That's a wrap

Well, the "competitive" cycling season for 2008 is done for me. I finished up last Monday with the last of this year's local time trials. The rest of the season will be spent riding to keep the winter pounds at bay until the snow comes, then I'll take a short break then head to the gym and start working towards next season.

All in all, I'm very pleased with my 2008 racing season. I certainly rode at least as well if not better than I ever have before. It was great to go to races and always be riding with a feeling of being competitive rather than just fighting to finish with the bunch. I didn't always achieve my goals in each event, but 2008 had plenty of pleasant surprises and a few personal bests as well.

Some of my fondest experiences now, looking back, were also some of the most unpleasant at the time. Racing through cold and hailstorms in Cheney in April at the Frozen Flatlands road race was nasty at the time, but my form at the time was beginning to show that the rest of the season might be a lot of fun and hold some pleasant surprises like my best ever 3rd place finish at a Pacific Raceways training race a few weeks later.

The Washington State Omnium Championships in Wenatchee in May featured a road course that I never would have gone near in my earlier years as a racer. The long, steep climb was a beast, but I rode my own pace, and chased on the descent and flats to the finish and ended up finishing pretty well. I'm definitely excited about trying this event again next year and trying to improve on my result from this year.

The State Time Trial Championships in Tenino in August yielded a personal best and a first time ever under one hour for 40k for me. And although I failed to achieve my goal of medalling, I had a great day on the bike and rode really well. I am waiting with great interest to see where next year's State TT will be held as I have high expectations for next year.

Ride 542, the Mount Baker Hillclimb, rounded off the big events for the season in early September and was held in even more perfect weather than last year. As last year, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and managed to knock off 20 or so seconds of last year's time. I'll be back next year, hopefully with a few friends along for the ride.

The other positive memories of the racing season are too numerous to detail but involve group training rides, friends made along the way, and the simple joy of rolling along on two wheels. Next up is one of my other yearly activities, my annual trip to Interbike in Las Vegas. Three days with friends surrounded by all the latest and greatest the bike industry has to offer. A great way for a bike geek like me to wrap up the season.