How was your year of Cycling in 2025?

[Ming the Merciless]

Equally good, or equally zero?

As for me... Life got in the way big-style in 2025, so my head wasn't really in it. No forum rides for the first time in over 20 years (counting a couple of years of Cycling Plus/Bike Radar rides before Cyclechat).

I only managed to do 5,435 km (3,378 miles) but that was 95% of my target so in the depressing circumstances it wasn't too shabby. I definitely want/need things to be better in 2026 though!

Never mind mileage, no one cares about that. How did you get on with your challenge to get that climb under 20 mins?

 

[LucretiaMyReflection]

9866km / 6130 miles cycled in 2025, all but 200 outdoors. Previous years it’s probably been around 1000 miles on the trainer. Have been fairly consistent in weekly distance, though just short of my 10k km target. Life got in the way!
5 night rides, 5 centuries including a couple of 200km+ rides, a week‘s tour. For 2026, I’m hoping to travel a bit further afield, if the trains behave themselves to do some more exploring.
Scoping out some possible new routes for potential Fridays rides, I’d like to run a night ride to Cromer for example. Lots to think about!

 

[ColinJ]

Never mind mileage, no one cares about that. How did you get on with your challenge to get that climb under 20 mins?

That's still one of my main cycling goals!

I agree about arbitrary total distance totals, but I think that I need to up my annual average significantly to stand a chance of getting the climb done in 20 minutes.

I managed to take well over 2 minutes off my ('old guy') PB last year on my heavier bike, with sluggish tyres, 'carrying the kitchen sink' (pannier loaded with spares and tools), a drink, and weighing 5-7 kg above my optimum cycling weight. I crunched the numbers... Just by losing the blubber, riding my best bike, and leaving the 'kitchen sink' at home, I could get the 27 m 0 s time down to around 25 m 45 s without any increase in my power output. If I could get comfortable doing the entire climb in a more aero position, that would be nearer 25 m.

So, still a long way to go. At the very least, I would like to achieve a 25 m xx s climb this year. I will update the climb thread with any successes.

 

[robjh]

Awesome year ! I hope your Health and enthusiasm continue in 2026 ✅

Where have you ridden on the East side of the USA ?

My US rides were in and around New York, Boston and Philadelphia on my Brompton on a short trip last February. Lots of urban riding, with just a few trips out of town and maximum distances of about 30 miles. Good fun but seriously chilly at that time of year!

 

[sevenfourate]

My US rides were in and around New York, Boston and Philadelphia on my Brompton on a short trip last February. Lots of urban riding, with just a few trips out of town and maximum distances of about 30 miles. Good fun but seriously chilly at that time of year!

Awesome !

I asked because I’ve spent a fair bit of time in the NYC and greater NY areas. Back in March for 2 weeks and you might have inspired me to hire a bike along the way……

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

That's still one of my main cycling goals!

I agree about arbitrary total distance totals, but I think that I need to up my annual average significantly to stand a chance of getting the climb done in 20 minutes.

Mileage isn't going to be the key factor with your climb, it's training to improve your ~20min W/Kg, plus a rare day with a tailwind up the climb instead of a headwind will help chunks.

Ideally, you should be doing one or two days a week of z4/z5 training. All other days very easy, like z1/2 easy.

Things like warmup using Ultimate warmup by Sir Bradley Wiggins.
https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/30-minutes-to-burn/ultimate-warm-up

Then choose your z4/5 workout type, there's all sorts of variations you could do like over/unders, or for example The Gorby (5x5mins at 110% FTP).
https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/less-than-60-minutes-to-burn/the-gorby

 

[ColinJ]

Mileage isn't going to be the key factor with your climb, it's training to improve your ~20min W/Kg, plus a rare day with a tailwind up the climb instead of a headwind will help chunks.

The wind conditions are very significant up there. I have had headwinds add 20+ minutes to my time!!

I don't want a significant tailwind though. I wouldn't feel any sense of achievement if I had a massive wind helping me.

I will be aiming to do it on a day when the windspeed is low. If I do a decent time I will take photos at the reservoir at the top. The surface gives a very good indication of what the wind is up to.

Ideally, you should be doing one or two days a week of z4/z5 training. All other days very easy, like z1/2 easy.

I agree. The easy rides are where I will do the extra distance. In fact I am about to go and do some zone 2 on the turbo trainer!

Things like warmup using Ultimate warmup by Sir Bradley Wiggins.
https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/30-minutes-to-burn/ultimate-warm-up

Then choose your z4/5 workout type, there's all sorts of variations you could do like over/unders, or for example The Gorby (5x5mins at 110% FTP).
https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/less-than-60-minutes-to-burn/the-gorby

Thanks. I will check those out later.

 

[Bristolian]

My final figures for 2025 have increased a bit since my earlier post.

Happy New Year all

 

[vickster]

Poor cycling wise, 1757 miles (or thereabouts). Weather hasn't been great, arthritic knees also not the best! Working full time is a drag for cycling especially after the clocks go back
But I did at least 33 hours of swimming (all front crawl) plus lots of aqua aerobics classes

 

[taximan]

As a full time carer, my cycling has been severely limited in 2025 But I bought myself a basic trainer and I have been able to give it some wellie. I finished the year with about 500 miles on the road and around 2,000 on the trainer. Its no substitute for the real thing though.

 

[NorthernSky]

for 2025: don't know any figures but I suspect my milage has gone up a bit now i'm cycling with a few guys every other weekend.
a year where the bike gave me lots of problems to sort out. frustrating but satisfying when you fix it and can get out again

 

[Bristolian]

As a full time carer, my cycling has been severely limited in 2025 But I bought myself a basic trainer and I have been able to give it some wellie. I finished the year with about 500 miles on the road and around 2,000 on the trainer. Its no substitute for the real thing though.

I think I have an idea what you're going through @taximan. I'm a full time carer to my wife and she's had a terrible year which seriously reduced the number of times I could get away from the house. I'd been using a basic trainer for some time but found riding indoors to be mind numbingly boring to the point I would rather sit on the sofa than ride it. As a consequence of the lack of activity I put on almost 4kg in weight in 2025 - not good for someone that is over 100kg anyway

I decided I needed to do something to get active again so bought myself a smart trainer for Christmas and am currently checking out the various training platforms in the hope of making indoor riding more interesting. Time will tell if that works out, or not, but I will be back out on the roads any time the caring responsibilities and weather allow

 

[avecReynolds531]