2021 – Reflections – RideCycleSpin

I haven’t blogged since September 2020 and since that point, I’ve had the thought that possibly this weblog has run it’s course. What's the half-life of a weblog, anyway?

There aren't any guidelines, in fact. I've been biking – extra this 12 months than any 12 months previously. The pandemic has hit all of us in numerous methods. Many individuals have misplaced their job and others have modified jobs. Working from house has modified my view of life and I’ve made some job modifications as nicely. Covid has given me the chance to judge my priorities. I've been very fortunate and privileged by way of all of this.

These modifications embody my biking habits. In 2020, I went on one bike packing journey and I cycled about 3400 km (outside). Together with indoor coaching, I spun my pedals 110 instances and practically 200 hours. After seeing these numbers a 12 months in the past, I made a decision to set some objectives for 2021, I wished to achieve 5000 out of doors km’s and 150 days of biking – both indoors or out. And I’m joyful to say that I’ve completed each of these objectives, with 5079 km and 216 days of biking (lots of these days had been at nighttime days of winter again in January by way of March. My “moving time” was abut 260 hours. I believed these objectives had been lofty, however attainable, and I hit my distance aim in November. Then I received lazy. The cooling temperatures and shortening hours of daylight acted to de-motivate me within the final couple of months.

In order we stumble by way of one other wave of the pandemic into 2022, I’ll set the next objectives: (1) 5500 out of doors kms, (2) 240 lively biking days.

The opposite factor that I’ve observed about my biking habits is that my rides are shorter and normally on my own. I’ve loved using alongside as a result of I don’t have to fret about maintaining with others, and I can discover wherever I really feel like going. Lots of my rides have been with the town limits, alongside new (to me) trails and paths. And my work-from-home standing has allowed me to go for an hour-ish journey earlier than dinner (which by no means occurred within the pre-pandemic days, until I cycled to/from work).

Right here’s an inventory of biking and non-cycling issues I’ve performed for the reason that begin of the pandemic:

• Offered 4 (4!) bikes and bought one
• Seen 4 stay, in-person music live shows:
  • Boreal, outside, summer time 2021
  • Kobo City, outside, summer time 2021
  • Scott Cook dinner, outside, later summer time 2021
  • Danny Michel, indoors, early December 2021
• Offered one guitar and one mandolin, bought one guitar and one bass guitar
• Mentioned goodbye to my 12-year-old pup Lucy and stated hey to my new pet Charlie
• Modified my job standing to hourly and picked up a part-time hourly contract
• Celebrated two Christmases with out my prolonged household
• Flew to the Rockies (September 2020)
• Loved two group bike rides on July 1 (2020, 2021) – I’m going to make this a practice
• Vacationed close to Mono, Ontario and rode a few of the greatest gravel roads within the province (summer time 2020)
• Bikepacked as soon as (3 days, Simcoe County Loop Path, 2020)
• Joined bikepackers on three events in 2021 for a day of their multi-day rides

I’ve been making an attempt to deal with my psychological well being as nicely. The pandemic is affecting all of us in some ways, together with our psychological well being. I've been protecting a journal and I attempt to deal with gratitude and all of the privileges that I've profit from.

I’ll finish this weblog submit with a few of my favorite biking photograph from 2021, and I’ll want you all good well being and a contented 2022.