2013 Riding Goals

[Catrin]

I've been thinking about this, and I've decided a few things. One of which is I don't HAVE to ride solo all of the time. It is so very easy to fall into that habit as I can ride out of my apartment to country roads. The problem with THAT is I never really change up my route this way and I start getting bored.

So THIS year I am going to make a decided effort to attend more of the great many (and free) organized rides on the north side of Indy. I've already started making plans. I've a bike rack and I am going to use it for something other than mountain biking in Brown County! Not that the latter is bad, mtb riding is just off my plate at this time. I am resisting the urge to come up with a target number of miles I want to ride this year - targets like that are too easy for me to get a bit overly focused on. Instead, I am going to focus on participating in group rides and just having fun. I have the sneaking suspicion that this will help me increase my overall miles for the year, we will see!

So do you have different goals this year? Any plans to change your approach to riding in general?

[Crankin]

Sigh, on the day I was going to go on my first outdoor ride of the season, but it didn't happen.
Basically, ride more than last year (about 300 miles more) and do more longer (50-100 mile) rides.
Do a century. It doesn't have to be an organized one.
Ride with Hirakukibou on a weekly basis again.
Lead at least one more ride than the 2 I am doing this spring.
And get to at least 5 Wednesday Wheeler rides.

[Owlie]

My two real goals for the year is to try some off-road riding, and ride more with people from work. Any more than that, I can't say, since my knee isn't fully cooperative yet, I have to finish my thesis before July, and there's a cross-country move in late July or early August.

[indysteel]

I'm struggling with this. Last year started with a bang when we did the White Rim Tour in 3 days, but we don't have anything big like that planned. In fact, we're even skipping the Horsey Hundred this year (at least I think we are), and that's the ride that normally gets me in good road biking shape. So, I'm at a bit of a loss. I think DH and I need to identify some event to motivate us; I just don't knwo what it will be.

I definitely want to continue mountain biking, hopefully with a bit less anticipatory anxiety. I'd like to do a few more group/club rides myself, too. But beyond that, I dunno. I'm curious to see if any of the increased fitness I've gained over the winter will translate onto the bike. Frankly, I mostly just want to stick to my current routine and work biking into it rather than the other way around.

[Catrin]

I hear you Indy. I do want to ride, but I don't want to change my other activities too much, though I will drop my Sunday workouts for the season. I guess that I am seeking balance in my activities, and I also want to do some hiking as well this year. Basically, I want to add a more social component to my riding.

Sorry to hear about the Horsey, I know both of you enjoy that ride. If you do skip this year then perhaps that will make it more fresh next year?

[Jolt]

I'd like to do some day-trip rides in other parts of the state, to explore some new places. Maybe even try a weekend tour. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has links to some rides that sound really good, some of which aren't unreasonably far from where I live. I am also hoping to get involved with the rides the local bike co-op does for local kids during the summer, and maybe get some going just for girls (currently our organization doesn't have a girls-only program, but one a few towns over does and it has been pretty successful in getting more girls on bikes which is always a good thing).

[indysteel]

I hear you Indy. I do want to ride, but I don't want to change my other activities too much, though I will drop my Sunday workouts for the season. I guess that I am seeking balance in my activities, and I also want to do some hiking as well this year. Basically, I want to add a more social component to my riding.

Sorry to hear about the Horsey, I know both of you enjoy that ride. If you do skip this year then perhaps that will make it more fresh next year?

Balance is good. Doing what keeps you motivated and having fun is also good. So, just go with what moves you (literally and figuratively)! That's what I'm gong to try to do, but I have to weigh Brian's riding expectations into the mix, too. He and I both have started off the last few seasons with some enthusiasm that quickly waned because of lots of other obligations. I have a feeling that this year will be no different.

We're skipping the Horsey by choice, sort of. I've done it the past six years and some of it has grown kind of tired. Between the drive to and from Georgetown and having to shuttle back and forth between the hotel where we stay in Georgetown and Brian's parents' house about 45 minutes away, it's kind of a tedious trip. But it's also Brian's birthday, so we'll likely have to meet up with the inlaws anyway, so maybe we'll just relent.

[TrekDianna]

My one goal is not to die during Cycle Oregon.

[smittykitty]

My goal is to try to incorporate at least one hill in every ride! Cuz I'm so bad at them!

Who would have thought!

[Miranda]

Mine is to NOT get hurt in any way...and to be healthy enough to ride!

Besides that, it would be nice to be able to finish a century...which is where my epic ride and crash pattern begin about 3.5yrs ago (during my first planned century).

But, that part would be a bonus. Just the health, and happiness of riding would be a blessing.<3

[jusdooit]

I decided early on that I'm not really setting specific goals this year. I'm just going to ride & enjoy myself. I am serving on the board of the local club & leading a weekly ride. I do have organized rides on the calendar, but I refuse to obsess about training this year.

[indysteel]

Yeah, we relented and just made our hotel reservations and signed up for the Horsey. There's a lot to like about the weekend, so we decided to stick with tradition after all.

[Catrin]

Miranda - that is a great goal! That is certainly one of mine this year

Indy - good for you and your DH! Nothing wrong with keeping a tradition.

As for me, I think that I will finally get a century in this year. As I am doing the 24 hours of Booty in Indianapolis, I've decided to have a goal of riding 100 miles in those 24 hours. I don't mean doing all 100 miles at one time. Frankly I don't know that I could be ready for that by late June given last weekend was the first time I've ridden since Christmas. Nope, I think it will be more like ride 25 miles, take a break, ride 25 more, etc. I will be quite happy at riding 100 miles within that 24 hour window and is probably the most realistic way I can accomplish this.

[never2late]

My goal is to ride 3,000 miles this year. It's a big decade birthday year and I've been dreaming for 6 years about what I wanted to do to celebrate this milestone.

I spent 2012 putting my base in, got a new bike (can't remember how to edit my signature, but I have a beautiful Bianchi). I rode the old Schwinn until my dear
husband saw I was serious and then he gifted me with a bike last May. I managed to get just over 2,000 miles for the year. Rode my first century, along with
three other rides earlier in the season, gradually increasing my distance for the September Century.

I now have to work on upper body strength...my least favorite things to do...but necessary.

Congratulations to everyone on your goals for this year, I know we can all encourage here!

till soon,
Susan

[uforgot]

I just need to start riding again. I have neglected it for so long!