Events/sportives

I thought I'd do a more comprehensive list of the events I'll be riding this year -

08/03 MCC Track Championship 1. This will involve a 200 metre sprint, 1k TT and 2K individual pursuit. Men and women cver the same distance - unlike for the pros. Usually 3 sessions per year with the best times overall put forward to try to win the trophy.

29/03 Cheshire Cat 37 miles. I've ridden this event before but had a crash that rendered me unable to bear weight on my arm, so had to pull out partway through. The route looks fairly easy with no gradient higher than 1%.

26/04 White Peak Challenge 29 miles. A ride through Derbyshire's spectacular White Peak district that offers a real challenge. The first steep hill is at Winster. They've promised a downhill finish, but as we know event organisers like to spice things up and fool the riders into a false sense of relief! Not ridden this before, but should be a good test of whether I've improved the hill-climbing.

31/05 Manchester - Liverpool 38 miles. Starts at Salford Quays and follows the Trans Pennine Trail alongside the Manchester Ship Canal and the Mersey along Penny Lane. Not ridden this before but should be a good ride.

12/07 Manchester - Blackpool 63 miles. Rode this last year in 4 hrs 15 minutes. Max gradient then was 1%. Hoping to get below 4hrs this year.

06/09 Manchester 100 100 miles. Never ridden this route nor the full distance of 100 miles yet; most I've ridden so far is approx 75-80 miles. The route starts at Wythenshawe Park and goes through Northwich, Delamere Forest and Middlewich before finishing again at Wythenshawe Park.

2009 aims

Although I don't normally make resolutions I've decided that this time I will make some plans and do my damndest to stick with them. So, my aims for 2009 are -

Complete the 300 Mile a month Challenge that re-starts January 1st.
Ride every other day.
Ride at least 7 of the monthly Middleton CC club rides.
Ride at least 7 of the monthly Chorlton Wanderers rides.
Make 1 ride per week up to Hartshead Pike.
Improve hill climbing ability (or current lack of).
Ride out to Dunham/Lavender Barn once a month.
Complete at least 4 sportives.