I just had a birthday and of course didn't get what I wanted: an EPO gift basket, an 11-pound bike and the legs of a 24-year-old Cat 1.

While unwrapping my traditional 3-pack of underwear -- one waist size larger than last year's (thanks, Mom) -- I resolved to use this sad occasion to turn things around, life-wise.

Sound familiar? Then join me in setting some cycling goals for your golden years: objectives to achieve before the Grim Reaper's shiny black SUV sends you to the big bike lane in the sky. Or to that other, hotter place where every spare tube has a hole and your patch kit's glue is always dry.

Goal: Watch the Tour de France in person.
Advanced Goal: Watch the Tour de France in person and see more than 30 seconds of the race.

Goal: Ride across the U.S. and discover the real America - and your true self.
Advanced Goal: Ride across the U.S. and not get sick of eating peanut butter.

Goal: Enter a criterium.
Advanced Goal: Finish a criterium.
Very Advanced Goal: Finish a criterium without crying.

Goal: Ride no-hands.
Advanced Goal: Ride no-hands while removing your jacket, eating an energy bar, shifting gears, listening to your iPod and just missing that police cruiser stopped at the red light.

Goal: Learn to true a wheel.
Advanced Goal: Learn to build a wheel.
Very Advanced Goal: Ride the wheel you built.

Goal: Cycle 100 miles in a day.
Advanced Goal: Cycle 200 miles in a day.
Very Advanced Goal: Stop right there, please.

Goal: Pedal to work on Bike-to-Work Day.
Advanced Goal: Pedal to work every day.
Very Advanced Goal: Sell your car.

Goal: Keep riding till the bitter end.
Advanced goal: There is no higher goal.

une page mise à jour le 29 octobre 2006 par SVP

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