After not riding at all in December of 2006,
I finally hauled out the bike again on January 6. It was a short ride, and not much to speak of (as I had spent the two previous days lying flat on my back in severe pain), but it did the trick. I managed to get one more ride in before Portland was blanketed in sleet then hail then snow, and managed four more rides before then end of the month. Looks like I have something to aspire to
this January. I also began dieting in earnest for the first time in my life, and was delighted to lose over 13 pounds this month.
February started out more promising as I went on a ride the first day of the month. I then proceeded to kick the butt of last February (when I didn't ride at all) by riding five more times. It was cold, and I toughed it out, and I sure hope I learn that same lesson this February, as I have a tendency to forget such things. Also this month: many moons after his purchase,
I finally gave my new bike a new name.
The weather in March was up up and down, from days where I could barely stay on the bike in my battle against the wind and cold, to days I wore far too many clothes in the sudden heat. It was lovely all the same, and I rode many times to work and a few more rides purely for fun. I continued losing weight steadily, and
celebrated my tenth anniversary in Portland, Oregon. I got a new job in March, too, which became my preferred place to ride to each day, and the month ended on a warm note, with promises of a perfect Spring to come. I nearly doubled my number of rides in the previous month, and even rode twice on a couple days. Hooray for the changing seasons!
Though the days were warming up in April, the nights were still cold, often dropping below freezing. The weather, combined with a lack of sleep from juggling three jobs, kept me from riding as often as I would have liked. Also, The Boy and I jetted off to this tiny island called Japan, so I didn't even ride past April 15. So lazy, I never even wrote a ride recap for that month!
Even
after returning from Honshu, my laziness wouldn't abate. I had spent almost a full month off the bike by the time I went for my first May ride, but I did actually try in earnest to pick up some mileage and get back in the saddle. I didn't beat March's 100+ mile month, but (luckily) I kicked April out of the water. Also, I finally wrote my progress report for April after all!
I continued regularly working three jobs, and most of my June rides were to the café or the theater or some bridge somewhere. Many days, I rode from job to job, but I still found time to ride to work on days off, and I tried to extend rides to work whenever possible, in order that they didn't seem like a job themselves. Tragedy struck early in the month when I was hit with a stupid stick, and
fell right the hell off my bike. It was my first ever accident, so it had been a long time coming, but that didn't console me much. I somehow summoned up the courage to ride home after the accident and a long day at work, but in a bizarre twist of fate and humor,
The Boy suffered a near identical fall halfway home. I tried to be as supportive as possible, but we were so pathetic between the two of us, I'm amazed we aren't
still limping up Barbur Boulevard. It took almost a week to get back on the bike, and even then, it wasn't really my bike. I took
Fox Mulder into the shop for a post-smash tune-up, and rode the ol'
Splenda for a couple days. I realized I didn't have any love for the old road bike any longer, and promptly sold her. It was sad, but it was progress.
July promised warm and hot and hotter rides, and didn't disappoint. The month started with
my first ever broken chain, and put me in a heated funk for some time. All the same, I managed my greatest monthly mileage yet, and nearly doubled the amount of time I spent actually pedaling. Yay!
Went to visit the family at the beginning of August, and took a number of days to recover from that mini "vacation." I didn't go for a bike ride for over a week, but started off slow, then began riding again in earnest. The Boy and I went on
our second annual
Bridge Pedal this month, and I began actively seeking out some (small) hills for exercise. We went to the tiny town of Vernonia for the first time (Hi, Leonard!) and rode in
the second annual
Portland Century. The day before that, I suffered my second bike crash of the year when
I attempted to pretend I was a train. It didn't work. On the plus side, after yet another crash, I got back on the bike, which made me proud of myself and delighted at the invention of ibuprofen.
On the first day of September, The Boy and I conquered the Portland cycling community's version of an albatross:
Council Crest Park. Though I thought it would certainly kill us, we survived, and even rode our bikes out to the famous
Crown Point on the very next day. We did not attempt riding to Mars on the third day, but mostly because I had already hit the 1000-mile mark for the year. Many more rides to work ensued, as well as many longer rides on days off, and
our very first ride across state lines to eat lunch. That was followed with another ride around Washington (
this one less full of food and excitement), and many more rides back and forth to work. I rode my bike every day in the month f September, and even went on
possibly my favorite ride of the year, but then I started school and allowed my streak to end quietly.
Trying to undo any cool points from the prior month, I rode my bike one measly time in October. On the plus side, I learned how to speak Japanese. I can now hold convoluted conversations with illiterate Japanese pre-schoolers!
Doubling my shame, I went on two rides in November.
Finally getting off my butt after an autumn where I wasn't out getting used to the cold, I braved the wind and rain and freezing temperatures four whole times, but that kicks the snot out of 2006 and 2005, when I didn't ride at all. It was actually nice to be back on the bike, and I desperately needed some movement and exercise, but most importantly, I exceeded 1500 miles for the year, after setting a goal of 1000 miles during my 2006 recap.
I must really learn moderation around August and September. They're excellent months for riding, and I always go buck wild, but then I'm tired and it's cold out, and it sets a bad precedent for the remainder of the year. If I have any cycling goals for 2008, I think I shall have to concentrate not on numbers and average speeds, but on the simple goal of
keepin' on keepin' on.
Thanks to everyone for more than a year's worth of encouragement. Most especially thanks to the Calnans and the Carsons and the The Boys who kept me inspired. You all rock my sox off.
