2023 was a wonderful year on the bike for me. Following all the troubles of the previous year it was nice to have a cycling season devoid of issues. There were lots of great days on the bike and plenty of memorable miles ridden but these are my personal top 10 rides of the year.
#10 WI Sept 30 111.95 miles
There were 8 century+ rides for me this year and this was the last of them. This was a top ten ride due to that fact and that I totally miscalculated the weather and distance and was unprepared for both. Temps got close to 90F during the ride and I was horribly dehydrated for the last 10 miles. I was able to get all the way back home after leaving my buddy Steve's carcass by the side of the road at the 90 mile marker. The savage legs cramps the last 30 minutes on the bike and the next few hours once back home made this day one for the memory book.
#9 120JK 127 July 23 127.08 miles
Another ride with Steve. Long time pal Scott joined for the first 45 miles and was then smart enough to turn around and head back home. Steve and I continued for a tour of the god awful northern suburb roads that I grew up riding on and turns out did not miss at all. This was a good ride to remind myself not to try this route ever again. Good times and quite memorable.
#8 The Mike Smink fond memories ride April 20 35.68 miles
Mike was a colleague of mine for a few years and still a friend to this day. He and I rode parts of this route a number of years ago. Not big distance but it's always a beautiful route around Monterey California and 17 Mile Drive. I try and get this ride in whenever I am at the Sea Otter Bicycle Festival.
#7 Gravel WORLDS 74 August 26 79.43 miles
The short version of Gravel Worlds in Lincoln NE. My first gravel event since Almanzo 2018. I spent all day with my friend and colleague Nick Legan and it was one of those perfect days on the bike.
#6 Zone 2 September 2 150.35 miles
My 6th longest ride ever and the 2nd longest solo ride. A day with nothing else to do other than just cruise along. No one to have to keep up with. No one to wait for or to have to wait for me. A day on the bike. I love this route because once you reach the shore of Lake Michigan the temperature drops 10 degrees and you are completely refreshed for the rest of the ride. Looking forward to duplicating this route again next year.
#5 Micro Ronde van Vlaanderen October 29 34.81 miles
I first rode in Belgium in 1991 and have been fortunate to have a number of opportunities to ride these roads since then. Any chance to ride the bergs of Flanders should be taken advantage of. Plus the rain held off until the last 30 minutes of the ride which is a special treat in Belgium.
#4 Paris-Roubaix sectors 19->12 October 28 52.73 miles
My goal was to ride from Arenberg to the finish at the velodrome but I was not durable enough to go the distance that day. Regardless it was my first experience on the cobbles of northern France and a memorable ride. Not much more I could really ask for.
#3 82 JK May 21 102.84 miles
The first of the JK rides this year. I told Steve it would be 82 miles and that's what he was planning for but it ended up being over a century. It was a nice day on the bike with friends but the best part is the memory of how frustrated Steve was when we got close to 80 miles and were still in Woodbury. Haha.
#2 Pescadero Day 2 April 17 46.28 miles
A beautiful ride in the mountains west of San Jose. I have done this loop before but this time was really special after being sick the previous year. Spectacular scenery and good friends. Not just a great ride in 2023 but one of the best rides ever for me.
#1 been a minute March 24 37.11 miles
Pretty tough to top my first ride outside since May 15 2022. There were times I seriously wondered if I was ever going to be able to get out and ride again. This simple ride around town on roads I have been on countless times was a joy in every possible way.
That's a wrap for 2023 riding season. I am already looking forward to 2024 and another year of amazing rides
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