Plans for 2023?

I have some very uninteresting plans...

I'm trying to remember what my plans for 2022 were.

For 2023 my main aim is to be out on the bike every week at the club ride, twice in spring and summer if possible. I'll try to hit 5000km for the first time. I've hit 4000 or so for three years running but I always seem to have a bit of a break around summer (typically take long holidays in non cycling friendly places) and also run out of steam around this time of year. This year really fizzled out in the autumn due to life.

I'll try to have a few milestones spread throughout the year that I know I will need to be in good shape for - probably Flanders or Liège in the spring and something else in summer. I'd also like to do one of the longer 100km+ gravel events.

Finally - want to have a serious attempt at a Zwift race by the end of January.

Aims for 2023

Top 5 in an A3 race is a major aim this year & achieveable.

Continue with strength training as I’m old & need it for many reasons.

Get to a long standing goal weight of 92-95kgs ( current 100kgs).

Find someone on a similar plan that I can do long spins with (3-4hrs) at weekends.

Explore new roads & routes.

Just get out and cycle more

More structure during the week

Longer cycles at weekend

Doing events/races that suit me and I know I'll enjoy.

targeted 4k for the year and finished 200km short due to the crap weather in Nov and Dec, I was well ahead of target before that.

I did a 200km audax last year so will try and do one or two more this year and a few sportives.

I did some club races last year for the first time and really enjoyed it, so will try to do a few more this year (the series clashes with when we go on hols so I end up being away for some of them unfortunately).

My main goal is the same every year which is to stay upright on the bike and not come off it.

The team events at Mondello 24 are great sport and there's a place for everyone from the full on racers to the charity teams just putting in the laps, it's a great event

105 Di2 disc seems to be getting discounted in some places to close to 1200 so that is tempting for a new build. Although 105 R7000 for close to 600 is perfect for a winter build too

That looks like a great trip. I might do something similar. How long will you expect it to take and are you bringing your own bikes?

We're planning for 3 days cycling followed by a "day off" near the beach and then a final 3 days cycling. Bringing our own bikes. We brought bikes in April 2022 to Porto for the Camino and it was very straightforward

If we make it to France with the camper this year, I'd love to give Ventoux a go.

Or alpe d'huez.

Something iconic; just to say ''Ah yea, i've done that...''

Goals for 2023:

• Get a new road bike, and maybe a 2nd hand gravel bike
• Do either of the Wicklow/Evil 200's
• Do more lengthy mountain spins through Wicklow in preparation for L'Etape du Tour
• Finish L'Etape du Tour in reasonable time/condition
• Do more sportives/events ROK, Beara tour etc.
• Go cycling when abroad on hols.
• Get as close to a sub-3hr 100k as possible

2022 was a mare, aimed for 6000-7000km, ended up with 3500km after a bad run of health

So for 2023, it's to get more more consistently, ideally two mid mornings and Saturday and the odd Sunday, for events and holidays

• Tour de Conamara - did this last year, one of the most scenic events I've done on the West Coast
• Wicklow 200 - attempt number 4 - every year something knocks us off training and we drop to the W100, could well see us doing the W150 this year knowing our luck :)
• Looking at a foreign event - possibly Dam to Dam in September in Amsterdam
• 1st holiday is local, the weekend between Conamara and Wicklow I'm doing a 5 day bike-packing trip to take in two Derry City matches, so going Dublin - Monaghan - Derry - Sligo - Mullingar - Dublin, Derry are at home the Friday night and away in Dublin on the Monday
• 2nd holiday is 2 weeks in Girona mid October, flights already booked, and the first six days is a bike-packing trip, 2 days up to a cycling B&B in France, the far side of the Pyrenees, two days cycling up there and then two days back to Girona, then base myself in Girona for the second week, 10th time of visiting and still a lot of the longer and steeper routes to have a crack at