With the (road) season winding down, what kind of year was it for you?

Mine was the year of the "junk" miles.

I started yet another season pretty strong, only to succumb to a nagging hamstring problem again Junk miles to get use to a new bike. Junk miles to get use to a pro fit. Junk miles to recover from injuries cause by that fit. Junk miles to get use to my own fit tweaking.

I feel pretty good now, and its the end of the season

I've ridden at least 500 miles more than last year. Hoping to get to 3,000 mile mark by mid November and possibly 3,200 miles by end of year, weather permitting.

The year of injuries (aka it sucks to be old). 7 months off the bike with injuries. Let's hope for better next season.

Seriously looking for better performance next year.

Lousy milage, much less than last year, but more motivated than ever. Just have to find the time.

To me there is no such thing as a junk mile. All miles are good miles.
My year in review....Total mileage was pretty good. I should end up right around 7,000 miles. I did a few races but not near as many as I wanted to in the beginning of the season. My heart was just not into racing this year. Maybe next year....maybe not
I have developed a calf tendon problem this year so that has been my biggest downer. Still trying to figure out how to fix it.

1500+ for me. It's my highest mileage ever, plus I've got 2.5 months left in the year.

MIne was the "rebuilding" year. Having been off a bike since 8th grade, I hopped atop my grandfather's Free Spirit, bought drop bars for it, and in the past 3 months, have tried to ride about 100 miles a week. Commuting to work (20 mile RT) at least 3 days a week has helped that average

At this point, I drive about 10 miles/week - the rest (including shopping, etc) is done on my bike. Plan on buying a vintage 3 speeder for the local commutes, and leaving the "road bike" (lol) for the commute.

Also wanting to get a real road bike with my tax check for next year's commute.

High speed, short distance.

Gone were the majority of the centuries.
Group rides were in.
Racing a bit.
TT's

Overall mileage has been up over previous years, but not the epic weekend distance rides. Overall speed has picked up substantially as well.

A mix of new and old.
30+ races and had the higest milage count since I started riding road three years ago (about 4,600 miles so far, looking to break 5K this year). Got off the front twice, fully blew up one of those times (most exciting three minutes of the season!)

Took the MTB out for the first time in more than three years and the first time on MTB trails in 5+ years. I also plan on doing a few CX races in mid-October which will be "new." I spent about 30 min last night working on mount/disount/carry/running. Hope I don't puke.

2008 was also the year I started riding in the cold back in March. Coldest ride was in the 20s, and while that's nothing for many of you I was happy to have survived (only becuase of the multiple layers of bike clothes I've manged to buy over the last three years).

I plan on buying lobster gloves this fall to see just how far we can push the road season (weekends, anyway, getting too dark to ride much after work).

2008 was a great year. It is my third season riding. I had more miles than the last two seasons. I'm 10lbs lighter than last year and 30lbs from the year before. This was my second year racing. Last year was about hanging on. This year I actually applied some strategy to my racing. Found out several times that I don't have the strength to go out early on a the final run to the finish and sustain the gap. Took a while to convice myself of this fact and finally applied this knowledge in my last race. Met a whole bunch of great people in this forum, at races and in group rides. Learned a ton about racing...some from fellow racers and some from experience. I would like to add another 250 miles before Christmas. Given the daylight available and that work keeps getting in the way of my riding, this will be a challange. Looking forward to next year.

A huge disappointment..

Built up a steel Pinarello in the off season with the help of my trusty neighborhood mechanic Psimet. That was the pinnacle of my biking season. Lost 35 pounds between Jan and the April and enjoyed the heck out of the New Glarus ride, even while bringing up the rear. Fully expected to complete my 1st century this year and at the very least, a metric.

Got lazy, stopped exercising so much and put 10 pounds back on instead of continuing the downward spiral. Logged only 700 miles so far with a couple 40 mile rides as my max. Found that working 10hr days was not very condusive to commuting as I hade child care issues most of the days I worked and had to be home ASAP. Even tho I had weekends off for the summer months, got out very little due to prior plans and again, laziness. Found just about every excuse not to ride that I could. Made zero group rides except for the New Glarus ride.

Essentially in a nutshell, I really, really sucked this year. Now have M,T,W off for 6 months. School is finishing up for me as I'm now in my last class before earning my Bachelors at 44, and preparing to move on to my Masters. However, I vow to be ready for next year. I'll start the season off at least 40 pounds lighter than I am now, or I'll never be seen on this forum again.

This year was the bottom of a ramp for me. Next year, depending on the speed of this year, will either be the edge of the ramp, or flying in the air.

That's a metaphor. I said that because nobody in this country knows what one is anymore.


Next year will be badass. I'll be getting my Category 2 upgrade very, very early in the season. Probably by the first or second race. I'll be racing SuperWeek, Sea Otter Classic, some USA Pro Series crits, Tour of Ohio, Tour of PA.... etc, a free race bike, free equipment and free food.

Gaddamn. Do I have it good or what?

I bought a mtn bike and a 26" jump bike, pretty fun to do other styles of riding.

On the road bike, I got a lot more serious .... I started riding with groups, and then started racing- I even shaved my legs! I met some great guys(and gals) from the forum too.

I feel like I have improved on the bike a lot this summer, and have a lot of untapped potential in these cannons. It's more than just a hobby for me now. It's my life.

2008 was the year of gapped, dropped and lapped.

2009 will be the year of increased endurance, racing earlier in the year, and sticking it in the money in atleast one CAT 4 race (for USAC, anyway... I'm a CAT 5 for life in ABR).

Hey...sounds familiar....
I plan on putting myself in the top 5 or so in at least one Cat 5 race bfore requesting an upgrade. I want to win some kind of race. I am starting to think that may be in a TT...

Next year....full Stupid Weak. I think I may take the whole week off from work to submit myself to the hell that is stupid weak.

you all know how my year went.

1100 total miles. started out pretty good, spent the first few months of the year doing spinervals dvds on a revmaster, but with the birth of madelyn, i had to start putting her before riding.

still had some great rides though. the 'new to me' penny road pub ride was great. awesome speeds and beautiful scenery. many a mile spent with rob as we would fall off the back of CC, Cylowe, and Cyclpsycho.

i did still manage to eek out a respectable 100k dairyland dare ride and show up to most of the century rides on my calendar this year.

i plan on taking the moots over to a friend's house and we are going to set up a 'trainer studio' in his basement and go through the 20 or so spinervals dvds throughout the winter. i also plan on doing some moderate weightlifting and focusing on my core.

and JT1, you'll be delighted to know that i also plan on reading up on proper diet and finding the right selection of foods so that i don't bonk after 30-50 miles in a ride.

2009 will be much better for me, i know it will.

*walking into basement to build up superlight race wheels*

And, I should have mentioned that it couldn't have been more fun. I, too, will probably be taking vacation time off and doing more superweeks races. Assuming that calendar looks remotely like it did this year, I might plunge into the entire Masters 4/5 series... I think it was 6 races this year.

Stop with that TT nonesense, man. You're born to race crits!

2008 was a great year for me (my first season back on a bike in about 13 years).I did three centuries,well really only two my last long ride was 89 miles.I've done some fast group rides with average speeds of 20 to 20.8 mph(fast for this forty year old body).2278 miles logged in this year,I started riding this year just after Memorial day.I have a trainer so I will be riding indoors over the winter,I want to improve my speed for next year.Now that it's getting dark out by the time I get out of work, I've been doing some trail riding on my hybrid.

Nodding and smiling as I read the replies. I can relate to Scott's comments "It's more than just a hobby for me now. It's my life."

Which has given me cause for reflection on biking and my life. A lot of my rides this year included weekend road trips and a weeklong bike tour. Which means a lot of precious time away from my family. Riding closer to home will be a priority next season.

2008 was a good year. I accomplished something I never dreamed I could....RAIN. I had three centuries in Sept. I did GOBA which included quite a bit of climbing. I have around 4K miles for the year, and a whole lot of "zen" cycling moments in the mix and great memories of riding w/some really awesome folks.

Colleen

2008 was a year of learning. Tweaking my old Trek to fit well, went clipless, learned alot about sustenance on long rides, and bike maintenance. Most importantly, I found a form of exercise that I love. I started with nothing, and over the course of the summer, spent about $600 total on bike, shorts, jerseys, shoes, helmet, gloves, pedals, floor pump, computer, tubes and maintenance items. Everything but the bike was brand new. Looking for a trainer now.
Goal for 2009: Ride the Griffen (90+ mile race around Lake Winnebago) and not finish last.

2008.......the year of the club.

the 700 club, the 3000 club (21 miles to go), riding with local bike shop clubs, and so on.

in other words progression. i continue to get a bit better each year.

i did some great rides this summer, but cant really bring myself to summarize it all just yet. i leave that for winter time when my SADs kicks in.

later.

it was good did a century, race xc mtb all year , and did a endurance race.

2009- all 12 wors race ( moving up a class), 2-3 wems races, 24-9, elgin race, possible some I74 series
plus more?

2008 was a year of milestones, major and minor.

Been alive for 50, been riding for 3.
Harder rides, more mileage, better on hills, better speed.
Easier rides, more mileage, better on hills, better speed.
Learned that progress can't be cheated.

100 miles became routine, 50 became training.
Got my dream bike, got a professional fit.
Got hit by late season slump and worked through it.

Discovered that pain and relaxation co-exist.
Struggle less to ride faster.
Feel better today then in 10 years.
Got a million ideas for rides, just need a million bucks, and a million more days.

Second best of all, I think I'm a cyclist now, not a bike rider.
Best of all, I've got my training plan for the next ten years. After 60 I may just wing it.

"+" I had a goal of riding at least 2008 miles in 2008 ( suggestion from someone in Clydesdale forum). So far I am at 2300 and hope to finish the season @ around 2500. It's 500 more than last year.

"-" Got hit by a car first time ever in 2008.
"+" No injuries from car hit, riding become more responsible;

"-" No single track this year. Not sure why...