It has been a crazy year, this, with our first annual Keepers Tour sorted, partnerships with the industry’s leading icons including Johan Museeuw, Pavé Cycling Classics, DeFeet, Fizik, and Lezyne – and a book deal to boot (deadline looming large on January 1st). We couldn’t have asked for a better year, and would like to remind you all that none of this – not one part of it – works without you, The Community.
It is a dream come true to be part of Cycling and to have some perceived value within this amazing community. Thank you all. From the bottom of our hearts, we wish you a very Merckxy Christmas, and a Coppi New Year.
Merckx bless you, one and all.
– The Keepers
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Just knocked off from my last ride of what has been a painful, albeit extremely enjoyable year on the bike.
Some stats from 2012 c/o Strava:
188 rides
7,250km
119,000m climbed
3 bikes (1 of which has survived)
1 collarbone shattered
And most importantly a metric fuckton of fun.
Enjoy your new year celebrations, leave the bike alone tomorrow and hit it hard again from January 2nd! VLVV
Completed my final ride of the year earlier too. A good year all told, and many many memorable rides in the bag!
2013 is already looking busy, and the training will be starting early door the Bristol Cogal in April.
Happy New Year to you all!
Last ride of the year complete. Decided to dress formal (Sacred Garments) for the occasion. It was an overcast day with steady drizzle - a typical Seattle day - a very atypical Houston day. Rain is usually a full contact sport here - violent downpour and then gone.
Started out toward a local park picnic loop when a leaf became stuck in my front brake and started making a repetitive noise. Came to a stop and realized the leaf was actually a clean puncture of the front tire that, in combination with the rain, was spitting like an angry cobra. Great. I was still close to home and the tire was leaking slowly. Turn around? Hell no.
Sat down to change the tube. Of course, that is when the real rain began. So there I was, sitting out in the rain changing a tube almost within walking distance from my house, when everything went completely quiet. No cars, no people, even the dogs went silent. One of those eerily muffled moments that usually only occur at dawn.
Got things sorted and rode hard for an hour on almost deserted roads. Never thought a flat in the rain would be an excellent way to end the year.
A few weeks late, but oh well. Had a nice holiday, did some fun riding in a national forest on dirt roads on my cx bike. Also got far too many gifts but they were all great & thoughtful, including Robert Penn's "It's All About the Bike." Been incredible so far, really cool personal pursuit for a custom bike + a history of the sport.
I'd also like to say that as the year gets going I am thankful to be a contented Velominatus. Not riding as much due to work, but that's okay. I'll be back at it in a few weeks. And what is really nice, I've realized, is how well set I am. I have my bikes in fine order, my kit is well stocked, I have two of most things so I ride on two wet days in a row, and most of my stuff is darn nice. When not riding that much I find it really satisfying to go into my cycling drawer, pull out some nice stuff, chose the right helmet and shades and shoes for the day, and then ride a silent bike for a few hours.
Hope everyone is set for a big year! Good luck.