2014 was my 10th annual Cycling Challenge. If nothing else, I respond to New Year resolutions! It was the first time I hadn’t “announced” my annual goals on Jan 1st as I had been several months off the bike at the time (old man knee!), and was a little depressed.
But things improved, and by February I was doing my slow, uphill thing as usual. Still my 2014 Challenge was more hopeful than ambitious: 50 Great Rides, and somehow get fit enough to complete the Maratona dles Dolomites – perhaps the most beautiful and best run cyclo-sportive in Europe.
Ultimately, the knee stopped being annoying, I managed far more than 50 great rides, completed the Maratona, became addicted to mountain biking up Alps, and had my biggest climbing year ever (Strava says just over 200,000 metres vertical) – perhaps 80 or so Cols/climbs for the first time. And I now speak almost mediocre Italian. Fantastico!
I recently blogged my favourite climbs of the year:
Despite a slow start you still had a great year and beat your goals. Well done Will! Great pics and can see you are having a lot of fun. Miss riding with you but thankfully you keep the blog and pics coming, so like many others I can live vicariously through you. All the best to you and Doreen for 2015!
Your collection of climbs, rides and outings is once again very impressive. The photos are fantastic and make appetite to just grab the bike and pedal uphill.
I wish you good health, motivation and positive spirit for your adventures in the new year. The few rides we did together last year were all great – I hope we continue cycling together once in a while.
Your blog keeps being my reference !
Hi Will,
Encore une belle année cycliste qui vient de se terminer. Je suis heureux de voir que tu as pû en profiter pleinement, c’est en tous cas l’impression que j’ai en lisant ton résumé. J’espère que vous passerez une excellente année avec d’autres belles sorties de vélo (et de “cross country skiing”).
What a fantastic year of cycling. A truly fabulous sporting achievement and with loads of great photos for the memories. I discovered your site a few weeks ago and it has been a great source of encouragement to me. Inspirational in fact. I hope to meet you and the Ventoux Night Session and buy you a beer or four!
Cheers, Dave.
P.S If you ever want to discover more of the Vosges you should drop me a line. I can show you some super quiet beautiful little climbs.
4 Comments
Despite a slow start you still had a great year and beat your goals. Well done Will! Great pics and can see you are having a lot of fun. Miss riding with you but thankfully you keep the blog and pics coming, so like many others I can live vicariously through you. All the best to you and Doreen for 2015!
Happy New Year to you and Doreen !
Your collection of climbs, rides and outings is once again very impressive. The photos are fantastic and make appetite to just grab the bike and pedal uphill.
I wish you good health, motivation and positive spirit for your adventures in the new year. The few rides we did together last year were all great – I hope we continue cycling together once in a while.
Your blog keeps being my reference !
Cheers, Markus
Hi Will,
Encore une belle année cycliste qui vient de se terminer. Je suis heureux de voir que tu as pû en profiter pleinement, c’est en tous cas l’impression que j’ai en lisant ton résumé. J’espère que vous passerez une excellente année avec d’autres belles sorties de vélo (et de “cross country skiing”).
Hi Will,
What a fantastic year of cycling. A truly fabulous sporting achievement and with loads of great photos for the memories. I discovered your site a few weeks ago and it has been a great source of encouragement to me. Inspirational in fact. I hope to meet you and the Ventoux Night Session and buy you a beer or four!
Cheers, Dave.
P.S If you ever want to discover more of the Vosges you should drop me a line. I can show you some super quiet beautiful little climbs.