roadfix

I actually started posing less and riding more.

BluesDawg

After years of saying they were overkill and unnecessary, I finally broke down and bought a good full suspension MTB. ('08 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp) Why did I wait so long? These things are great!

BTW, I still like to ride rigid and hardtail bikes, but the full suspension ride is an experience not to miss.

Monoborracho

I did the full endurance ride (103.4 miles) of the Hotter'n Hell Hundred, rather than one of the shorter rides.

rdmjr

I guess I'll break the ONE rule as well! I bought a trike and started riding it; the last time I rode a bike for any distance at all would have been 35+ years ago. I enjoyed riding it, started losing weight and that convinced my wife that she should try it as well. So we went from not riding at all to 2 trikes, with a total so far of 1120 miles for me and 330 for her.
- Bob

Terrierman

I bought a mountain bike and found myself fastened to it lying in a creek about 15 minutes after getting on it for the very first time. How refreshing.

stapfam

Tried not to reply

But have to say it- Well done on thinking about the Mountain bike race.- Just don't do it. Don't want you winning all the prizes next year .

Condorita

First weekend in February, I participated in my first 5K, in pouring rain. A bit over a month later, maybe three months after buying my bike, I participated in my first charity ride, the Tour de Sewer.

bkaapcke

I switched my Tiagra 170mm cranks to DaVinci 160's. To make it work I had to get a Phil Wood BB with a shorter spindle and hope I could get the chain line to line up right. Can't be too tough with BB cups having no stops and about 5mm of "play", right? well, I was worried, anyway, having never done this kind of thing before and with mucho bucks tied up in parts.

It was a lot of wasted worry. The chainline was great and the Front Der finally shifted 2 and 2 clicks, instead of 2 and 3. Shifting improved and my knees like it better. I'm a lot more confident in my wrenching, too. bk

gnirwin

I posted in this forum for the first time (this is the first post), I started bikeing this year on an old kmart bike and liked it so well I bought two new bikes. The first bike I purchased was a 2001 KHS Eastwood and just last week I bought a 2008 Specialized Sequoia Elite.

vger285

Probably the best one thing i did this year was to read a book,called SPARK,by John J Ratey,it bridged a gap i had between exercise and the mind with what i actually knew and did,turned my life around some and pumped it up a bit! Now i have a program i call 1X6-minimum fit for life/thats one hour a day six days a week of good arobic exercise,it just changed the way i look at things.

rm -rf

I posted this link previously in BF. I really like this picture:

zacster

What's old is new again. I put new working components on my old Davidson and started riding it again. Now I have both of my bikes in the entryway to my house. New brakes, new levers, new chain, new 10sp cassette, new saddle, new seatpost, new Keo pedals.

cccorlew

I did a double century. I still can't believe it.

robtown

Lots of new things, shower pass jacket, bike builds, etc.

I installed a Bionx 350PL high speed electric assist kit on my cyclocross bike. So far I've been able to get 25 miles on one charge in mode 2. I was able to commute to work Monday even though I was worn out from a long cold/sinus infection. My average speed on the way home was 19mph.
It will also be my winter commuter, full fenders, poggies, and studded snow tires. In my area the tires will only be needed a few days - but for those days they are priceless.

roccobike

Completed five metric centuries with my club, three with the B group (18MPH avg.), without being dropped.

tsl

The one thing rule makes this tough. The biggest thing was...

The Portland and I rode the Amtrak 1,600 miles to Denver, CO where we rode for a week in the Front Range. Highlights included climbing Mt. Evans (14,130 feet),



Then on the weekend, meeting with lots of nice folks I knew only from online at the BikeJournal.com Reunion, then riding with them on a little jaunt called "The Epic Century", from the high plains of Loveland, through the foothills and up into the mountains, skirting the eastern border of Rocky Mountain National Park, then back down.



It all worked out nice. Wonderful 12-day trip. I learned that, if I keep in shape, I can ride my bike anywhere I point the wheel.

Yen

Wow! I didn't expect this thread to take off like this.... it was just a thought (one of a bazillion) that raced through my little brain as I was out riding the other day, and I thought I'd ask. Thanks for making this such an interesting thread!

bikinfool

While not completely new, first time doing it in many years. Got a new LED light for mountain biking after dark! Give the trails a new look, inject something new to the mix and all...

Artkansas 

I guess the biggest new thing I tried this year was my Bikes At Work trailer. It was very useful when I had the carpets of my apartment cleaned and had to move a lot of stuff into storage for a short while.

I surprised myself by being able to tow it up a big steep hill here. Switchbacks were the key.

rumrunn6

I tried a road bike. I liked going FAST again and I liked biking for long distances. I got up to about 65 miles in one ride and I commuted a whole week for 170 miles. Not sure I'll go back to my hybrid, but lately I've been tempted to pump up my mountain bike tires and take her for an aggressive ride! I want a spiderman outfit.

Wildwood 

Can I nominate a winner for this thread? for 2 reasons.
1. Best pics
2. Best quote of the week

tsl

Aw, shucks. I'll accept the nomination, but only for those reasons, okay? Not for the accomplishment itself.

Other folks in this thread have done things that take my breath away. And besides, climbing Mt. Evans is so commonplace out there, that they have a special entrance fee for bikes ($3), and there are bike racks at the top. My post office doesn't even have bike racks, (although it's free to ride there).

Yen

It was one of my favorites too.

Red Rider

Like Allegheny Jet, I ventured into bike racing this year. I completed 4 criteriums (major pucker moments), 3 road races (major fun) and 3 time trials, one tandem, two on the Diva. Despite the fear and puckerosity, I had great fun and hope to do it again, with improvements, next year.

Allegheny Jet

Red Rider,

You should try Cyclecross. Low pucker moments but a good chance to see the inside of your lungs! One half way into the race you ask yourself "why am I doing this?", then 5 minutes after the race you'll want to "have at it again".