Yen

Name something new (bike-related) you tried this year and describe your experience with it. Maybe you switched from a hybrid to a cf road bike, from platforms to clipless, or from foot-in-a-vice MTBs to foot-on-a-cloud Sidis. Or, you tossed the computer and went solo without numbers and stats to drive you crazy. What's one change you made this year that stands out above the rest?

I'll go first -- we joined a great bike group. They are a fun, funny, great bunch of people who love to ride and to encourage others to ride. We've made new friends, and the new friendships and encouragement have helped me through a very rough year -- it keeps me riding, setting new goals, and looking forward to the next ride together. It's the most fun we've had in years.

UberIM

Touring bike with fenders.......

Digital Gee

Let's see...

This year I got my first Sidi's. I went clipless. I began riding with my new GF, who promptly got a better bike than me and began dropping me at will. Began "commuting" each morning (actually just a five miler around the neighborhood; I work at home). Began using a bike to get groceries, run to the farmer's market, go to the post office, go to the gym. Bought one new bike (the Globe) and sold one (the Peugeot).

Other than that, same old same old!

Yen

DG, you didn't follow directions. I asked for ONE.

Yen

Come to think of it, except for the girlfriend part, my year has been about the same as yours!

alpacalypse

Bought and rode my first folder this spring, a cheap singlespeed Dahon. Took it everywhere, up to Rochester, NY and down to Santa Fe, NM. Beat the crap out of it. Loved it so much I bought a Xootr Swift and ride that, too. It stays up my dorm room at school.

So, folding bikes. That's my new thing. Last year it was a tandem.

BengeBoy 

Bought my first pink bike.
First "official" century (vs. solo century with no one watching).
Rode to the summit of Mt. St. Helen's (at least what's left of it...)
Rode to work over 100 times (20 mile round trip, currently 106 commutes year to date).
First 5,000-mile year (currently at 4,800...).
Bought my first bicycle bell (have not yet installed it; it goes on the pink bike, obviously).

howsteepisit

BMX platforms on an old Mt bike, riding with just pants, and keen sandals, then tried them on my road bike for a 30 miles ride. I liked it a lot.

SaiKaiTai

I guess the "one" for me would trying out a CF Giant and liking it so much, I bought the company!
OK, but I did buy the bike.

oilman_15106

First time ever on a full suspension Mt. bike. Always rode a hardtail. Jury is still out for me(full or hardtail) until my shoulder heals better.

Red Rider

We got a free used kid trailer and hauled our dogs around on a few rides with us.

Tom Bombadil

I attempted to outwit Digital Gee.

maddmaxx 

Built a new TT bike. It hasn't killed me yet but we're still negotiating. If we come to an accomodation this coming year I might even try to race it.............

Mojo Slim

I used a base layer under my jersey for the first time. Liked it. I have a short sleeved Craft wool with a windbreaker front and a long sleeve UnderArmor (TMI?)

Digital Gee

You gave it that good old college try, that's for sure.

Doohickie

In February, I started bicycle commuting for the first time in over 20 years, about a third of the time. In September, I started commuting most of the time (i.e., more than driving). I typically ride all but one day per week (I have off-site meetings on Wednesday and I haven't managed to work out the details of how to do that on bike, at least not yet).

That said, I've been a slug this week; I may only ride to work on Thursday. Monday and Tuesday were a combination of bad weather and having to run errands that made bike riding a little dicey; Wednesday will be meeting day; I can ride Thursday, and I have Friday off (I promise to ride at least twice my commute to make up for Monday and Tuesday. )

Beverly

I bought a pair of women's bib shorts this year. I've worn them once They are comfortable but I don't think they'll ever be my favorite pair. It's just too much of a hassle when going to the bathroom.

Wildwood 

Music in my ears - love it on some of my more deserted rides. But I still like quiet and solitude most of the time.

maddmaxx 

I thought you were a man of ambition???

SPlKE 

I bought an Easton EC-90 CF handlebar.

It absorbs so much road vibration, I kept thinking my front tire was going flat for the first few miles.

I don't think I'll ever go back to metal handlebars.

Jet Travis

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it ws the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way--and I was going there on a fixed gear bike.

freeranger

Bought my first LED flashlight and bar mount for riding in the dark. One of the 150 Lumen lights with a Cree Q5 emitter off of dealextreme. Really works well, lots of good bright light! Just ordered a 250 Lumen-waiting for it to arrive and see how much brighter it might be.

rodrigaj

I started going on 30mile rides at 3:15AM.

jppe

I traveled and did some Century routes I hadn't done before-such as Six Gaps in Georgia.

momof4greatkids

Hey Bev,

I tried bibs this year for the first time and I really love them. I learned something by trial and error that helps in the bathroom.....three words, FULL ZIP JERSEYS

Of course 99% of my jerseys are 1/2 zip SO...more shopping?