Machka 

What are your cycling highlights of 2013? Did you reach a goal? Were you able to cycle somewhere you've always wanted to ride? Did you ride with someone special?


[HR][/HR]


Some of our highlights include ...

-- Finishing our Round the World trip - 7.5 months, 13 countries (Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, England, Scotland, The Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, Canada, the US ... and back to Australia again in mid-January). We were able to cycle in all but Hong Kong, including, but not limited to ... a 4-day hub-and-spoke tour in Taiwan, a 5-day cycling tour along the North Sea Route in Scotland/England, approx. 2 week tour up the Rhine Route, a 10-day hub-and-spoke tour in Switzerland, and a slow 3 weeks from Bordeaux up the Velodyssey Trail to La Rochelle.

Upon our return to Australia in mid-January, we spent 2 weeks in western Australia enjoying the warm weather, the cycling, and the beaches. Then we flew into Melbourne and travelled north into the area where we started, and reacquainted ourselves with old familiar roads, and explored some new ones as well.

Journal: https://www.machka.net/RTW_2012/RTW_2012.htm
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...7630125633632/


-- In early April, Rowan and I rode our tandem again ... for the first time in a year.


-- On May 12, Rowan and I did our one and only randonneuring event this year ... the Benalla La Belle 100K. It was the longest ride we had done in a year.


-- The highlight of the end of July/beginning of August was the amazing recovery of my stolen bicycle Machak, my Marinoni Ciclo. And on August 4th, I rode Machak for the first time in 3 years and 4 months.


-- Later in August Rowan and I celebrated 5 year and 10 year anniversaries ... 5 years of marriage, 10 years of knowing each other in person from when we met at the Paris-Brest-Paris in 2003.


-- And then we moved to Tasmania in early October, and have been exploring routes and possibilities here.


Many 2013 photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...632695116242//

telebianchi

• Meeting a great bunch of new cycling friends.
• Over 3000 miles documented (thanks Garmin Edge)
• Is that a whale? Riding along Turnagain Arm outside of Anchroage AK and seeing beluga whales just offshore.
• Is that a whale? part 2. Getting to see the whales again the next day.
• First time on Skyline Drive, VA ... several rides there this year.
• New 2014 Trek Domane 5.2

Steamer

My highlights of the year were my first Fleche ,and my first mixed surface 200K (ride; not a formal randonee).

New experiences always make for good memories.

c_mack9

Got rid of my aero frame bike in favor of a Tarmac SL4.
Rode 500 miles in September
Rode a lot more hills this season.

alexaschwanden

Rode 500 miles on my Felt Nine 60 in about 6 weeks.
Bought a Specialized Hardrock Comp disc 2011.
Went down the Moffett bay recreational trail (fun)

3alarmer

.
.
....managed to not hurt myself on a bike in 2013, but there are still two days left.

wn rider

Great set of photos. Planning on going to Australia in May. Hope to do a little cycling if weather permits.

Machka 

Where in Australia? (it's a big place ) And for how long?

wn rider

We will be in the Geelong area for about 2 weeks. I would really like to ride the Great Ocean Road. Looks like it would be fabulous.

Machka 

It is nice ... and May would be a good time to ride it. Not as many tourists ... almost none. It can be a bit cool and wet then.

We like the Port Fairy area, all the way at the other end of the Great Ocean Road.

This set of photos has Port Fairy and Great Ocean Road photos.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...7623312198466/

mLuMaN83

I bought my first road bike and accomplished a 26 mile ride. Next goal is 30 miles. 2 months into road cycling.

dgasmd

Accomplishment? Did not get hit by a car. I know, low bar was set!

OldTryGuy

Purchased my first new road bike in 33 years, 2013-Giant Propel Advanced SL3, and finished Ironman Florida's 112 miles feeling great for the following marathon.

Way to go.

SmallFront

Bought my first cargo bike which allowed me to ride around with my soon-to-be 2 year-old daughter in the cargo box. It brings both of us so much joy, and I can hardly wait till spring/early summer where I will take her on a little - her very first - tent camping trip.

apollored

Not too many really, 2013 was a bad year for me and cycling but I did go to North Wales a few times where we had a short ride then swam in the sea when it was very hot.

Nice and relaxing swimming then relaxing on the beach

Dalai

Solid year riding and racing road, track and new to me CX.

Main highlight was a three week riding holiday in CA, CO and AZ. 1705km ridden, 42,009m vert and over 5,600km driving!

California - San Francisco

Old La Honda + Pescadero Creek road +Tunitas Creek road + Kings Mountain road
Sierra rd + Mt Hamilton
Mt Diablo via North Gate am + Mt Tamalpais loop from Fairfax pm.

Eastern Sierra California

Mosquito Flat from Bishop.
Bristlecone from Big Pine.
Horseshoe Meadows + Whitney Portal.
Onion Valley

Colorado

Grand Mesa (both sides).
Independence pass (both sides).
Copper Triangle.
Trail ridge rd (both sides).
Mt Evans.
Pikes Peak

Arizona

Mt Graham.
Mt Lemmon

California

Palomar Mountain South Grade and East Grade.
Glendora Mountain road /Glendora Ridge road + Mt Baldy

Finally got around to riding local climb Mt Baw Baw earlier this week. Had put it off for years due to its reputation - last 6.5km averages 12.6%!

xuwol7

biked about 10k miles this year in temps from 100+ humidity to a low of of -35 with wind chill factor in the dakotas'

Machka 

Did you cycle all the way up? Rowan cycled it (with a few breaks) but I did a combination of walking and cycling.

Dalai

I rode it nonstop - 43min and change from the Gantry where the climb gets steep. Had a 29t on the back with 39 front and had a cadence drop below 50 in quite a few spots...

Machka 

Congrats! Well done. That is not an easy hill.

When we tackled it, we thought we might drive to the top, cycle down, then turn around and cycle back up again. But our van couldn't make it up!!

Machka 

We've done that sort of thing a few times since we've moved to Tasmania.

aaronmcd

That Pescadero loop is my favorite ride, with a few variations. Love seeing the coast, love the artichoke bread in Pescadero, ane love all the climbing/descending! I prefer to descend Page Mill though.

rdtompki

Highlight and Low light were closely related. Low light: wife is on the DL and we're not riding the tandem for the time being. Highlight: I'm doing more climbing and on our tougher climbs, and we have some pretty tough climbs, I no longer think "when am I going to get to the top", but rather I just keep riding until I get to the top. Doesn't seem like much, but it's very different psychology.

aaronmcd

Cycling highlights:
Started riding recreationally.
Started racing.
Bike was stolen but got and built a nice new bike.
Started using a powermeter.
And finally, 380 miles last week!

Jakedatc

650 more miles than last year

started to hang with the 20-22mph group and joined a shop A/B ride that is very motivating.

Met a cool riding partner that is as driven to improve as I am so we push each other. (and is doing 20+ in their first 6 months riding...)