2023 Summary

2023 was a non-cycling year.  A severe back injury in early March resulted in strict guidance from my doctor to stay off the bike for 18 months. This was disappointing news, but the few times I did head out for a ride the pain and numbness were palpable. Cumulative riding time for the year was less than two hours for not quite 20 miles. Dismal.

Accordingly, the fleet has been culled by one bike (the Surly Cross Check was sold to a coworker), while two others are currently for sale (Nordavinden and Volae). If/when I can return to cycling, I'm going to stay on familiar, comfortable bikes with wide tires.

Not all cycling news for the year was bad, however. In early October I was able to visit Rivendell Bicycle Works in Walnut Creek, CA. It was a fun-filled visit that I won't soon forget. Test rides on  a Platypus and Roadini gave me a feel for their bikes, which - despite being brief - I enjoyed immensely. I hope a Rivendell bike will have a prominent place in my cycling portfolio someday.

(All smiles on the Platypus)

On the commuting front, I invested in a Honda CT125 this summer for my trips to and from work. Unlike my previous Honda scooter, the CT125 can keep up with traffic while boasting an impressive 142 mpg in a little over 600 miles of commuting. The riding experience has been excellent, demanding a heightened awareness similar to randonneuring.

(Honda CT125)

2022 Summary

There was a substantial increase in commuter mileage over 2021, thanks in large part to a return to normal at work resulting in fewer days teleworking. Higher fuel prices and favorable weather also helped.

The new RUSA Rouleur Program afforded me the opportunity to participate in a 125k in May, which turned out to be a perfect fit for our normally busy weekends when we visit Minneapolis. I hope to do another in 2023 and possibly a 200k with the Minnesota or Montana Randonneurs sometime in late summer.

Nothing new on the bike front, other than a couple of them are not getting much use. Seems gardening has taken over riding during my non-work hours, limiting opportunities that’s not categorized as commuting. While it would make sense to cull the fleet by two or three bikes, I believe they each will have a greater role when I have more free time.

2021 Summary

There was an increase in cycling compared to 2020, with all bikes seeing more time and miles except for the Rawland Nordavinden (road) and Volae (recumbent).  Participation in a September 200k in Minnesota was scuttled to make time to see family in Nebraska. Hope to get back in the ways of randonneuring in 2022!  A trip to Montana is planned.

One cycling-related highlight was the publication of an amended version of a previous blog post in the Fall 2021 issue of American Randonneur. The response was positive, and I thank Janice Chernekoff (editor) for encouraging me through multiple edits of the article.  I found writing for a cycling magazine as challenging as preparing a paper for a peer-reviewed journal!

Favorable fall temperatures and a cessation of gardening activities provided space for a couple lengthy rides.  The gravel roads west of Mandan are a favorite for the variable landscapes and limited, courteous automobile traffic.

(The Surly Crosscheck sporting new handlebar tape and Compass tires)

2020 Summary

Putting a wrap on another year with meager cumulative mileage.  Intentions of local commuting and brevets in Minnesota gave way to a telework reality in mid-March.  As COVID  cases climbed through the year (with some of the highest per-capita rates in the country here in Bismarck) my aversion to risk kept me close to home, usually on foot via lengthy walks/hikes/jogs using nearby trails.

One new wrinkle of significance for 2020 were my two forays on the Volae recumbent late in the year. The experiences were humbling, as my start-stop and handling skills left much to be desired.  However, the comfort - or rather, the lack of discomfort - of recumbent riding was unmistakable.  No neck pain, numb hands, or sore knees and ankles.  Definitely looking forward to more miles on the Volae in 2021!

 

2019 Summary

No rides of any significance were attempted in 2019.  A convergence of limited free time and a general apathy towards distance cycling resulted in the lowest cumulative mileage in over 20 years of riding (10 rides, 146 miles).  I did not ride the Koga-Miyata this year.

After much reflection, I’ve decided to let my RUSA and Minnesota Randonneur memberships lapse.  Outdoor activities have transitioned to hiking and trail running, activities I find safer (away from the increasingly distracted and drug addled drivers) and less burdensome from a time management standpoint.  I plan to continue to ride, however.  Two recent acquisitions (Brompton M6R and a Volae Century recumbent) will open up new cycling opportunities, and I’ll certainly commute when it’s safe to do so.

This blog will continue, but without the brevet reports and annual summaries.  I’m sure some of the new outdoor activities will embody the randonneur spirit (i.e., “to ramble”), plus there’s always the chance I’ll return to distance cycling in some form once I have more free time.

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday season and a happy and healthful 2020!

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.  

Wrapping up 2016

Annual cumulative mileage continued its downward trend, this time dropping below 1000 miles for the first time since 2005.  Increased demands at work coupled with continued eldercare responsibilities limited time available to train for and travel to randonneuring events.  I hope to get back on track in 2017 by participating in a complete series of ACP brevets.

The year was not lost to outdoor activities, however.  An ambitious expansion of garden space required considerable attention throughout the summer and resulted in impressive yields of diverse produce, much of which was donated to local food pantries.  My wife and I also hiked over 100 miles of the North Country Trail in North Dakota and Minnesota.  We plan to continue hiking in 2017 while documenting our experiences along the way.

(Allocating more space - and time - for local food)

Wrapping up the Year

I feel I’ve come full circle with this post, announcing a shoulder surgery not unlike what was done in October 2012.  This time it’s the left side, but the same situation (torn labrum and rotator cuff, bone spurs, etc.).  Assuming all goes well tomorrow, it’ll be a winter of physical therapy to regain lost flexibility and strength.  Thank goodness shoulders come in pairs.  I have no interest in going through this a third time.

The cycling year ended modestly following Chief Joseph 300k.  I stuck to my commuter, riding to and from work mostly.  Commuting, in fact, accrued the most mileage for the year among my five riding categories.  Total mileage decreased significantly compared to previous years.  Will that trend continue in 2016?

ANNUAL SUMMARY - 2015
			Ride time	Mileage
		Ride	Cumulative	Cumulative
Bike		count	hh:mm:ss	km
Road		0	0:00:00	0
Mountain		1	0:41:03	10
Commuter		45	58:34:33	1257
Gravel		18	23:33:16	456
Randoneering		9	36:08:46	735
TOTAL		73	118:57:38	2460

2014 Mileage

The days of decent riding opportunities for 2014 are now in the past, as winter has settled in throughout western North Dakota.  My final ride of the year occurred last Sunday, with a short loop in Bismarck to retrieve groceries and office supplies on my singlespeed mountain bike.  It was good to get out, as time on the bike has been severely limited since September’s brevet.

The ride summary for the year is modest, with the cumulative mileage and time impacted by new family responsibilities since March.  My commuting and road riding were especially disappointing, though the latter has been on a downward trend since 2011.  Accordingly, it may be time to release the Roubaix to someone more interested in road riding/racing.  It is an excellent bike, and deserves to be ridden.

Problems with my knee continue, suggesting a serious injury.  I have visits to the physical therapist and orthopedic surgeon scheduled for early next month.  I’ll share relevant outcomes in my December post.  In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving!

ANNUAL SUMMARY - 2014
			Ride time	Mileage
		Ride	Cumulative	Cumulative
Bike		count	hh:mm:ss	km
Road		4	14:14:21	333
Mountain		13	14:03:55	241
Commuter		21	26:23:54	556
Gravel		10	14:05:53	311
Randoneering		35	127:51:11	2524
TOTAL		83	196:39:14	3966

2013 Mileage

As it turned out, that ride on November 30^th was indeed the last ride of the year.  While there were a few reasonable days for riding, most temperatures throughout December were well below 0°C.  Coupled with the unseasonably cold weather was two weeks of out-of-state travel, which pretty much put a kibosh on physical activity.  So much for having good ‘form’ going into the holiday season!

Despite the lack of riding in this December, my annual mileage was well above the record set in 2012 (3579 miles; an increase of 18%).  Most riding was allocated to commuting and randonneuring (including training for the Munger Bungo)...   …definitely something I’m happy with.

So, a good year!  Achieved a major milestone (600 km brevet), avoided major crashes/mishaps, and set another record for cumulative mileage.  Here’s to keeping the momentum in 2014!

ANNUAL SUMMARY - 2013
			Ride time	Mileage
		Ride	Cumulative	Cumulative
Bike		count	hh:mm:ss	km
Road		12	30:23:55	756
Mountain		4	7:54:35	151
Commuter		68	92:29:09	1944
Gravel		19	34:37:11	708
Randoneering		40	95:03:47	2199
TOTAL		143	260:28:37	5759

2012 Mileage

Despite my setback over Labor Day, 2012 managed to be a record year as far as mileage was concerned.  I rode slightly over 4880 kilometers (3032 miles) for the year, with rides recorded between January 4th and October 14th.  The favorable winter weather in February and March made all the difference, as our roads in central North Dakota lacked the typical snow/ice cover.

As can be seen from the table below, I had limited opportunities to tour or participate in brevets.  As it turned out, the randonneuring events planned for 2012 occurred after my accident.  Extended rides beyond two hours turned out to be particularly painful, so I had to withdraw from those events.  Here's to hoping mileage for touring/randonneuring is significantly increased in 2013!

ANNUAL SUMMARY - 2012
			Ride time	Mileage
		Ride	Cumulative	Cumulative
Bike		count	hh:mm:ss	km
Road		11	32:12:30	873
Mountain		21	40:12:44	775
Commuter		76	78:49:41	1632
Gravel		24	42:04:10	1073
Touring/Randoneering		14	24:08:58	526
TOTAL		146	217:28:03	4880