As 2025 approaches, I reflect on how my experiences, both highs and lows, have shaped the past year. Since riding a bicycle has become a bigger part of my life and is one of my favorite things to do my year-end reflections gravitate to this activity with my cycling year in review.
I’m grateful that I love cycling and for the joy it brings. Riding more, and throughout the year, has been more enjoyable than not. (Read My Cycling Growing Pains for my not-so-enjoyable moments.)
Cycling Milestones
I continued to challenge myself and achieved new milestones this year. Alex and I participated in many organized ride events, one in which we completed our first metric century (100 km or 62 miles) in May. Forty-eight miles had been the farthest I had ridden until then. We went on to do a total of 6 metric centuries by the end of summer and our first imperial century (100 miles) on Labor Day. I Rode the Five Boro Bike Tour, and we also set out on A Bikepacking Adventure. Surpassing and more than doubling last year’s mileage, I have ridden over 2700 miles this year.
Building strength and endurance, learning how to fuel and pace myself, what to wear in different conditions, and overcoming fears, disappointments, mental blocks, and physical discomfort were all a part of the journey.
While we haven’t been able to ride outside as much due to freezing temps, rain, or feeling under the weather, we ride when we can. I was happy to be back on my bike last Saturday for the first time in over a month, even for a casual ride on the bike path.
We’re already planning our bike tours for next year with friends and have signed up again for the Five Boro Bike Tour in NYC and the Tour de Donut. Learning to Ride a Bicycle as an Adult was worth the challenge. Following my cycling year in review, I hope 2025 is filled with more ride time and memorable moments on the bike.
