2013 Riding Goals

[colorisnt]

This is a great thread. It's cool to see all of the goals on here.

I have two main ones:
1. to ride a century by the end of the summer/early fall
2. to try out cross before the end of the year.

I also have been trying to bike commute pretty regularly but, unfortunately, it's been kind of a PITA thanks to the awful weather. I never thought I'd rather see heat!

[Crankin]

I don't have very many miles this year, even though I've been riding regularly since March 24th. However, I feel like I'm meeting my goals of doing longer rides this year. Last weekend I rode 90 miles in 2 days. I've also ridden twice with the faster riders of my group. Today, we're doing a 30 mile ride which is hilly, mostly at the end and we are thinking of riding to the start, although I have a feeling that if I do this, I won't be happy at the end. That will turn it into a 50-55 mile ride. On June 9 I am doing a hilly metric and at the end of June we are going to the Berkshires and (finally) doing what our friends call the "Taconic Challenge." Apparently, it's a 7 mile climb with a steady 4% grade, that goes into NY and back to Williamstown.

[Catrin]

Great that you were able to get down there for at least one day Indy, good for you!

I've few miles this year so far compared with the last couple of years, the weather and my increasing dislike of riding in cold temps being the culprit. I also find that I want to maintain much of my current gym work, so I cannot ride every day of the week like I used to. I do want to do a very long ride in September (the Hope ride), and possibly the Hilly Hundred. I've a couple of friends who want me to do it with them. If I can manage the train well enough to face those hills (the ride has that name for a reason), then I will do it.

This year I am intent on making riding fun again, and if that means shorter rides then so be it! I am also determined to make 2013 the year of no cycling related injuries...most of which have been from over-doing things (outside of the mtb accident - that was different)

[Owlie]

Recap:
Ride off-road? Did a little bit, between just tootling around/taking shortcuts and taking the Charge on the mountain bike trails. Not as much as I would have liked, but work, moving and a wet summer sort of killed it.
Rode to school? Once. Realized I hated riding with a backpack.
Riding more with people from work? Yes! We started doing "shop rides" every Sunday before work.
Century? Yes! With people from work. And it was probably one of the more awesome things I've ever done. It wasn't the whole length of the trail, but I've done the whole thing (south of Xenia, anyway) in bits and pieces, and I'll take it.
Ride to work? I could never find a route that I was comfortable with, so no.
Explore more trails: Yes, and no. I rode on one a little to finish off that century, but it was pitch black and right before I left. The other trail that I'd wanted to try this year was closed due to construction.

I was hoping to be able to get 2000 miles in this year, but I don't think that's going to happen unless I somehow manage to do another 1000 between now and the end of the year. :/

[velo]

I'm happy with 2013 so far. It's not over by any means, but I've met my goals and exceeded them. Learned a lot and broadened my horizons. Met some goals I didn't even think I was capable of. Rode some challenging rides, will have close to 6,000 miles depending on the weather, and used my car less. Also got to ride with some really special people this year and enjoyed that immensely, as I ride 95% of the time alone on the road. It's been a good year.

[tulip]

Well, I don't recall what my goals are and I'm sure not going to go looking through this thread for them. But I spent two months cycling through Europe and I finally rode my first century. I say that's a pretty good year, and there's still lots of local riding to do.

[smittykitty]

I got better at the hill!!!! Turns out that a positive attitude goes a long way! I started looking for ways to add hills to our rides instead of avoiding them. And with lots of practice and a "Yes I Can" attitude, I really improved.


I was really happy with my riding on our two-day, somewhat hilly ride, the RSVP from Seattle to Vancouver BC. I had two great compliments while climbing a very long hill, one from my adult son: "Mom, you've really gotten better at hills", the other from a gentleman about my age that said "and now I'm being passed by a midget!!!!" (I'm 5'1").

I think I really need to have a "Big" ride planned each year to get me in shape for the season. I've discovered its not so much about the ride, as have a motivator for all the fun training rides! So, we'll see what we come up with for next summer.

And now I have to figure out how to get the rest of the house painted!!! Played too hard all spring and summer and now the rain has arrived! Guess I totally forgot to add homeowner responsibilities to my goal list!

[shootingstar]

Well, the calendar year is not over yet, so to me, cycling is not over. I realize snow will fly soon in our neck of the woods since the temp. have dropped to freezing. But it has been pretty dry this year... I've been cycling daily for the past 5 weeks. Now, don't tell that's not enough cycling...

Sheesh, one thing for certain I didn't know that a local major river flood this summer was going to disrupt a lot of local cyclists' cycling routes/travel patterns. It has been one heck of year with such a major disaster.

But hey, it included cycling from Washington into Vancouver ...which to me is great when I could been housebound in Alberta with floodwaters.

I guess I might have cycled around 3,000 km. so far. I'm not even sure. But have discovered some longer local routes this summer and fall with dearie. I still don't even know my own city very well and I've been here for 3 yrs.

One thing for certain, my body has become acclimatized a bit more to cool dry temp. since I moved to present city. This means I sweat more with same layers of clothing that I normally wear in Vancouver or Ontario.