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.

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.