Dancing Skeleton

I'm in my mid-forties, and just got back into cycling last year. When I was in my teens, I would ride all the time. I was a little bit of a fatty, but cycling helped me shed the pounds & got me into shape. But I stopped riding in my early twenties, and then in my early forties, my interest in cycling began to stir again.
Before 2010, I hadn't ridden since before STI shifters. In fact, when I bought my friends old Trek 1000, I couldn't figure out how to shift!
Well, last year I bought a Madone, joined a cycling club, and also started riding with a couple of friends who were going through a 40'ish cycling revival themselves.

Yesterday, I passed 4000 miles for the year, and I loved every one of those miles (well, except when I bonked back in July, that was horrible. I'm never doing that again).
Back in March, I had hoped for 3000. 4000 wasn't even in my thoughts.

I had forgotten how wonderful cycling is. I wish that I had kept riding all along, but I'm grateful that I finally got back into it. I've got plenty of years left to enjoy this wonderful activity.

The season is almost over here in the Boston area, once the snow falls, that's it for me. I hate the cold, so eventually I'm heading west, where winter cycling garb is toe-covers, leg warmers & a long sleeve jersey. Until then, I'll keep pedaling away here.

rjones28 

Congratulations. Well done.

LowCel 

That is awesome, congratulations!

jamesdak 

Good job, sounds a lot like me. Started cycling just last year. Don't let the cold deter you. I ride through the winter and it is great. Just prep a bike right and dress smartly for the cold. It's 9 f. outside right now and I am getting ready to head out. The other cool thing about riding through the winter is how many miles you can get in a year. I hit 7601 yesterday and am certain I will make 8000 before the end of the year.

Anyway, awesome job and keep at it.

10 Wheels

Good miles...Happy miles.

fstshrk

Congratulations. I can only dream of 4K miles in a year.

canam73

Oh, miles. I thought you meant posts.

Well, congrats anyway.

alexaschwanden

i finally hit 4,000 miles, it feels good to ride that many, my next goal is to get to 10,000 miles on my bike.

ChucklesKY

Congrats!

I'm kinda in the same boat. Rode in my teens and some in my very early twenties. I thought I had hit the big time when I went from a 10-speed with stem mounted shifters to a road bike with down tube mounted friction shifters. But, one thing lead to another and just stopped riding until recently in my early 40s. It's awesome! Once again, way to go!

As far as the weather goes, I'm thinking when I win the lottery I will have a summer home in Boulder and a "winter" home in Australia!

Mike F

Congrats!

triumph.1

It sure is fun after a long time off. Late 40's here and just rolled 4300 miles since mid May. I had laid off since early 20's as well.

Impoliticus

Congrats! I just passed the 4000 mile mark this last week myself (for the first time).

Accordion

4000 is nothing. I have way more than you.

ancker

I'll hit 4000 sometime in the next couple weeks. I originally had a goal of 2000 but I joined a team in March and ended up with over 2000 in June. So I adjusted my goal to 4000 and look to have no problem at reaching it.

Not sure what to set for next year.

dwhitlow

Nice job everyone. I'm just about to hit 4000 miles for the year myself. (<23 miles to go). That's a significant bump up from the ~1900 I did in 2010. Not sure what the new goal for 2012 will be, as more miles may bump into time constraints. I think I'll try for 5000, but focus on making them 'better' miles. (ie work harder, more hills, etc.)

Also, we bought my wife a new car around last Christmas and we're neck and neck between my biking miles for the year and the miles racked up on her car. That feels good.

Right Said Fred

Classy.

benlees

Good job! With luck I'll do half that next year, lol.

madfx

Nice ! I'm in mass and we have been lucky with the weather so far! 4k is a nice number, I'm at 3425 and will crack 3500 this week. I'll be shooting for 4k in 2012.. Also in my 40's

frisky99

Yes congrats , I just hit a deer @ 65mph with my Civic ........ totaled. bummer