It’s Time …

Time to start thinking about how we are going to wind down this year. Time to start thinking about goals for next year. Time to start thinking about what we will need to accomplish those goals next year and moving forward.

Well despite a few setbacks this year, I am close to reaching most, but not all of the goals I had set for myself at the end of 2007. I am just over 120 miles to completing my mileage goals for this year. I can confidently taper off in December without having to do a New Years Eve ride like I had to in 2007. I was able to complete those miles faster than I did in 2007.

A couple of things I did not accomplish this year. One is I did not ride one single century this year. in 2007 I had five centuries under my belt by the end of October, this year I don’t even expect to have any completed. I am not really unhappy about that, as I have taken my riding to a different level this year and for that I am happy. The other goal I did not achieve this year was completing the Assault on Mount Mitchell. Too many things conspired against that. The heat, one month less training, heart issues, mechanical failure at the start, and the fact that it was much harder on the tandem than we had anticipated. All those factors lead to abandoning after reaching Marion.

Some things that I was happy with; I rode on mountain trails for the first time in over 20 years. It was okay, but not something I would do on a regular basis. I managed two rides on a fixed gear, I do not plan on doing any more. I am not fascinated with fixed gear riding. I much prefer riding that particular bike as a single speed, and I think I will keep it configured as such.

I managed to build a few wheels and a different road bike as well as a time trial bike. I do plan on riding the time trial bike much more often in 2009, I think I may have ridden it about 50 miles total in 2008, with no plans to ride it between now and the end of the year. I built up a mountain bike. It is just middle of the road components, nothing real fancy, it works for its intended purpose and for that I am grateful.

Looking forward to 2009; A new tandem will arrive on the scene, unless you are new you should be well aware of the state of the tandem by my previous six updates. I think I would like to try my had a cyclocross. It seems much more appealing to me than mountain bike riding and I think the training aspect would be similar to road riding with the added benefit that bike handling skills have the potential for improving by riding over rougher terrain.

Nicole and I will probably train a bit harder in 2009 than we did in 2008, with many more miles on the tandem. It will be hard to fit that in with my goals on the single bikes, but it is a sacrifice that I am willing to make.

All in all, although not over just yet, it has been a good year so far. only time will tell if next year is as good or better.