Happy New Year!
It’s fine to celebrate the new year, but let’s dive back and look at 2013.
In January I said I’d buy no new bikes. I didn’t for myself. I did buy a bike for Diane, and a tandem for both of us, but no new bike for me. I guess I get that on a technicality.
I was disappointed in riding just under 3600 miles in 2012. I made it a goal to ride 6000 in 2013. That didn’t happen. I had 3800 miles. I had training, weight, and diet goals. I’ve failed them all.
I participated in a nice gravel ride in January. I’ll probably do another one this weekend.
February brought Cyclocross Worlds and some company from California. I also attempted a 100-kilometer populaire, but I bailed early.
In April I met Diane. She’s continuing to affect my life – usually in a positive way.
By May, most of my non-commute cycling was with Diane. This is a good thing, but it does slow the pace and shorten the rides. I’m currently 21 pounds heavier than I was in May.
In June I rode with Tim to go camping at Clark Forest. I rode my ‘bent.
Diane and I spent some time in San Francisco in July. It was a work trip for me, but we squeezed a couple of extra days in for a vacation. We didn’t rent a car or bring bikes. I learned a lot about public transportation in a major city.
September was decent. Tim and I did a crazy bike-hike thing on some “goat trails”. We also did a metric century through Charlestown and checked out the Parklands in the eastern ‘burbs.
September also was when Diane and I bought a used tandem. It’s become our primary “together” bike since. She rarely rides here bike now.
September was also supposed to bring a century ride – my only one of the year. I drove to Michigan for the ride, but got sick and didn’t ride. I did get to sit on the beach for a while though.
October brought Diane’s first S24O. We also got engaged. I also enjoyed one of the top-three gravel rides I’ve ever done.
In November, Diane and I rode the tandem for her second bike-camping trip. Diane’s car was stolen, then recovered. I resigned my job without a new one lined up – a first for me. I also bailed on Gravel Grovel. I raced it in 2011 and 2012, but didn’t feel up to it in 2013.
In December, I started a new job. I finished up the year with a cold S24O with Timothy, Tim, and Patrick.
Recurring themes throughout 2013 were weight gain, slow cycling, and drinking too much beer. I intend to make some changes to fix this. More on that later.