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After my accident in October, 2018, I went from 78 kgs to 94 kgs, and because I remain too put off to get back on a bike yet have found no other activity that appeals to me, have had no real way of losing the weight.
Consequently, late this summer I decided to stop eating so damned much, and have - for the first time in my life - managed to hold the line with my eating while not obsessing over bikes.
As of yesterday morning, I weighed in at a few decimal points above 80 kgs.
I have also managed to get two books written this year (which is why I have hardly been on STW).
Now go on. Tell us something you have managed to do well this year.
My recent successes are all 'obscure Strava segment leaderboard' related, so are probably more humble than my 'failing' in the other thread 😂
But, however obscure any of my KOMs or top tens might be (so obscure that my position is usually dictated purely by the number of other people who have actually bothered their arse on said segment) they're usually pretty cool segments, be it scenic or climby or singletracky.
I have also managed to get two books written this year (which is why I have hardly been on STW).
Kudos! Since we're being braggy, I've always felt I might have a semi-decent guidebook in me, I spend a lot of time researching and plotting good routes that I think would be worth sharing. I've just never been prepared to commit the time (or rather, negotiate the time with my wife 🙄) or learn to take a good photo...
I've just this morning turned a too short rear mudguard into one that will hopefully give me a dry arse using the art of bodge. Chopped an old crud catcher, gaffer tape and zip ties. For once a simple "how hard can it be" job worked first time! Result!
Erm, took my mother-in-law's toilet apart and fitted a new fill valve the other day.
It was an awkward design and I'd not done it before.
Flushed with success, I was.
I ran 10 miles in just under 1 hour. It meant the old boy at my running club called me "a proper decent runner".
I've got a new hip which is improving daily, i'm ahead of schedule, but biking will be after Xmas, early indicators are that i no longer feel the pain after doing something, so looking good for not suffering from barely being able to walk after a ride for 2-3 days!
Learning to ride off small drops properly and to clear a (very) small tabletop consistently.
I'm mid / late 40s, I've ridden bikes all my life as a hobby/sport and mountain bikes since my mid teens. In that time I've been more than happy pinballing down rocks and just about anything that didn't involve taking off but I've just never managed to go "wheels up" with any confidence.
With the help of the QE park skills area (thanks all) and GMBN's you tube channel I finally have the basics and I'm slowly scaling up with lots and lots of repetition (and probably a few errors to correct). Feel like a door has been opened 🙂just as injuries get slower to heal 😭
Easy one for me. Despite not really being a regular runner I set myself up to do a 36km off-road run in August. That went well enough but I topped that off with a, pretty much unplanned, 52km Ultramarathon last month - and won in my age category too! At 65, I reckon it really is all pretty much downhill from here 😄
@13thfloormonk - I've pondered the guide book thing too and a few years ago might have collated some of my blog entries into something worth printing. I now tend to think that the day of the guide book has passed, but then I see what Markus Stitz, Ed Shoote and co are publishing and reckon there might still be something in it.
I finally succeeded at the online dating thing! Just as I was about to give up, met the most amazing woman on Match. Lives literally just down the road and, well its quite sickening really 🥰😂
I now tend to think that the day of the guide book has passed, but then I see what Markus Stitz, Ed Shoote and co are publishing and reckon there might still be something in it.
I know what you mean! I usually just use them to flick through for inspiration but rarely if ever actually follow the routes (although have incorporated some of Ed Shoote's routes into larger routes of mine). Using the 'inspirational' angle might help if it frees you from the obligation to provide detailed step by step navigation etc. although just for the visuals I would still want to use full page OS mapping excerpts.
Using the ‘inspirational’ angle might help if it frees you from the obligation to provide detailed step by step navigation etc.
Yeah, that's why I thought the blog approach, relating stories from an actual ride, might work. I've been writing some route guides for the Scottish Walks and Cycling magazine and they tend to be a bit "dry" once the route gets long/complex as the word limit kicks in and I still needed to detail each twist and turn.
My wife gave birth to our second child 😃
Two miscarriages on the way sadly but our daughter is a cute wee bundle of burps and hiccups
Managed to get on top of my mood swings. I was horrible in the morning, I've now managed to be horrible all the time 😁
pretty much unplanned, 52km Ultramarathon last month – and won in my age category too!
Hadn't spotted that, nice one!
I was tempted to 'brag' about my largely un-trained for sub 1hr 10km trail run, but now I'm not so sure 😎
reaching £10,000 profit from matched betting before christmas. taken 15 months to get there but its a nice round number to reach.
As a serial avoider of any exercise that isn't on a bike, I thought I'd do the Cancer Research 100 press-ups a day for November challenge. I'm now on 37,825 press-ups, annoyingly (and it really grates) the maths is off as I missed 25 one day!
I opened a packet of custard creams, and didn’t eat all of them in one sitting.
I passed the APM PMQ (Project Management) exam last month at my second attempt. passmark was 55% I scored 61%.
because it’s better than my mums…
should we start a "things you really aren't allowed to say" thread?
I've succeeded at pulling my finger out and finally getting some DIY done. As a result we now have a sink in the downstairs loo and tap that actually works in the kitchen.
I've also succeeded at squandering all my bike riding time on DIY.
Never been particularly sporty, apart from riding a bike adequately, and not even done that recently because of my shonky knee, but having done archery at school, and retiring earlier this year so having plenty of time on my hands I took a beginner’s course at my local club in August. <br />Bought my own kit in October just as the club started indoors shooting over the winter, where we shoot to competition rules, scoring each ‘end’ and recording scores in an official manner. <br />Saturday was our last session until January and we scored with a handicap.
Just as we started to clear up we were gathered together to get our results, and I came third and got a bronze medal! <br />Absolutely chuffed to bits, I’ve never won anything before, and at one point I was so disheartened with my progress I skipped scoring one session to try to see where things were going wrong, seems that if I’d scored that session I might have got silver or gold, the scores were fairly close.
After the last couple of years, finally I’ve got something that I can take part in that I might actually be reasonably good at, and develop over time, which is a real confidence boost.
I’ve recently had a small upgrade made to my bow, which needs to be properly tuned, which I’m hoping will give me more consistent scores.
Like this:
I recently played a real over-the-board chess game in which I played 22 consecutive moves, each of which was (I later discovered) the computer's top recommendation for the position. (My 23rd and last move was good enough to end the game, but it was only the 2nd choice according to the computer.) This is a higher standard of play than grandmasters can reliably achieve.
(Of course, I can't achieve it reliably either, it was a one-off. Still, I was very surprised!)
I bought a 99p Nukeproof rear axle, then trimmed it to fit the 2nd hand Bronson frame that I bought from a mate, for my lad. And found a brand new, fitted but then removed headset at 18 Bikes for £25, happy days 🙂
Completed the Paris Brest Paris 1200km audax comfortably within the time limit. It's been a two year project to build up fitness, lose weight, and do the qualification rides. Might do London Edinburgh London next...
I’ve nailed making tablet after only a few attempts. Reason I’m bragging is because it’s better than my mums…
Great job, how's your tooth brushing game😉
Most memorable tablet my mum made accidently turned into hard crack. All the same ingredients as tablet, but black and a bit like glass.
Everyone else turned their nose up at it so I got to eat all of it! I couldn't work out why the roof of my mouth had scratches. It was the glass sharp hard crack slicing me up as I scoffed it.
After over 45 years of drinking way, way, too much, mostly at home, and going mad with my homebrew setup in the workshop during lockdown - I stopped drinking at home in March this year. I still have beer when I go out with my mate or camping and out with family (in moderation) but as that’s not very frequent and I understand the mechanisms involved (and some of the reasons) it’s not been a problem. If I ever meet any of you it’ll probably be one of the first things I tell you, I’m proper proud of myself!
Recently? In the last year?
I have just about put my head back together and learned who I am as a single man and how to react to the world, given away around £17 000 ( as told to do by Mrs TJ before she died - I got a chunk of cash because she died) Paid for a person to have a course of counseling 'cos they needed it but couldn't afford to, Redecorated a couple of rooms in the flat, made a few new female friends and been firmly friendzoned by them 🙂
Like @desperatebicycle I was just about to quit online dating for a summer of bikes then met the most amazing person, who also lives close.
I've turned into a teenager again, love it!
I promise to ride my bike more next year and have signed on to race a couple of events to make sure it happens.
I managed to not be suckered by a scammy website. It wasn't over the top too good to be true just a little. Got almost to the payment stage but didn't feel confident. Trust pilot reviews are 1star.
Just selling overpriced cheap tat.
https://auralu.co.uk/products/overear
Great job, how’s your tooth brushing game
Definitely exceeding the recommended daily amount! That’s another thing I’ve succeeded at: my kids still have all their teeth despite significant tablet consumption 🙂
@twistedpencil I’ve turned into a teenager again, love it! … Same!
Such a great feeling, congrats to you too 😁
Despite my current issues, loss of earnings potential and a pending re-org/demotion and the fact that no one has the temerity to say “thank you” for doing so, I successfully learned to market, launch and deliver and sell a new software product into the UK market, something I’d never done before. I now have customers waxing lyrical on public webinars about at and a lot of potential sales for 2024.
Despite the way I’m feeling I’m happy that my personal values remained and my outcomes have been achieved in the time period agreed.
Completely retired from work in June after 49 years, it’s brilliant.
Great thread, loving the positivity.
And glad to hear I have some fellow STW no-longer singles.
Great job, how’s your tooth brushing game
Definitely exceeding the recommended daily amount! That’s another thing I’ve succeeded at: my kids still have all their teeth despite significant tablet consumption 🙂
Sweet 😉
I have (well the whole family have) succeeded in getting to stay in this amazing place for Christmas...
Hopefully I will be sat in here sipping on a glass of Champagne on Christmas morning...
Became a chartered engineer
Quite chuffed really
Went out on the mtb this morning to cheer myself up. Came back happier than when I left. Win.
Off the back of a regulatory requirement from an EXTREMELY environmentally conscious government (not UK) I've developed a new method for detection and quantification of phenol & phenolic compounds in water samples that is so accurate that it has a chance of becoming the new EPA "gold standard" test.
In the process of writing the report and then it'll be submitted for peer review and validation.
Did my first ever 100+ mile road bike ride this year which was a barrier I'd always wanted to break.
Played shuffleboard a few weeks ago. Was pretty pleased with this effort.
Finally got round to creating a revit beam family with nested shelf angles where the size/vertical position of the angles and if they're actually there can be specified in the model. If this makes no sense to you don't worry.
What a nice thread! Congratulations everyone.
I finished a book this year too. It’s not really a massive page turner unless you’re into the development of integrated mobility.
I also applied for a patent and registered a design.
For balance, I broke my ankle. Keeping from utter despondency (so far) has been the final achievement of the year.
My mech hanger snapped during a CX race due to mud clogging.
Replaced it but still bent way out - seemed to have twisted the frame where the hangar attached.
Got the molegips (sp?) out and sorted it.
Also pleased that because I didn't cheap out on the tool like I usually do it was a satisfying job.
Oh, and new seals and pistons rebuild for both hope rx4s and a successful bleed first time.
Small beer to some on here but a major achievement for me!
Nothing beats the satisfaction of a solid brake bleed first time, only rivalled by a successful tubeless installation.
We've been busy with life, work and a young family for the past 7 or so years, which means that things have been pretty practical. This year we got to the point where we were able to take the kids on a nice holiday, so their first time on a plane, ever, was a flight to the Caribbean. They love wildlife, we did lots of nature-themed experience stuff, and how delighted they were for the whole trip has made a lot of (especially work) things feel actually worthwhile. Got to say, I did feel proud to be able to do that for them.
But now they seem to think we are going back next year 😬
I’m now allowed to use Professor as my title 🙂
As an under 40 female scientist, I do feel very proud (albeit with a large amount of imposter syndrome!).
Had a pretty crap year on the whole but have had one or two positives now I think about it.
Ticked off two Bucket List items:
Did a lap of the Nurburgring at full speed in a Ring Taxi.
No photo of the lap, just the car I did it in (have the onboard video which still scares me!) but as a bonus I managed a lap, at a lot slower pace, in my daily driver.
Also did the London To Brighton Mini Run, something I've wanted to do for seemingly ever and as it was the last one I made a massive effort to get to it.
That's the end of the fun stuff. The big 'Achievement' this year has been, according to my mum and sister, holding the family together through the passing of my dad. Doesn't feel like it but they both assure me that they wouldn't have managed to get through it without me basically putting my life on hold for a few months and doing everything I could to make his and my mum's life as stress-free as possible. Puts a bit of a positive spin on a crappy end to the year I suppose. Normally I'd have a few bike-related things to brag about but that's been a big Fail this year. I suppose surviving my first day at Dyfi Bike Park may qualify!
This week I managed to play a full 18 holes of golf and end with the same ball I started with.
I’ve just managed to engineeoit such that I can walk across my 5 years olds bedroom without standing on a single piece of Lego. It will be a short lived victory but I’m taking a moment to appreciate it
Not just Chris Froome, I do tennis players too.
https://www.itia.tennis/news/sanctions/independent-tribunal-clears-tara-moore-and-barbara-gatica/
if you’re going to Colombia, go vegetarian is my advice.
Secured the permanent promotion I’ve wanted for years to watch manager at work.
And then had the strength of character to turn it down because it’ll leave me bizarrely poorer and I’m not ready to come off the operational side and start teaching, even though I’ve always wanted to teach a whole time course and let out my full metal jacket drill instructor side!
So and achievement and also not an achievement really, but I could have done it so I’m taking it ha