Topic Title

And how was it for everyone?

5200 miles for me (just over) finishing with a nice 2 1/2 hour ride round the Wolds today. Only just under half as much as Rob O, but still good for me.

Highlights include riding the Etape du Dales, B'bridge TLIs, a good ride in a sportif in France and generally being the fittest I've ever been. Other good memories include a Saturday morning ride in the height of summer where we averaged 20.5mph over the usual route on a lovely day, a end of season Saturday ride round Ripon/Fountains with excellent company and finishing the season with a good ride in the hill climb.

Only down point was stacking it in one of the TLIs. Between replacing various broken bits and visiting the osteo a few times to sort my crocked neck out, it was expensive as well as painful

All in all, a good year for me. How was it for the rest of you?

It was a good year here too. No idea how many miles it involved (not up there with Rob's grand total, that's for sure) but lots to think back on.

First year of being organised about training, having a structure, targets, and a turbo. I'm afraid it made me a bit antisocial as far as group training rides were concerned, but it certainly got the job done as far as getting me more competitive was concerned. I'm never going to set the world alight as a cycle racer but at least this year I didn't just spend the whole time in the bunch; I had a few good goes off the front and - doomed tho they all were - it was nice to feel like I was racing rather than just riding round. I got a second and a third in my age group in vets races, won a tenner off me daughter in her "you're cr*p you are" bet, and got some placings which helped with the club's team victory in the TLI series.

Low point was riding all the way out to the Hull Thursday RR in the midst of domestic dramas and missing the signing-in; highpoints were one or two sunny races and a wonderful end-of-season week in the French mountains, and seeing the club have a great year of sucessful events and growth in numbers. And I've got a new bike! Tsk, 48 and still such a kid.

In the interests of keeping a good up-beat thread going here's my palmares for the year.

Just a couple of 100 miles total off road but all especially memorable. Swaledale, Cwm Carn, Dalby, Castle Howard. Never done so many long road rides in a year. Yorkshire Alps was over 160 door to door as was Spurn Head. Tan Hill twice. Then week after week some fabulous clubruns often extended to get full value for money. Still finding new roads. Richmond 5 Dales was a good route. Arthur Metcalfe "sportif" had a good crack - why can't we organise this sort of thing? - low key charity sportif - its what our members like riding - but don't get me started.

Bagged the 10,000 miles with a late lunge for the line. Quite proud that its 16k for the family on bikes and 6k in the car. 4 y/o Siobhan probably done close to 1k in the kiddie seat and tag along - before you call the NSPCC that's 20 miles per week and a trip to asda is 6 miles and its 5 miles into town and back - soon adds up!!

Especially good to see some cross over during the year - roadies getting muddy, RR specialists doing some challenge rides, plenty willing to have a go against the clock, some trying touring for the first time. What would I wish for 2008? Much, much more of this. Cycling has such a rich tapestry, its such a waste to stick to one aspect.

Finishing the year feeling pretty strong, but not especially fast! Hopefully can break the 18 mph barrier when I get a number on my back in March - should be entertaining to watch

This thread started me thinking about my year. At least one thing I "beat" Arthur at - I clocked about 6,000 miles.

I'd almost forgotten that I rode more or less every Sunday clubrun in January, February and March, but not the kindness shown by those faster and fitter amongst you to the newer, slower, older, less fit participants - there was more than just me who was waited for, paced, sheltered, accompanied or cajoled during those rides - take a pat on the back Rob (we won't mention Dacre!), assorted Pauls, assorted Andys, assorted Steves and one or two others who's names I never caught. Also some recognition for Kevin as well who extends the same supportive attitude to the Saturday rides, and got me into this.

All that hard work on your behalfs saw me through my first Clifton Reliability (in forty years), 3 bridges audax (at a record pace for me) etape du dales, white rose classic, Richmond 5 dales, (- I seemed to be up Tan Hill every week at one point - ), Arthur Metcalfe, 90% of Spurn Head and etape du tour.

Not much for me to complain about there then, so I'm glad to say the last couple of months have been miserable - assorted aches, ailments and time constraints have severely limited riding and when I have been out the weathers been horrible. What a perfectly rounded year for a grumpy old man.

To the extent that I can be called a cyclist 2007 represents the beginning of what I hope turns out to be an ongoing commitment to cycling and keeping age-related physical decrepitude at bay. At the beginning of the year I was increasingly aware of being unfit and it's thanks to a work colleague who persuaded me to ride the Wetherby - Filey ride in June. Following this a chance reading of the local press and an advert for the Saturday Social Ride lead me to present myself at the square where I was duly vetted by Kevin. Not sure if I passed initial inspection but after 70+ miles (which at a pace for me in my unfit state passed for 'on the rivets') I was hooked.

2500 or so miles later I'm still turning up and enjoying things - the Christmas Dinner Ripon ride especially stands out - so I'm hoping that 2008 and beyond brings many more hours of enjoyment on the company of some fine cyclists. Special thanks to Kevin and the saturday regulars for making me welcome.

2007 - my 20th year of riding open events and 21st as a Clifton member.
It seemed to go quickly although I'm sure from 2008, my first as a veteran, they will start going quicker & quicker!
A pleasing year for me in which I managed to hang on to the 2nd cat road race licence I'd spent the whole of the previous season achieving.
Highlights included 5th in our road race - my best ever position, my ride in Cycleworks Elite road race & escaping the field and staying away in one of the BBridge TLI road races.
Other highlights included the Tan Hill ride in December - a challenge ride that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and satisfies my slightly mad side, some excellent Sunday rides in the last couple of months, seeing the clubs riders competing in a variety of events with success and seeing new riders getting stuck in.
Low lights included a couple of really stupid mechanical failures that led to abandonments & still make me cringe, some really dull 2nd cat races I wish I'd never bothered entering, and time trialling generally at which I was rubbish last year.
I always reckon competition and road racing in particular is about 90% pain & disappointment so for 2008 I hope to continue to be a bit ambitious & get my sporting satisfaction out of the other 10% for all its worth. I also hope to see my fellow club members stretching themselves a bit both physically and mentally. Happy New Year all!