Originally Posted by fender1

Nice year & congrats! Next up: carbon fiber IGH bike and skin tight lycra riding clothes?

Originally Posted by noglider

photogravity, I haven't been clocking my miles. I suspect I've ridden less than you this year. I do feel that I'm stronger this year than any other year. I've had a lot of fun riding with you and many others. And I've seen you gain a lot of skill and strength, too. Good stuff.

Originally Posted by repechage

I think you need another Winter Project, You should purchase Drilliumdude's Masi Special.

Originally Posted by bigwooly

I've not been back in the saddle for a whole year yet but in the 4 months i've been back riding i've ridden 267 total miles in that time.

I've participated in my 1st local group ride. I'm going back for my second tomorrow morning.

Having never owned a bike that fits i'm now up to 2 that are mine and rideable

I have a 2000 GT Avalanche frame that is in the process of being built up for riding the Muddy Spokes Club with a small group of friends that i've personally gotten all of them back riding regularly

I've gone from not knowing anything about bicycle maintainence and repair to being able to tear one down to bare frame and rebuild it. Thanks SOPO.

There are now a total of 14 friends and aquantainces who have started riding because they said they were inspired by my riding(and weight loss). One of these is my Father who is now riding almost 14 miles a day he's freshly retired 62 years old and absolutely loves riding.Gave him a 1974 Schwinn Continental which he has told me i can't have back because he's keeping it.

I'm officially half way to my weight loss goal of losing 85 lbs all from just riding my bike and cutting out soda in my life.

Also some of the people that i've gotten back into riding have already gotten others back in the saddle as well.

Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh

Hooked up with C&Vers in FL in March and May.

In June I almost rode a century for the first time (93 miles) and during the ride hit a 1000 miles YTD.

In July I met up with a bunch C&Vers in NY and went on a great group ride.

Tomorrow, if all goes well, I'll reach 1800 miles, 50 short of my 2011 total (hope to hit 2400 by Dec 31).

Wrenched lots of bikes, worked on dozens of freewheels, but haven't reached my 8000th post yet.

In October I've been on C&V for 7 years. Do I have the itch?

Originally Posted by Chrome Molly

Got back into the kind of riding shape I was in during my 20's (thanks to lots of climbing). Capped off a 3000 mile season during August at the DD. Did the 150k on about no sleep, and felt like I could have handled the 200k (with a few more PB&J sandwiches at the rest stops).

Picked up some nice rides (Miyata 1000, Gitane TDF), improved upon some of my others, and sold off other bikes at small profits. Got myself placed on Dave Anderson's list for a custom frame (for next year) and that has cooled the N+1 fever down to a real short list. Figured out the best saddle for me on long rides, and that really helps.

I have some winter projects teed up. And, there's at least two months of riding left.

My roller-skiing has suffered though...

Originally Posted by 4Rings6Stars

My bicycle achievements have been lacking this year (largely do to other achievements) but I:

Sold all my old 'flip stock' junkers and officially quit flipping bikes.
Bought my first custom American bike and first tandem (same bike).
Did my first self supported, multi-day ride. Hope to do some real touring some day...
Also graduated undergrad, then grad school, then got engaged, then got a big boy job.

Originally Posted by gaucho777

After basically abandoning the sport for two decades, I restored my teenage race bike:

Originally Posted by photogravity

I would love to get my grubby paws on DD's Masi, but that money would be better spent on paying off my mortgage. We've only got about $70,000 to go and I aim to pay it off by the end of 2013. I have got get focused and stay focused on that goal. My wife is tired of working and the deal is that once the house is paid off, she can quit work. I'm actually likely to do as elguicho and sell off some of my collection to pay off the mortgage.

Originally Posted by photogravity

I would love to get my grubby paws on DD's Masi, but that money would be better spent on paying off my mortgage. We've only got about $70,000 to go and I aim to pay it off by the end of 2013. I have got get focused and stay focused on that goal. My wife is tired of working and the deal is that once the house is paid off, she can quit work. I'm actually likely to do as elguicho and sell off some of my collection to pay off the mortgage.

Originally Posted by gomango

Nice achievement PG!

You are certainly one of my favorites.

Keep up the great work!

I rode a bunch of neat bicycles this year.

Kept some, sold some.

Healed from a god awful bicycle accident and have been pouring on the miles ever since April.

Originally Posted by jimmuller

Photogravity, well done! You and Rachel are rolling along nicely on the Bilenky, and you're putting up some great accomplishment stuff in the bargain.

Since you asked:

This year, actually since last October, Sharon and I have ridden our tandem over 2000 miles, with a longest distance of 72 miles. Special satisfaction was from getting Sharon back on the road.

I rode my first century, an unsupported solo run on the Masi.

I haven't commuted as much as the 1000 miles last year, probably only about 600 miles, largely because of weather and work requirements.

My meager bike collection grew from 2 plus tandem to 5 plus tandem, the new additions being a rebuilt Bianchi, a rescued from near death Masi, and a rebuilt Bertin. None on the bikes was a true restoration but they are reasonably period- or culture-appropriate. The new bike colors are black, red, and orange.

I've lost between 5 and 10 pounds.

I climbed Cadillac Mountain again, always a personal treat.

We did our first bike tour on the tandem, a simple 1-night trip with BF member berner.

We had some great rides with BF member photogravity and Rachel!

Originally Posted by anixi

Mine: got up to 15.5mph average speed on a hilly 10 mile course, 42.5mph fastest speed ever on two wheels. That's about it since recovering from major back surgery on April 9 of this year. Tough year!

Originally Posted by gaucho777

After basically abandoning the sport for two decades, I restored my teenage race bike:

And I found a diamond in the rough:

Originally Posted by northbend

PG, Kinda sneaky how your fitness improves all while you've just been out having fun this summer? Congratulations.

Bigwooly, great story man. Keep it up!

I'll do the selfreflection later at the end of the year. I still have have one more bucket list item to check off this December

Originally Posted by photogravity

I only wish I knew what kind of riding shape I was in back in my 20's! Until I started riding again in 2009, I don't think I threw a leg over a bicycle since my mid-teens. I definitely concur that climbing is a great way to get into good riding shape.

I, and others here I'm sure, look forward to seeing that new bike and whatever you have in store for the winter.

Finally, what's the saddle you're alluding to? I'm interested to know.

Originally Posted by anixi

Totally doable, good luck: https://www.daveramsey.com

Originally Posted by Chrome Molly

For me, the magic one is the Selle Rolls. I spent a lot of time on Fujita Belts, Avocet touring and racing, and Fizik saddles among less notable ones. Still like the Belts, but the Rolls is much lighter and allows different positions while riding. When you find the one, you'll know.

Originally Posted by photogravity

I know what you mean about geting back into the sport. I hadn't ridden since my mid-teens so here I am 30 years later getting into bicycling. Even as a teen, I wasn't "into" bikes, but I rode because it was a way to get around. Are there threads about the two bikes you mentioned in this post? I'm interested in learning a bit more about these projects.

Originally Posted by gaucho777

With apologies for the belated reply and for resurrecting this almost-dormant thread (I had sporadic access to my computer the past couple days), thanks for your interest in the bikes I posted above. Since you asked...yes, there are a couple threads about these projects, though the Ron Kit is still a work in progress:

Park Pre: Link
Ron Kit: Link, Link2

To keep it on topic, I've also read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. As for non-bike-related accomplishments, my wife and I both maxed out our Roth-IRA contributions this year for the first time, and we also set up a college fund for our daughter (though we're telling her that she's going to need a scholarship ).

Originally Posted by photogravity

Thanks Tom. Given we broke the chain on the tandem twice back in July, I can attest to your strength. I'm nowhere near as strong as you or rhm, but am pretty happy with where I am, especially since I only started road riding this year.

Originally Posted by thinktubes

...but lots of things are eating into riding time lately.

Originally Posted by thinktubes

Nice work all!!! Fall is the time to look back on the season if you live in a colder climate (I'm in Chicago).

I'm at 944 miles since June 15th (when I replaced my computer battery). Hoping to get 1000 by mid-October. I'll probably end up with about 1500 miles for the calendar year. Did a hilly solo ride 106 mile ride in 5:49 rolling time.

I lost 10 lbs and rode more than I have in the past 5 years. I used to ride around 2500 miles a year, but lots of things are eating into riding time lately.


Looking forward to hitting the gym over the winter and maintaining fitness with strength training and spin classes.