2018 Summary

It was a modest year, with just about half the ride time and mileage logged in 2017.  Substantive rides were limited to two short brevets in May and August (reviewed here and here).  It was a year of commuting, mostly; commuting that stopped abruptly in mid-August when travel commitments spiraled out of control (and didn't stop until about five days ago).

Another contributing factor to the low mileage this year was a nagging upper back issue that caused numbness in my left thumb.  Physical therapy didn't provide lasting relief but cycling less did, so I've transitioned to hiking/walking for aerobic exercise and daily stretching (pseudo-yoga) to work out the kinks in my back.  Though the exercise is not the same and the increased flexibility is slow to materialize, I do feel better.  Accordingly, my randonneuring future seems at a crossroads.  A major change in my riding position to mitigate stress on the C7 disk (the source of my back/thumb issue, apparently) may be needed to keep riding, at least for long distances.

We'll see.  I'm working on a 'bike fix' with the help of a fellow randonneur in Montana that may result in a different bike and a new riding position.