Monoborracho

I understand some of you are planning to get together in August for a 50+ ride. I haven't made a decision on that one. But I plan a couple of weeks for next year.

I went to register for Cycle Zydeco today and found, to my dismay, that the ride is full. It filled up since last week.

https://www.cyclezydeco.com/

So now I'm contemplating Oklahoma Freewheel, which I rode last year.

https://www.okfreewheel.com/

Mrs. Mono wants to gut up and ride Bon Ton Roulet in the Fingerlakes Regions next summer. Her idea of roughing it is a hotel that doesn't have room service. Nevertheless I have assured her that I can carry enough wine in my panniers to soothe her aches at the end of the day, even if she sleeps on an air mattress.

https://www.bontonroulet.com/

I'm really thinking hard about Texas Hell Week for April as it is convenient, world class biking, and one of my favorite places to vacation. Indeed, we've talked of buying a small place in F'burg.

https://www.hellweek.com/texas.html

Does anyone else have plans or have you ridden one of these?

tsl

June: Great Finger Lakes Bicycle Tour. Third year for me. Maybe I'll actually ride all three days. First year my ride informed me (after we were on the way) that he couldn't stay the third day. Last year I left my shoes at home and had to go back an get them, missing the Friday night ride (and hitting a deer with my ride partner's car on the way back.).

July: A week of cycling from my parent's summer place in the Rideau Lakes region of Eastern Ontario. Last year I took the Portland with the road wheels and tires and the cyclocross wheels and tires. Used the road wheels only one day. Rode the dirt roads all the rest of the time. Did a half-century on dirt roads one day.

The rest is up in the air until DF's 50+ ride is nailed down.

Possibilities include: Either the Ididaride or the Lancaster County Covered Bridge Metric in August, the club's 1,000 Islands Ride Weekend over Labor Day, the Highlander in mid-September.

If the 50+ ride doesn't go off, then at least two of the above, and probably the BikeJournal Reunion, which isn't yet settled. Primary contenders are Chattanooga, TN in October or Phoenix, AZ in November.

tsl

Listen to Mrs. Mono, even if she makes you stay in a hotel or B&B every night.

Although I've lived all my life in Western, NY, I never really appreciated the Finger Lakes region (it's two words, BTW) until I started cycling. But do be prepared for some hills. None are particularly long, but they can be steep. State highways are very good, with broad, paved shoulders, and generally respectful drivers. County roads are generally good, with less traffic, but most have some chip seal.

My favorite piece of road, bar none, is along the west shore of Keuka Lake, NY54A from Hammondsport to Branchport. It's worth the detour even if it's not on next year's route. The first time I rode it, my mind clicked, This is what road cycling is all about.

Artkansas 

Commute to work.....

If I ever get a job.

10 Wheels

20,000 miles in my neighborhood.

BluesDawg

Once I get strong again, I plan to make 2009 an epic year of cycling for me. I want to ride as much as I can work into my schedule and budget. Lots of local rides as well as organized centuries and tours. Maybe a MTB race or two just for variety.

A few specific plans are BRAG 2009 (north Ga. mountains this year), Six Gap, the 50+ Colorado retreat, a 50 mile MTB event and more rides as they fill in the schedule. I'd like to include another ascent of Brasstown Bald, but it can't be in conjunction with the Tour de Georgia this time. In case you didn't hear, there will not be a race in 2009 ).

I'm really looking forward to seeing what it is like to climb hills at 170 lbs. vs the 200 lbs. I've carried with me for years.

stringbreaker

I'm just hoping to be able to ride and not have the achilles tendons on both legs give me fits. I haven't been on the bike since early September and if I over do the excercise they start to act up again. Docs says ice and rest and anti immflamatories and time. Here's hoping

forresterace

The centrepiece of my 2009 riding season is going to be The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure in early July. My brother and I are planning to enter the 680 KM eight day ride around Lake Ontario to the Quebec border.

https://www.waterfronttrail.org/gwta_web/

BengeBoy 

The Seattle area is blessed by lots of organized rides from March to October, and I put all of them on my schedule in 2008 and picked and chose the ones I wanted depending on the weather. Will do the same in 2009.

In 2009 I'm aiming to do the RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day); 150 miles and lots of climbing. Entry is by lottery, so I'm crossing my fingers.

I also want to cross the North Cascades Highway by bike, one of the most beautiful highways in North America. Round trip from home it would be an easy 4 or 5 day credit card tour, but if I don't get time for that I may just go up, get a motel on the west side, and ride west to east on a Saturday and then recross East to West on a Sunday.

Would like to spend a long weekend cycling the San Juan Islands.

I want to repeat the Tour de Blast, the ride up to the top of Mt. St. Helens.

Might do a 200k with the Seattle Randonneurs but will skip their more insane rides (which is most of them...300k, 400k, 600k, 1200k...).

Tom Bombadil

No organized rides or tours, but hope to put a couple of multi-day trail rides together again. I love doing those. Might consider a long'ish one (200+ miles) on my local trail if they get the connector finished between the two trail systems.

Outside of that it will be lots of day rides on trails in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Mojo Slim

The only thing actually planned is my 5th AIDS/LIfeCycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles -- 545 miles in 7 days with 2500 of my closest friends raising probably over $12 million.

geofitz13

My plans are up in the air. I want to do the Pan Mass Challenge (for the third time) but I' not certain if I want to committ to raising $4000. If I don't do the PMC, then I'll probably do Kaitlyn's Ride in Amherst MA, along with one or two MS rides. And I'm thinking seriously about the Seagull Century in the fall. Mainly, I want to get a lot of miles in and lose some of the spare tire.

DnvrFox

1 sprint triathlon in September. One BFN 50 First Annual ride August 31st. Otherwise, just keep on pedalin!

NOS88

My plans are to just do a few organized centuries in the area and try to put in more quality riding time. With both kids still in college and the economy in the dumper this is about the most I can expect.

staehpj1

Probably a tour in May/June with my daughter, and possibly the other young woman who did the Trans America with us, at an yet undetermined location. Pacific Coast is high on the list but many other options will be considered.

A Spring tour on the Santa Fe Trail with an online friend is a possibility.

I am riding a bit less now than before because I am running a lot. I hope to do a half marathon in the spring and am toying with running 350 miles across my state in the Fall carrying my stuff in a baby jogger.

Shifty

I will ride Cycle Oregon this year https://www.cycleoregon.com/

I may also ride the Seattle to Portland Classic ( STP ) in one day if I can get another rider or two to join me.

In March I'll attend the Moab Skinny Tire Festival https://skinnytireevents.com/content/section/4/31/
That's a very nice event at a time when I need to get away from the rain in Oregon.

I'm committed to do a "Century-a-Month" for this year, so I'll be going to all of the organized century rides in the Northwest, and maybe a couple in California too.

tsl

Join us on the Great Finger Lakes Bicycle Tour on the second weekend of June. Run by the Southern Tier Bicycling Club, it's three days of riding based out of the Hidden Valley Campground in Watkins Glen State Park.

It's been $68 for the weekend, $5 extra if you want a bunk in a cabin. The catered breakfasts and dinners are worth that alone. They really know how to tie on the feed bag.

Of course, the rides are marvelous too... Friday before dinner is a 20-miler just to break things loose. Saturday is a century (and shorter versions so everyone can ride), and Sunday a 45-mile recovery ride circumnavigating Keuka Lake.

It would be great to meet you (and any other East Coast 50+ers).

Neil_B

It worked for Lance!

Neil_B

My plans are to ride the Montour/GAP/C & O again, this time with a group of posters to the Touring forum. I plan on seeing a number of other trails in and around PA, some as weekend trips, some longer. These include the NCR trail from York, PA, into Maryland, the Pine Creek Gorge Trail, the Delaware Canal Towpath, the Lehigh Gorge Trail, and the Allegheny Trail.

PAlt

Next Year-
Assault on Mt Mitchell
3 Mountain Madness
Blood, Sweat & Gears
Ride Across Indiana (RAIN)
El Tour De Tuscon
a PAC Tour camp week
and anything else I can do based upon budget, circumstance and time. This was not as successful a year as I'd hoped, with injuries , job, and wife's illness all reducing the time I'd hope to spend riding this year.

groth

I second what tsl says about the Great Finger Lakes Bike Tour - the Finger Lakes are a beautiful region of the country and the Southern Tier Bicycle CLub does a great job. I've been there every year since 1999 and plan to be there again in 2009.

Another ride is the FANY ride (Five hundred miles Across NY) which starts at Niagara Falls and finishes 500 miles and one week later in Saratoga Springs. So you spend a day or so in the Finger Lakes, a day or so in the Adirondacks, etc. 2009 will be the ninth FANY ride and the eighth for me (I missed 2003). This week the FANY ride occurs the week before the Bon Ton Roulet. Usually they occur during the same week and we often wind up crossing paths with the BTR riders.

If you're interested in upstate New York and want a somewhat easier ride, there's the Erie Canal Ride which does 400 miles in 8 days starting from Buffalo and finishing in Albany.

Gee, checking the dates for 2009, it looks like one could spend almost all July riding in New York - first the Erie Canal, then the next week the FANY, and the next week the BTR! I think I'll stick with the just the FANY

Photo albums for the some of these rides are on my cycling pages.

- Ed

Retro Grouch 

My wife and I had scheduled a bike tour in Wisconsin last summer that was ultimately flooded out. We're considering doing the same one next year or possibly going to Xenia, Ohio for a week. The decision will probably hinge on what our friends think will be the most fun.

Beverly

If you decide to come to Xenia I would love the chance to meet you and your wife. It's just a 15 mile ride on the trails from Dayton to Xenia

Jet Travis

The only thing worse than having a job is looking for one. And vice versa. Good luck, man!

Beverly

I'll be attending the 50+ ride in Denver

I've done XOBA (Across Ohio Bike Adventure) the past two years and although I've enjoyed it I don't think I'll be doing it again this year. Last year was a tough one....heat and hills

I'm thinking about doing GOBA (Great Ohio Bike Adventure) this year. It's shorter daily miles but it has many more riders. Our cycling club provides a private SAG for this ride so that makes it much easier.

I don't have any other plans as I've just been elected the touring captain for my cycling club and I'm sure this will take up quite a bit of my time. I'll be planning rides for the club members and keeping the log for weekly scheduled rides. Some of the rides I'm hoping to plan are rides for new members, ice cream rides for families, a couple overnight rides with camping and rides to attend local festivals. Any suggestions for other types of one-time rides are welcome

Since I'm now retired I'm hoping to get out there and ride, ride, ride