2012 Review

One year like this will see me right for life!

That is a play on words of a London Olympics song (Elbow - One Day Like This).  What a year!

Here are my cycling highlights:

• The Kiwi Hunt 1200 in February: the toughest ride I've ever done.  I was completely out of my mind at the end of it.
• 1200 The Kiwi Hunt Ride Report

• The Wessex Series: I capitalised on my early season fitness to complete the hilly Wessex Series.  
• 200 The Dorset Coast
• 300 The 3D 
• 400 The Porkers
• 600 The Hellfire

• The Easter Arrow: an unusual event because it is a team ride and everybody arrives around the same time. 
• 400 The Easter Arrow

• The Russian 1200: magnificent, a whole new experience.   
• 1200 Vologda-Onega-Ladoga

Here are my off-the-bike highlights:

• Did the Park Tools Mechanics course led by the lovely David Eales of London Bikehub
• Being Gamesmaker at the Olympics
• Seeing Bradley on his Olympic gold winning time trial
• Seeing dressage at the Paralympics, won by Natasha Baker
• Bradley winning le Tour de France
• The Jubilee and our street party
• My knees seem to have recovered from all the early season strain
• And finally, I have won the Willesden CC ladies audax champion trophy!

Let's get planning for 2013!

2011 Review

Here is what stood out for me in 2011:

• I introduced friends to FNRttC to Southend.  Not quite as planned, but ending up even better.  They did Whitstable and the 'last of the year' Southend. 

• Loved the Easter Arrow

• I had planned to do a second 600 (eg Invicta), other than the BCM.  But the BCM knocked me out for 600.  I couldn't get myself psyched up for anything above 300.

• Don't think it mattered, because PBP went very well.  What a ride! What an experience! What memories!

• The FNRttC rides were gems, each one of them

• Joined Willesden Cycling Club

• Made more friends for life

• Getting comments about my blog and photos, which always brings a smile to my face.

Ride reports can be found on my previous blog Cycling Life after LEL.

This was the plan:

08 Jan:  The Poor Student 200 - DONE

22 Jan:  The Willy Warmer 200 - DONE

26 Feb:  The Kennet Valley Run 200 - DONE

18 Mar:  FNRttC Southend - DONE without Mandy and Rob

26 Mar: The Dean 300 - DONE

15 Apr: FNRttC Manchester OR The Valley of the Rocks 200 - NOT DONE (Work reasons)

22 Apr: FNRttC Bognor - NOT DONE, Easter Arrow instead

22 Apr: Easter Arrow to York - DONE

30 Apr:  The Severn Across 400 - DONE

14 May: The Bryan Chapman 600 - DONE

11 Jun:  The Invicta 600 OR The Wessex 600 - NOT DONE, London to Brighton 300 DIY instead

17 Jun: FNRttC Whitstable - DONE
25 June: Yorkshire Dales 200 PERM - DONE 

15 Jul: FNRttC Brighton - DONE

21 Jul: FNRttC Newhaven - 300 to Rumbeke - DONE

06 Aug: The West Bay and Back 200 with Jamie - DONE

13 Aug:  a 100 or DIY 200 - NOT DONE (can't remember why)

21 Aug: Le Paris Brest Paris 1200 - Frame number 5741 - DONE!!!

Post PBP additions
The Willesden CC Boat Ride 200
Franks Five Ferry Fietstocht
The South Bucks Winter Warmer 200
FNRttC Whitstable
FNRttC Southend

And there was an out of time DIY 200 in the Yorkshire Dales.

Thank you to all friends, family and followers.  Wishing everybody an excellent 2012.

2010 Review

Today is the last day of the 2010 Audax season. Tomorrow is the start of PBP year! Happy New Year to all Audaxers and followers!!

Its been a fantastic year with a few new achievements for me.

First Randonneur Round the Year: ie a 200km ride every month.

First Audax abroad: Brussels Paris Brussels 600.

First DIY abroad: Dieppe to Beitem 200.

Here is the year's summary which makes it all look too easy!

(BPB in June not listed)

The PBP early registration rides lead to another super randonneur award.

Tomorrow it will be PBP year!