Towards the end of 2011, someone started a thread in this sub-forum regarding individual goals for 2012. Mine, as I stated at the time, were, to do a century (100 mile ride), to finish a group ride with the "fast" guys, and to find a decent job (and not necessarily in that order). Well, today I achieved one of those goals.

I rode today with the local cycling club, doing a flat, to rolling, to hilly ride, totaling about 37 miles. And yup, I finished with the "fast" guys. In fact, at about 25 miles into the ride, with some steady uphill riding, I was setting the pace. Any of the other 4 might have been able to overtake me at any time, I don't really know. One of them, for sure, was clearly stronger than me, especially when climbing. I'm not saying these were the fastest guys ever, or even fast by any standards, but at least one of them was a former racer. I've never raced in my life.

I took 33 years off from cycling. I started riding a hybrid in the summer of 2009, and have been serious about road riding for less than a year. I've been working at being a stronger rider. I've gotten some personal help and advice, and I've been trying to absorb as much as possible from this forum. I'd like to thank all of you for the info that you freely and cheerfully provide.

Now, I'm pretty sure I can do the century. I really need to find that job...

I did my first RUSA event ever, a 100K. I'm pretty proud of it. (RUSA #7302)

I think I'm ready for a very hilly 70 miler coming up soon.

I'm not sure it I'm going to try a 100K the weekend before. I feel tired. My legs are OK but the rest of me is really dragging.

on the path and Dedelsack:

You both should be proud. I think you will both continue to get better.

I'm not sure that it's pride, but it feels good. Thx for the kind words and encouragement.

You guys should be proud of yourselves!

At the beginning of the year I had a goal of 2500kms for the year in the back of my head. With today's ride I hit the 2461kms mark. I'll be riding my 2nd 200km brevet next weekend and also have a 100km Populaire under my belt. I recently reset my goal to 5000kms for the year and am looking forward to a 300km brevet near the end of April. I wonder if I'll be resetting my goal later in the summer???

Well done guys and keep the pedals spinning.

After a winter of not riding much--I have entered two events at the end of May that I do not want to struggle with. That means that I will have to get the riding and training in by the end of April to enable me to achieve this.

I'm a newb but let me share my quarterly goals update.

My goals were modest; ride 3 times a week for 30 minutes or more, and to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year. I haven't ridden in 15 or 20 years so I intentionally started slow.

I'm doing well on the weight; I've lost ~25 lb which is well ahead of my goal.

Riding is a mixed bag. I'm underachieving my 3x/week goal but doing OK on the 90 min/week. I'm hoping I do better as the days get longer and I can get some road time in during the week instead of riding the trainer. We'll see.

But more importantly I'm enjoying the riding immensely. I have upgraded my old steed a bit (1983 Trek 620) and I'm slowly building up my time/distance/stamina.

I've signed up for the SIKAD ride on April 21 on the SART here in SoCal; perhaps I'll see some of you there.

Thanks for listening!

Tom in SoCal

Ride 1,750 miles in 15 weeks (that's about all I can ride here). Did about 1500 last year.

Do a 100 mile ride and at least one 100 km ride.

Commute 30 times round trip (again, in 15 weeks.... last year I did 22). This may not sound like a lot but my lifestyle can't handle being without a car during the day more than 2-3 times per week, and my commute home is a pretty difficult, mostly uphill 1.25 hour ride (making the morning ride in a fun 45 minute cruise!), so the days I commute are 2 hours in the saddle.

Lose 10 lbs (from 168 to a good, solid sub-160) before mid-summer. Should be able to do that with the above commutes and mileage alone.

I turned 70 today.

3 centuries last week, 5 rides, total 458 miles.

Scheduled 100 mile ride June 9th on a famous race track.

Goal is get somewhat faster with my new bikes.

YOU are my hero!!!

Did 1,000 miles last yr, shooting for 2,000 this yr.

Targeted 2,500 miles and got in 1,767 miles last year
Shooting for 3,000 miles this year and take off about 15-20 pounds.

My mileage suffered last year with significant business travel; so, I didn't set any goals this year. I did get to cross an item off my bucket list in completing the Cape Argus Cycle Tour. I hope to cross off another by finishing the 2012 Ride the Rockies. I completed a century yesterday in the Gran Fondo Texas that included a KOM leg. It wasn't part of my goals or on my bucket list, but I thought I needed to do it in preparation for Ride the Rockies. I have been doing a lot of pie rides, but I have not included them as goals either.

I guess I will take the accomplishments one day at a time and be grateful that I can enjoy myself so much on my bicycle. With this attitude, I hope to do well and won't be disappointed if I don't fulfill preset goals.

Did 4371 miles last year, Going for 5000 this year. Due to the mild winter already have 1275 miles.

Aiming for 4000 miles this year and am ahead of last year: 700+ miles. It has helped that the average temp in IN for this March was 14 degrees higher than average.

Wow. Serious mileage to come. I'm at 754 miles, unheard of in the past. However, I'm tired. I'm planning on a 13-17 mile ride, maybe, tomorrow and that'll be it until the weekend. I need veetamens, or steroids, or packed cells, or something...

What about coffee? Are you drinking enough coffee? Maybe you need to have your caffeine levels checked.
Or ketchup - is your ketchup intake adequate?

Must have vitamin K!!! It's a food group!

Sadly, company travel intervened in January and February - of seven weeks, six were on the road. Gained 10# and lost that many weeks of fitness. Still haven't hit my first century. Then our wind/rain/flood called the Month of March landed, so I am three months with no century and way too few commutes. But did a mtb race Sunday, should get over 100 miles this week, and have a Metric planned with my wife at the end of the month. So, the goal is to hit a century a month for the rest of the year, plus three or more to make up for January - March. Hoping for 5000 miles this year, and maybe even getting down to the right weight. If I finally have the ball rolling....

Just come back from the quacks for annual BP and blood taking. BP is up at 140/70 so after a winters slacking- I have some work to do. And Bio mass is just below 25 so a bit of work to do there to get into safety.

Guess what my target is for the next few months?

Make a List of THINGS to do everyday:

Bike ride
Buy a New rocking chair.
Join BikeJournal.com https://www.bikejournal.com/home.asp
Buy a New Big screen TV.
Bike ride
Look for sales of New High mileage Bike tires.(Black Ones)
Eat Fish n Chips
Get BP Meds from pharmacy
Ride bike
Cross out items on list that are Bad Ideas.

Please contact the Ketchup Advisory Board's local office for the daily minimum requirements of intake for ketchup.

My only goal this year is to stay riding through the season. Damaged 3 discs in my lower back last June which took me out the rest of last year. No surgery, but still getting help from a physical therapist. About 350 miles in so far this year and up to commuting the 25 mi hilly round trip to work 3 days a week. Out of shape still, but life is good.

As usual, this years goal is ................................... next year.

Along the way, enjoy this year.

My one and only goal is to stay healthy. Last year was my sickliest year of my life and I didn't like it. If I feel good I will ride more miles and enjoy life more. That's my goal.