Northern California - Only 226 Miles To Go!

Last Spring, when I bought a new bike, I told my wife I needed it, because I was going to get more serious about getting back into cycling. I promised myself I'd ride 3500 miles this year. I figured that was reasonable, since I had slacked off from October until March! :rolleyes:

Well, here it is, December 11. 20 days left of 2007, and I'm at 3274 miles so far - just 226 left! That's only 75 a week and it looks like nice weather for a while! :D

Anyone else set a goal for the year?

I just got back into cycling in February, and wanted to climb Mt. Diablo (done that at least a dozen times now, although never very fast...) and to do the Death Ride. Sadly, I broke my bike on mile 7 - never even got to start climbing that day. It would have been tough to do, even if my bike had stayed in one piece - I'm sure I would have been close to the time limits near the end. Still, I got in much better shape, and I rode each of the passes about a month before the event, so I think I know what it would have taken. I'll be back in 2008!

JB

...Anyone else set a goal for the year?

Yep. Just a couple.

1. Better my milage from last year.
'06 miles: 4,066
'07 miles: 5,265
2. Deathride
Made all five passes!
3. Auburn Century
Did the whole burrito of the ride.

With all this talk of doing a Double next year, I just might have to add that to the '08 Goals.

Happy Holidays,

BR

I've been thinking about goals for 2008. I already have one: before my 51st birthday next November, to climb Mt Diablo, Mt Hamilton, and Mt Tam. I had opportunities this year, but they each coincided with other things.

I guess the other goal is not to stop riding during January and February!

Yep. And so far, I've done pretty well.

1) Ride 5200 miles for the year: check (passed it on Saturday and I may get 5400 if the weather holds)
2) Move up to Cat 4: check.
3) Commute year-round: check.
4) Climb Mt. Diablo: check. (Next year: break an hour!)
5) Take the training wheels off my son's bike: check!

Geez... You guys are burning a lot of rubber.
My goals were more limited: increase my mileage, climb Mt. Diablo for the first time, and ride three centuries (as in the couple previous years).
I will reach between 1,000 and 1,100 miles for the year, an improvement of 20-25%, with around 70,000' of climbing (+20%).
I climbed Mt. Diablo five times (why did I wait so long?) and added Mt. Tam and Morgan Territory.
I only rode one century due to calendar conflict with kids schedules.
2008 goals: more miles, more climbing, at least a couple centuries, and, may be, the Death Ride.

I think Ive done well. I set a goal of 3000 miles-Im just 150 shy of 4000, and I lost a good 10 weeks of ridiing due to injury.
I wanted to complete a century a month-well I didnt quite do that due to injuries, and realizing that I enjoy rides that are a tad shorter. I did do a 112 mile century ride with over 11,000ft of climbing. Another month I did 3 centuries.
My goals changed a bit near the end of the summer as I became more interested in riding faster rather then longer. I also wanted to try racing. I got into riding the velodrome. I have really diversified my riding and it is more fun. I still like good punishing climbing rides.

I set a goal of 200,000ft of climbing and Im coming up on 300,000.

I am leaning towards a goal of 300 hours of saddle time for 2008, that would be about a 15% increase.

I didn't set any particular goals this year, but I figure both my wife and I rode about 5,000 miles each.
I am with genejockey, as I am 51 next year and I have some specific goals in mind for 2008.
1) Montebello - we met an old cyclist who told us the allowable time up Montebello in minutes is your age, a 20 year old gets 20 minutes, a 51 year old gets 51 minutes. I haven't yet timed myself up there.
2) do the big three climbs - Diablo, Tam & Hamilton - Mt Hamilton on New Years day?
3) think very carefully about the Cal Triple Crown and what it requires.

My goals this year were:
a) To commute all year. Unfortunately I didn't start commuting since March of this year. But I've only driven to work less than 10 times so far.
b) Climb Diablo, Tam, and Hamilton. Hamilton still eludes me.
c) Put in 4200 miles. I'm +230 miles for the year.

This was my first full year of cycling. I rode about 4000 road miles and about 500 'dirty' miles +/-

Next year I'd like to up the total by at least 1000 miles, commute more than 3 days a week, and do a double century.

Hamilton still eludes me.


It's that big hill to the South with the white round things on it. :D

I did Mt Hamilton as a "millennium" celebration on 1/1/00 (yes, I know - the REAL millennium started 1/1/01). It's really not that hard. It's not painfully steep, but it does go on forever. The painful part was the trip back down. Everything I had on was soaked with sweat, and because it was foggy, no matter how much "wicking power" my wonderfabrics had, it wouldn't evaporate.

But I did it!

So, having done it once as a New Years celebration, I think I'll do it next when it's warmer....

My goals were
a top-10 placing in the socal KOM series- got it.
finish the death ride in under 8 hours ride time- didn't make it, I did it in 8:20.
finish the everest challenge and get a top-20 placing in the 4/5 race- got it.

I didn't set mileage, hour or climbing goals but had an idea what I'd need to meet my goals- I'm at a little over 7000 miles for the year, and just under 700,000 feet of climbing. Both are a bit more than I expected to do.

I probably did 150,000 of those feet on Mt Hamilton. It's not a difficult climb but it is the biggest one in the area. The back (east) side is a lot tougher but it is only 2000'. I wish Mt Diablo was closer to the south bay.

My goals were to complete all 5 passes for the Death Ride which I did. Do a bunch of century rides this year which I did. Get under an hour for the Mount Diablo Challenge, which I came close (1:02:59). Mileage wise, I didn't have any goals just to "ride a lot". Current mileage total is at 4697. I guess I'll have to make it an even 5000 by the end of the year. :)

After my CHILLY ride this morning (MAN! Crystal Springs road through Hillsborough is CO-O-OLD!!!), I've now only got 200 left. AND I have tomorrow off. I'm thinking a relaxed 40 miles after breakfast. For next year...

1) 4000 miles total

2) Diablo, Hamilton, and Tamalpais\

3) 3 centuries - spring, summer and fall.

I'm at about the 7000-mile mark so far this year (almost all commute miles). I guess I'll end at about 7,300 miles by the end of the year. For next year, I'll try to commute every month (assuming it doesn't rain a lot).

I didn't set mileage, hour or climbing goals but had an idea what I'd need to meet my goals- I'm at a little over 7000 miles for the year, and just under 700,000 feet of climbing. Both are a bit more than I expected to do.


:eek::eek::eek:

I don't think I'll even bring up my piddly rides this year :(

I passed 5,000 miles for the year today. I'm pretty happy with that.

I passed 5,000 miles for the year today. I'm pretty happy with that.

:beer:

I got around 2000 miles this year (including commuting).

1500 on the CAAD4 (converted to commuter/beater as of 9/07) and 500 on the CAAD8 (finished build in 9/07).


The collarbone ordeal messed up this year for me. I wanted to start getting more serious, but that will wait til 2008.

Here's what I did for 2007:
1) 2000 miles
2) Giro di Peninsula - My first century - 6:04 ride time
3) Mt. Tam
4) Mt. Hamilton - 10.1mph avg speed on the ascent.
5) Timed Kings Mtn (also first time up it) - 28:52

Here's my new goals for 2008:
1) 3000+ miles
2) At least 3 centuries
3) Tam, Hamilton and Diablo at least once each.
4) Mt. Diablo in under 70 mins (not sure what to expect).
5) <25 min Kings Mountain
6) <22 min Old La Honda
7) Start racing (???)
8) No broken bones ;)

:beer:

No goals this year since I just started after years of hiatus.
I'm just stoked that I'm into it as much as I am.
Didn't think I'd do it so soon, but I did a self-supported century after being on only a month and did it in 7hrs including stops...
Feels weird when a day goes by without clipping in for at least some trainer love. After 3-1/2 months the bike shows only 518 miles but I've probably done 2x that on the trainer. That would be 4500-5000 for a year.

I am looking forward to a productive 2008. Praying for 0 injuries. Looking forward to frostless mornings right this second.

2007
I started with the goal of hitting 2000 so i could justify a new bike.
I think I'm pushing 7000 now! 2800 is on my commute bike, the new bike I got has over 3000. My old bike has the rest.
I did Diablo
I rode Seattle to Portland

Next year: At least a couple of century rides,
STP if Tricia wants to
I'd like to tour the Oregon Coast.

I'm seriously thinking about the Davis Double....Maybe. Kinda. Thinking about it. Yeah. Right. But then again, why not, or am I crazy or maybe I will. I pretty sure I either will or won't. But don't hold me to it.

I rode Seattle to Portland


I have been twiriling the idea of going from Sacramento to Seattle over the summer of 2008 and doing it in 7-10 days.
Not by way of the coast but more of the way of I-5. The only parts where I'd need to or find a really creative route are crossing over Lake Shasta and parts between Grants Pass and Eugene. My wife is not excited about this idea.

Anyways. Back to reality. Return thread to owner.

I actually think tonights commute home will push me over 6000. Good thing too, since next week I'm pretty sure I'll be driving at least once or twice and I've all but stopped riding when I'm not teaching and school is out for the year on Thursday.

All year, I've done one century, a 90 mile tour in the Santa Cruz mountains, and a handful of weekend rides. Other than that, the balance of my 6k miles has been commuting back and forth between Davis and W. Sac.

I actually think tonights commute home will push me over 6000. Good thing to, since next week I'm pretty sure I'll be driving at least once or twice and I've all but stopped riding when I'm not teaching.

Mild hijack: I looked at the sig links. Very cool. I LOVE the fixie, and why it look so wonderful
Note to all: If you haven't seen this, check it out
http://velospace.org/node/473

I passed 5,000 miles for the year today. I'm pretty happy with that.

Jobob: Did you ever find out what happened to you a few months ago when you weren't able to ride much?

No idea, SC! I went to the doctor and had some blood tests done to rule out anemia or thyroid problems, but everything came back fine.

Best I could figure, I just overdid it on the training, and that was my body's way of saying "enough already you bozo!" :p (I'm pretty new at all this and I guess I'm still learning my limits ...)

So, I'm being a lot more careful this time around ramping up on the miles & the climbing. So far so good!

Actually, I added up my computers on my three bikes and it totaled 6015 on Friday night. If you consider about 50 miles or so not on the computers, then I passed 6k some time during the week.

Now only 142 left. It would have been less, but I cut my ride short today because the clouds looked threatening.

Then it didn't rain, of course.... :rolleyes:

Ok, there are definitely some on here who have not entered their miles on bikejournal. Those that didn't include:

genejockey
benridin
gpelpel
rydaddy
mayukawa
rusty993
MrCjolsen

I know the group has more miles than what is reflected on bikejournal. What's up with that.

Boy, I've done about 1500-1800 miles this year (1,024 on the Surly I got in June, about 200-300 on the IRO I built up a few months ago, and probably 300-500 on my old bike), and I was impressed by that. :rolleyes:

What is this "bikejournal" you speak of?

OK, I added my mileage (mostly to the previous mileage section of the profile) I only added a couple of "rides"

What is this "bikejournal" you speak of?

We have a NorCal BF group on www.bikejournal.com. You can use this site to log your mileage.

Okay, I signed up and input my mileage so far in 2007.

Okay, I signed up and input my mileage so far in 2007.

:beer:

142 miles to go, and it starts raining. It figures. :rolleyes:

Bummer. I may have had my last commute of the year. School ends Thursday and the weather major crap. I don't mind riding in crummy weather. Sort of like it for the badass factor. However, there's a point where you go from being a badass to being a dumbass and I think the weather today reaches that point.

Just call me a dumbass then. :D I happily commuted in to work this morning and I'm hoping for more rain on my commute home tonight. Fenders and rain gear makes a big difference riding in the rain.

I don't mind riding in crummy weather. Sort of like it for the badass factor.

+1
:beer:

I rode my badass Ducati into work today, does that count? :p

you're still exposed to the rain so +1 badass point for you :)

I HATE riding in the rain.

I used to not mind so much, till one time when I was over at Canada and 92 when the HEAVIEST rain I have ever seen hit. I was so wet, I could feel water sloshing back and forth in my shoes as I pedalled. It was like that all the way back to San Mateo - and, of course, I chose the worst possible route.

AND there's something about the SUV's on Crystal Springs, whose drivers barely see you on a bright sunny day....

But if I am still at 142 miles to go on Christmas, I'll chance it.

I think we'll get a bit of a break on the weekend, so you can at least make a dent in it then.

I HATE riding in the rain.

Only 20-30% chance of rain tomorrow and the day after. Most of the rain will fall at night. You have time to get that 142 miles done.

That, and I'm taking Christmas week off!

That, and I'm taking Christmas week off!

Hey! Me too! :D :beer:

I was very happy to ride to work in the rain today, but was sad when the sun came out just in time for me to go home. Bah! Riding in the rain is fun! Assuming one is equipped with fenders, at least.

I rode my badass Ducati into work today, does that count? :p

Hope you're over with your cold ...

Hope you're over with your cold ...

Not yet, unfortunately.

Not yet, unfortunately.

... and you're still riding in the rain? :eek: