2013 Cycling Goals

[Andrew_P]

To Cycle 10000+ miles next year
Do more Social/fun cycling.
With a bit kniving plan the Family Holiday to be within striking distance of the Pyrenees.
Resist buying a new bike
Spend less on bike stuff
To still be here to plan for 2014 and knive for maybe the Alps to be within striking distance.

 

[mark c]

To cycle 3000 miles.
to do a tour.

 

[jefmcg]

Oh yes - I forgot about LEL. Here are my updated goals:

1. To ride my bike again!
2. Not die trying.
3. Not get scarily close to dying either!
4. Don't even think about riding LEL 2013!
5. Enjoy reading about other mad people's riders' LEL 2013!

Hope you don't mind, ColinJ, but I'm kind of using your recent experiences to drive this goal. I only heard about LEL recently, and I'm not really in shape for it now, and if it was on more often I'd push it back a year or two. But 2017? Who knows what happen in the next 4 years, so "seize the day".

GWS.

 

[HLaB]

I think my goal is to ride the bike and explore, if anything else comes from it (speed/distance etc), as long as its not an accident/off so beit.

 

[DCLane]

Mine are:

1) Do 3 major sportives; Cheshire Cat Long, Etape du Dales, Wiggle Dragon Ride
2) Get a racing licence Done. That's one 2013 goal completed already
3) Go racing, now I've joined a club and will have done no. 2
4) Complete 2 triathlons (Skipton - sprint, Yorkshire - Olympic).
5) To keep enjoying it ... and not die in the process

 

[Eribiste]

If that's the climb from the Marlbank up towards British Camp past Little Malvern Priory, I know it well.

My middle child uses it as a training climb in good weather as part of a longer circuit.

If it's not that one, I'm not sure where you mean...

The climb in Little Malvern is (in the language of the young people) nails.

However, on the way down it is good for 45+mph if you can hold your nerve on the hard left while building up speed for the long straight. It's not unlike motor racing, where exit speed from a bend determines terminal speed on a straight...

I dare say a 'proper' cyclist could nudge over 50mph down there, but I have courage issues.

Yes, that's the badger. Brought me to a halt on my Pashley Roadster this year, dammit! I've got a lighter bike now though, with a shedload more gears to play with, so I might be in with a chance next time. Maybe.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Yes, that's the badger. Brought me to a halt on my Pashley Roadster this year, dammit! I've got a lighter bike now though, with a shedload more gears to play with, so I might be in with a chance next time. Maybe.

You will do it on a lighter bike... if not at the first attempt then the second or third.

But it is the bastard lovechild of two other bastards as a climb. It smiles at you from about a mile away and looks all shallow and friendly... It only starts to feel steep as you get to the priory and by then you've been sold a dummy.

Once you get to the main road to great malvern, try turning left to British Camp instead. That will make you wish bicycles had never been invented.

Keep at it and enjoy the stunning views.

 

[ColinJ]

Hope you don't mind, ColinJ, but I'm kind of using your recent experiences to drive this goal. I only heard about LEL recently, and I'm not really in shape for it now, and if it was on more often I'd push it back a year or two. But 2017? Who knows what happen in the next 4 years, so "seize the day".

GWS.

Go for it! I've certainly learned the hard way this year not to assume that things can be put off indefinitely. I sent an email to a friend in July saying that my sedentary lifestyle would catch up with me one day and less than 2 weeks later it did - big style!

Ultra long distance is never going to be my thing but I've done three or four rides over 140 miles and I could see myself doing 200 miles one day if I got fit enough to do it in a reasonable time.

 

[Trail Child]

My List:

1. Do at least one local tour or Grand Prix.
2. A yearly total of at least 5000 km.
3. My first +100 km ride.
4. Spectate at my first pro race (either Gatineau, Montreal, or Quebec since they are all close).
5. Whisper goal is to cycle to the American border and back (maybe even *gasp* cross the border).
6. Do more group rides.

 

[snorri]

It looks as if I may only reach 90% of my 2012 target, I'm blaming the poor weather for a shorter than usual summer tour.
Maybe I should set a metric target next year, keep the same numbers and change from miles to kilometres.
Decisions decisions.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Finish building my s/s mountain bike
Avoid riding on the road anymore than I have to (I've had enough of the motons)
Do a 100 mile offroad

 

[Nebulous]

I don't want to think about next year yet! This year's target is still in the balance.

Many of mine have already been said including 50 mph, improving TT pbs, trying road racing - but the elephant in the room is LEL. That is haunting me, like few things ever have.

 

[Eribiste]

You will do it on a lighter bike... if not at the first attempt then the second or third.

But it is the b****** lovechild of two other b******s as a climb. It smiles at you from about a mile away and looks all shallow and friendly... It only starts to feel steep as you get to the priory and by then you've been sold a dummy.

Once you get to the main road to great malvern, try turning left to British Camp instead. That will make you wish bicycles had never been invented.

Keep at it and enjoy the stunning views.

As it happens, that's the way I went, because I had an important appointment with a pint of Daniel Batham's at The Chase Inn, off Jubilee Drive. I did have to work at that climb up to British Camp though, and I confess I had some stern words to say about the matter too. I got up that bit without stopping though (just) so honour was partially served! Talk about rubber legs! Never was good beer so well earned!

 

[Christopher]

Only two: do a big col such as the Tourmalet, Galibier, Mt Ventoux etc. And do a few Audaxes, as I have never done either.

Have done or at least attempted to do everything else in cycling I am interested in... except organise a forum ride.

 

[apb]

Thinking of doing the Edinburgh - St. Andrews ride on my single speed. Not sure if this is such a wise thing to do, still thinking about it.

Other than that keep cycling, stay off the buses. Get my wee man into cycling (more so).