The Year in (Cycling) Review

It's hard to sum up a year's worth of cycling adventure - there are tons of stats that could be shared and events that were completed. Normally I'd be running to the hills with my total miles cycled - but I think my biggest achievement for the year was moving away from an arbitrary annual goal. After all, what does it really represent? A bunch of miles and pedal revolutions, yes. But it doesn't convey that feeling of lactate burning in your legs on a long climb, or the sudden emotion that can overcome you when you turn the corner and see a beautiful sunrise or vista. What about that feeling you get when you're in the zone, pedaling along on a flat section and your cadence and power are just right - hard enough to be work, but easy enough to sustain - and for a brief second, you think you could take off and soar into the sky? Numbers can't bring meaning to sensations like that.  

Those are the moments worth remembering, and why we cycle. 

Capital Trail outside of Jamestown, VA

2022 certainly had its share of ups and downs (mostly ups) for me on the bike. After a strong start early in the year, I stumbled a bit in February as work was hectic, and picked things up again moving into the Spring. In early May I completed my first Spring Century (like many others, I often complete a few in the Fall), shaving about 15 minutes off my 100 mile PR (it helps that the route was unusually flat). From there, it was a lot of Zwifting and e-racing, along with the semi-regular-weekend-warrior outdoor rides. 

As much as I enjoy getting out on the roads, I'll sheepishly admit I don't enjoy the cars I share the road with. 2022 definitely saw me move most of my "normal" riding indoors, with only (mostly) longer rides that would drive me nuts to complete inside on pavement. This was a trend that began for me back in 2020 when I was completing a charity ride, and a driver felt it necessary to pull over, threaten me, and drive away. Although most drivers are very courteous, it only takes one to make a great day really, really bad. 

In September I undertook my second annual self-flagellation, also known as the Climbing for a Cure. This act of ridiculousness was a brain-spawn in 2021, where I attempt to climb 18,000ft in a single day; each foot of elevation gain represents one child that's diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes each year, and is a fundraising effort on behalf of the American Diabetes Association (it's crazy what a parent will do for their child). Together with the rest of my teammates, we raised over $11K for the ADA - something I'm quite proud of. 

Climbing for a Cure elevation profile - Day 1

Now, in full disclosure, I've attempted this challenge two years in a row, and have yet to actually complete it in a single day (yes, I finish it on Day 2). Why, you ask? Because it's freaking hard. That being said, I've got a solid training plan for 2023 and feel pretty confident that this will be the year I finally slay my white whale. I'm also thinking about trying to pull some others in with me - especially my Zwift Team Type 1 teammates. A couple days of grueling climbing sounds like a good bonding experience, doesn't it?

 Art piece behind the Kentucky Capitol

A few weeks later I was in the car to Kentucky for the highlight of my cycling year - the Bourbon Country Burn. If you're a fan of bourbon, bikes, and more rolling hills than your stomach can handle, this is the tour for you. In a nutshell, it's a well organized Bourbon Trail by-bike tour stretched out over three days. Meeting some friends and family, I was able to cover about 180 miles on some of the most beautiful back roads in Kentucky, stopping to view a number of distilleries along the way. Although I don't think I'll make it back to Kentucky for next year's ride, it'll certainly remain on my short list of events for future years. 

That pretty much covers my two-wheeled highlights for 2022 - and you'll notice I've not shared how many total miles all of this added up to. Why? Because it doesn't really matter. It's not about the miles - it's about where they take you.