That 4,000-mile goal for 2008? Nailed it, barely

Back in January when I set a 4,000-mile bicycle-riding goal for 2008, I didn't want to have to resort to fulfilling my resolution on New Year's Eve.

Of course, that's what I ended up doing today. 

I completed 4,002 miles in 2008 with a 10-mile ride up to Lewis Creek Park on Cougar Mountain this morning. My son suggested that route, because it's all downhill on the way home — a good treat for my accomplishment.

Now, I'll probably spend the first week of 2009 cleaning my bicycle. My poor bike seemed to attract its fair share of the sand that's been spread of the roads to combat the snow and ice from the storm that swept Western Washington earlier this month.

As for 2009, I resolve to do more overnight bicycle touring. That should be easy to achieve, as I only did one trip in the past year.

Of course, I thought 4,000 miles would be easy to achieve in 2007,  but my prostate cancer diagnosis and operation sidelined me for the latter half of the year. In 2008, I'll chalk up all the last-minute riding to unanticipated teacher-strikes and snow days in the last third of the year.

Here's the tale of the tape for 2008:

December: 214.88 miles

Year: 4002.36

Rides: 199

1.17 tons of carbon offset

I hope everyone had the success I did this year; have a happy New Year in 2009.