2021 can be the seventeenth yr of my foolish annual biking challenges. Again in 2005, I used to be an occasional bike owner and challenged myself to journey 10,000 kilometres. Now I’m hooked on driving my bike.
See right here for my 2020 Biking Problem outcomes.
I have to admit that I’ve come near ending this weblog after this miserable yr. Me on twitter a number of hours in the past. 🙂
I’m contemplating ending my weblog and easily posting images of “benches with a view” 🙂 pic.twitter.com/hiCNoBWGKV
— cyclingchallenge (@cyclingalps) December 31, 2020
However fuck it. Sure, 2020 sucked. However let’s have some hope. Plus, I want the motivation. Let’s begin over. I’m going to do the very same Problem as 2020!
So right here is my easy, but hopeful, 2021 Biking Problem:
160,200 Metres of Vertical Ascent
After I was a child rising up in Canada, we switched from Imperial to Metric. So I’m vaguely “bilingual.” 160,200 is a magic quantity for me.
- 525,600 minutes in a yr
- 525,600 toes = 160,200 metres.
So mainly climb a foot for each minute of the yr.
I like biking slowly uphill, usually unpaved. Personally, I favor monitoring ascent greater than distance or velocity. And I reside in a hilly area.
20 New Climbs
I like exploring. I feel one factor folks like about this website is after I publish fascinating routes that aren’t well-known – paved or unpaved. I’ve had a number of time this yr to plan a number of concepts. 🙂
In 2020, “La Route de la Soif by way of Col de l’Arpettaz” was in all probability the journey the place I obtained essentially the most emails or messages from those that went on to journey the route after me (and cherished it).
BONUS CHALLENGE: Discover a number of new climbs that I can add to this favorite outdated publish: Forty of the Highest Unpaved Biking “Roads” within the Alps
Cycle 100 Totally different Cols
Selection is the spice of life. COVID restrictions prevented me from finishing this aim in 2020. Hopefully, 2021 will probably be higher. I like discovering new cols in addition to revisiting nice outdated associates.
A minimum of one nice dawn journey
Hopefully, with my buddy Tim. Half the enjoyable is brainstorming choice. It must be an awesome climb with good views in the direction of the rising solar. See right here for a number of favourites from the previous:
Extra Adventures with Doreen
I like biking (and climbing) with my fantastic spouse. She isn’t a motorbike fanatic like me however has a protracted checklist of accomplishments (Galibier, Ventoux, Iseran, Alpe d’Huez, and many others. and many others.) all the time climbed with a smile. Hopefully, we will plan a number of extra adventures.
Our greatest journeys have been exploring the countless community of Burgundy canals (site visitors free and peaceable). However hmmmm, I’ve all the time needed to point out her Colle del Nivolet?!?
What Else?
I’ll simply repeat what I mentioned final yr:
I’ve a number of different concepts. I’d wish to get above 3000 metres once more. I’d wish to journey at the very least one of many many signed, multi-day, grande-traversée mountain bike routes in France. I’ve a by no means ending checklist of cols I hope to go to. and many others. However I’ll go away all these concepts as potential upside for the upcoming yr.
I hope everybody has success with no matter biking challenges you might have. Blissful Higher New 12 months!
Will
