Aims and Plans for 2025

[crossy]

There are 3 things I’ve wanted to do. I want to do them before I get too old. Ride across the Severn Bridge and up an down Cheddar Gorge. I managed the other last year to cycle across the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Luckily I’ve found an Audax that starts in Chepstow goes across the bridge then up and down Cheddar gorge 200km in June. Sounds good hey the only problem is I was off the bike a lot last year and really struggling with my fitness. I’m up to 20 miles on my long ride at the moment. The other good thing about the Audax is it has a lower speed limit than normal 14.3kmph instead of 15kmph. I’m starting to ditch looking at the speed as I was becoming obsessed with it. My thing used to be distance travelled I had an old fashioned wired bike computer on my handlebars covered in tipex covering everything except the distance ridden i used to have lots of lovely rides with that.
What are other people’s plans for this year.

[Jon in Sweden]

There are 3 things I’ve wanted to do. I want to do them before I get too old. Ride across the Severn Bridge and up an down Cheddar Gorge. I managed the other last year to cycle across the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Luckily I’ve found an Audax that starts in Chepstow goes across the bridge then up and down Cheddar gorge 200km in June. Sounds good hey the only problem is I was off the bike a lot last year and really struggling with my fitness. I’m up to 20 miles on my long ride at the moment. The other good thing about the Audax is it has a lower speed limit than normal 14.3kmph instead of 15kmph. I’m starting to ditch looking at the speed as I was becoming obsessed with it. My thing used to be distance travelled I had an old fashioned wired bike computer on my handlebars covered in tipex covering everything except the distance ridden i used to have lots of lovely rides with that.
What are other people’s plans for this year.

Cheddar Gorge is certainly a good goal. It's not one I've climbed, but I'd like to one day - an iconic climb.

As regards the Audax, speed isn't important the best preparation is just consistency. Get out regularly and get the hours in. Goals of speed aren't necessary and can come later.

As regards me and my cycling - for 2025, I'd like to:

* run a successful gravel training camp here in SE Sweden. I'm finalising the details, but it'll be a budget friendly, performance focused camp for people wanting to race or just up their fitness and gravel riding skill. It'll be in late May.

* qualify for and compete in the UCI gravel world championship in Nice in October. It'll be tough, and I may need to drop a little weight as it's a very hilly course.

* do well in some other races too.

* climb more Norwegian mountains.

* increase my FTP towards 450w (4.5w/kg)

* ride around 600hrs/16,000km. I did close to 17,000km this year, but there was more road riding. 2025 will be gravel focused.

* my only road goal for the year is a sub 8hr Vätternrundan (315km)

[cycle tramp]

There are 3 things I’ve wanted to do. I want to do them before I get too old. Ride across the Severn Bridge and up an down Cheddar Gorge. I managed the other last year to cycle across the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Luckily I’ve found an Audax that starts in Chepstow goes across the bridge then up and down Cheddar gorge 200km in June. Sounds good hey the only problem is I was off the bike a lot last year and really struggling with my fitness.

I have no desire to reduce your enthusiasm for your current plans... but may I enquire if you have thought about incorporating these iconic landmarks as part of your own private cycling tour?

..You could, for example, consider taking the train to Bridgwater, cycling across the levels to Glastonbury, then on to Wells, through Wookey and out onto the Mendips.. from the top of the Mendips head West and then follow the road to Cheddar Gorge, before staying in a b&b for the night. Day two would see you climb out of Cheddar Gorge , over the Mendip Hills, past the lakes and then through Bristol onto the suspension bridge. Having crossed the suspension bridge you retrace your steps to Bristol before picking up a late train home..

[crossy]

Jon can it be budget friendly as Isn’t Sweden expensive? I plan to ride across the bridge and the gorge on a recumbent trike. the trike will fit in the back of my small Skoda folded not sure about taking it on a train it’ll be a bit big and heavy.

[Jon in Sweden]

Jon can it be budget friendly as Isn’t Sweden expensive? I plan to ride across the bridge and the gorge on a recumbent trike. the trike will fit in the back of my small Skoda folded not sure about taking it on a train it’ll be a bit big and heavy.

The cost of living here in Sweden is about 30% lower than the UK (we live rurally). Each time we come back to England, we're struck by home hideously expensive it is there.

[crossy]

You live and learn I always thought Scandanvian countries were expensive.

[Jon in Sweden]

You live and learn I always thought Scandanvian countries were expensive.

Norway is, Denmark a little less so. I can't really comment on Finland as I've not been there since 2018.

In Sweden, the things that are noteably cheaper are:

* housing
* utilities
* eating out
* childcare (essentially free in all instances)
* higher education (always free)
* social care (near enough free)
* insurances
* green technologies (hugely cheaper than the UK - heat pumps, solar panels etc)

There are of course some things that are more expensive, but on balance, you can have a similar quality of life to in the UK with 30% less income.

[roubaixtuesday]

Just looking at a tour from Basel around to Bodensee and back through the Swiss Alps and the Jura as the main event.

Also a road trip to attempt the Cime de la Bonette and Col d'Agnel with friends.

Need to get fit and hope my back trouble resolves.

[Audax67]

Heal. Walk. Ride.

[TrevA]

I’ve ridden up Cheddar Gorge twice. The first time was with my 10 year old son. He was on his Raleigh MTB with knobbly tyres, I was on my Claud Butler Dalesman. He dropped me on the steep bit, about 1/3 of the way up! The seond time was in 2019 with my wife, we did a loop from Brent Knoll to Cheddar, up the Gorge, down the Combe (who’s name I can’t remember) and back to Brent Knoll. We cycled down the Gorge on our 2009 JOGLE, and we also crossed the Severn Bridge from Chepstow a day earlier.

For 2025, I’d like to do some of the Yorkshire Dales climbs - Buttertubs and Fleet Moss. I’d also like to do Hartside and Great Dun Fell at some point. Plus Cragg Vale and Holme Moss from the Holmfirth side.

[Slowroad]

My 'aims and plans for 2025' are to be able to do cycle touring without shoulder pain (as discussed on other parts of this forum!) Exercises, a bike fit and trying to fit in more cycling, plus starting with a trip involving two centres rather than moving on each day, just to see how it goes. Every year since 2020 I've half-hoped to get abroad again, so that's a hope rather than a plan, but if all goes well, then maybe a few days in northern France. Speed and distance? After a recent first ride with a local CTC 'easy' group I think I'll just setlle for pootling along and smelling the flowers!

[roubaixtuesday]

I’ve ridden up Cheddar Gorge twice. The first time was with my 10 year old son. He was on his Raleigh MTB with knobbly tyres, I was on my Claud Butler Dalesman. He dropped me on the steep bit, about 1/3 of the way up! The seond time was in 2019 with my wife, we did a loop from Brent Knoll to Cheddar, up the Gorge, down the Combe (who’s name I can’t remember) and back to Brent Knoll. We cycled down the Gorge on our 2009 JOGLE, and we also crossed the Severn Bridge from Chepstow a day earlier.

For 2025, I’d like to do some of the Yorkshire Dales climbs - Buttertubs and Fleet Moss. I’d also like to do Hartside and Great Dun Fell at some point. Plus Cragg Vale and Holme Moss from the Holmfirth side.

Great Dun Fell is absolutely awesome. Far and away the best UK climb I've done. I wouldn't bother with Cragg Vale personally, many much better climbs nearby.

[simonhill]

My aim for 2025 is to see 2026.

Otherwise pretty much same as usual while I still can.