What is your goal for 2006?

[DeniseGoldberg]

...But I never heard of the Katy Trail. Can anyone explain it. Is it an organized ride or just a nice trail in MO.

Thanks much!

JoAnn

The Katy Trail is an old rail bed that's been revived as a trail for hiking and biking.

For an overview: http://www.katycentral.com/
For info on biking the trail, links to maps, services, etc.: http://www.bikekatytrail.com/

--- Denise

[carback]

1) Ride the switchbacks up Duffy Lakes Road (and then back down. Wheee!)
2) Enter, and finish before the cut off, my first LONG distance mountain bike race (72km, 1200 metres of climbing)
3) Shave 3-5 minutes off my lap times in the 24 Hours of Adrenaline
4) possibly Race another 80km mountain bike race in August (depending on how #2 goes...)
5) rejoin my weekly road riding group come April and not get dropped
6) take off the 8 pounds that I've somehow added. (8 pounds on a 4'11" frame is a lot for me)
7) Meet a lovely guy who doesn't live out of his truck, bathes regularly, lives to be active (including biking of course) and knows how to spell.

[luv'nAustin]

I love these goals! Bikerchick68, how do you come up with the routes and do you ride with a group? I'm hoping to do a century next year as well, but as a new rider, I'll probably want the security of an organized ride.

karri

[MomOnBike]

Denise already posted the links for the Katy - thanks Denise, my bad.

I make no comments on Huskers/Mizzou. I'm really not that interested in college football. This drives my co-workers crazy.

No, I'm not doing an organized ride (except maybe RAGBRAI) in the forseeable future. I prefer my solo/2-person unorganized rides. So, no organized Katy Trail ride for me.

We are planning on starting about where the trail gets interesting and the Amtrak commuter stops (Clinton?), leave the car there, ride to St. Louis (sampling all the offerings along the way), do the Arch thing, and whatever else, in St. Louis, then catch Amtrak back to the car. This is planned for the fall, so I have more than enough time to work out details.

I'm hoping for some wonderful, colorful leaves. *sigh*

[bikerchick68]

Karri... I use a western states ride calender that shows all the rides available out here... plus I do my own routes quite often... the longer I ride, the more people I meet, the more routes I learn! I am a "chatty kathy" type who will talk to anyone who will respond, and hck even those who won't! LOL...

next time you're in your LBS ask them about local routes etc. I know our local Trek Store has maps available of many popular routes for newbies and also for cyclists who are here on vaca and don't know where to ride!

I prefer riding with others, but have ridden alone too... but I have never done a century alone. I planned to ride my first one alone in Jan but no have 5 other people riding with me... all are century virgins! WOOT! It should be a fun day... the best part of riding an organized century IMHO is that you have sags, food and restrooms all pre-planned for you... plus you can jump into a pack and draft as needed as long as ya take a pull too! really helps conserve energy...

and if you get base miles in I'm SURE you can ride a century!!! Just keep riding and log up those miles... keep us posted OK? looking forward to hearing how you're doing too!!!

Here's links of some rides for you...

http://www.bicycletexas.com/houston.htm

http://www.bicycletexas.com/tx_bike_rides.htm

[luv'nAustin]

bikerchick68, thanks for the response and the websites. I'm headed there in a minute to check them out! I did one organized ride last summer with my brother in North Dakota. It was a three day ride and the longest day was only 69 miles. Loved knowing the sag people were on the route! I had a great time and can't wait to try a century next year.
I hope to do the MS 150 with some local friends and if they enjoy that....perhaps they will buy my sales pitch for a century!

[btchance]

Alrighty, my goals are pretty basic since I just started this year, but here it goes:
- Get more riding time in, which should happen since my class schedule is lighter
- Become more confident on the technical portions and trust my own ability, ie not chicken out on doing something I figured out how to do the week before the next time I do the same trail
- Since I'm moving, figure out the trails in the area and find someone to ride with
- at least keep my overall fitness level where it is, if not increase it
- and not freak out over the Boards I have to take in June and of course do well on them
hat's about it. Like I said, pretty basic.

[Crankin]

Thanks, Bikerchic for the encouragement. I just got back from 4 days of nature camp with 120 sixth graders. We had to drive home in a blizzard and a 2.5 hr. drive took 6 hours. There's at least a foot of snow, maybe more. Time for the x-country skis to come out. And the new snow shoes...
While I was putting my gear away, I wistfully looked at my bike shoes.

Robyn

[solobiker]

Hi all, I have not posted in a very long time. Havent ridden much due to back issues. I am trying to strengthen it up so I can do more riding this coming year. I hope to do longer rides including riding over some mountain passes near my home. I also would like to go on a trip or two. Time will tell.

[HipGnosis6]

Wow, y'all.... everybody's goals are great.

My goal for 2006 is to put in 1200 miles - about as many as I would if I was to continue commuting to work, which is a 7 mile round trip, 3-4 days a week. I'm starting school in January and won't be able to take my bike, so I'll have to find/make other time to put in the same mileage.

[crazycanuck]

Dum de dum...Right..goals..

1-To beat our mileage from driving to Melbourne...Meaning I have to do at least 3200km's from jan 1-dec 31s...(ian has done 4200k's this year...)
How am i going to do this...Weeell...i'm going to bike at least 5 times a week...normal distances like i do now...30-50k's...plus our Tri training group rides...

2-To work on logs...pesky as they are, they're on every course the perth mtb does on thier races.

3-to do the perth mtb races in the recreation women's class...just for fun & to push myself...

c

[Technotart]

I want to do at least 2400 miles this year - Jan 02 begins a new riding season - my trainer is baited and waiting in the hall!

[pkq]

No motivation to set goals right now. I'm contented being lazy, lazy, lazy.

I want to join the racing team in the area but the team captain is ignoring my two e-mails on the subject. Don't know what to think about that but am certainly giving him the benefit of the doubt. I'd even like to hook up with the women on the team just to get to know them and get plugged into their routine. No such luck it seems.

Heck, I've even let him know I am new to the area so a little help would be very much appreciated.

I won't bother him any more. He is being rude.

[Veronica]

Well that's just wrong. Although maybe the guy is on vacation, or had surgery or something.

My goal is to not whine at my coach when he tells me to do something I'd rather not do.

V.

[kiwi girl]

• Do 'long bays' without walking
• do another Australian 'big ride'
• ride 3228.34 km (2006 miles) not counting commuting