[Fleas]

edit: adding posters' goals to the top of this thread because I like some of the themes! (plus some of my own)

Make it from here to there in XX:XX (time trial style)
Night Snow ride
Ride 50 Trails (this is awesome!)
Avg. 1000' vert/day
10,000' vert in ONE day
Accumulated Mileage
Accumulated Ride Time
Accumulated Vert.
Improved Fitness
Conquer a Black Jump Line
Take a Slow Friend Riding
21 trail systems in 2021
22 trail systems in 2022... 👍



The only reason I'm bringing this up is because this has been a pretty good year of riding (I've actually had a good stretch since May 2020 despite a few minor injuries) - brought into even sharper contrast because 2 nights ago I had a rare, unsatisfying ride where I was plagued with lots of trail debris from a storm - the kind that skewers tires and rips derailleurs - as well as a leaky tire bead that got pumped up about 3X in an hour, which combined to prevent me from hitting all my planned locations.

Outside of that single outing, the rest of this year has been... stellar.
I don't often have a goal for the season, although I like to feel a certain fitness level.
My ride goals usually come out of picking a destination: Where do I want to go? or What do I want to see?. I then backtrack a potential route to a start point. I don't worry about the mileage, and I don't worry about my speed (although knowing my potential speed plays into planning for a particular ride duration, food, water, etc.).
Sometimes I don't even care if there is an actual trail involved (I'll find a diversion along the way ).

Sometimes I have to fit a ride into a time slot and/or a time of day, or combine it with family obligations, which again influences the route choices. There were some nice dawn patrol rides and some nice night rides, as well as all the "normal" rides and group outings.

Every route this year has been great. Even the hard ones.
I tackled some distances and routes that were a real challenge for me.
I got a better handle on my nutrition (finally!).
I got a better handle on my cold weather preparedness/tolerance.
And I managed to keep the bikes tuned all year.
Hopefully I didn't jinx myself.

Here's to a never-ending season!

How'd the rest of you do?

-F

 

[Steel-Onions]

Good for you man !, ive been loving being back in the saddle, too many years wasted, heres for another year of great rides for all /cheerz

 

[BadgerOne]

For me, the only goal was: after a couple years of injury and endless wildfire smoke preventing riding, just start riding again at all.

Achieved. I'll be more ambitious in 2022.

 

[OldMike]

Back into MTB in 2020, new 2021 SJ Carbon Comp in June. Gone through 1.5 chains already. Looking forward to 2022!

Ride Goals = to better corner (lean) and use Dropper more.

 

[Sparticus]

Way to go, Fleas.

We're still reeling here after losing several miles of awesome singletrack to wildfire in Sept. 2020. The fire burned state forest land (Oregon) which is still closed so we can't even go in to assess the damage let alone attempt recovery. It was salvage logged immediately -- without doubt the trails are obliterated. Looking down on the fire scorched land from atop nearby hills, it looks like a war zone. Fortunately there are other trails in the rain forests that need work -- trails here always need work. I love doing trailwork nearly as much as I love riding singletrack so in the end it's all good.

Meanwhile here's a snapshot of my previous 12 months:

...but it's not as impressive as it appears because I got an ebike in February and I ride it maybe 20% of the time. I had surgery in June so that's why the graph is low right there. Coincidentally I got a new enduro frame that same month... what timing. Came back strong in July, Aug & Sept -- all good. Felt like the switch from summer to rain, rain, rain in October was instantaneous. Oh well, better not complain.

The last year I actually set a goal was 2016 and that goal was to average 1000' gain per day. I ended the year with about 375,000' feet which was all human power. Not getting any younger... won't set that goal again.
=sParty

 

[834905]

I am going to come up shy of my mileage goal for 2021, but I’m not upset about it because I did a crazy amount of exploring this year. It’s been super fun. Planning to jump back into some endurance races for 2022 so it should be an awesome year too.

 

[Sparticus]

I am going to come up shy of my mileage goal for 2021, but I’m not upset about it because I did a crazy amount of exploring this year. It’s been super fun. Planning to jump back into some endurance races for 2022 so it should be an awesome year too.

Nice shots. Hope you'll consider adding that first one to the Oregon pix thread.
=sParty

 

[834905]

Nice shots. Hope you'll consider adding that first one to the Oregon pix thread.
=sParty

I didn’t know there was one, I’ll have to mosey over there. I have more from my Bend trip… I can’t for the life of me remember the name of that waterfall.

 

[Sparticus]

I didn’t know there was one, I’ll have to mosey over there. I have more from my Bend trip… I can’t for the life of me remember the name of that waterfall.

That’s Tumalo Falls.
=sParty

P.S. If you continued up North Fork Trail from that point, then you rode past 6 more waterfalls. One of the Bend area’s most scenic trails.

 

[834905]

That’s Tumalo Falls.
=sParty

The trails in that area are amazing. This is the ride we did that day. I couldn’t tell you which trail is which if I went back, but what a beautiful trail system.

 

[Sparticus]

The trails in that area are amazing. This is the ride we did that day. I couldn’t tell you which trail is which if I went back, but what a beautiful trail system.
View attachment 1960609

Nice! Here's another good ride in the same area.

=sParty

 

[bachman1961]

Good post Fleas.
Should be required reading for all and N👀BS especially.
Your simple approach seems like wisdom gained over the years. I may be wrong but these days, it seems like everything (and possibly the younger set mostly) has to be 'epic'.
Yet I think many of us happen upon epic or get lost by accident and brings the better adventures. Some of my best times and memories are those times plans fell apart or very little went "by the book."
*Pumping the tire up 3 x is hilarious (after the fact) and rewarding as well. I had the same experience years ago and yet looking back, proud to hang in there rather than hang it up.

As for recent times, my riding adventures of the past year went largely, by the wayside. In fact, I biked so little, I think I subconsciously felt unworthy of posting or visiting here even though my years of ups and downs never held me back before. Hell, living vicariously is one of the draws for me to the wwweb. Stereos, RV's, bikes or Car sites / forums.... It's like living large in moms basement !

The workplace went low on staff and we had a variety of odd schedules and long hours taking forever to get others hired and retaining over the past year. Equip concerns and monitoring systems was a heightened focus and little things can add stress to someone who has had a plush life of non-stress and never realized or appreciated it. 🙄

In FEB, my wife had a few tests for some minor pain or discomfort and we later discovered (May) a mass on her liver when a newer scan showed something they were looking for; Early July- diagnosed as melanoma. A few months of her being home from work and my fortunate schedule change allowed easier plans for required treatment and late NOV scans showed a complete absence of the glowing mass ! It shines bright white and easily evident to see when present.
Anyways, the past year has been too many things to describe and an end result of best news at a time when some get the worst news. We are thrilled, grateful and humbled.

Riding-
At times along the way, and mostly pre health concerns, my new schedule fit well with a co worker at the other location in town. We have had some great rides and adventures and he's that type of co-pilot that answers when you say; " I'll stop by and pick you up at 8am."

"Okay Brian, Excited to ride so I'll probably be up at 530 sitting in the yard swing waiting."

Just the kind of attitude you want by those in your posse.

 

[cookieMonster]

I’m close to beating my all-time vert record, but it may not happen if we keep getting snow every three days.

I don’t care about miles but I did a hair over 1000, and am at 255,000 vertical feet. Very little time on anything flat in those numbers.👍. Steep FTW.

All in all it was a great season, albeit very dry and slippery for most of the summer. I’ve been enjoying hero dirt for the last three months though. Didn’t really ride anywhere new, nor did I need to. I spent a lot of time trail building this year as well. The season isn’t over yet.

 

[ctxcrossx]

My goal this year has been to ride 50 different trail systems. I've had a few setbacks through the year, including a broken leg, but I think I'm going to be able to wrap that up within the next two weeks. I have three to go!

 

[411898]

Looks like I will break distance and elevation gain again this year. I've topped each of those by a little bit every year for the last several years. But I will also admit that I am winding down. Age is catching up with me. It's getting harder and I'm getting slower. 2022 might be the turning point for me. We shall see...

 

[MyDadSucks]

Didnt really have a set goal this year. Originally wanted to do something crazy like a million feet of vert but with work and other hobbies it wasnt realistic. Currently sitting at 3262mi and 578k feet climbed. Id be pretty stoked if I got past 650k by new years.

One thing that still eludes me is the 10k climbing day. Always come up short by 800-1000ft due to a mechanical or something.

 

[2021Mach6]

The only reason I'm bringing this up is because this has been a pretty good year of riding (I've actually had a good stretch since May 2020 despite a few minor injuries) - brought into even sharper contrast because 2 nights ago I had a rare, unsatisfying ride where I was plagued with lots of trail debris from a storm - the kind that skewers tires and rips derailleurs - as well as a leaky tire bead that got pumped up about 3X in an hour.

Outside of that single outing, the rest of this year has been... stellar.
I don't often have a goal for the season, although I like to feel a certain fitness level.
My ride goals usually come out of picking a destination: Where do I want to go? or What do I want to see?. I then backtrack a potential route to a start point. I don't worry about the mileage, and I don't worry about my speed (although knowing my potential speed plays into planning for a particular ride duration, food, water, etc.).
Sometimes I don't even care if there is an actual trail involved (I'll find a diversion along the way ).
View attachment 1960537
Sometimes I have to fit a ride into a time slot and/or a time of day, or combine it with family obligations, which again influences the route choices. There were some nice dawn patrol rides and some nice night rides, as well as all the "normal" rides and group outings.

Every route this year has been great. Even the hard ones.
I tackled some distances and routes that were a real challenge for me.
I got a better handle on my nutrition (finally!).
I got a better handle on my cold weather preparedness/tolerance.
And I managed to keep the bikes tuned all year.
Hopefully I didn't jinx myself.

Here's to a never-ending season!

How'd the rest of you do?

-F

I wanted to be able to hit a black jump trail at the bike park and clear everything in Black Magic at Killington. Took a cracked helmet, concussion and a few broken ribs, but mission accomplished!

 

[Crankout]

Though my mileage was notably lower this yr vs 2020, my fitness improved because of my increased vert mileage (and targeted training).

It was definitely great to be back doing events and races in '21. That's a win.

 

[Sidewalk]

I had no goals in 2021. It was going to be an odd year for me so I just ran with whatever happened. Less trips than I wanted with the GF returning to work compared to 2020. Also a car accident left a lot in the air for a while. I got back on a motorcycle and on the race track again and loved it. More hours at the rock climbing gym than imaginable and enjoying that. No crazy big bike rides this year, which is odd. Didn't race a ton, took it as a bit of an off year (but I still raced plenty).

If you looked at my riding year, you would think I would be dissatisfied, but I am not. Hoping for some big stuff next year.

 

[J.B. Weld]

400+ hours so far this year and nearly all of them have been great fun. Goal!