The 2014 Plans and Targets Thread

TheBigYin

As is usual at this time of year, I've been spending a little time in trying to decide my aims and goals for the oncoming year, and part of that process is deciding on what I want to do on the bike...

Now, the problem I've had for the last couple of years, other than fighting the fact that I was seriously overweight and unfit of course, was the fact that I was tied to my home as the full time carer to my aging Father. Sadly, this is no longer the case, as I'm sure most of my friends on here are aware, but as that restriction to my riding has lifted (though I'd give anything to have it, and him back!) it's been replaced by feelings that I really aught to get my backside in gear and get back into the "real world", get a proper job, and - well - get a life!

It doesn't mean of course that I don't have a few ideas of what I want to do if it takes me a while to find the right job however...

so, I'm basically going to shoot for similar distance based goals as this year, but with the added proviso of trying to get at least one ride per month outside of my normal "out the back door" riding schedule. I'm also hoping to make similar improvements overall to my speed and power development, in the hope that perhaps by 2015 I'll feel comfortable ringing around a couple of the local clubs and perhaps being fast enough to keep with their "slow ride" clubruns...

So, there it is - the most non-specific, useless "mission statement" I've ever had the misfortune to write...

I really hope everyone else has a better grip on what they're planning, and maybe in sharing your ideas you'll give me a bit of inspiration too...

So - over to you...

CentralCaliCycling

My yearly plan involves 5,000 miles of riding (it won't kill me if I get more or less but 100 a week has been my goal every year since I got back into riding in 2007). that said I am hoping to do at least a couple of organized Century rides with my wife to show her what they are like, the Climb 2 Kaiser extreme riding event in June like I have been doing almost every year as well as a few races if I can both train and fit them into my schedule without dropping time I want to spend building up my wife's riding capabilities.

TDSeest

I'm hoping to get my riding back to the 2012 totals. Aiming for 7000 miles in 2014. I'll finish 2013 with around 3400, which is quite remarkable considering my work schedule for the year. But, I really want to cut back on my work...

TheBigYin

I'm surprised nobody else has come up with any plans / targets for the coming year yet...

p4ulmiller

Plans for 2014 are:
London - Brighton BHF ride (if I get an entry)
RideLondon 100 (ditto)
London 10k

Plans for 2015 are:
A triathlon

I love the idea of joining a club. My local one is amazing - I just happened to pull in behind them at a junction last month and they left me standing as they shot off into the distance chatting to each other. I'd love to be able to keep up. Maybe that needs to be added into next year as well.

Kupe

I have running and riding targets;

March/April - run for the kids - 14km
June - run Melbourne - 1/2 marathon
October - round the bay in a day - 210km fun ride
October - Melbourne Marathon - 1/2 marathon

They seem to nice and evenly spread out except for the October events which are a week apart.
The training starts in late Jan early Feb and by keeping consistent, they should all be achievable. The one joy of being back in the southern hemisphere is that you can ride through winter and not have to worry about the snow or below freezing temperatures.

KitTheRoadie

I've not really made any solid plans yet, as with a new baby and a toddler my family life is taking over at the moment!

1. Keep riding my commutes no matter the weather!
2. Ride further than this year (going to hit just under 4000 miles by the end of 2013!)
3. Do the Glastonbury 100 mile Audax in Feb 2014 as my season opener. Be ready for it.
4. Ride as many events as family life/funds will allow. Audaxes, Sportives & TT's
5. Beat my 10 mile TT PB of 26:56

That's about it I think. Basically just ride as much as possible!

cloggsy71

2014?

Ride more; hope to get 10,000km's in on the bike (some of which will be on the Turbo granted, but predominantly on the road (all being well)).

Going to the Alps in Easter, so hopefully some nice Alpine rides there...

Maybe add to the N + 1 stable too (wife permitting)

Lose a bit more 'chunk' to make myself a bit more 'competitive'.

Would like to do some group rides too; maybe join a local bike club?

Would like to do some rides with some of you guys too!?

Pinch some Strava KOM's along the way too :laugh:

Jakess1971

2014 will be my first full year at this and I'm excited for it:

1. 100miler event in Nottingham in June
2. End to Ender at some point, possibly July
3. Long weekenders in various locations in the UK
3. Get a ride abroad, currently looking at Annecy and the alps

TheBigYin

...
Would like to do some rides with some of you guys too!?
....

Providing we can find a day when you're on active recovery and I've a threshold session pencilled in (so I've a sniff of a chance of actually being able to keep up!), we should make that happen... should cover one of my "not out the front door rides" nicely...

...
5. Beat my 10 mile TT PB of 26:56
...

Yeah - that's a point - I'd like to see if I can dip under the 0:27:22 I set this September as well. Not a cat in hells chance of ever getting a PB (0:21:32 iirc, but it WAS nearly 30 years ago!) again I'm afraid, unless Fabian or Tony fancy a try on a Tandem...

verdemujer

2014 - I have to put this to paper? ...... Okay

Start training inside in Jan - March - maybe move outside in March - depends on the temps and the snow.
I wish I could fit the commuting in April and May - those temps are really nice but the boyo is in school still. With Karate schedule, it bites. Will try for Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Due to schedule crunch in April and May for M, W, & F, that means I will have to ride every weekend if I'm going to be ready for June.
June 14, 2014 - Denver Century Ride - first century ride ever. To seal the deal - I've registered. http://denvercenturyride.com/century-ride/

After that, enjoy the summer riding with my family.

Jakess1971

Stick a notice up for any ideas for group riding, I'll be grabbing a car some time in Spring with the aim of driving to other riding across the country, would be fun to link up with some of you guys n gals on here.

Spatialized

If pressed, these would be considered "goals":

1. Try bike-packing/touring at least once with an overnighter.
2. Get MTB into rideable shape and induldge in more dirt miles.
3. Ride a centruy. It was on the list this year and won't get there by the end so try again.
4. Enter at least 2 promoted events. Really would love to do one of the Whiskey Offroad races in May but is contingent on #2.
5. N+1. A guy can dream, can't he?

And while mileage number might be interesting that's going to run headlong into my reason for riding - fun. I've realized I'll never be a hammer, I don't have the time, er, not willing to take the time (away from my family), to become one (plus genetics and a penchant for fried foods, video games and beer conspire against me). I'm seeing that life is too short to be worrying about zones and training plans, cadences and power, watts, calories and shaving ones legs - it's just not for me. I want to go back to why I rode a bike as a kid - the sheer thrill of adventure, the wind in my hair, the spectacular sunrises, horrendous downpours, the frosty pint at the end of the ride. There are those that find that same nirvana in the minutiae of training, of cadence, power, carbon frames and the hammer of the final srpint and I applaud them for it, but not me. I've found that the more I push for miles, the more miserable I get. The more I worry about riding and achieving nebulous goals the more miserable I get.

For me, the #1 paln for 2014 is this: get out and ride my bike.

matsprt1984

Manchester - Masters Track Worlds October 2014.

harksy

12,000 km for the year.
Become a regular first group rider in my club

Compete in club & interclub races

Triathlon in May
-swimming lessons now complete I can come in under the allotted time
-running to start in January.

Wicklow 200 in June

But what I am most looking forward to is 5 days of cycling in Majorca in April already booked

phytogurl

Ok, here's mine and in no particular order. Riding is more mostly mtb (single track, xc) since that is what I have and I live on a mountain! I would love to ride up & down the mountain on a road bike, however I know that is a distant dream since I can't see county roads spending $ on a bike lane and I'm too chicken to ride around blind curves with traffic. :grumble:

*Continue riding with my gal pals, and lead more often so I can memorize descent loops. I used to ride in the back of the pack in our group rides, because I felt intimidated with my slooow speed, and I didn't want to bog anyone down. Because I've been consistently keeping my fitness up since Spring, I'm riding midpack and sometimes in the front. :drinker:
*Commute by bike more often this summer, since I don't have to take kiddo's to school, and the days are longer...yay!
*Continue riding with the SO, and try not to whine too much when I'm tired or having a rough day trying to clear technical sections:/
*Aiming for 4000 miles in 2014.
*Meet more people to go riding with and get out of my comfort zone.
* Sign up and ride in a mountain bike race for the first time ever! .:blushing: I can't really believe that I just typed that.
*Work on trail advocacy with IMBA and local land management agencies, because it's much needed.
*Take an overnight backpacking bike trip, just because I've always wanted to travel by bike and pack my own stuff.
*Ride in a new area that I've never ridden before.
*Inspire my son to find the passion to ride bikes.
*Introduce a girlfriend to mtb.

I think that's it for now

CDGolden

quickly off the top of my head....

I am shooting for 2000 miles (road/mountain/commuting)...
Monster Cookie Metric and Peach of a Century with the Local Club...

and I have a friend willing to fly out for STP (Seattle to Portland) if we can get it....

would also love to get involved in the group rides with the Local Club..

Chris

mdstamand

Well, coming off my annual 7 weeks of "off time" I've been thinking (while grinding on the trainer) about my coming year and what I wish to accomplish. I have set the following goals as a minimum:

1) 3500 miles
2) Complete a 300K brevet. I was introduced to randonneuring last summer and I completed a couple of 200K randonnees. I'd eventually like to earn the title of "Super Randonneur." I'm lucky enough to have a local group that organizes and runs a brevet series.
3) Complete a trip that requires an overnight camping stop on the out bound and return legs. I'm intrigued by bike touring and would like to complete some of the tours I've read about. (bucket list items are the RAGBRAI and riding the length of the Erie Canal in NY)
4) A century ride which includes the two toughest paved road climbs here in Vermont.
5) Finally, if I can swing the day off from work, ride the D2R2 here in Vt. It is 180 km on tough dirt roads with more than 19,000 ft of elevation gain. (It doesn't look good for getting the day off and I'm not sure if I should be disappointed or pleased).

This is my third full year of cycling and each previous year I'd completed a list of goals. I'm amused by how the list changes so dramatically each year as I get stronger and learn more about myself while out on the road.