Your cycling highlights for 2018

[weisan]

As things start to wind down this year and looking back what are some of the highlights for you this year in terms of cycling?

I will start first.

1) What started off last October weighing 170 Ibs with the modest goal of losing 10 pounds (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=211467) ended up at…
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high0.jpg
To this date, and probably for the rest of my entire cycling endeavor, this still amounts to the single biggest gain in terms of performance on the bike and the enjoyment of it. It beats any new bike or bike technology or training program one can subscribe to. Highly recommend!

2) As I was saying, it really is about the engine, not the bike. But still, one has to feed the addiction!
After getting by in the past with bikes that can accommodate slightly wider than normal tires, this year I am upping my game in gravel rides by getting a dedicated machine. It’s got everything I ever wanted for a gravel bike - titanium, hydro disc, eyelets for fenders/racks, huge tire clearance - a quick change of wheels/tires allow it to adapt to any terrain - 700x43mm gravelkings, 650bx47mm Horizon, 700x28 gravelking slicks.
http://alicehui.com/bike/Plug/three.gif
Charge Plug 5 - craigslist $850 complete

A fairly recent addition - S&S-coupled Spectrum, sports touring geometry, fit up to 700x35mm tires. To me, this is a true do-it-all bike, my idea of a grail bike. It originally belonged to my pal Ray, he sold it here on the forum and it exchanged hands between four people with Clean pal being the last before it landed on my lap. It’s not going anywhere, I am glad I can keep it in the family.
http://alicehui.com/bike/Spectrum/IMG_0423.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/Spectrum/IMG_0428.jpg

Ok, full confession, there were other bikes that came in this year but we are not gonna talk about em’.

3) This may sound weird at first that it qualified as a “highlight” but to me, it is. Lost a cycling buddy this year to some dubious circumstances, cause of his death still unclear. In any case, I have chosen to focus more on the way he lived rather than the way he died so I took the lead in organizing a memorial ride (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=228809) in his honor. We had a great turnout, rode in perfect weather, had a great time of memorializing and sharing after the ride. My friend Mike was smiling down at us.
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high02.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high_mike0.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high_mike3.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high_mike.jpg

Now, switching gear a bit and moving over to the entertainment side of cycling…a couple of memorable moments that I recalled for the year of professional cycling. Too many to count, but these are the ones that did it for me...

Silvan Dillier entering the velodrome with Peter Sagan at this year's Paris Roubaix. Silvan not intimidated by the rainbow jersey and taking his fair share of pulls as the pair broke away from the peloton. To me, Dillier was the man of the hour even though Sagan won that race.
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high5.jpg

Viviani breaking down at the finish of Ghent Wevelgem after making a tactical error and allowing Peter Sagan to win at the sprint. I don't have a problem with men crying, it's only human especially when you put everything on the line and set a very high standard and expectation of yourself. Viviani picked himself up went on to beat Sagan and other top-tier sprinters in numerous races after that and had a banner year.
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high8.jpg

[weisan]

Simon Yates cracked at stage 19 of the Giro, his dream of winning his first grand tour went up in smokes. Up until then, he was almost flawless and aggressive. He redeemed himself by winning the Vuelta a España later in the year.

http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high14.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high17.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high1.jpg

Annemiek van Vleuten catching Anna van der Breggen just yards from the line...never give up!
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high3.jpg La Course

World Championship. Remember this name because I reckon we will be hearing about him for quite a while: Remco Evenepoel. The young Belgian was caught up in a crash earlier in the race, managed to pull himself back to the peloton, still have the strength and the audacity to attack the group and solo to victory.
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high12.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high13.jpg

A few other individual riders that were exciting to watch...
Michael Woods
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high9.jpg

Primoz Roglic
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high18.jpg

Julian Alaphilippe
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high19.jpg

And lastly, Toms Skujins gets my vote for the best dance routine at the finish in the Amgen Tour.
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high_1.gif

That's all I got...what about you?

[Caballero]

Some great highs and lows listed in there. I can remember seeing almost all of those pro ones too !

[pdonk]

Personal highs and lows for me to date:

Highs
Lost 15 lbs
Got fit for my first custom to me bike.
Rode with Clean 39T - he lent me a bike. Really appreciated the tour of Portland.
Built a balance bike for my daughter.
Back riding the track on a weekly basis for the winter.


Lows
Bike is likely to not arrive until 2019. Bike is "stuck" in paint as they try to figure out the colours and pattern for mine.
Was diagnosed with a mild heart condition - partial right branch block, not a big concern but an annoyance to be aware of.
Rode same number of times, but fewer KMs this year.
Didn't break 100km on any ride this year. Lots of 60-75km rides.

[MattTuck]

Lots of highs and lows off the bike. Mostly lows on the bike.

My son seems to prefer pink pacifiers, which I take to be an indication he'll be a fan of the giro.

2019 will be better, hopefully.

[benb]

Highs...

Did an ~80 mile day early in the season that included doing a New England Randonneur season opener ride... high point because it was horrific weather and I got through it in good shape. Raining and like 39 degrees at the start!

Did a Solo 111 mile ride with something ridiculous like 7000 feet of climbing.. went to Pack Monadnock in NH from the Boston area. Something I've wanted to do ever since I moved from NH to Massachusetts. That was a great great day. I took a day off work and had no commitments. Rolled out on my bike at like 9AM and came home around 5PM.

Did my first 150 mile day and averaged just under 17mph. Tough day, not necessarily all a high point, I was hoping to be closer to 18mph... got no sleep the night before and really had a lot of cramping on the ride.

Low points.. hurt my knee in late summer and missed a bunch of riding. The injury was not from cycling and I stayed off my bike for a while when I probably shouldn't have, in the end riding has seemed to be the best PT for it.

High point.. earlier in the year I consistently was doing 300-310w for multiple 10 minute intervals on rides on flat/slightly rolling terrain. Didn't get to 20 minutes. Haven't even found a good place I can regularly do a 20 minute interval without a car or something messing it up. I've wanted to hit 300w for 20 minutes for years.

High point made a few subtle adjustments that have helped my comfort and performance. Mostly cleat adjustments.

[RudAwkning]

High points: Completing a Super Randonneur series on my Steve Rex townie.
Finishing Leadville qualifier "Tahoe Trail 100" on a steel rigid singlespeed.

Low points: Smashing my face into a guardrail on a 1200k and getting airlifted to the hospital.

Super Ultra Mega High Point: Getting a new kitten. This was her before adoption, still behind bars.

[azrider]

I qualified for Leadville 6 years ago when I was (kinda sorta) fast. I broke my hand two weeks prior to start that year and I deferred my entry to following year. Complications with my wifes pregnancy kept me from attending that next years race also.

I gave up thinking that race wasn't in cards for me.

So fast forward to Jan 1 2018, I threw in a "lottery" and low behold got my name called. With a job that takes way too much of my time, travel, and two small kids, I somehow managed to get in enough training to not DIE and finally completed this Godforsaken race.......THAT is my highlight for 2018 ;):p:hello:

[tv_vt]

Great to see what others have done this year. Kudos on all the weight lost!

Highlights for me:
Getting over 4000 miles again this year. Has been a yearly goal for the last 10 years or so. It's always a bit of a relief when that mileage threshhold is crossed. Everything above that is just gravy.

Biking in France for 2 1/2 weeks in July. First half with my wife staying at BedBreakfastBikePyrenees out of Foix, rode some cols and some rolling stuff the Tour crossed over a few weeks later (and some they're doing next year, like the Col du Montsegur), then with the Col Collective for second week, doing the big stuff: Tourmalet, Aubisque and Soulor, Aspin, Lac de Cap-de-Long, Hourquette d'Ancizan, etc. Unfortunately my legs gave out a day too soon and I wasn't up for a second time up the Tourmalet from the other side.

Getting a Merckx MXL frame to try out. One off the Forum from the mid-90's. Rides great. We'll see if it earns a permanent place in the rotation with the Hampstens and Serottas.

Oh yeah, retired from my job after 35 years. It just got to be 'time.'

[rbtmcardle]

I actually rode, I mean I actually went out and rode my bike instead of just owning the bikes.. both here an for 10 days with a lifelong friend in Tuscany, it wasnt the best performance having not ridden in advance at all. But it did get me started riding again.

[XXtwindad]

Simon Yates cracked at stage 19 of the Giro, his dream of winning his first grand tour went up in smokes. Up until then, he was almost flawless and aggressive. He redeemed himself by winning the Vuelta a España later in the year.

http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high14.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high17.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high1.jpg

Annemiek van Vleuten catching Anna van der Breggen just yards from the line...never give up!
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high3.jpg La Course

World Championship. Remember this name because I reckon we will be hearing about him for quite a while: Remco Evenepoel. The young Belgian was caught up in a crash earlier in the race, managed to pull himself back to the peloton, still have the strength and the audacity to attack the group and solo to victory.
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high12.jpg
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high13.jpg

A few other individual riders that were exciting to watch...
Michael Woods
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high9.jpg

Primoz Roglic
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high18.jpg

Julian Alaphilippe
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high19.jpg

And lastly, Toms Skujins gets my vote for the best dance routine at the finish in the Amgen Tour.
http://alicehui.com/bike/high/high_1.gif

That's all I got...what about you?

Very curious how you accomplished your highlight. Kudos. Cycling, in and of itself, lacks the resistance element of running or swimming.

[weisan]

Very curious how you accomplished your highlight. Kudos. Cycling, in and of itself, lacks the resistance element of running or swimming.

XXt pal, I am assuming you are talking about my weight loss. I have documented it quite thoroughly on this thread (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=211467). But basically, eat less, eat early and eat according to activity level. Establish a new normal.

Thanks everyone who have shared and contributed. Over the last 33+ years of riding, I have witnessed my cycling fitness and happiness quotient ebbed and flowed and I tried not to worry too much about it, constantly reminded myself as long as I get to be on the bike, I am thankful and contended.

[BobO]

My highlight was pretty simple. I got back on a bike after a heart attack. :)

There's no such thing as a bad day on a bike!

[paredown]

I qualified for Leadville 6 years ago when I was (kinda sorta) fast. I broke my hand two weeks prior to start that year and I deferred my entry to following year. Complications with my wifes pregnancy kept me from attending that next years race also.

I gave up thinking that race wasn't in cards for me.

So fast forward to Jan 1 2018, I threw in a "lottery" and low behold got my name called. With a job that takes way too much of my time, travel, and two small kids, I somehow managed to get in enough training to not DIE and finally completed this Godforsaken race.......THAT is my highlight for 2018 ;):p:hello:
Congrats on finishing! (And fitting in the training!!!)

My highlight was pretty simple. I got back on a bike after a heart attack. :)

There's no such thing as a bad day on a bike!

Mos def better than the alternative, Congrats on your recovery!

[paredown]

Bad spring, but I made an effort to ride over the summer and early fall. No Lyme flare-ups, and I lost a few pounds.

Every ride was a good one!

[Hellgate]

Built a PX10.

Got the 333fab.

Got a flat on the 333fab.

Mechanically restored the Canadian RZ350 running.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181117/546e7584eac33cba33f84e4965e7c677.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181117/6b8c068fd0a5cfd3fb62dd34d8720bd5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181117/60a07d63db76909441cd3ac772ce5864.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181117/4d2e46461d1bcac32b838739310e3216.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181117/3b31ffb7d2c6701c6a9f8258d674b353.jpg

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

[joosttx]

1) The Ultimate was riding with my son. Working up each time to the top of Mount Tamalpias. The day we decided to do the whole thing we did. Even though I encouraged him to turn back.

He had to deal with a bully earlier this school year. He stood up to the kid and did not back down and stopped the bullying. When we were talking about it he told me he was not scared of the bully who was quite bigger than him because he had ridden up Mt Tam and it didn't hurt him so how could a kid hurt him. "Mountains are bigger than kids".

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1856/30272830988_43cbae4948_b.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1834/43421536554_eea7d19cc5_b.jpg


https://farm1.staticflickr.com/920/43639259171_3596a07aa5_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/42613240765_cba431bf3f_b.jpg




2) Seeing a mountain lion early one morning on the shake down ride of my 44 MTB and the countless rattlesnakes I saw this year.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/28608350257_d330d5bfe4_b.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1771/30047118268_4e8cc01e91_b.jpg

3) The incredible early morning ride on Bolinas Ridge Fire Road where the light and fog were magical

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1865/29328156967_e8fb9cc7bb_b.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1871/43358198895_576fe27d24_b.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1889/43358186525_d86b6b76f3_b.jpg

[joosttx]

cont....


4) Riding up Balch Camp Road in the Sierras. I had a goal to do this since 2005. And finally did.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/866/40137749450_7401774132_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/968/40137615670_c423c80966_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/972/40137465120_de369d9ffd_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/975/28073324218_37cfae6e7b_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/825/28073309968_0797e3c7fb_b.jpg

[joosttx]

I qualified for Leadville 6 years ago when I was (kinda sorta) fast. I broke my hand two weeks prior to start that year and I deferred my entry to following year. Complications with my wifes pregnancy kept me from attending that next years race also.

I gave up thinking that race wasn't in cards for me.

So fast forward to Jan 1 2018, I threw in a "lottery" and low behold got my name called. With a job that takes way too much of my time, travel, and two small kids, I somehow managed to get in enough training to not DIE and finally completed this Godforsaken race.......THAT is my highlight for 2018 ;):p:hello:

nice one!

[BryanE]

2019 Epic HT

[makoti]

My highs were recovering from my lows.
In mid March, I went for a nice ride with friends. Nothing crazy. 6 hours after we were done, I couldn't walk. Sciatica into my legs was a pain worse than anything I'd felt before. Out of work for two weeks, many dr's, therapy, off the bike for 6 weeks, avoided surgery that was suggested by the first dr. Slowly I made it back & now my yearly mileage should be very close to last years, and I will happily take that.

[Tony]

cont....


4) Riding up Balch Camp Road in the Sierras. I had a goal to do this since 2005. And finally did.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/866/40137749450_7401774132_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/968/40137615670_c423c80966_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/972/40137465120_de369d9ffd_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/975/28073324218_37cfae6e7b_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/825/28073309968_0797e3c7fb_b.jpg

Beautiful photo's!!

[weisan]

wow!

thank you pals for sharing.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Tough year off the bike for me with a new job, new home. This will be the first year in about 10 where my mileage has decreased. That being said a very good highlight of riding Eroica Cali with internet friends who are even awesomer in person than they are virtually.


https://farm1.staticflickr.com/929/40815210954_7a403b0250_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25bGCeG)

[rlanger]

Highs:

My 5-year old daughter going straight from balance bike to big-girl bike without the need for training wheels. Awesome innovation!

Me, going from Ultegra 6800 mechanical to Dura Ace 9150. After 6 months, I still love it as much as the first day I rode it. No more fiddling with indexing and perfect shifts every time.

A ton of memorable rides, both solo and with friends.

No lows, thankfully.

[ultraman6970]

In my case, finally finding a bike frame that doesnt feel dead... the problem is that probably other stuff needs to go out the window :/

[Tickdoc]

My cycling year was overall good. I didn’t get as many miles in as I wanted but I stayed rubberside up!

My on the bike highlights for 2018 include this forum find peg duende. Always wanted one and I gotta say I love this bike.

https://i.imgur.com/c1XlUhbl.jpg

Rip Dario.


Took it to Idaho for the coeur d fondo with my cycling group. I cramped halfway through the 90 earning the moniker “crampy” but I finished the ride with the group and learned just how much pain I can endure while having fun at the same time. Beautiful place coeur d’Alene.

https://i.imgur.com/ebEelDvl.jpg


Lows include my daughter being involved in a freak side by side accident where she lost her best friend. It has punctuated our year and left her with a loss of innocence that will always be there, but also let us learn just how lucky we are to have her and what a strong woman she has become.

Rip Avery.

https://i.imgur.com/I6xE4Nvl.jpg

Another high for me was the addition of my first ever new car. Call it a mid life crisis, but I love it. Loud and brash full of crackles and pops it makes me smile every time I drive it. ( and you can stuff a bike in the back quite easily ;)

https://i.imgur.com/5OFvrmQl.jpg

This was a year for me to just enjoy what time I have on the bike, and treasure the time I have with my family. I’m not getting any younger, or faster, but I’m still having fun.

https://i.imgur.com/Sf52jrNl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tGsSnSNl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VV9N4YIl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qEjQhfQl.jpg

[Matthew]

Man, I would be WAY to the left on that Balch Camp road!!!!!!! Got nervous just looking at the photo!

[joosttx]

Man, I would be WAY to the left on that Balch Camp road!!!!!!! Got nervous just looking at the photo!

We definitely were not looking over the edge!

[mhespenheide]

I did too much running and backpacking, but Eroica California was an early highlight, and then over the summer I did a big road trip. Rides near Bend, Coeur d'Alene, Pend Oreille, SW Montana, and Cedar Breaks UT were definite highlights.

Going to have to ride Balch Camp road next year, though! And maybe ask Mzillox if I can join him for a couple rides. And if I'm that far north, maybe head up to PDX and suffer like a dog on the back of Clean39T's wheel.

I enjoyed Yates in the Giro and Vuelta. And Lombardia and Strade Bianche.

[joosttx]

I did too much running and backpacking, but Eroica California was an early highlight, and then over the summer I did a big road trip. Rides near Bend, Coeur d'Alene, Pend Oreille, SW Montana, and Cedar Breaks UT were definite highlights.

Going to have to ride Balch Camp road next year, though! And maybe ask Mzillox if I can join him for a couple rides. And if I'm that far north, maybe head up to PDX and suffer like a dog on the back of Clean39T's wheel.

I enjoyed Yates in the Giro and Vuelta. And Lombardia and Strade Bianche.

Here is the Balch Camp loop. Bring extra water. And do it either in the fall or early spring or it will be too hot.... We got caught in 90 plus temperatures in early May.

https://www.strava.com/routes/13440573

[Vientomas]

3 milestones for me this summer. This is one of them:

This was a gravel ride I had been looking to do for a while. A local shop put together a group ride so I hopped on. It was really fun.

Started in Wallace, ID. For you Pierce Brosnan fans...Dante's Peak was filmed there.

General facts about Wallace: https://www.mikesroadtrip.com/random-facts-about-wallace-idaho/

Ride route: https://outthereoutdoors.com/outdoor-calendar/wallace-hiawatha-ride-the-passes-adventure-loop-ride/

Ride goes east from Wallace through Mullen, ID via the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes: http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc69204.php

Tnen from Wallace climbs the NorPac Trial climbing to Look Out Pass: https://www.traillink.com/trail-photo/norpac-trail_109127/

From Look Out Pass leaving Idaho into Montana and descend to the Hiawatha Trail: http://www.ridethehiawatha.com/the-trail

This is a truly unique section...tunnels, trestles, great scenery.

Leaving the the Hiawatha Trail and following the Little St. Joe River to Moon Pass...a lovely climb, and back to Wallace: http://silvervalleystories.blogspot.com/2010/08/traveling-moon-pass-from-wallace-to.html 2nd to last photo caprtures the climb. You can see a bit of the road in the picture.

Rode a Felt VR4 1x with 35's and mechanical discs 140 front and rear. Perfect tool for the job...but for the long descent from Moon Pass into Wallace. Would have liked a 160 up front or perhaps hydro discs. No complaints though, a ride to remember.

Looking forward to a repeat next year!

[Tickdoc]

3 milestones for me this summer. This is one of them:

This was a gravel ride I had been looking to do for a while. A local shop put together a group ride so I hopped on. It was really fun.

Started in Wallace, ID. For you Pierce Brosnan fans...Dante's Peak was filmed there.

General facts about Wallace: https://www.mikesroadtrip.com/random-facts-about-wallace-idaho/

Ride route: https://outthereoutdoors.com/outdoor-calendar/wallace-hiawatha-ride-the-passes-adventure-loop-ride/


Ride goes east from Wallace through Mullen, ID via the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes: http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc69204.php

Tnen from Wallace climbes the NorPac Trial climbing to Look Out Pass: https://www.traillink.com/trail-photo/norpac-trail_109127/

From Look Out Pass leaving Idaho into Montana and descend to the Hiawatha Trail: http://www.ridethehiawatha.com/the-trail

This is a truely uinque section...tunnels, trestles, great scenery.

Leaving the the Hiawatha Trail and following the Little St. Joe River to Moon Pass...a lovely climb, and back to Wallace: http://silvervalleystories.blogspot.com/2010/08/traveling-moon-pass-from-wallace-to.html 2nd to last photo caprtures the climb. You can see a bit of the road in the pircture.

Rode a Felt VR4 1x with 35's and mechanical discs 140 front and rear. Perfect tool for the job...but for the long descent from Moon Pass into Wallace. Would have liked a 160 up front or perhaps hydro discs. No complaints though, a ride to remember.

Looking forward to a repeat next year!

Neat! We rode hiawatha as well, but downhill with wives and beer..bee u t ful.
https://i.imgur.com/Kso05Nil.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/hePV5abl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/hAZ3tlDl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ONDLwh4l.jpg

[Hilltopperny]

Lows for me this year would be less available ride time and a subsequent gaining of 20lbs that I just haven't been able to shed this year. I am getting a bit older and it just isn't as easy as it used to be.

I had a couple of spills this year on the bike, but nothing more than some cuts and bruises. They were enough to keep me aware that I am not invincible.

Highs were plenty as my wife and I welcomed a new son and I was able to bring my daughter along for her first organized ride which she completed like a champ!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181118/5d1e4c10f71c6c92c07b26966071857f.jpg
I've been able to put together a very admirable collection of top shelf bikes and was even able to ride a couple of them with a few forum pals. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181118/5596ad4d761dd78042b33e68de706151.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181118/b7f80356f43844347e25df0e943ab7fe.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181118/2248e2e33f5af77ac32238379a151bd3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181118/9ba005ef98e32eede8a3db35c6cf3a72.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181118/a456b6ee505ad2ce74fcb70e6e6a5af1.jpg

I decided to go into business for myself as well this year and have been fortunate enough to finish two major projects and should have the third done by the end of the year.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[Vientomas]

Neat! We rode hiawatha as well, but downhill with wives and beer..bee u t ful.
https://i.imgur.com/Kso05Nil.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/hePV5abl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/hAZ3tlDl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ONDLwh4l.jpg

Nice pics! You captured the Hiawatha well. Shuttle back up?

[Tickdoc]

Nice pics! You captured the Hiawatha well. Shuttle back up?

yes we rode it with a group of about a dozen and just had a blast. We were just about the last one's through as it was closing for the season.

[marciero]

Thanks all for sharing. Some great stuff here. Very inspiring.

Highs

Tandem tour SoCal in January. Could have been a low had we not gotten our flight moved forward at the last minute to get out just ahead of a storm that grounded the entire east coast for days.

Solo camping tour in the Carolinas, March. Again, flight moved forward one day to beat a storm that grounded flights.

Was fortunate to get in about a half dozen two to five-day credit card, camping, and destination-day ride trips; solo and tandem, in VT, Mass, NH, and NY (Catskills) with lots of gravel.

Low

Getting shot. Was riding the tandem on a bike path in town at about 10:00 pm. Heard the unmistakeable sound of an air rifle and felt the sting, but never saw the person. Only left a welt on my shoulder but was very unsettling to have this happen in a place we think of as safe. I was hit in the back on the shoulder blade so the shot passed inches from my girlfriend's face.

[SlowPokePete]

Getting shot. Was riding the tandem on a bike path in town at about 10:00 pm. Heard the unmistakeable sound of an air rifle and felt the sting, but never saw the person. Only left a welt on my shoulder but was very unsettling to have this happen in a place we think of as safe. I was hit in the back on the shoulder blade so the shot passed inches from my girlfriend's face.

Yikes that's SCARY!

glad you are ok.....

SPP

[54ny77]

Rode alot, adjusted diet big time, lost a little over 40 lbs from the peak and while up just a tad, am holding steady being down 30-35 from lard ass.

Shedding bikes too...:p

[MrDangerPants]

I look forward to the Vermont 50 every year and it certainly was the highlight for 2018.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/a1cce9a4be81416e403e15d0d9bdc68f/tumblr_piejtvNIj51raw8b1o1_1280.jpg

[onekgguy]

I got back into some longer distances on the road in a way that I haven't in years. I was out with some friends in early July on some beautiful, quiet, winding, hilly roads, and it hit me that I was really missing this sort of riding (Distracted drivers be damned!). One of the guys I was riding with asked if I was interested in joining the group he rides with on their annual dawn to dusk ride in early September. It had been 7 years since I'd done a double century but without hesitating, I committed to riding with his group.

I got busy over the next two months, building my base mileage with solo efforts of 150 to 175 miles at least once each week. On August 12th I went out on my own, retracing the route I'd taken 7 years earlier and completed a double century (214 miles, actually). I felt great and happy to have ridden myself back into shape for a distance I'd sort of figured I may never do again.

To cap off my riding season, I joined the Silver Cycling crew on an early September morning for the Dawn to Dusk 2018 ride. It's actually considerably more than dawn to dusk. I left home well before sun-up and arrived back in the dark. I had a blast!

So for me, the highlight of my riding season has been to rediscover this thing I've loved and has been a part of my identity for more than 4 decades but a love that had been somewhat fading in recent years, mostly due to concerns about distracted drivers.

Nice thread, WeisanPal!

Kevin g

Video from our Dawn to Dusk ride.

https://youtu.be/4xLJKa7nPy8

[rccardr]

Highs:
Losing 30 pounds in Q1. Have since floated back up a little bit, but intend to do it again in Q1 2019 & drop down into the 170's.
Palm Springs Tour in February on the 88 Cannondale ST, followed by two weeks or gorgeous riding weather there.
Eroica California on the Pelozzoli with a triple and fat tires. Nothing like riding with a bunch of old guys on old bikes wearing old jerseys to feed your soul. And the Bianchi I built and donated for the auction raised $3000 for Hospice SLO.
Thunder Ridge in Lynchburg, VA. My fifth time, and it just gets better each year. Paula Dahl puts on one of the best organized rides in the country.
Two weeks in the south of France with Mrs. Doc, visiting ancient mountain towns.
A long weekend riding in eastern Washington State and the Cour d'Alene Trail with a handful of vintage guys. Hot and dry.
Dairyland Dare in Dodgeville, WI. Toughest ride I'll do all year. It doesn't get easier, I just get faster.
New grandchild in September, and a thankfully easy delivery this time for our daughter.
Two weeks in Portugal with Mrs. Doc. Never did develop a taste for port wine, but the pastries are delicious!
Looking forward to the Highland Bike Fest in Sebring, FL in a few weeks. Never done it, but looks like fun, 164 miles in two days.
Good health all around. Happiness abounds.

Thankfully, no real lows. Yet.

[biker72]

Highs:
Lost 17 pounds..not on purpose. Did adjust my diet a little.
Bought a used Lynskey Ti R345. This bike rides like a dream.
Turned 80 this year. Doing something right.
Got mostly rid of some nagging leg problems.
Made 4 bike vacations in various cities outside Texas.
Still working at the bike shop. (Source of great employee discounts)

Lows:
I turned 80 this year.
Won't reach my 5000 mile goal...again. Will go past 4k.
Have to get new clothes because of weight loss.

[joosttx]

Highs:
Lost 17 pounds..not on purpose. Did adjust my diet a little.
Bought a used Lynskey Ti R345. This bike rides like a dream.
Turned 80 this year. Doing something right.
Got mostly rid of some nagging leg problems.
Made 4 bike vacations in various cities outside Texas.
Still working at the bike shop. (Source of great employee discounts)

Lows:
I turned 80 this year.
Won't reach my 5000 mile goal...again. Will go past 4k.
Have to get new clothes because of weight loss.

You are an inspriation. Thanks for posting this.

[Matthew]

High was I rode a bunch but only did one organized ride. Need to fix that next season. Need to get out on my MTB more too. But overall a pretty good year. Only event was Ride Around Torch Lake. 102 miles with 5200 feet of climbing. Pretty good for Michigan!

[choke]

I had a great time at Eroica CA. I reconnected with some old friends and met a few new ones. And the bike porn.....how often do you see two Confentes (one of which was on the ride) or a Masi with Nervex lugs?

http://er18.ciocctoo.com/eroica18-6.jpg

The Tour of CA was definitely a highlight. I'm a huge fan of women's cycling and since most people there were more interested in the men that presented a great opportunity to chat with a lot of the racers. I probably spent 20 minutes or so talking to the Wiggle ladies alone, mostly with Nettie Edmondson.

http://cycle.ciocctoo.com/toc18-2.jpg

[BobO]

Here is the Balch Camp loop. Bring extra water. And do it either in the fall or early spring or it will be too hot.... We got caught in 90 plus temperatures in early May.

https://www.strava.com/routes/13440573

I've stomped all over that area. If you saw a yellow Forest Service Boundary sign, odds are I was involved. It's a very beautiful and largely pristine area off the roads.

[doomridesout]

I was pretty light on cycling achievements this year, since I've been busy with my baby daughter, finishing law school and taking the California bar exam.

Still, after the first 2/3 of the year very light on miles, I moved to an area that is absolutely perfect for my preferred riding, Humboldt County. I got back on the bike immediately. I commute 25 miles one way a few times a week to my new job, and have been staying after it on weekends with a few friends. My current stable is simple, purposeful, and very dialed for our terrain.

The key for me is that I regained the fitness to feel at home in the mountains again. There's nothing like being strong enough to just go play in the mountains for several hours without it being a special event or a slog. There are some really magical loops out here that take some climbing strength to enjoy and I've started to get back into them. Can't wait for more miles and some target events next year.

[Kirk007]

Ventoux, Stelvio, Gavia and a lot of miles in between.

While intending to downsize ended up with a Sachs team issue, Kirk Cross bike, Lynskey hardtail and a Hampsten ybb Strada Bianca. Spouse knows about most of them ; ). Need to do some thinning though....

Weigh 30 pounds less than a year ago. Turns out the idea of climbing the Gavia with Andy Hampsten to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his Girl victory is strong motivation.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[weisan]

Ventoux, Stelvio, Gavia and a lot of miles in between.

While intending to downsize ended up with a Sachs team issue, Kirk Cross bike, Lynskey hardtail and a Hampsten ybb Strada Bianca. Spouse knows about most of them ; ). Need to do some thinning though....

Weigh 30 pounds less than a year ago. Turns out the idea of climbing the Gavia with Andy Hampsten to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his Girl victory is strong motivation.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Hope you don't mind me adding some pictures, kirk pal...

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=227577
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180909/c3fc282605b07e0f78426900ec1e6a02.jpg
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=226970

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180827/0b9a64b82ac6df6a6a061f9c5ed72567.jpg

[19wisconsin64]

To the riders of Northern Denmark and Copenhagen - thank you! Your friendship along the roads really made me reconnect with the sport I love. Your beautiful country was amazing to cycle through, for sure one of the best in the world.
Pacing me along for an hour at high speeds was truly appreciated as well!
Oh, and the food...wow! People, cycling, food, oh, and art and architect heaven...Denmark rocks! We will be back, hopefully soon!

[Likes2ridefar]

After missing nearly three years of riding going cold turkey from racing, this year was the first year I’ve ridden nearly every day, mostly commuting, but I’ve had some great rides all over Arizona, our new home for about a year now.

Rode up Mt Lemmon in the spring, cycled through sunset crater volcano park outside flagstaff late summer, tried to ride Apache trail but got cooked in the sun, and beat up by bumpy conditions, and I try to make the silent Sunday’s in south mountain park

Next steps: climb mt graham, 66 mile dirt trail loop outside Williams.

[thwart]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181118/a456b6ee505ad2ce74fcb70e6e6a5af1.jpg


What... ? Wasn't the old guy there in the pic a moderator here once? ;)

Highs... just getting to ride my bike. Probably hit 4K this year. One lovely ride this summer with daughter and her steady beau when they were visiting. Helped him buy a CL bike and get into cycling, and also with his fit... he got some crazy/bad advice from some local NYC shop. Now he's got a trainer, looking at Zwift... a bit cycle-addicted like the rest of us.

Lows... missing those lovely back roads of SW Wisco a bit more this year...

[weisan]

thanks for sharing your stories pals. really enjoyed reading them. anyone else?

[YoKev]

Highs:

-I got married at Silver Bay on Lake George. She loves to ride and race.

-I had lots of fun rides with great friends, new and old. The new part is what surprised me the most.

-NAHBS 2018 was cool

-I was able to successfully complete Rasputitsa in a respectable time on my fat bike, and training for it kept me going through the winter pretty nicely. I plan to do the same this year. It really helped with my wintertime SAD.

-I even dusted off my race face for the first time in about 6 years and got on the podium at a local mtb series race. Yay?

-And, I had a huge bike and part purge with only a couple of newcomers; a Gorilla Monsoon and a Seven Axiom. Still though, down 3-4 bikes from where I started this year.

Lows:

-Still fighting with a wall I hit around 40 miles (road) or 4 hours (mtn), my legs just cramp up bad, while the rest of my body feels ok. I have been riding more, got my nutrition and electrolytes dialed in better than ever, but something is still up. My SIL is going to help me on some strength training this week and hopefully I can get up to 50 or 60 next season. Maybe that's the missing ingredient.

-I knew this already, but racing is too anxiety producing for me. I just can't deal with the anxious energy of other people around me combined with my own expectations. This is why I haven't done one in 6 years, but at least I know it still wrecks me. I know I can ride just fine, but I will not be doing another actual race anytime soon.

[Vientomas]

I've ridden this event a couple of times, the Medio route: http://cdagranfondo.com/

I had cramped up on the previous attemps. I was able to finish, but not in the best of style. So, this year I put in more miles and planned on riding the event again and not cramping. But, it was forecast to rain the morning of the event so I stayed home. A few days later the weather was perfect so I did the route solo. Had a great time and suffered no cramping!

Ended up being right around 92 miles and 5200 verts round trip from my house.

[weisan]

Up

[5oakterrace]

2 highlights.
1. In 2017 I did not finish at the Assault on MT. Mitchell. Dizzy, light-headed. I changed my training and drank Pedialyte in 2018 and made it in 9.5 hours. Not all that bad for a 62 year old clydesdale. I learned about pedialytr from this forum. I am very grateful to the person who shared that info. I had never considered it before. It has much higher concentrations of sodium.

2. I made it to the finish at MT. Washington. I am real slow but was faster than last year. One year I will have to walk, but not yet.

[Seramount]

broke the 9K mile mark for the second time in two years.

[weisan]

broke the 9K mile mark for the second time in two years.

We call that retirement.

[tbike4]

One highlight, and this was my eight year, was the MS Bay to Bay benefit ride Oct 20,21 from Irvine to San Diego. This year we had the biggest team ever with 54 members and at last count raised over 127K. I really enjoy giving something back.

One accomplishment, in my own mind is I think I know what I want to ride for the time being and not be on the hunt so much for the next xyz bicycle that will be the end all greatest thing ever.

I need 1 carbon bike, a couple of Serotta steel bikes, a Tommasini, a Ritchey Road Logic and a fixed gear. I could go with 1 Serotta and maybe another Italian but it would have to be a DeRosa Primato or some such thing with OS tubing.

Also I ride farther and faster than ever even though I am now officially old. Nuff said.

[855]

.

[855]

.

[weisan]

Wow, 855 pal...just wow!

Thanks for sharing.

[danesgod]

2018 was a good year for me for riding MTBs. I got off my BMX a few years ago after tearing my rotator cuff, so I haven't been jumping at all, but the stoke came back in 2018.

Early 2018 - still riding my used ~2008 Chameleon. Looking kind of stylish at the top of Boyscout.
https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/c4c3c121519a7b9e23e9aac1944407ba/5CB5B729/t51.2885-15/e35/26070228_2011865149036698_528554751508348928_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com

Then, I got a full suspension bike, an Evil Calling (https://eu.evil-bikes.com/products/calling) with a fancy shock (https://www.fanatikbike.com/products/push-industries-elevensix-microxd-liquid-black-for-evil-calling). It cost a lot of dollars. Super stoked on the bike though. At some point I rode UCSC, big jumps. Full dead sailor.
https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/463982186909bec87e96adca11c6e8c5/5CBC625D/t51.2885-15/e35/29718311_1599825563468920_2311750285757775872_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com

At some point in there I ate **** and tore my biceps tendon. Took a few months off of jumping to do some longer road rides. They were fun but didn't take any photos. Finally back to jumping. Here's a deceivingly long and low at Carlmont.
https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/7321203195a863a0d25a07642c523ad7/5CD19CA6/t51.2885-15/e35/29740053_1075863175898259_6274172458895409152_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com

The plan for 2019? More jumps, more tricks, and less dead sailors. Hopefully a century or two.

[Plum Hill]

I got back on the bike 27 days after a TKR, the highlight to a very crappy (cycling) year.

[robertbb]

Rode GFNY Jerusalem, attended the Gino Bartali tribute at the Holocaust museum and had a good chat with his granddaughter, followed by the first 3 stages of the Giro.

Absolutely epic!

[skiezo]

Not much for me in 2018. I worked about 4000 hours last year and did not have as much time to ride as I normally would.

[madsciencenow]

Weisan, pal thanks for starting this thread. I enjoyed reading about all the cool cycling-related adventures folks have been on.

Personally, it’s been a good year in the following ways:

1. I started the year with three bikes and am down to two.

2. I went on a spring training trip with some old riding buddies to the Natchez trace and we rented a house and had fun riding during the day and BSing during the evenings.

3. I did my first official race (the gravel grovel) although I didn’t really think of it as this and ended up finishing much better than I anticipated. Weather was complete crap but I had a blast!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190110/cf20a906e0e460d6b1b391b09bea80bf.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190110/09592e02188dfce9a38ad129edad315a.jpg

4. I did a three day charity ride across central IL and through IN with my dad and my brother. My dad is responsible for putting me on my first bike when I was a small kid and it was cool to see him do more miles in a day than he’d ever done before. My brother (nine years younger) has had some major health issues and hit a car a couple years ago (had to be air-lifted to a hospital) while riding and was able to ride with us. It was really cool to spend time with them and see them both riding.

5. I set a goal of 10,000 miles at the beginning of the year with no real plan or expectation that I would achieve this. I ended up with 10,881 which is the most I’ve ever ridden in a year and something my kids were impressed by and made my wife roll her eyes.

Low’s for the year:

1. I rode most my miles solo except for the ones mentioned above. I like the time to think but really miss the groups I used to ride with in IN and GA.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Morgul Bismark]

Highlights:

Visiting Mendocino and getting to ride Comptche Ukiah Road :eek:
Riding up Gibraltar during Hill Climb Worlds in Santa Barbara and then getting to ride Camino Cielo on my Cielo
Riding the Sagan Gran Fondo and meeting Peter Sagan

[XXtwindad]

2018 was a good year for me for riding MTBs. I got off my BMX a few years ago after tearing my rotator cuff, so I haven't been jumping at all, but the stoke came back in 2018.

Early 2018 - still riding my used ~2008 Chameleon. Looking kind of stylish at the top of Boyscout.
https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/c4c3c121519a7b9e23e9aac1944407ba/5CB5B729/t51.2885-15/e35/26070228_2011865149036698_528554751508348928_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com

Then, I got a full suspension bike, an Evil Calling (https://eu.evil-bikes.com/products/calling) with a fancy shock (https://www.fanatikbike.com/products/push-industries-elevensix-microxd-liquid-black-for-evil-calling). It cost a lot of dollars. Super stoked on the bike though. At some point I rode UCSC, big jumps. Full dead sailor.
https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/463982186909bec87e96adca11c6e8c5/5CBC625D/t51.2885-15/e35/29718311_1599825563468920_2311750285757775872_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com

At some point in there I ate **** and tore my biceps tendon. Took a few months off of jumping to do some longer road rides. They were fun but didn't take any photos. Finally back to jumping. Here's a deceivingly long and low at Carlmont.
https://scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com/vp/7321203195a863a0d25a07642c523ad7/5CD19CA6/t51.2885-15/e35/29740053_1075863175898259_6274172458895409152_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.cdninstagram.com

The plan for 2019? More jumps, more tricks, and less dead sailors. Hopefully a century or two.

I haven't gotten that much air since Bush was in office. The first one. I think I strained a few tendons just looking at the pics.

[Hank Scorpio]

Off bike: Time with my daughter. Returning to finish my last semester of nursing school after cancer treatment and graduating valedictorian. Time with my daughter. Starting a new position in the VA after 12 years in radiology.

On bike: Riding the Shining Sea bike path in Falmouth, Ma with my wife and daughter. Riding a loop in P-town, Ma with my wife and daughter. We got hot dogs! I only got out once or twice with my club. Hopefully i can get a better balance in the coming year.