I like these! I am SO overdue to learn Spanish. I have not even taken a beginner course. There's a small chance I will do so in the spring.

And increasing my power might be more worthy than counting miles up to a goal. Food for thought.

RAGBRAI ?

OTET ?

GAP ?


drink more beer ? number of breweries on the OTET … sheesh the one relatively short stretch of the OTET (LMST area) has something like 5 breweries ?

but I gotta admit even 6.4 miles in nasty cold weather would be a ‘no’ for me

No new bikes ?

Nope, 32 is enough.

noglider
I have a recommendation for getting started in Spanish; a free podcast of 90 short lessons called Language Transfer. It's a teaching conversation between the teacher and student. It has truly great insights for native English speakers learning Spanish.
I recently finished 3 semesters of Spanish at Queens College* and the old school rote grind gave me a good base of vocab and grammar, but...In order to get conversational, this winter I started with an 1-1 tutor. I think it's the only way for me to get past "translating in my head" - I hear a sentence, translate it to english, decide on a response and translate it to Spanish - so clunky!

*I'm not suggesting formal classes but CUNY is $80/semester for city residents over 62, non-matric!!! Up to 3 classes/semester.

Did the OTET in 2021. Yes, plenty of breweries. We stopped at the first one in Loveland, maybe an hour into the ride. Why not?

I know what RAGBRAI is, no thanks. But not sure what ride GAP is.

I'll go with my usual mileage goal: at least 5K for the year though 6K would be great. I have one multi-day tour planned for April and will likely fit in two more. Ohio-to-Erie (OTET) is definitely one of the possibilities (my brother lives in Cleveland, so it would be good to visit him). If schedule allows, I'd like to to Cino in Montana again as it's a ton of fun. Three times in 2024 I had camping reservations for an overnight solo bikepacking trip, and three times I had to cancel for various reasons. I really need to do a couple of those trips in 2025.

https://gaptrail.org/

I did the DC to Pittsburgh--C&O Canal/GAP tour in 2023. On the whole, I enjoyed it though this was early July so hot and humid, plus the C&O was really muddy, which was tiresome after a while (had to stop twice to scrape mud out of my fenders to keep my wheels moving). That year the Paw Paw Tunnel was closed, and the hike-a-bike alternative was a real drag. I'd consider doing the ride in the opposite direction for the sake of variety.

I've been using Duolingo for close to a year. I'm improving but slowly. Far from conversational.

Hit 2 of my goals today!

One was milage, the other was supporting the local craft brewing community.

I'm a grad student at CUNY/Hunter. Last year, I went to register for classes, and knowing that I could audit for free, I asked if I could take a non-required course for free and also take my required courses for my masters degree. No. I burst out laughing. I find it ridiculous.

I'll try your podcast. I don't know if I'll have any spare time, but podcasts could be a good way for me to squeeze stuff in! So thanks.

Great Allegheny Passage

150 miles - almost all off-road / rail trail crushed limestone surface

approximately 30 bridges and trestles, four tunnels, next to the Youghiogheny and Casselman rivers and through the scenic Laurel Highlands

the GAP is an incredible ride - incredible experience

especially the sections near Ohiopyle PA and then through Meyersdale toward Frostburg Maryland

not exactly close to you - but still not too far and especially when you consider bikers from all over the US and world travel to ride the GAP

much of the GAP is remote and tree covered and tends to be cooler than surrounding areas - so it can be a decent if not ideal ride even during hotter times of the summer

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f066297d3.jpeg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...67e7a2ede.jpeg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6fff9d104.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de62b77fb.jpeg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...157f186e8.jpeg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eb8f2b1a9.jpeg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5fed35215.jpeg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9293e93bd.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e096f978.jpeg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...27b18a541.jpeg

Some really nice photos there! I did the GAP/C&O last May.

My goal is not pleasant as the above but after a riding partners experience It strikes me as needed, reducing exposure to the hazard of traffic, new routes, times, etc.

I plan on riding my first Gran Fondo, the Hincapie Lehigh Valley. I'm buying my first indoor trainer on friday, and I bought Joe Friel's Cyclists Training Bible. I've never been in a competitive cycling event before, so it should be fun. 82 Miles, 6,750 feet of climbing. Of course (need you ask?) I'll be doing it on my Raleigh Technium. I just turned 67.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c89965b5e.jpg

Thanks - your outstanding videos inspired us - especially :


.



the view of the valley after passing through the Big Savage tunnel (and just before Mason-Dixon Line) is one of my favs (approx 2:50 mark on your video)


.

I do not have any event goals.

General goals, not necessarily in order.

1) Ride as much as I can
2) Improve bike fitness
3) Don't get hurt or die riding
4) Do more rides with my wife
5) Keep enjoying riding

Thank you for reminding me that I can have goals like these.

Great ! and nice bike !
Reminds me of a Bob Jackson I had, just a deeper Lilac color - was a great bike !
Ride On
Yuri

Ride more

Weigh less

My goal for 2025 is to ride Fredo all the way around "the Monument", as we used to call what is now Saguaro National Park East's Cactus Loop Drive, without walking any of it. I've done that on my brother's Clem Smith, Jr., but the problem with both toe clips and clipless for me is starting on a hill - I don't feel safe wobbling while trying to clip in. Plan A is to try simply cinching up the toe-straps enough so that I can ride with the pedals upside down without any scraping (I don't wear cleats with the toe-clips - can't reach the straps safely anymore). Plan B is to change to flat pedals, for both Fredo and Blue Bella.

Prior to meeting my brother in Tucson, I also want to have Fredo's head badge affixed:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ca2678a40.jpg
Early April, here we come!

God willing.

Cool head badge! Where'd you get it?

Thanks!

I got it at the park's visitor center, several years ago. The Cactus Loop Drive has always been a favorite of cyclists. I guess somebody had a clever idea for a souvenir!

I just checked, and I still have mine, right where I put it last. I don't know if the park still sells them.

Ride more
Lose weight
Don't get sick
Don't get injured
Complete a century
Complete a double century (?)