My goals this year were not so much riding as mechanical or even bio-metric, if you will.

My biggest accomplishemnt was converting my 1997 Nishiki Blazer MTB-based commuter from a straight-bar to drops. Although I can do some adjustments and installments on my own, I'm not a bike mechanic. The conversion yielded the hand comfort I sought, plus an added unexpected bonus of hip comfort. My goal was to keep it under $75 using used parts. After looking though the parts bins at the co-op I decided on new brake levers (including interupter/cross levers). That put me at $90, and a longer than expected six hours later I was done. Replacing the longer cranks I had put on 20-years ago was going to be my next project, but since the altered riding position seems to not aggravate my hips, that project is shelved.

I also had my lbs replace the rear cassettes on my two road bikes to give me lower gearing, while preserving my top gear ratio. My knees were happy about that one.

I also sussed out a completely new route to work and back which gives me five routes to choose from (although only four home). I am learning the strategies of that one while enjoying new scenery.

I rode down to 5F which was my new low-temp level last year. I rode in 4 inches of snow, which is an inch over my 'loose' limit of three. It's not that it's difficult, it just slows me down too much to be practical for commuting.

Although I really need to drive on Mondays to make an evening group meeting after work, I did ride on a few mondays which meant leaving early, or pushing my pace. I did ride to my meeting once, but I was exhausted from an unfortuynate head wind which didn't help.

I bought a new rain cape, still not a dedicated bicycle rain cape, but cheap, and it works for the seven or so rain rides this year (gotta love Colorado!).

My bigget dissapointment was that I didn't do a birthday ride this year. My dad was ill and passed away the day before my birthday. My goal changed to ride HIS age, 85, and specifically ride from here in Colorado Springs to Denver. That is my goal for the coming year. I found a safe route, and my daughter in Denver will be there to receive me and drive me back. My neighbor even wants to drive SAG for me, which my wife wants, but I don't.

I feel I didn't slack off this year, even though I may have had a handful more days where I decided my body was telling me to drive, and I did.

They say to listen to your body, as if that's a difficult thing to do. I mean, I'll be 58 in three weeks and sometimes my body is practically screaming at me.