My 2008 Cycling Challenge:
January 1st, 2008It’s 2008 and time for a my 4th annual challenge!
In 2007, I will attempt to cycle 120,000 metres (about 400,000 feet) 160,000 metres (about 525,000 feet) (challenge increased in June) of vertical climb. this is about 45 feet 60 feet an hour every hour of the day
Left: In 2005, my challenge was to ride 10,000 kms. I succeeded on Christmas day and promptly took two months off cycling.
Nov 25 - Today, on a crisp, cold sunny day, I completed my 2007 challenge.
It’s cold and winter is approaching but I am getting pretty close to my target of 160,000 metres of vertical ascent for 2007. I rode less in October than I have for months and the extra rest days made me feel stronger.
As the weather gets colder, I am making good progress towards my target - with a little more than 20,000 metres of ascent left - hopefully the weather will hold.
The highlight of September was without doubt 3 days cycling in the Berner Oberland in Swiss Alps.
August was another great cycling month. The highlight was easily our trip across Wales - something I had wanted to do for a long time. Beautiful, mountainous and quiet roads and my brave wife enduring 8 hard days on the bike. 5 days in the Vanoise Alps at the beginning of August […]
July was probably the best month of cycling yet this year with just under 20,000 metres climbed. Highlights included a five day trip to the Vosges mountains, and cyling up Col de la Colombiere and then Col du Galibier to watch the Tour de France.
I only cycled one of the last five […]
Half way through the year and I have climbed almost exactly what I climbed in 2006 - my silly challenges keep me motivated
June was a fairly good climbing month, although mainly local routes. I felt pretty burned out by the last week of June and took a few very light days to […]
May was a great cycling month with some big climbs.
Climbing the legendary Mont Ventoux twice as well as the lessor know but superb Mont du Chat were highlights. But I think the top ride of the month had to be the 176 km loop of Lake Geneva with Martin. Easily the longest ride […]
April was a great riding month. The weather was near perfect. I am pretty pleased to do so many big rides after surviving my minor surgery and I am feeling about 95% recovered. Lots of great rides, not least of which were two big rides in the Jura mountains, notable for the for […]
Well, March had its ups and downs. The first 2/3 of the month I rode almost every day, and the mild weather allowed 8 big climbs - where I found lots of snow. The last 1/3 was less fun as minor surgery sidelined me. The active beginning of the month means […]