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Assess yourself for 2020!

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Assess yourself for 2020!

Old 01-02-20, 01:07 AM
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alan s 
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Assess yourself for 2020!

How are things looking for the year ahead? What did you learn last year that you can apply for this year? I found that slowing down a bit and varying the route makes for an enjoyable commute.
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Old 01-06-20, 10:59 AM
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I have my cargo equipped with a motor now so bike commuting is much easier. Started this past fall and while I'm still a "fair weather" commuter, I've put in way more miles than I would have in the past. Plan to keep it up this year. Maybe even go from 3 days a week to all five work days. Been trying to use the bike more for local shopping runs too. I've invested in better lights and better clothes to expand the hours I can ride and be more comfortable doing it. Here's to 2020!
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Old 01-08-20, 10:15 AM
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I have no reason to not have a good productive 2020 on the bike. Have everything I need so it boils down to just doing it. I have committed to more rain riding. Seriously, if it’s gotta be sunny in the Seattle area to ride, I would hardly ride at all.
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Old 01-08-20, 02:53 PM
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This will be my first full year commuting with a velomobile. So far, it's really extended my riding into even snowy/icy conditions. I still plan on riding 2 wheels (recumbent) when the weather gets nicer, but I am enjoying the extra warmth of the velo, and the added safety of 3 wheels.
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Old 01-11-20, 05:56 PM
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Bought my first 20” folder (Zizzo Liberte) and it may be a game changer for me. Multi-modal is a snap, it’s easy to throw in the trunk and explore places I go, it’s easier to carry up and down stairs and through tight spots, and it’s just a fun toy.
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Old 01-19-20, 04:34 PM
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I changed jobs at the end of October, to a place that was much closer (6 miles RT rather than 16), but in temporary office space and without showers or much of anywhere to change. So I wasn't biking the last two months. I'm trying to get back to it now, and accept that it's now more of a change in a bathroom stall, clean up with wet wipes situation. Which is not really a bad deal for having doubled my pay and gotten into a job that isn't mostly a dead end.
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Old 01-22-20, 02:09 PM
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I started riding to the station early in 2001. Some time in the next month (no idea what day) I'll be starting my 20th year of bike commuting. In that time I've done a lot of things a lot of different ways. I have used a lot of different gear, including quite a few bicycles. Technology has changed a lot in that time! Dynamo hubs were pretty unusual, and the really clever LED headlights just didn't exist. Other than that, I've learned a lot, and accordingly I've upped my game in many ways. I've changed the time I ride, earlier and earlier over the years. I continue to change my route occasionally. And so on.

At this point, looking ahead at 2020, I can't imagine what changes I'll make this year. If I knew something that would improve my commute, I would have implemented it by now. That's not to say it won't happen-- I just don't know what it'll be. Yet.

I think I can safely say no form of motorized bike is in my future. If better rainwear is in my future, that would be fine with me.

Last edited by rhm; 01-22-20 at 05:58 PM.
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Old 01-23-20, 10:03 AM
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Well, 2019 found my usual 6k-ish miles waaay down. Suffering a pulmonary embolism (PE) in July with a resulting left lower lobe infarct really knocked me for a loop. I managed to get some miles in but needed more than a few recovery days in between.

2020 is looking even worse. All the digging around trying to figure out my PE revealed a questionable looking issue developing in my pancreas. Sure enough, I’ve got pancreatic cancer currently at about stage II, maybe III. Thankfully, I’m well connected in my local healthcare system and am assembling a great team to help get me through this.

First round of chemo was a bit of an ass kicker. I’ve seen this in my patients but living it brings a whole new level of understanding. I’ve got more than a few rounds to get through before moving on to surgery, so realistically I’ll be off the bike for most of this year. While my riding serves as a mode of transportation, it’s also been supremely therapeutic, so to whatever ability I can muster, I will.

So, 2020 will find me down, but not out.



-Kedosto
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Old 01-23-20, 10:09 AM
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I learned that leaving my commuting bike locked outside every day will eventually bring someone to cut the U-lock and have it stolen. This year, I will start bringing the new bike inside for the night
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Old 01-23-20, 11:08 AM
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Kedosto
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Originally Posted by crazyravr
I learned that leaving my commuting bike locked outside every day will eventually bring someone to cut the U-lock and have it stolen. This year, I will start bringing the new bike inside for the night
Yep. Locks just keep honest people honest. Predictability invites thieves, no matter how strong the lock.


-Kedosto
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Old 01-23-20, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Kedosto
Well, 2019 found my usual 6k-ish miles waaay down. Suffering a pulmonary embolism (PE) in July with a resulting left lower lobe infarct really knocked me for a loop. I managed to get some miles in but needed more than a few recovery days in between.

2020 is looking even worse. All the digging around trying to figure out my PE revealed a questionable looking issue developing in my pancreas. Sure enough, I’ve got pancreatic cancer currently at about stage II, maybe III. Thankfully, I’m well connected in my local healthcare system and am assembling a great team to help get me through this.

First round of chemo was a bit of an ass kicker. I’ve seen this in my patients but living it brings a whole new level of understanding. I’ve got more than a few rounds to get through before moving on to surgery, so realistically I’ll be off the bike for most of this year. While my riding serves as a mode of transportation, it’s also been supremely therapeutic, so to whatever ability I can muster, I will.

So, 2020 will find me down, but not out.



-Kedosto
Sounds like you are going through a lot. Hopefully you will be back on your bike soon.
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Old 01-24-20, 02:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Kedosto
Well, 2019 found my usual 6k-ish miles waaay down. Suffering a pulmonary embolism (PE) in July with a resulting left lower lobe infarct really knocked me for a loop. I managed to get some miles in but needed more than a few recovery days in between.

2020 is looking even worse. All the digging around trying to figure out my PE revealed a questionable looking issue developing in my pancreas. Sure enough, I’ve got pancreatic cancer currently at about stage II, maybe III. Thankfully, I’m well connected in my local healthcare system and am assembling a great team to help get me through this.

First round of chemo was a bit of an ass kicker. I’ve seen this in my patients but living it brings a whole new level of understanding. I’ve got more than a few rounds to get through before moving on to surgery, so realistically I’ll be off the bike for most of this year. While my riding serves as a mode of transportation, it’s also been supremely therapeutic, so to whatever ability I can muster, I will.

So, 2020 will find me down, but not out.



-Kedosto
Best of luck, hope you beat cancer about the head and shoulders! And then ride many more miles outside with a big grin for as long as possible.
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Old 01-24-20, 06:58 AM
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Have learned that clips/ clipless pedals and shoes are much more efficient than standard, need to get a pair of clipless shoes now!
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Old 01-29-20, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Kedosto
Well, 2019 found my usual 6k-ish miles waaay down. Suffering a pulmonary embolism (PE) in July with a resulting left lower lobe infarct really knocked me for a loop. I managed to get some miles in but needed more than a few recovery days in between.

2020 is looking even worse. All the digging around trying to figure out my PE revealed a questionable looking issue developing in my pancreas. Sure enough, I’ve got pancreatic cancer currently at about stage II, maybe III. Thankfully, I’m well connected in my local healthcare system and am assembling a great team to help get me through this.

First round of chemo was a bit of an ass kicker. I’ve seen this in my patients but living it brings a whole new level of understanding. I’ve got more than a few rounds to get through before moving on to surgery, so realistically I’ll be off the bike for most of this year. While my riding serves as a mode of transportation, it’s also been supremely therapeutic, so to whatever ability I can muster, I will.

So, 2020 will find me down, but not out.



-Kedosto
Best of luck to you. Hope you can watch Breaking Away and old videos of the Tour de France while you recover...
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Old 01-29-20, 11:21 AM
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I missed that one when you posted. Good luck Kedosto
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