For the first time in my life I don't have the usual statistical goals..Normally I'd be focusing on things like average speed, total miles, Strava segments, etc. Having been an athlete my entire life including going to college on a football/baseball scholarship it's like it's hard wired. But, this year I just want to finish a ride looking forward to the next time I can ride. I will be 79 on Juneteenth and what I want is to use my cycling to enhance my quality of life in whatever time I have left.

In the words of Meatloaf, "stop right there."

If you were a competitive runner, you've got a motor in there somewhere just waiting to be re-awoken. Plus, you know how to train and you know how to push. You've got a great foundation to compete again. I've been a lifelong weekend warrior who's been kind of fast but not sponsorship fast. Don't worry about the bike for now, just get that motor restarted!

If you're at 11.5 today, a 7 week training plan looks something like this.

Three rides/week

Week 1: 11.5, 11.5, 15
Week 2: 11.5, 11.5, 18
Week 3: 15, 15, 22
Week 4: 15, 15, 28
Week 5: 15, 15 35
Week 6: 15, 15, 40
Week 7: 11.5, 11.5, 62

I think it's aggressive, and week 7 has a big jump. I hope the course is flat and the weather is great.

Week 6 is very telling. 40 miles will tell you if your bike fit is comfortable. You'll want to think about ending the 40 fueled and hydrated, not running on fumes. So you'll want to practice eating on the ride in weeks 3, 4, and 5. Every weekend ride is really about preparing for the next ride.

I know, you didn't ask for a training plan. Couldn't help myself.

Good luck!

”and now I waiting for the end of time to hurry up and arrive. Because if i have to spend another minute with you, I don’t think I will really survive…”. ;) Paradise by the Dashboard Lights is one of my fave songs. “What’s it going to be boy, yes or no?”

We were glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife… such a short verse, but yet such a huge mental picture.
Thank you! Very helpful. Until your post I had not come up with a training regiment. Other than a 20%-ish increase on the weekly long ride. Now it’s complete enough to ride on! Appreciate it!

Gonna try and keep it realistic for this year:

Get more riding time in is the major directive.
I had not expected my dry pavement performance to end as well as it did last fall, and I'm looking to build on that a bit if I can.

I've never been far off of that "ten year old terror on a two wheeler" which can be surprisingly relaxing at times.;)

-D.S.

Accomplished!

Plan A worked fine, but I will change to flat pedals if we go around again.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c5896f503b.jpg
Road around Saguaro NP with my brother and my friend.

Weather for my planned tour in S. Jersey and Delaware starting a week from tomorrow looks good so far. Cooler than I’d like, but good campfire weather.

I have a goal. Before the summer's over I want to be back riding up Flagstaff Mountain Road. It's been my daily for 35 years but I had a little incident

Crashed at the end of a rebuilding season in 2023 and didn't realize the extent of it until I got back on the mountain spring 2024. Disappointing because I ride through winters on relative flats - or ice riding - on the front range and felt great pre-season building up to serious rides. Of course, all that torque on steep climbs changes our perspective and my shoulder was just not making it

So anyway I had it repaired last fall and I've been doing the work to rehab and recently getting on bikes

At the moment I'm not feeling bigger than life and it'll take some doing, but man I got goals

Be here now is my mantra

It wasn't a goal but I did finally podium in a Zwift race. Small field with lots of climbing and a hilltop finish. We agreed to a steady pace to for much of the race; we all agreed except for two who were already off the front. So a nice pace for 16 miles and then the hills started. I tested the geoup a bit to see where everyone was and realized I was one of the stronger climbers. But I hung with the group and did my share of the work. We got to the base of the final climb and a number of them sped by me. I kept within my limits and slowly reeled them in one by one to grab the final podium spot. Felt good.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...804ec388ab.png

Late to the party (as usual), but my goals this year are to rebuild some endurance and strength as I’ve been dealing with chronic fatigue from long Covid for several years.

So, how did everyone do this year?

Me:
1. Yep
2. Ooops, forgot about it and aimed for 6K......
3. Nope
4. Awesome trip!
5. Yep
6. Yep.
7. Yep
8. Decided on Poland rather than Italy.

Lookin back at last year's goals

• Didn't get conversational but moved the needle enough to re-list this for 2026. I'm watching movies in Spanish, reading simple novels, taking classes in person and working with a tutor online.
• FTP...I was really training hard last year and my FTP was about 230 when I crashed out in Sept, soooo, nope. My FTP goal for 2026 is Mallorca.

I'd forgotten I wrote ^^^that, but the good news is, I accomplished both of my goals!

I rode 7,359 miles (all outdoors, on the road, moving through space covering actual physical distances) in 2025, which is 657 miles more than I rode in 2024.

And in May we bought and moved into a house with a big garage!!! There's an 8-bike wall rack in the garage...and currently only 6 bikes. So guess what 2025 will bring...

Did 50 some miles on Skyline - the harder bits. Didn’t do the 100.

Tucson trip got pushed to this May.

Didn’t maintain 175#’s. Can’t do it. My body puts on weight. Eased up a bit on starving myself. Hit 190 in a hurry.

Never hit 300w and probably never will. But one needs a target.

Hoping for 180#’s and 275 for my trip Tucson trip in early May. Not far off right now.

Since I'm over 62, I'm entitled to audit CUNY courses for free. Oh, you say it's $80/semester? Well, close enough. I was a graduate student at Hunter from Fall 2023 until ... NOW! I finished my degree! When I visited the registrar about a year ago, I asked if I could audit a course while paying for other courses. He said no. I burst out laughing because of the absurdity. Now that I'm no longer a Hunter student, I'll look into this. Spanish courses might be too full to let in auditors. I'll find out. But you spurred me to apply, especially since the deadline is January 15. Something might come of this.

I started the year with goals of enjoyment on the bike, 1500 miles, and an age+1 KM ride. I also started the year with back pain that kept me off the trainer and the road.

In August, my son and GS visited, and I was ready for my long ride with them. Instead, on the first ride of their visit, I crashed, hurting knee, hip, and shoulder. My fault, My knee really hurt. I was off the bike for 4 weeks. After a month back on the bike, I crashed again hurting knee, hip, and shoulder. My fault. Started the ride with 992 miles, crashed at 995.

Total for year: lots of very satisfying rides, most of which involved sitting in the sun, soaking up rays, 1005 miles, longest ride maybe 30-35 miles. I started the year thinking I might not ride 20 miles, so I'm very happy with 2025.

My goals for 2026: enjoyment, 1500 miles, age+1 in KM.

Congratulations on the degree, Tom.