How's your cycling year been...

[Sittingduck]

Been ok

Acquired just one bike this year and am in the process of rebuilding one that was previously decomissioned.
Tried a sportive (torrential rain, puncture 5 mins into the ride, missed a turn, got a bit lost...).
Joined a club this year - very good and have done lots of memorable rides with them, already.
Did my first ride outside of Englandshire!
Climbed a proper 'bunch of hills', in the middle of Wales.
Rode down the same hills and took in some spectacular sights (in good company).
Did a TT (ouch).
Transformed from a hill-hater to a mountain goat gorilla.
Became a more confident descender.
Managed to exceed my initial mileage target by some margin.
Stayed relatively injury free and in fair health.
Realised that I'm more competative then I had previously admitted to.
Made some loose plans for targets to hit in 2013

 

[Saluki]

A bit up and a bit down. Currently down because of the weather. I don't mind getting wet once I'm out but I really don't want to go out and ride when its pouring down. Trying to get the OH to get on his bike has been hit and miss and its nice to have the company. Quite often in my 'interests & hobbies' life I have done something on my own and drifted apart from my partner. We decided together to cycle but he is not so keen now, despite having 2 new bikes this year (one road one mtb). I go off and ride, leaving him at home glued to bloody facebook and when he does come out he says that I ride too fast and I get fed up going so slow and for just 3 or 4 miles. I kind of shepherd him around the village block and then go off on my own for another 10 - 12 miles or so. He wants to be fitter but cannot deal with the process of getting fit.

This year I did the Tour of Britain Challenge ride on my Giant and I rode in the Ruff Stuff event on my Specialized, so 2 events so that was good. I have got a couple more thousand miles under my wheels and I striving to get out, when I can in the horrid weather. Should be home by 2pm tomorrow so hoping for a ride. Off until 28th then so plan on getting some riding in and a few more miles done before the end of the year. Alone if I have to.

I will look into joining a club next year, I average about 13mph so too slow for most of them. Also many clubs have big Sunday morning rides and I am busy on Sunday mornings. I will find someone to ride with, I am sure.

 

[srw]

Saluki - you need a tandem.

 

[gbb]

2012 has been abysmal for the most part, but with surprising highlights.
You don't realise how commuting gives you the time on the bike and the mileage, without the need to force yourself out in all weathers, you just do it. Working now 22 miles away has forced me to part drive, part cycle at best, but weather, time (I work ten hour shifts plus up to 2 hours travelling) and nutcase countryside drivers has seen me abandon part commuting till next spring.
Because I work one weekend in three, it takes a lot of desire to get out there, life Is just busy...it's a struggle this year and as a result my fitness has plummeted.
On the plus side, late summer, despite not getting my usual mileage in, I was getting some good average speeds in. I thought perhaps 'less is more' kinda thing. I did used to get tired the amount of commuting and speed I was doing it at a couple years ago...but I was fit.
I kinda feel like a non cycling cyclist at the moment, it's hard work to even kick myself up the ass and get out there.

Just looking forward to next year.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

~1500 miles Frustrating and intermittent due to my hit an run in Oct 11 and an arrogant consultant better at cutting corners than me. Back to see him in the new year to demand he puts my knee right now a long overdue MRI has shown him what I was telling him back in May.

 

[srw]

Talking of which...
New tandem in February, with the excuse of LonJoG coming up.
An unsuccesful tandem attempt at the IoW randonee - saddle trouble.
A successful tandem FNRttC and tour back from Whitstable.
Riding with a forum ride for about half an hour from Wing to Tring.
Organising a forum ride - and rapidly reorganising after discovering that fixies and Buckinghamshire tarmac are not a match made in heaven.
LonJoG on tandem - about which plenty has already been said, and more no doubt will be.
The usual slump after a big tour.
Commuting regularly.

Now.... off to my last office Christmas party on the bike - four miles from here. Colleagues joke that I'll cycle it - and then are genuinely shocked when I say I will.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

My first cycling year ended in October there, my first cycle chat year will end on the 20th of January.
I don't believe now I'm an all weather commuter, go bulk shopping with a bike trailer, know the difference between a drive train and a brake pad ... can indicate!
I'm almost 50, taking up cycling was not a bad way at all to enter middle age: knitting is definitely not for me!

 

[oldfatfool]

Not done enough on the Audax front, still not cracked over 200km in one ride. Not enough social rides due to being a wuss in poor weather. Not committed to a club and still not confident in a chain gang.

On the + side covered around 8,000 miles, and climbed 3 hills over 2000m and the Ventoux.

New bike and lots of plans for 2013 and beyond.

 

[Sandra6]

This has been my first cycling year! And it's been flippin' fantastic! Although technically it started last September with the purchase of the metis, I didn't really fall in love with cycling until the Specialized came to stay in April this year.
I reckon I've cycled a good 1000 miles , which is nothing compared to most of you but I'd be lucky if I'd cycled 100 miles in all my previous years put together!
I'm no longer a fair weather cyclist and I've converted a fair few people along the way. I'm over a stone lighter and a whole lot happier so I'd say it's been a pretty successful first year for me.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Awesome; I've been a saddle fan all my life but this year I switched from crapheap MTB and ancient (but lovely) tourer to a single speed and my first proper 'racer'.

I'm amazed that I've done about 2,500 miles, made loads of new friends and lost a ton of weight.

I also made my CycleChat debut this year, I used to hang out on a forum years ago (www.punknews.co.uk) but it died and it wasn't until I got involved here on this forum that I realised how much I missed being a part of a forum community.

So thank you, all of you.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Miles wise not so good as last year - I am not going to make the 5000 (last year I missed it by 7 miles!). This year 4377 so far, and only a few possible rides left - maybe another 150 miles or so if weather permits. 2 more Coronary Stents at the end of September slowed me down for a few weeks, and the weather recently hasn't helped. Reached state pension age too this year! Next year I'll do the 5000 (plus)

 

[coffeejo]

Hmm. I'm not as fit as I was this time last year and have spent the last few months losing my mojo, finding it, then losing it all over again. On the plus side, I've raised my mileage target three times and - all being well - should easily manage it by year's end.

 

[srw]

Now.... off to my last office Christmas party on the bike - four miles from here. Colleagues joke that I'll cycle it - and then are genuinely shocked when I say I will.

No-one told me that if you go the back way there's a bloody great hill between Guildford and Loseley Park. On the 3-speed Brompton that's a challenge. Still, I made it both ways without mishap, and without pushing.

My boss's secretary was outside having a fag when I left and was very worried about me - she told me it was very dark.

Yes, Jane. That's why this bike has got lights on it.

 

[dellzeqq]

not bad. Quite good, actually

 

[rich p]

Hmmm, probably less mileage than usual due to various limiting factors such as the most beautiful grandson ever (until the second one arrived last week) and voluntary work in my son's new shop.
But I, nevertheless, did a few spectacularly enjoyable and epic rides. The highlights were a C2C with some close friends, a fab fnrttc to Felpham, a spectacular weekend ride in mid-Wales with some fun, beery CCers and a 3 week tour of rural Portugal with Mrs rp.
The downsides were 2 of my cycling mates having serious offs and resultant serious injuries. Bad for them but worse for me as i have no-one to talk bollix to at the mo.