It's A Brand New Year



Now that we've all put our aardvark coats away for the holiday season and drank what was left of that killer eggnog your brother makes with lighter fluid. It's time to focus on this year now. The now, that's now and not worry about when the then will be now. You know? Good.

So there are a few of goals for this coming year that have been rattling around in my brain. Some very modest. Others a little more ambitious. But all definitely attainable. They kind of are all over the place (Which is pretty normal for me.) so bare with me. Some may appear to not have a whole lot to do with cycling. But they do have a lot to do with my life. Which in turn, effects my cycling.

So it all counts.

1. Learn to be able to take off and on a vest, jacket and arm warmers while riding no handed.

Riding no handed has never been something I'm super comfortable with.  When I was a teen I did a serious face plant while riding my bike no handed. So I guess maybe it's in my kitchen a little. But I shall prevail!!!

2. To be able to take a whiz while still riding.



Not TheWiz, just a whiz...

I'm sure I'm getting a big, eww from the cheap seats (Hey! Quiet down back there.) but it's something I watched being done (From the cheap seats.) several times during races. And it looks AWESOME! To be able to just glide to the back of the group whole hog over or under your bibs and let it fly is and ultimate bad ass move and no one will convince me otherwise.
3.To always put my wife, children and family first.

Perspective on life is important. And while I do truly love to ride and race my bicycle. It's not how I make my living (I know that's shocking. Should I have had you sit down first? Sorry. There you go... Is that better?). Its just how I do my recreating. Which in my life is 4th or 5th on the list. Still important to me. But certainly not number 1.

4. Loose some weight. Specifically 10-15 lbs.

It's such a cliche thing to put on one of these lists that I almost hate to do it. But its reality. So there you go... Hills would feel a lot better and I might have a chance to hang on to the peloton if I had the weight of a bicycle relieved from my body. I have managed not to gain the prerequisite 7 lbs. over the holidays. So I feel like I'm already ahead of schedule a little bit.

5.To help continue to improve my racing club, Capitol Velo through the next year.

I haven't mentioned it on here yet. But I'm the new president of my local racing club (My plan is working perfectly! First Cap Velo. Next, the WORLD!!!! Muhahaha!). My goals are modest in nature. But I hope that they will help cement the camaraderie of the club and educate our members on all forms of racing (More on all that in the future.).

6. Participate in my first cross country mountain bike race. I've done some mountain bike short track races (Although technically on a cross bike.) in the past and really enjoyed them. So I figure I need to expand my horizons a bit. I've been told they have fat guy categories (clydesdales) so I'll either start there or beginners. It should be a fun time.

So that's it! Not a giant list. But one that has goals that will stretch me out but are certainly attainable.

So here's to a new year. Lets go kick it's ass!

Rubber side down,

Big E