I finally downloaded the data from my HAC4 bike computer. Apparently at some point in the past, I'd accidentally turned its alarm clock on - set to 11pm. I brought it into the house about a month ago and put it into a drawer. Well, a few days ago, I finally figured out where that annoying beeping was coming from. It took a few more days before I was inspired to find the manual so that I could turn the thing off. And with the manual in hand, I reminded myself how to download the data (as I need to do every time I download the data).

Short story, 926 miles for 2007.

Longer story is that that doesn't count at least 100 more miles indoors on my wind trainer in later winter/early spring. And it doesn't count a few rides with dead batteries. And a few more rides in the rain where the thing was acting extremely confused. I figure this all counts for more than 1000 miles. At least that's my story.

Still, this is several hundred miles below my goal for the year. (I'm not sure what the goal was. I just know it was higher.)

I did make it to Ward twice. (One trip was my goal.) But I never made it home from either of those trips. The tires on my new bike are way too soft and seem to attract glass. On the first trip, I ran out of CO2 cartridges, tubes and patches. I coasted downhill for about 10 miles, refilling the holy tire with my inadequate hand pump after about 45 seconds or so. Teresa finally rescued me at the Left Hand fire station near the bottom of the hill. On the second trip, I'd headed north on the Peak to Peak highway and was almost to route 7 before I flatted out. That's when I'd discovered that I'd bought non-threaded CO2 cartridges, that were of no use to me. I got a ride from the first or second car to come by to the route 7 intersection. A few minutes later, I got a ride the rest of the way home from a nice lady and her daughter who were heading home from a freezing, wet horseback ride near Estes Park. I'm sure they felt sorry for me. The rain they'd been riding in hit me about the time I got my flat. I must have been a sorry site.

I've since replaced the tires with some new ones recommended at University Bicycles. We'll have to wait until spring to see if they're any better. I sure hope so. (I've also gotten a new inflater that takes both threaded and non-threaded cartridges. A very wise investment. I learned the hard way.)

I also managed four trips to Jamestown, and another trip to the route 7 intersection up through Lyons. So, it was a good year for climbing (for me...). Still, my longest ride was only around 40 miles. It's hard to rack up miles without some longer rides in there. I'd been hoping to do a metric century or two, but never managed it. The foreshortened ride on the Peak to Peak highway would have come close. Oh well, there's always next year.

Or, err, 1k. As in miles. I was in California last week for work, but on the Friday before I passed 1,000 miles for the year. I said that was my goal for the year, but I've really been hoping for 1,200 or more (50% more than last year would be nice). Luckily, fall is a wonderful time for bicycling in Colorado, so it's very possible to get the additional 200 miles in.

The ride I did last Friday took me 3/4 of the way to Ward. That last 5 miles is the hardest - with another 1,500 feet of climbing - something to skip on a work day. As it was the ride stretched to 2 1/2 hours for 35 miles round trip. I went about a mile past Lick Skillet Rd (that leads to Gold Hill). The climb was only 2 1/2 miles further (one-way) than a ride to Jamestown (which I've done a number of times this year), but the last 5 1/2 miles (instead of 3 miles to Jamestown) averages 5-6% instead of 2-3%. There are a bunch of stretches hitting 8-10%, and I'm not really built for that anymore. (And my bike isn't geared for it either.) The total climbing for the ride was about 2,600 feet, 700 feet more than the trip to Jamestown.

Bill mentions in his blog that Garmin's adding Mac support for their GPS's. Very cool. I've been using an eTrex Vista on my bike since last summer. I don't really need maps when out for a lunch time ride, but it was nice to have them on a ride to Carter Lake. They helped me a find good way home that day. If only they'd shown the big hill I was going to have to climb....

Anyhow, with Mac support and the new Edge 305, I'm drooling for a new GPS. (Teresa won't like that!)

Well, it was 50° outside, Bill and Greg could handle it, so I thought I'd go for a ride. I managed 914 miles last year, which is easily the most I've done since the 80's! Of course, 914 miles is measured by my ancient CatEye computer, which my GPS tells me is about 5% off. So the real value may be more like 870. Still, not bad for me.

I did my "easy ride", 13 miles, north on 75th to Woodland Road, and back again. It's a start. I hope to pass 1000 miles this year. Last year's goal was 500, and that was easily passed. Not so sure this one will get nearly doubled.

(BTW, happy birthday, Ellie!)