General Cycling Discussion - Name one thing you did this year to positively impact your season (so far)

mine would be learning how to just go for a light spin after hard days instead of taking the day off AND finding and using the right gears at the right time (can you believe that i am still learning how to ride efficiently on the road after all these years?)

Started riding my mtb again...... My road bike is jealous, but I'll be back.- Yvonne

I bought my new bike, a Giant NRS 3.

I bought a real road bike (no more old mountain bike with slicks for this guy!) to ride while my knee is recovering from surgery. Now, I have another addiction - road riding!!!!! :D

I climbed back on my bike this Spring and did my first 1 mile ride since having a stroke last fall that disabled my bodies right side for 3 months. I am now doing two or three 10 miles a week and slowly getting my body back into shape. It has been a long 10 months.
Ride-on
Bill

Good on you Bill! It gets even better from here. Keep riding!

Originally posted by Roadguy1
I climbed back on my bike this Spring and did my first 1 mile ride since having a stroke last fall that disabled my bodies right side for 3 months. I am now doing two or three 10 miles a week and slowly getting my body back into shape. It has been a long 10 months.
Ride-on
Bill
whatever I was going to say pales in comparison.
Great work Bill, keep it up and welcome to forums.

Marty

To Roadguy1. . . you are an inspiration. Thank you.

For me. . . road racing. I got over the initial intimidation to find that it's a blast. Quite a contrast to racing XC.

Built a Kona cross bike! Great for off road and bad weather, faster than an MTB although with less suspension. It's not like I do really rocky, steep trails anyways. It will also make my season longer- I'll be able to get out on the bike in early spring when the weather is too s****y for the road bike. I doubt however that we'll have a mild, snowless winter like last year.

I also did spinning classes during the winter and that was a big help in building up more strength and keeping me limber during the winter- that and working out at the gym which I do anyways.

I learnt:
Not to ride 100% EVERY ride.
Drink more water before, during and after rides.
Make an effort to eat even if I'm not hungry.
Go to bed at 10.30pm instead of 2.am
Start the rides at a slower pace, don't hammer from the start.
Carry 2 spare tubes and a foldable tyre.
Make sure mobile phone is charged when riding miles from anywhere. You never know when a spoke is going to break.:(
I am not a Pro or even race so just enjoy the ride.
Assume every car is out there to kill me.
My wife and family are more important than riding.

CHEERS.

Mark

Rode easy.

Originally posted by fubar5
Rode easy.
You know... It's amazing how obvious this isn't. Those easy, 22-25 km/h rides are so important, as important or more important than intervals, hills and going hard. We have to remember that this isn't a job.

Best things I did:

1. Got some structure in my training, with riding easy being a big part of it.

2. Started a cycling club with regular rides. It's nice to have a regular bunch of guys [and gals] to pace with.

Decided to do a 24 hours of Adrenalin, this weekend,

So ive ridden 1000 plus Km on my bike so far this season to train for it!

but the best motivator has to be, going into the Ride for heart wife and kids!

Kudos to you Roadguy1!! keep up the good work! Im inspired!

Learned to control my speed going into turns.
Slainte:beer:

summer times, really gets me all pump up, and its only good for four months a years, so I have to do everything in four months meaning my bike riding, after that back to the bike trainers for me.....

Originally posted by Roadguy1
I climbed back on my bike this Spring and did my first 1 mile ride since having a stroke last fall that disabled my bodies right side for 3 months. I am now doing two or three 10 miles a week and slowly getting my body back into shape. It has been a long 10 months.
Ride-on
Bill

Bill, Thanks for the lift! :thumbup:

Me, I just retruned to riding again after being lazy for 20 years...plus the new road bike purchase...:D

This summer I did the Toronto to Montreal bike rally. Not only was this the biggest ride I have done but my riding improved greatly over the six days (posture, cadence, ect). It made me even more obsessed with cycling!
I also got to see more of Ontario and was able to raise money for people living with AIDS. This ride was amazing there were so many different kinds of riders there but we all loved what we were doing, it was great!! Even though it was a fundraiser it was also a great big bike love-in at the same time!! I can't wait till next year!!:D

Well, I decided to cycle for the joy of the ride on distances over 2 miles for the first time this year :D

Bought a cyclocross bike. It allowed me to ride more when the trails were too muddy last Spring. Also to do some distance rides for training. I could definately tell a difference. And it's a blast to ride.

Bought a real freeride ht. Then breaking some components and being forced to take a week break. That week break was much needed. :)

Went with my 7-year-old son on a 30-mile tandem ride. It took about 3.5 hours. We stopped at a river and looked at fish - climbed a 700-foot hill and found our house 10 miles away. Stopped at a waterfall. Passed a couple of roadies as my son faked a yawn. Finally, two miles from our house we stopped for some handmade ice cream. All of this with platform pedals and (gasp) jean shorts. The thousands of miles of "serious" riding I do every year pale in comparison.

Enticed my wife to become a cyclist and my riding partner.

Carl

Sscyco, that's really cool. I'm glad you spend time like that with your son, as i'm sure he is. :)

Trainer classes. (on evil fluid trainers)

Making some plans for a tour later this year.

New bike, 4 riding days per week, losing weight. OK, I know, it's 3 things not one! :D

Originally posted by SteveE
New bike, 4 riding days per week, losing weight. OK, I know, it's 3 things not one! :D

So how much did the first contribute to the other two?

Chris -

Since I went from a 20+ yr-old (but nice) Italian racer to a REALLY nice custom Serotta Ti, probably quite a bit! :D But I felt I had to be WORTHY, so I did the other bits too.

Started riding fixed!