Fifty Plus (50+) - It's 2009 Goal Setting Time - Type of Goal?

It's 2009 Goal Setting Time - Type of Goal?

What type of 50+ Bicycling goal do you plan on setting for 2009, if any?

Please vote for as many as you like.

If you have other types of goals, let us know.

Anyone set any specific goals for 2009?

Maybe I'll come up with something fancy later, but so far, my two goals for next year are the same as they were this year:

1. Survive the year. Since the vast majority of people diagnosed with lung cancer die within a year of diagnosis, I can't take that one for granted.

2. Ride 6,000 miles. I don't know yet how much of that will be easy miles, long distance miles, racing miles, etc. This year I rode many more easy miles than the year before. But, I have to think that if I ride that many miles, in any shape or form, it has to be good. I think it was a giant part of my great recovery this year.

Non-riding goals? I'll have to think about that...

2009 is going to be a funny cycling year for me. My main goal the first half of 09 is to survive and enjoy my raft trip in the Grand Canyon. Most of my training will be directed toward that. I don't want to tweak anything or get tendinitis rowing a raft for 16 days. I also want to enjoy as many side hikes as possible. So some running will be added to my workouts. Cycling will consist of slowly building a good base for the second half of the year.

After the GC trip my next major goal is a cross country bike ride from Grand Junction Colorado back home in Western N.C. in May 2010. So my riding will be geared towards long rides, working out a bike fit that is able to take me 21 consecutive days of 100 mile rides. I also want to do a few TT down at the Lowes Motor Speedway. Mostly I just want to have fun and travel as much as I can to ride in new places.

OK, those of you that chose "Increased Fitness/Keep From Going Backwards "

aRoudy1, Beverly, BikeWNC, BluesDawg, DnvrFox, forresterace, jumpster, Mojo Slim, Old Fart, PAlt, robtown

How would you measure that?

Other - come in top 3 in a race of 70 km's (~40 miles) in my category. - 3 races planned

OK, those of you that chose "Increased Fitness/Keep From Going Backwards "

aRoudy1, Beverly, BikeWNC, BluesDawg, DnvrFox, forresterace, jumpster, Mojo Slim, Old Fart, PAlt, robtown

How would you measure that?

I use a Powertap power meter and do regular testing.

Other - come in top 3 in a race of 70 km's (~40 miles) in my category. - 3 races planned

I thought about putting in racing as a goal about .1 seconds AFTER I had clicked the submit thread button.

There is no way to edit a poll. Sorry!

The obvious goal is to see 2010 and in keeping with that theme I'll simply work
towards increased fitness measurable by weight (loss) and blood pressure (drop).

Happy Trails

Specific Mileage Goal - No. A couple of my bikes have computers, but I don't reset them nor make note of the mileage at the start of the year. If I achieve my other goals, I'll be riding more miles.

Hourly/Time on Bike - No. I'll be doing more, but have no desire to measure it.

Specific Rides to Complete - BRAG (including the optional century), Six Gap Century, a yet to be chosen 50 mile MTB race. At least one other XC MTB race. Others to be added as I learn about them.

Just Have More Fun - If it ain't fun, why bother?

Meet more people/social - I like riding bikes and I like meeting people. I like many of the people I meet when I'm riding my bikes.

Increased Fitness/Keep From Going Backwards - Maintaining weight between 170 - 175 lbs., good labwork numbers for annual physical exam in July, gradual increase in length of rides I feel comfortable doing, gradual increase in avg. speed on rides I repeat frequently, increasing speed/comfort level on hard climbs, etc.

Commuting Goal - Not practical for my situation, unfortunately.

Family Activity/togetherness Goal - Continue to ride with my younger son. Try to get my older son back on a bike occasionally. Have patience and find ways to encourage my wife in her stated goal to start riding more often. Family trips to ride Silver Comet and other bike paths/trails. Participate in more non-cycling-related time and activities with my wife.

Other goals - Keep all of my bikes in good condition, functionally and aesthetically. Improve my mountain biking technical skills. Improve my safe riding and handling skills on the road. Help my cycling club in its goals to encourage more people in our county to ride bikes more often and more safely and to make our county a more bicycle friendly place.

Like Bud Bent, beat the odds by still being around to welcome in 2010.

Remain Healthy, Enjoy Every Mile.
20,000 miles and be home every-night.
Practiced this week. Five rides with total 456 miles.
Posting the rides on Spinner Saturday if you want something that might make you sleepy.

[QUOTE=cranky old dude;simply work
towards increased fitness measurable by weight (loss) and blood pressure (drop).
QUOTE]

+1 and along with these, hopefully, to be able to rely less on medications to keep my blood sugar controlled.

I think that after hitting 3000+ miles and finding out that riding over 50 miles in one day really isn't that hard after all I'd like to try and do my first century next year.

I think that after hitting 3000+ miles and finding out that riding over 50 miles in one day really isn't that hard after all I'd like to try and do my first century next year.

Why wait for next year?

Why wait for next year?

Cause it's cold here in the NE now. 56 miles in the mid 30's yesterday was not as much fun as I thought it would be, especially the last 6 miles into a 15-20mph head wind. :(

I voted for a number of options, because I love riding my bikes and want more fun, meet more people, spend more time with my husband, do more specific rides.

I also want to improve my technique and racing abilities. I want to overcome some of my fears and improve my strengths. Ultimately, I want to have more fun overall. Because if it isn't fun, it won't be done.

I selected several options. Mainly, I want to keep riding and continue having fun doing it while continuing to learn and improve strength and technique. I'd like to add more weekly mileage, and I'd like to complete my first century next year. And, I want to learn a tire-changing technique that is easy for my left wrist to accomplish so I can confidently change a tire any time, any place, without any help.

I'm looking forward to commuting around town, now that the LHT has a rear rack and pack.

My major goals in 2008 were to ride 5,000 miles, including at least 100 commutes...I like having goals so I don't "slip back." For me in 2008, the "100 commutes" goal was especially valuable. It really kept me focused on the fact that I needed to commute rain or shine in order to hit the goal (since I have travel, vacation, family commitments that sometime make it impossible to hit).


However, in 2009 I'm cautious about "signing up" for more miles...I ride enough as it is, but want to have more fun. In 2009 my goals will be something like:

- Ride 5,000 miles and do 100 commutes again (including at least 10 commutes/month in winter months)

- Ride RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Rainier) and cross the North Cascades Highway. If I don't get into RAMROD (it's a lottery) I'll do something equally challenging.

- Have more fun! On centuries and other long rides, take more and better photos

- Organize a Classic & Vintage ride in the Seattle area

- 10 more pounds to lose: do it!

Maybe I'll come up with something fancy later, but so far, my two goals for next year are the same as they were this year:

1. Survive the year. Since the vast majority of people diagnosed with lung cancer die within a year of diagnosis, I can't take that one for granted.


well then, Bud
my goal will be to make sure I log on to 50+, 13 months from now, whether I'm 'regular' or not. Look for and read a new post by you. everything else will be gravy

Despite all the talk about mileage and goals, less than one-half of the respondents (13 of 29 as of this writing) selected a "specific mileage goal."

Interesting!

Overall, this year Dnver Fox is related to my goals. One of them is to ride the BF Colorado ride. Main challenge here is to be prepared for altitude and more constant climbing. Michigan has some hills, but except for a few rides Fred has found, they're pretty rolly and not steadily upward.

I also didn't meet my "ride my age" and first century goals last year, so those are goals for this year. I would like to do the century about a month before the Colorado ride, so that targets a 100 miler organized or solo sometime in July. One local candidate is the One Helluva Ride (Chelsea, Michigan to Hell, Michigan loop), which uses most of my weekend 40 mile route.

To do these I think I need to increase my training volume. The last half of this summer I was struggling to keep up a few hours a week. Now I have some rebuilding to do, but I think I can get to 5 hours a week indoor by 2nd week of December.

More if the auto industry has extended December furloughs!!!!

I also have back and shoulder pain to manage - I've found basic Yoga to help a lot with them both. Once my back starts to feel stable with cycling, I'll be able to look at adding some weights into the mix.

That's how it stacks up in my eyes!

Road Fan

OK, those of you that chose "Increased Fitness/Keep From Going Backwards "

aRoudy1, Beverly, BikeWNC, BluesDawg, DnvrFox, forresterace, jumpster, Mojo Slim, Old Fart, PAlt, robtown

How would you measure that?

Being a late entry to this category I'll just invite myself :)

I have a Ciclosport HAC-4+ to install on my main training bike - I plan to use it to capture heart rate, speed, cadence, and altitude, and it estimates power output. It also downloads date directly to my PC. Either in Cyclistats, Excel, or the HAC-4 software I can plot the data and see trends. I don't really count on the accuracy of such tools, but on their consistency, so I can see improvements over time, such as power versus heartrate over say, a few months.

In the past I've trained too hard too early, without building endurance. I've ended up not losing much weight, having some decent short-term climbing ability, but not able to sustain high efforts over say 40 miles of rolling hills with a 18 mph group of buds. I don't want to hold them back anymore. I feel lucky I haven't hurt myself, though my back pain might be realated to straining without adequate conditioning.

Road Fan

My goals:
- Get my first-ever 100-miler in. Did my first metric century this year.
- Keep my fitness levels good - as measured by weight/fat, resting pulse, blood sugar.
- Commute to work a few time. It's 25 mile one way and the best route still takes me on some bike-unfriendly roads, but still want to do this!

BTW, didn't know how to categorize the century goal. I put it under "specific ride to complete" rather than "mileage goal".

BTW, didn't know how to categorize the century goal. I put it under "specific ride to complete" rather than "mileage goal".

Yes

OK, those of you that chose "Increased Fitness/Keep From Going Backwards "

aRoudy1, Beverly, BikeWNC, BluesDawg, DnvrFox, forresterace, jumpster, Mojo Slim, Old Fart, PAlt, robtown

How would you measure that?

I recently acquired a free membership to my local Y through the Silver Sneakers program and my Medicare provider. I started this week on a 12 week program to increase my endurance, strength and general fitness. After each session I enter information into a computer tracking my time, heart rate, etc from each cardio machine. Stats from the weight training machines are entered automatically by the system.

The first session was to get a general idea of my current fitness level and determine my exercise plan. The trainer said I would be starting at the intermediate level and not the beginner level:) It also showed my upper body strength is my weak area (too much cycling and not enough weights).

We also discussed my goals.....increase endurance, lose a few pounds and improve my hill climbing! He also wanted to know any limitations I might have in order to exclude those types of exercises. My doctor and I had discussed these during my recent back problems. The only type of exercise I shouldn't be doing is squats or lifting weights from a floor starting position.

I want to start the spinning classes in the near future. If I can make it through one of those without falling off the bike I'll be satisfied:D

I'm looking forward to some nice warm laps in the pool during these cold winter months....it sure as heck beats riding the bike with ice sickles hanging off my nose:thumb:

Iconoclast that I am, I voted for "Goal is to Have No Goals". Seems to fit me better than the other choices.

Sure I like to make new friends, have fun, stay healthy, etc. etc., but I don't see things like that as goals. Those things just seem to happen naturally.:)

1. Mileage goal - 2000 miles.
2. Become a better climber. This is subjective. Mainly, I just want to be more comfortable when I hit the hills.
3. I want to do the PMC again this year, but that will be decided more by the economy than my own choice.

Iconoclast that I am, I voted for "Goal is to Have No Goals". Seems to fit me better than the other choices.

Sure I like to make new friends, have fun, stay healthy, etc. etc., but I don't see things like that as goals. Those things just seem to happen naturally.:)

Good on you.

But, most certainly, having a goal to "meet five new friends" or "ride a 'social ride' with a bicycle club" qualify as goals, at least for me.

I guess I would like to think of goals in a broader context - encompassing more of the human experience than simply how fast and for how long can one move one's legs in a circle.

I have no cycling specific goal but do want to keep my fitness level up.
I voted for fun and social goals.

BTW, didn't know how to categorize the century goal. I put it under "specific ride to complete" rather than "mileage goal".

Ok, then I misinterpreted that, too. I'd uncheck "mileage goal" if I could, since I really don't care about how many miles I do per year. I do care about hours per week and some specific rides. and it's all fun, IMHO!!

Road Fan

I'll play:) Normally, I'd vote 'goal is no goal', but ... age (57) occupational hazards etc. finally caught up w/me this fall. Nothing AT ALL major relative to what many of our fellow 50+ers have been/are going through, but my years/back/pelvic assymetry have finally upped 'n bitten me -- read badly herniated/compressed disc (L4/5). Going through the usual starting now (xray/MRI/now physio) and through the winter. My sports-quack doesn't think it will need surgery, but I do NOT want this (the pain) to happen again, so will be a good badger and do what I'm told. That's by way of saying 1) increased fitness, including developing proper bike posture/pedalling mechanics (to avoid BackHell), so that 2) I can continue with Commuting and 3) with luck, begin to work toward a long-sought 'Other' goal, which is to start doing some real distance/endurance/touring rides. Aim (2010 Goal) is to ride the Route Vert through Quebec/the Gaspe/into New Brunswick summer 2010. We'll see.

"MY goal is to have no goals"-- I've been telling them that at my yearly evals (at work) for years!

I hope/plan/want to recover the fitness that I lost this year, get in shape enough and develop my bike-handling skills enough to get off the rail-trails and attempt more difficult rides, ride the full Little Miami Trail, find riding companions (the most difficult challenge for me), and get my DD start riding too.

Mileage goal. I started lat in the game this year so I will only have about 1700 miles on my bikes this year. I would like to put 3500 miles on next year. I would also like to put in my first century in 09. Fitness wise I want to monitor my heart rate more and lose more weight. I also want to have more fun getting to my other goals.

I was commuting regularly down here when our office was in town - but now it is only about 300 meters between our home and the office, etc. so I am no longer commuting.

So, I would like to get back to riding 5 days a week - but for fun. No distance goals, just get on the bike. Once I am on it, the smile comes to my face and the fun starts but sometimes getting on the bike takes some doing - not sure why.

And I have another goal, wear out my bike so I can buy another one. :D

Hey! We've still got more than a month of 2008 left! Still time to work on making this year's goals.

I want to increase my miles to at least 4,500 for 09. I'm at 3675 for 08 and should make my goal of 4,000. In 06 & 07, I had just over 3,000 miles. Recently I've wondered about when physical dimished ability (old age) takes over and no matter how much training, my body will not do the miles I would like.

I have the same goal,everyday,all year,every year....waking up!

My goals for next year are all around randonneuring: complete another Super Rando series (it'll be #3), and ride the Gold Rush Randonnee, which will be my second 1200k, in 72 hours. There are also 3, 200+k permanents just north of here that form a loop. I may have to take an extended weekend and ride those...

Other than that, commute by bike as much as possible, and keep enjoying life.

SP

I've lowered my goal to zero for the number of crashes next year.

My goal is to get out and just play on my downhill bike more. Most of my time on it this year was intense practice right before a race or racing. I want to just enjoy it more and push my boundaries on it.

Other goals for '09 are:

Defend my Gold at the Sea Otter Classic
Race CrankWorx up at Whistler
Get in one or two 'for-fun' weekends at Whistler with my son
Do more trail rides with my wife

One of my goals is to get my wife to put more than the 110 miles she put on her bike over the past three years. We will both retire in 2009 and once her school year is completed she should have no viable excuses.:D Riding a tandem is/will not be a goal in 2009 and 2010, that would be like wishing for world peace.:rolleyes:

My other goals are to continue my quest into training and racing, using the SS for running errands, become more of a bicycle advocate and do more core excersizes. I would also like to find a high quality vintage frame and build it up with vintage or modern naughty bits.

Back to cycling after 20 years, but even then was primarily a runner (marathons). Get my weight down from 210-215 to 185-190. Ride 80-100 miles/week. Ride a century in April or so. Take a bicycling vacation of 3-4 days with my Wife. Take the horses (and my Wife) some place for 3-4 days (or take Wife, horses and bicycles).

For 09 my first goal is to do the St. Anthony's international distance triathlon, followed by a 70.3 (1/2 Ironman) by the end of the year and then a full Ironman in 2010 shortly after I retire.