I traveled to Italy for the first time this spring. We flew into Bologna and stayed there the first night before heading to Riccione. It was a nice way to settle in after a long travel day. Our first authentic Italian meal and a little exploring made for a gentle introduction. We’d return to Bologna again on our last night.
This past Saturday, I raced in the Harvest 50 gravel event in Zionsville, Indiana. Riders could choose between a 25-mile or 50-mile course, and I opted for the 25—a mix of 40% paved and 60% unpaved roads. Though I’d ridden the route twice before, I still felt nervous. Familiarity helped, but there's a different vibe to racing.
My first time camping was at a state park the weekend before our four-day bikepacking tour. This partial test run under the stars was an opportunity to get my feet wet and try out the gear we’d invested in: a two-person tent, sleeping pads, quilts, and a cook system.
We set out to ride an imperial century—100 miles, at the Huffman Classic in Brookville, Ohio. Last year, this event marked our first metric century, and now Alex and I were determined to go farther. But as I prepared that morning, I felt a hint of doubt. My longest ride this year hadn’t even reached 50 miles. I had experience (having ridden a century last September), and the route was relatively flat, but I still felt challenged by the distance. And so began Not Quite A Century: The Ride That Was and Wasn’t.
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.