I'm just not good at capturing thoughts and putting them down on "paper" right away. I have to think about it for a while, sometimes it takes days. My intent was to post something on 12/31/10, but it just didn't turn out that way.
I ended 2010 with a 70-mile bike ride - doesn't get any better than that. I met a group of the White Clay riders in Middletown. Their plan was to ride to Rock Hall (100 miles RT) but they wouldn't return until late afternoon (maybe 4pm?) and I wanted to be home by noon (I was). So, I rode with them for a while before turning off and heading home. The temps and winds were perfect for the last day of the year. It's not often the winds are out of the south in December so I was treated with a tailwind for the second half of my ride. A nice way to end the year.
New Years Da
y was even better. Again, light winds and mild temps for January. I headed to Peoples Plaza for the long-time annual NYD ride. There must have been 40-50 people. Many I knew, some I didn't. Some I haven't seen all year. Missing were Billy V who recently moved to Florida, and Lorie Struzik who was home with the kids. I missed not having both of them there - they've been a part of this tradition from the beginning. Pace was steady, smooth, conversational. Excellent ride and finished the day with 63 miles.
There are a couple of nice things about riding solo. For one thing, I get to warm-up and cool-down at my pace. And I get to do a lot of thinking. So after I left the group on New Years Eve, I had about 35 miles of some good thinking time.
I thought lots about 2010. It was an interesting year, not unlike other years. It began with some mega-snowstorms which resulted in some riding challenges. I hate driving and especially to ride, but sometimes it's what you have to do if you want to ride. I was probably one of the few people in the area who actually logged road miles last January.
But in the middle of March, I stopped counting my mileage for 2010. It would have been my 10th year of riding 10,000 miles. My focus seemed to be about the number of miles versus just getting out to ride so it was time to re-focus. I know I didn't reach 10,000 miles and I'm okay with that. Did the shorter, fewer rides hurt me? I don't think so.
I continued to struggle in 2010 with the loss of a long time (25 yrs) friend. The loss happened in the middle of 2009. It wasn't the result of a death, but from a difference of opinions. We were long time riding buddies and rode together nearly every Sunday throughout the spring and summer, not to mention our weekly phone conversations. So the loss of a riding buddy really hurt and recovery has been slow. I believe I'm ready to move on now.
The Saturday Barksdale ride had been struggling the past couple of years. People had moved on, people had different ideas. It was finally laid to rest in early December. It really should have happened a couple of years ago. I'm looking forward to someone else developing a weekly training ride. I'm positive this will happen.
I had some awesome rides in 2010, the majority of them with Mr. and Mrs. Shark. There were a few that were particularly hard and I really had to dig deep. Those rides, and being able to finish them, were good motivators. I look forward to more.
I met and rode with Karen Smith in the summer and into the fall. An incredible athlete who overcame some horrific bicycle injuries. It was nice to meet someone else who was enthusiastic about riding at sun-up! Unfortunately she will be moving from the area. Whether she can convince me to visit her and Drew when they move to CA is questionable...I don't like air travel but have never been to CA.
I did 3 incredible
self-contained tours last year. The group was small each time so it was easy to stay together. I have 2 on tap for 2011 and am looking forward to both. I like touring. All you have to think about is riding and getting to the next location. It's a challenge to decide what to carry, what you can do without, and whether you'll make it up the climbs carrying all that stuff!!
I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions, but I will set a couple of goals for the year.
1 - I will avoid negative people. We all have our issues but I really don't want to listen to people who blame everything and everyone else for their shortcomings.
2 - I will log my mileage. Not obsessively like in the past, but just as a record of the days I've ridden.
3 - I will continue to test myself. I know Mark and Amy will be leading many rides from GB and I will ride as many as I can.
4 - I will ride my bike and have fun. Not necessarily in that order. This is really my 1st "goal".
5 - I will keep the counter in my kitchen clear of stuff...well, okay, it was a nice thought.
2011 will be a good year!!
I can't stand cold weather and I despise snow even more. Riding my mountain bike is a second choice but sometimes it's the only option. I'd really like to change that feeling. Once I'm out there it's okay and the thought of riding more often passes through my mind. But once I see clear roads, then I want back on my road bike.
