TomRides

I have to say, you guys are impressive! My goals seem meek in comparison! I DO have to say however that in my group rides, the women are always talking about their goals, and really bummed if they're behind, and some of the women are the more aggressive and fast riders in the pack!

You've given me inspiration..THANK YOU!

snowy

Someone asked what got me into riding?? As much as I hate to admit it "A GUY" I've been mountain biking since the late 90's. I just picked up road biking in 2004. I love BOTH.

I also race xc mountain biking too. Done one race this year in June. It was my first race and I did pretty well considering I had a mechanical on the first lap towards the finished.

blonduathlongrl

Here, fixed that for you.

Nickel

Yay for mountain biking. I like doing endurance races vs a regular XC race.

dogpound

let's see...
it's july and I've done most of my goals for the year:
climbed haleakala
Climbed mt Etna
(2 10k' volcanos!)
PR on the bike in a half ironman (3:04 for 59 miles, the course was 3 miles long, if it was the proper 56, I would have had a sub 3)
Ride on the track (this I am certainly going to do again)

my next big goal isn't bike related, it's running a qualifying time for the boston marathon.

Pedal Wench

The thing that most advanced me from a casual rider into an addicted maniac would be my boyfriend. He was so encouraging and supportive - my biggest cheerleader. By making my minor accomplishments seem so great, it encouraged me to keep pushing my limits. Now he just thinks I'm crazy!

blonduathlongrl

that's great when you have that one person who pushes you and encourages you!
My hubby used to ask me out loud to just take on ballet, something where the chances of coming back home in one piece was greater...
but now, I catch him bragging about me and being more supportive

Machka 

BDG ... if you like duathlons, maybe this event would interest you ... the running part is coming up soon! But if I'm not mistaken there's also a cycling part and snowshoeing part.

https://www.canadiandeathrace.com/

blonduathlongrl

thanks machka! looks like a tough one, huh?
even the name of this race is scary!
btw, Im Canadian too

beat.tk

I am mesmerized by blonduathlongrl's signature video.
Why can't I stop watching it?

alicestrong

Kinda makes you wonder what happened next, eh?

RoadToNowhere

Seriously hypnotic, isn't it?

Impressive bunch of strong women in here!!

My goals (cycling related) are simple: to ride as often as I can, as far as I can, as fast as I can, feeling as good as I can. Primarily because it is my passion and what balances my body and my mind, and because if I stop I fear I won't be able to move or climb the next mountain I want to climb. I have Spondylitis - and cycling is strength and pain I can control. It puts ME in charge. And yes, I am a little bit compulsive

What does this translate to? If I can get 150 miles in a week in the midst of my schedule, I'm happy. In the past three years I've gone from 20-25 mile rides at a 14-15 avg, to 70 mile rollers at 17. I'm 25 lbs lighter, and my joints are still moving. I'm teaching 3-4 Spinning classes a week, and am managing to stay somewhat sane with 2 teen-aged daughters and an 11-year-old son (although this week I found myself hunting for a back-to-school sale just so I could go sniff the new pencils and notebooks). Oh, and there's a paying job in there somewhere as well . . .

So this obsession goes way back for me, to when I was a kid and the only way I got anywhere was on my bike. I have always loved the burn in the legs and the freedom of flying down the other side of a hill. I can't say beyond that what got me interested in this . . . it's just part of me, it isn't really a choice.

Ladies, you're awesome.

Beth

alicestrong

Death Race?? DEATH RACE!!??

Oh wait...there's kids in it, too, so it can't be that bad...

They wouldn't...WOULD THEY???

heathermarie

over the next 12 months:
maintain skeletor race weight.
cat2.
corner well.
climb aggressively.
learn how to recover.
never contribute to negative racing.
race mtn bikes.

Machka 

I did some digging and it appears that the Canadian Death Ride (the bicycle part) goes on the September long weekend.

Roughly where in Canada? I'm western Canadian.

crypticlineage

I feel your pain indygreg. Me too!

gambithunt

All those smilies are a dead give away that this is a ladies thread

wolfpack 

Wow! A lot of strong women here. I had a few goals at the beginning of the year:

- have 150mi weeks once the season got started
- get stronger on the bike and be able to do solo rides of 17-18mph
- lose around 30 pounds over the year
- reach 4000mi by the end of the year
- not be afraid of the mountains and do a mountain ride (I’m a flatlander)

Did I accomplish any of these goals?? Well, I did become stronger by riding with someone who pushed me to work harder than I would have if I were riding alone. I did “just” get to the 17-18mph average before getting hurt. Haven’t reached the 150mi weeks yet and probably wont. It’ll be more likely 100-125mi a week because of injury. I’ve lost about half of the weight I want to lose, so that goal is still probably attainable. I have around 1600mi for the year right now due to being off the bike for the past 2mo. Might be able to reach 3000mi by the end of the year if I’m careful and don’t get reinjured. And, my last one, the mountains ride, got cancelled in May because of my injury. I’m trying to organize a ride in the Asheville area for this fall, so hopefully, that goal will be attainable.

My biggest goal right now is to be able to get back to riding and stay healthy the rest of the year. All these other goals are meaningless if I’m not healthy enough to ride….

beat.tk

Hey wolfpack,
I hope you get to do that Asheville ride! Would it be out to Mt Mitchell?

Anyway, I just realized that if we had a BF men vs women relay race across the US that the ladies would win because our good looks would stop traffic in our wake, causing the dudes to wipe out.

valygrl

GO valleygirl GO! I never did the tour of the california alps, when I lived there.

I'm doing the Triple Bypass (Colorado's version - shorter, not as steep, but higher altitude) the same day.

Maybe we there will be some val(le)yg(i)rl synergy and we can both finish strong under sunny skies.

;D

ohmyspokes

I'm at about 200 miles/wk at this point in the season

The goals I set at the beginning of the year:
* Upgrade to Cat 3 -- Done
* Win a race -- Have won two so far, both with solo breakaways

New goal:
* Cat 2 by this time next year
* Avoid getting hit by any more SUVs

blonduathlongrl

I was born and raised in the heart of Quebec city, after being done at University Laval, I came to NH with a gf of mine to hit the beaches and travel.
met then my husband to be and he never let me go back home
20 years later, Im still in NH, husband is american, so are my kids but I always retained my Canadian status.

gfrance

Me too. I want it as a screen saver now.

Orbea J

My goal this year was/is to get faster on my century rides and to do RAGBRAI. One down, one to go. I'm lighter and better on the bike than I've ever been (it's good to use the miles for post-BF therapy!)I've been training like a mad dog for RAGBRAI and can hardly wait to get to Iowa! My goal there is to go easy on the pie and not come back to CA heavier than when I left.

GuitarWizard

+1

I laugh my ass off every time I watch it.