I’m one who lives for goals.  If I have some pre-stated goals set for myself I am much more apt to actually accomplish things each year.  With that in mind, when it comes to my cycling, I love to push myself.  This past year has been a great year of building my endurance, speed and stamina.  I feel very well conditioned.  Building upon that for 2012 I want to take myself beyond anything I have done before.  Here’s a few of my goals for cycling for 2012:

• 100-200 Ride.  This is a ride that takes place on June 23, 2012.  It starts at the Canadian border and travels Rt. 100 all the way down to the Massachusetts State Line.  It’s just over 200 miles and climbs over 9100 feet.
• Mt Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb.  This day of craziness takes place on August 18, 2012.  The Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb is known as the toughest hillclimb in the world at 7.6 miles in length, has an average grade of 12% with extended sections of 18% and the last 50 yards is an amazing 22%!  I’ve got my work cut out for me…
• New Hampshire Motor Speedway Race Series.  I’ve put this one off.  Racing is something that I believe I can do well with but I have been procrastinating the start of it.  This year I am putting the goal in writing to add a level of accountability to my racing.  This race series takes place on Thursday evenings at the NHMS.  It should be a good time and a great chance to get my feet wet in the field of cycle racing.
• Cycle in a Foreign Country.  I’m thinking England or Germany.  We’ll see.  I hope to get more of the details nailed down in the coming month.
• Included within all of these goals is the desire to break 10,000 miles for the year.  I know I can do it.  It will just take a consistent effort through the entire year.  If I start out slow it will be very difficult to make up miles going into the end of the year.

So, these are my goals.  Do you have any?  Share them and let’s encourage each other!  If you would care to you can join me at Daily Mile and record your miles as well as find great encouragement there.

Knowing that I was traveling in April and July and had limited access to my bike I am all too aware that this year will allow me much more potential with miles.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22 NIV)

Any Questions?

I’ll start out this post by stating this: As a pastor I never ride big rides on Sunday. However, this week I am on vacation (holiday for my friends across the pond). Being on vacation and the weather as calm as it was I knew today was the day to drive out to the coast and ride the flats of NH. I never get to post a big ride for Sunday. Usually I am off doing the “pastory” thing. Vacation is good to me – so is my wife (she let me leave for 7 hours!)

Fantastic day out at the coast. I started at North Beach in Hampton and headed south to Salisbury, MA. (note: Massachusetts does not take care of their roads. As soon as I crossed the border the roads got ugly) From Salisbury I turned north and headed back from whence (sounds really smart doesn’t it?) I came. Following Rt. 1 I traced the coast of NH until I hit Rt. 1B where I turned off the main road to follow the coast. I passed by the beautiful Wentworth and was reminded of a fantastic weekend getaway that my wife and I spent there last winter. I really want to revisit their hot tub right now! Continuing along I entered Portsmouth and was amazed at how narrow the roads became. Apparently back in the 1700′s when many of these houses were built they weren’t thinking that cars would share the road with cyclists…

From Portsmouth I proved myself a naive fool and fumbled around on one way roads trying to find the alternate route to get across the Piscataqua River (they recently closed the Memorial Bridge built in 1923). I followed the detour signs only to find them leading me to the interstate which frowns upon bikes. Pissed off and very annoyed I followed the route back to the Memorial Bridge and walked across the bridge to enter Kittery, ME. Once in Kittery I caught the scent of fried clams and my mouth began to water. With the knowledge that I had small cash with me for drinks or a Snickers (packed with peanuts, Snickers really satisfies! – in no way am I pay by Snickers to say that…but Snickers, if you are reading. I’ll take money from you if you want to shell some out!) I pushed along the route settling for a granola bar that I had in my jersey pocket. Moving through Kittery I followed as much of the coast as I could and found myself in York, ME. Once in York I followed the coastal route (Rt. 1A) for a bit before jumping onto Shore Rd. which brought me up to Ogonquit, ME. Beautiful oceanside views all along this route. I am so glad that I took the day to ride out there!

From Ogunquit I turned south and followed Rt. 1 south for a bit but began to become bothered by all the traffic so I searched for a quick turnoff. I found Old Post Rd. that brought me to Rt. 103 and I retraced my route back thru York and Kittery before again having to dismount and walk across Memorial Bridge into Portsmouth, NH. Once in Portsmouth I followed my original route back towards my car. At a rotary (round-a-bout) I caught sight of another rider who was moving along at a good clip. I followed him (thankful that I had something to strive for) for a few miles and finally passed him only to have him hang on my wheel (fighting a headwind) for the last 14 miles back to my car.

Note to that rider – share the wheel. If you’re going to hang on my wheel then advance a few times and let me have the favor returned! I’m only glad that I dropped you for a bit and made you face the wind to catch me again on the last 6 miles.

I returned to where my car was parked along the North Beach Headwall and packed my gear up. Thankful that I brought a towel so that I could change like the surfers do. Once in my car I thanked God for a great ride and for my heated seats that were now gently warming my legs as I drove the hour or so back home. I’ve got a cold drink in one hand and a spoon to feed me chili in the other.

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.

But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of–throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.
–C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

It’s a common problem.  I know I am not alone.  So do the makers of Clean Bottle.  They have single handedly ended my problem with moldy bottles.  I’ve been using Clean Bottle for a few weeks now and love the ease of cleaning them.  With a removable bottom I can now access the end of the bottle that never used to get cleaned.  And, with a lifetime warranty I never have to worry about buying another bottle again.  I own four of these bottles now and am able to rotate them through cleaning without having to scavenge from the dirty dishes for a bottle when I go for a ride.

No more moldy flavor or disgusting smell from my water.  Clean Bottle is what you need if you use a water bottle on your rides.  Not only does Clean Bottle make cleaning your water bottles a breeze, it’s guaranteed for life!  Clean Bottle’s silicone washers make it leak proof and it’s detachable nozzle allows for every single surface of the bottle to get cleaned.  Clean Bottle is made with 100% non-toxic, BPA-free plastics, which make it safe to use over and over again.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify and vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward.

May we all be doing are part to push forward with great advancements that may seem trivial and yet world changing all at once…