJ.com I would've Never dreamed I could do it self-supported. Now.......I just need 8 hrs and warm weather!

[RoadRaven]

Good call on a thread, BikerChick... alot of inspiration and motivation to be had from these posts...

Some of you have such huge distance/ride goals... Mary (such an inspiration), SadieKate, Nanci, Shadon, Trek, Luvn'Austin, BlueRider, WaveDancer, Alpine Rabbit, NewfSmith, Allabouteva (Welcome to the board!), MtDarby...

Mileage goals... some with a number attached, sometimes "more than this year" ... Corsair, Makbike, Grog, Tator, Veekcee, Skibum, Snappy, MickChick, KatieBelle, Allez

CindySue, Trek, Bikerz, LateLate, JoBob... goals like me to change shape just a tad more and increase overall fitness...

New bike goals... LOL, Corsiar, tlKiwi, LaughLaugh ... I am still lusting after a De Rosa... although the new Trinity for TT is pretty damn sweet

Enter and/or in races/categories... way to go RunnerGirl, SnowTulip ... or thrash hills... my kinda talk, Googlie...

To be well again... healing hugs for you Karen... no its not too much to ask... day by day...

To get your bikes dirtier... tlKiwi, AMG...

A few with goals like me - get that TT sussed, faster, getting on top of a bigger gear... Traveller

And I must agree with Runner2... have more laugh, less angry... absolutely!


To ride more with our partners, to enter our first races, to ride further and better than we have, to be fitter and stronger... what an awesome thread...

Look out 2006... the girls from TE are coming!

I will join the bike club this year that half my family already belong to...
I will acieve the times I have set myself in 50km races (1hr45min in January race, 1hr40mins in October on a hillier course)
I will be competitive in local races in TTs in my age group
Depending on fitness, I am hoping to enter the regional competition here - East Coast Champs in the TT section...