2022 => 2023

[telstarbox]

As the year comes to a close, what was your favourite ride of 2022* and what are your cycling dreams and plans for next year?

*You can answer later in December if it hasn't happened yet

[The Family Cyclist]

Had a severe lack of big rides this year due to family responsibilities but two rides stick in mind.

One was a ride to join the family and friends for a day on the beach. First part of the ride was one i had done several times down to Mersea island but then got a foot ferry across to point clear and then was largely along sea wall or sea roads to frinton but went through some rather interesting towns including Jaywick which is regularly touted as one of the most deprived places in the UK. Its worth a bit of reading about the history of the place. Some of the locals clearly had a lot not pride in their what were meant to be temporary/holiday houses but then would be a burnt out one just along

Other memorable ride was after going for a ride the youngest monkey said she wanted to do a bigger ride so in the summer we set out on quiet roads and was just lovely to spend some time with just her and she was really proud of herself when we got back.

Next year is a big birthday for me and whilst family commitments will only get more I want to fit in some mini adventures. Just got an invite to a wedding near Evreux France and trying to work out logistics for cycling out to it

[T42]

Favourite ride of 2022 was definitely my 240k loop down through the Moselle, over the Vosges and back into Alsace. First time I've done it in 7 years. Couldn't have done it without the motor, but equally I got a hell of a lot more km out of the batteries than the shop's estimates.

Pics: https://pbase.com/johnewing/col_du_donon

Next year? I want to do it again, of course, but I'd also like to do the 2-day loop I did down via Baccarat. Last time for that was 2011.

https://pbase.com/johnewing/20110923_vosges_donon

[Cudzoziemiec]

My favourite ride of 2022 was Bristol to York and back for the Rally. Took about five days each way, though there was a rest day in Cheshire. And if that doesn't count as one journey, then the day after Cheshire, riding round the edge of the Peak Distric, up past the Hadfield reservoirs, along an old railway line and then over Woodhead Pass – off road, involved a bit of pushing and into Yorkshire.

[De Sisti]

Enjoyable rides; all of the ones in Sem Fed Loudeac. Hopes and wishes; better driver behaviour on UK roads.

[markcjagar]

Best ride Pan Celtic Race, 2400km of Ireland (and a bit of Wales), there were other good rides but that was the biggest and the bestest

[mzjo]

I can't think of a single ride that particularly inspired me in 2022. None were bad or not enjoyable, but inspiring? Having taken retirement on April Fool's Day I was planning to get out a lot and it all seems to have been thwarted somehow.
For 2023 the "big" project is a long w-e cyclecamping on the Brest-Nantes Canal (Nantes end) with my daughter. It won't be far, 3 nights and about 100kms, but we have been talking about doing something like this for so long and finally we have got round to planning and nailing down dates so it might happen!
For the rest I still have ideas about doing the Charente section of the Scandibérique and bits of the Berry Canal.

The most inspiring thing that I did was volunteering on LEL! Roll on 2025! (and perhaps PBP start in 2023, volunteering is fun!)

[hatler]

Sadly lacking in the 'any rides at all' department this year.

Must do better.

[phantasmagoriana]

Sadly lacking in the 'any rides at all' department this year.

Must do better.

Same. I rode to the shops, once - I don't think that really counts. Otherwise, nothing. (I think I rode a bike twice in 2021.)

[paddyirish]

2 candidates
1) A series of 1-1.5hr early morning rides on a city type bike while on holiday near Colmar - could nip out in glorious conditions (20 -25 degrees, quiet roads/paths) and get back before the others woke up.
2) Go East Lothian trail (@60Km off road trail out of North Berwick (thanks to Markus Stitz for coming up with the route)  done with a good pal who I hadn't cycled with for ages. We then headed to watch the Banff mountain Film Festival- a great day out.

[hatler]

Sadly lacking in the 'any rides at all' department this year.

Must do better.

Doh !   I just remembered. We had a few days in the Lot Valley. Baking hot but we got out each morning by 7am and had a glorious ride (with pastries) every day.

[Roberto]

Not one ride in particular but managed an SR series on new events for me which is pretty good considering I'm entering my 20th year of Audax.
200k Moulin Muirs
300k Reiver Fever
600k Pewits
600k Tour of the Borders.
All lovely routes and well organised by seasoned audaxers

Next year PBP maybe

Roberto