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Review: how was your 2012?
So 2012 is finally over and I have now ridden 5077km in the last 12 months. I have never been into my bike like this before. I always commuted by bike but I started to go out into the country to avoid traffic and traffic lights and the miles just started to expand exponentially in front of me and behind me.
I heard about the first Great Manchester Cycle and trained for that. I was a bit frustrated by the crowds on the day but discovered there is a whole sportive scene and started to plan for longer distances in 2013. Finally Brad was winning the Tour and then the Olympics and the whole country went cycling bananas! I would listen to Elbow's olympic theme and think the Olympics are not just London 2012 or for Rio in four years; the Olympics are here now; it's now the Olympics FOREVER!
So I have got my targets; to equal or pass my total for 2012, and I am already signed up for the Etape Cymru and need to get some climbing in as well as the flat. I've only lost about a half a stone but I feel 5 years younger, and I think I might be addicted. Perhaps you can say how was your year? How far did you ride as I imagine some of you might still put me to shame or make us all jealous.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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17 comments
5903.85 miles for the year, wanted to get in 6000 miles but I'll settle for that in my first full year back in cycling.
9593km of riding this year. Down about 800km on last years total, all thanks to a wee skid on my side down a road, and the resulting rehab period.
Always good for a laugh.
One highlight for the cycling year was being introduced to Strava
I was pleased with my 2761 miles before I read this thread ! 9000 miles
I have a loooong way to go !
If you work full time then a nice long commute is an easy way to boost those miles. If you live too close to work then leave early and set off in the wrong direction. A chap that I occasionally bump into on the way to work only lives 3 miles from his job but missed his old commute so much that he always sets off at least two hours early to get a good 30+ in before he starts. If you live too far away for a regular commute then try driving in with the bike in the morning then riding home, ride in the following morning and then drive everything home.
I have a minimum 27 mile round trip for my commuting which I up to between 50 and 60 miles in the better months.
One hurdle I must overcome is looking out of the window in the morning, seeing rain, and think 'I'll take the car'. I know it's mind games as if I am already out and it starts to rain I don't mind one bit, after all, it's only water !
It looks like you've got everything set up to go for a big total. I have a decent set of waterproofs, just dhb so nothing too expensive, a pair of winter boots and some sealskinz gloves so I know that I'm not going to get soaked or freezing on my commute in winter. My big discovery for the cold and wet this year was a casquette or cycling cap worn under the helmet. It keeps your head warm, a lot of rain off your face and stops water from dripping down the inside of your collar. Well worth a try if you don't have one already. I started weaning myself off of the car by setting a target of three days commuting a week so that I didn't end up completely knackered by Friday evening. Once I got into the habit of doing that, the other days just came easily and now I only take the car if I have something to transport or if it's too dangerous to ride. Good luck on the bike this year, I'm sure that you'll enjoy all those extra miles.
5047 miles done this year plus 3 circuit classes per week, so 4 rest days per month on average. I think it was Vecchiojo who said that last year was Autumnal for the duration (or words to that effect) - couldn't have put it better, as it was windy and wet all the time with no summer worth talking about. As a result, the winter hack got more use than enough while the good bikes were mollycoddled at home. Here's hoping we get a decent summer this year.
I do kilometers. But then i was brought up with them... Don't see why Brits would have to do kilometers as everything here is still in miles?
Everyone is doing miles not kilometers, have you guys heard of the metric system? Royal with cheese and all that. Obviously makes my efforts look puny.
No, it was the Tour de Francis chap.
John Bishop?
8435 miles. Looking for 9000+ next year with a minimum of 700 per month. There's a lot to be said for commuting 34 miles every day. Highlights for me were a wind assisted scream down the second half of the Etape Caledonia, an impromptu discovery of Cheddar Gorge and the Chew Valley with an old friend, the short version of the Dartmoor Classic with a novice mate, several guided tours of the Peaks thanks to some friendly locals and the Fred Whitton 4 seasons on a sunny day in September. The Fred is a great ride especially if you're lucky enough to see the Lakes in all their glory under a blue sky. Here's to a great year's cycling in 2013. Good luck on the Etape Cymru, it looks like a fantastic ride.
"Windy"
"how was your 2012?"
"Wet"
No one want to say what your mileage was for 2012?
9000 miles bang on, achieved that by 30th December so I could have a rest day on the 31st
10000 is the target for 2013!!
The highlight of my year was completing the Tour of Britain ProRide: East Anglia.
It was pretty special to be on my local roads, a lot of it with a police escort, and then to see the Pros coming through the next day, with Wiggins et al. on the front. Wow.
In the words of a great cyclist (but can you name him?):
"Its such an honour to be sharing the same roads as the pros," "Absolutely Spot On."