How's your cycling year been...

[Aperitif]

Riding into Paris from Dieppe, with young Andy iLB, and spending the weekend absorbing the result in various bars, along with an introductory course in frogs legs, escargots and a couple of my old friends.
Getting wet riding from London to Cardiff...and missing the start of the night ride to Swansea...mumble mumble..
User10571's intro to Fatboy's Diner, and a few sorties at Look Mum No Andys.
Plenty of disheartening, boring crap and a few offs, some car induced. Most notable off was a very large lady walking into my back wheel (yes, I was 'balancing' on my work bike) and sending me flying...When I got up, she looked as though she had been shot by an elephant gun.
Most of all, I just took it easy and chugged along for a core 150 per week + whatever at weekends; and it never ceases to amaze me how ranting cyclists can concentrate on the job in hand(s).
Season's Greetings.

 

[RWright]

Had a rough start. Two days into getting back into riding the first of August I decided to have my blood pressure checked, sky high, Dr. keeps me off bike for two weeks (he wanted to put me in the hospital, I said no way) All this just after I set my mileage goal.

Since then it has been great. I will miss my miles goal for the year but I have lost 1.78571 stone...we don't use that measurement here so I got to use the google converter again . My BP is down to somewhere approaching normal and they tell me my cholesterol is good. My weight loss has slowed but I will start working on it more, I think one of the medications I just got off of was hampering my progress. I just bought a new bathroom scale tonight so I am going to get serious about it.

My rides are normally about 10 to 15 miles after work. I hope to get some longer weekend rides in during the the next year. At this stage for me speed is not a major objective but I now have a Garmin so that will probably change.. a little...maybe. January weather worries me a little starting out the new year. I have been buying some cold weather gear so hopefully I cope with it ok. After mid Feb things usually get nice quickly but you never know.

I do know that I am looking forward to next year and the second part of this past year has been great cycling, if only for the health benefits,but I do enjoy riding just for the pleasure of it as well.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Bit of of poor year really, house building, moving (twice), new job, etc., etc. all made it not so easy. Did see our boys Wiggins, Cav, et al in Ilkeston on the tour which was great, albeit brief. Should be a better year next year.

 

[Drago]

Not bad overall. More commuting, finished the training for my level 5 ticket (so I can train others to Instructor level), just waiting for the man from MIAS to set a date to assess me. Bought a drop barred road bike to keep the MTBs company in the shed so had the opportunity to mix it with the WWWs, which has been an eye opener (BTW, where have they all gone now its cold and wet?) I think 2012 will be remembered as the year I got into Endo and to a lesser extent Strava.

 

[Trickedem]

My best cycling year ever. I've managed 19 centuries so far this year, several of them with fellow cycle chatters. I also did my first full season of Audax and completed a SR series, although I have yet to grow a beard, wear spd sandals or buy a Carradice bag. Despite this not being the best summer I managed to ride to both Paris and Edinburgh in the sunshine. I have so many good memories, but I think the most enjoyable was the ride to watch the Olympic Road Race. A long day's riding in the company of Ianrauk, User10571 and Mark Grant, with perfect weather and a wonderful atmosphere. I am looking forward to more of the same in 2013 and I really hope the world doesn't end today.

 

[defy-one]

A 1/2 year of riding for me ..... it has given me a new perspective on cycling,my health and weight!
Goals for 2013 ...
Keep riding
Do a metric century
London to Brighton
Sunday London ride
Sportives
Lose another stone to keep the other 2 company wherever they are

 

[Fnaar]

I'm faster than I was last year, and more of my rides have been in the 50mile+ category than ever before, but I have actually covered fewer miles than last year. Last year I managed 3500+, this year I'm about 1,000 miles down on that figure.

 

[Scruffmonster]

not bad. Quite good, actually

Has there ever been (or been any talk of) a daytime ride to the coast? I love night riding and it's obviously amazingly convenient on a Friday night, but a summertime 6am start with a warmish swim at the end would be splendid.

 

[Ron-da-Valli]

It's been a good year for me. Managed my first 300km Audax ( Mike Wigley's Full Monty in August), and ridden new audax & CTC rides in new areas, with new cycling buddies. All which of which led to my 2nd target ( the 300km was my 1st) of a top ten finish in the CTC tourist competition ( ninth overall). Just a bit short of my 3000 mile target which I am unlikely to meet due to a dodgy cough. The OH has banned me from venturing out awheel until it's completely gone!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

 

[Kiwiavenger]

im gonna be 600 miles short of my target of 3000 miles, i have a niggling problem with my right knee but am loving my commute again! i need to stretch my route out but 20 miles gives me an ache and 30 miles is almost unbearable pain!! im attempting to persuade the wife to let me get a bike fit so my charity plans for next year dont suffer (80 mile ride around our cornwall offices in one working day) but still.

heres looking forward to the next years cycling!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Mines mostly been good. I've had some memorable rides but have been rained on far more frequently than in any previous year.

Stand out rides include the day spent chasing the Olympic flame around my area, riding the Mercian Way from Bridgnorth to Bewdley with Gavgav and my brother and the selection of good rides we did starting from Coniston during the alleged summer.

Edit: I forgot to include climbing Asterton Bank for the first time. How could I leave that one out.

I didn't set an actual mileage target but had expected to do around 3000 miles over the year. I shall be short by about 400 miles which is down to the number of wet days and not doing the bigger rides I had in mind.

 

[gavgav]

Been a good year of cycling for me, with new Cube bike helping entice me out more often. Reckon I have done approx 500 miles which is decent enough for me. Would have got out more if the blessed would have let up a bit!!

Stand out rides for me are those done in the Lake District on holiday in July (mostly for a good reason, but also a bad reason when my friend came off his bike at 20mph!!) and also 2 days of cycling in our glorious 2 day summer which took place in early September.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If anyone is interested, I've picked out a selection of photo's to illustrate my cycling year. They are here and here.

 

[Bradley Biggins]

Managed to complete my first full-year 5,000 miles target, but it needed a late effort to claw back mileage lost to bad weather.

Social cycled mostly, but also plenty of hours pedalling alone.

Thankfully, no accidents and only one embarrassing cleat induced tumble.

No longer a maintenance Luddite, my bike is just how I want it and I’m loving every minute being fitter and out in the fresh air.

Highlight of 2012 was a top 50 finish in my age group at the Great Manchester Cycle event.

A great 2012 – and looking forward to wider challenges in 2013.

 

[gavgav]

If anyone is interested, I've picked out a selection of photo's to illustrate my cycling year. They are here and here.

The amount of water on show is very apt for this year!!