Been quite a good year for me cycling wise. I had no real goals to speak of except to stay healthy and keep riding. Though I did keep a promise to myself not to go out just to get miles in. Forcing myself not to go out every weekend but have at least 1 weekend off the bike a month. My mileage goal every year is 10,000 miles. This year will by 7th year in a row of cracking that total and recording it on MyCycleLogs (I am currently just over 11,000 this year).
I said I wouldn't do many Friday Night Rides this year and I kept to that. Though the two rides I did, Whitstable and Shoreham were stonking, brilliant rides. Whether I will do any next year is undecided, but I think I would like to crack the 50 rides completed.
For the 6th year in a row I have completed the Imperial Century a Month Challenge. In fact I have completed 31 Imperial Centuries this year (inc. 1 double Imperial). I need another 3 to make it 200 total. I like to think I will do them this year. But if not, no great shakes.
This year, I had one of the very best cycling experiences ever when myself,
@Trickedem and
@rb58 spent the week in beautiful Andalucia riding a touring loop of some of the most awesome, fantastic mountain road rides one could ever imagine. Including riding up the highest paved road in Europe, the Pica de Valeta at 11,500 feet, a climb of over 30 miles (and a descent of the same). Who would have thought 36,000 feet of climbing in 300 miles would have been so much fun. Damn hard work I admit but such great fun and a wonderful experience.
I'm now 50 years old and this year especially I have noticed that my speed and stamina has dropped compared to previous years. It looks like I peaked a couple of years back. However, the flip side of this was that I did my inaugural CTC Veterans ride for the over 50's. It takes place every 3 years and is a 100 mile ride at a much slower pace then I am used to. Looking at some of the 'real' veterans on the ride. I shouldn't worry about slowing down because if I am riding half as well as some of those guys (70's & 80's) I will be a very happy man. It made me realise that speed isn't everything, just being on a bike enjoying cycling and riding with other like minded people is.
Other minor information that is no good to any one apart from myself.
430 Commuting rides 6,581 miles
30 Rainy commutes
0 commuting riding punctures
54 Leisure rides 4,590 miles
3 Leisure riding punctures
For next year?
More of the same, but to mainly stay fit and healthy, to carry on cycling and to continue to meet more of you excellent Cycle Chatters.
Sorry for the long waffle but you did ask
