So towards the end of 2014 I set myself a cycling to do list of some of the things I wanted to achieve throughout the year with cycling. I just made it myself with a few things I wanted to do, I forgot about it until the other week and it was quite funny looking back at some of the things I wanted to do. It was also really nice to see how far I have come. So here is my 2015 cycling to do list with many passes, a few near misses and some failures which are highlighted with a cross in a tasteful coral colour.
Some really are very comical. ‘Heart attack hill’ for one, the aim being to ‘complete and survive’! This is a hill nearby that I ambitiously targeted when I first started riding, I had a heavy mountain bike and looking back it’s no wonder that I couldn’t get up it. It’s not a really long hill but kicks up to 25% and at one time I really did think it would be impossible for me to ride it up in one piece. I have taken several trips up this year, I haven’t fully attacked it yet but each time have got that tiny bit quicker.
Many of my goals I have achieved, a few I haven’t. That’s OK, they are things to go for next year and there are things I didn’t list that I have done too. I entered my first race which was most certainly a learning curve, did a 135 mile ride, rode two centuries in a week and climbed all the way up a Cat 1 mountain road. It’s been a successful year, but I’m always going to want more and so here is my 2016 cycling to do list.
Overall I think it’s a good thing to have some aims or things you might like to achieve and it’s also good to look back, see where you were and where you are now. I would encourage people to do the same, we have even made you a little graphic to print and add your own goals for 2016. We would love to hear from anyone with either their own plans for 2016.
Graphics by Rachel Brooks