New Year’s Resolutions, or Something Like That
I’ve been thinking about 2015, for a bunch of reasons. This will be the year this blog turns ten, for one thing. It’s the last year I’ll spend entirely in my forties, for another. And The Hammer and I will celebrate our five-year anniversary, for a third.
This feels like it’s going to be a special year. An important year. And I’ve got a lot of things I want to do.
So is this a “resolutions” post? Maybe. Kind of. Mostly. But it’s also a teaser post of things I’m thinking about doing. Things that aren’t quite resolutions, and maybe not even quite at the point of being announcements, but they’re on my mind enough that I want to at least annoy you with a vague hint or two.
The Fast Year
I recently posted about working with TrainerRoad to catapult me into a fast early season, with the plan of having momentum into the race season.
I expect to race a lot this year. Short races. Long races. Time trials. Everything I can get my hands on.
Furthermore, I plan to train smarter than I have in prior years, and I’ve asked the guys at TrainerRoad to support me in this. They’re on board, and said they’d be OK with doing online chats and answering questions you might have, too, whatever your goals are.
So while I’d never position myself as someone who is smart about how to train, I’m pairing up with some people who are. For the first time ever, instead of stunt diets and weight loss competitions that don’t stick, I’m hoping to have some actual valuable and useful information on this site.
Weird, I know.
Strange Things are Afoot at the Circle K
I love this blog, so anytime I’ve ever considered stopping it, I’ve reconsidered pretty much immediately.
So this blog will not go away in 2015.
But it will change. In a big way. In an awesome way. In a way that will let me still do what I love doing (writing about whatever bike thing I want to). But moreso.
If things work out the way I want them to, by the end of 2015 you’ll be wasting more of your time here than ever before.
You’re welcome?
Big and Important Project. Or Projects. Or Something.
I don’t know how many “Best of FatCyclist.com” books this blog will eventually wind up making, but I do know there will be at least one more—the only one that matters, really. This will be the year I tell Susan’s story, by combining the posts I wrote during her sickness with the parts of her story I didn’t write.
So that’s one book I’m going to commit to finishing this year.
But I’ve got another one in the works. One that I haven’t told you about. Haven’t told anyone about it, publicly. But there’s some interest in it, and it will require a lot of effort to write, since it will be from scratch. But it could be the book that actually moves me closer to being able to write about bikes full-time.
Sorry to be vague. You’ll hear more about it soon. I hope.
Fundraising
It’s important to me to do something good with this accidental soapbox. For the past couple years, I’ve focused on World Bicycle Relief and Camp Kesem. And I’m going to continue to focus on these two wonderful charities. I’d also like to help out NICA, which is doing outrageously good work.
But it’s been nagging at me that I have dropped the ball in the fight against cancer. I don’t like that. When it became difficult to tell the LiveStrong story without hearing a lot of pushback, I did the easy thing and stopped telling it.
I don’t know yet if I’ll go back to raising money for LiveStrong. They’re a good charity and do good work in the fight against cancer. But the Huntsman Cancer Institute is close to home, helps individuals in their fights, and does important research.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
What About You?
I have a big year ahead of me. I’m excited for it, and I’m nervous for it. In good ways.
So: what are you excited / nervous for in 2015?
Comment by Darren | 12.30.2014 | 11:39 am
I am as always excited to just be able to read your posts. I am also extremely excited to read Susan’s story. Your posts regarding her fight and your care giving, is what originally drew me to your site. For myself, I am planning on completing my first Triathlon, and possibly my 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Thanks again for everything you do. From keeping us laughing, to giving us time to think and reflect, and to all the good stuff you do for some really good causes. From one fat cyclist to you fatcyclist…Happy New Year and Good Luck!!!
Comment by blair | 12.30.2014 | 11:44 am
Mine are 1366×768, 1920×1080, and 3840×2160.
Comment by Jeff Bike | 12.30.2014 | 11:47 am
Time trials? May I recommend Tour de Gruene, in Gruene TX (near New Braunsfels TX)If you come I’ll get my wife to make pie. It is planed for Saturday 11/7/15 and the 2 person team TT is Sunday 11/8/15. That way you can get one more race in before the end of your season.
Comment by Marty | 12.30.2014 | 11:57 am
You’re certainly teasing us again, Fatty! For the last time this year, I suspect.
I look forward to reading Susan’s story. I’ve gone back and read some of your early posts as you and Susan’s journey with cancer; your story is so similar to the one my wife and I lived. I am glad you’re looking for ways to impact cancer.
I wonder about LiveStrong, however. The whole Lance thing aside, my impression of LiveStrong’s focus is that it goes toward programs to help those who have cancer, and little of their funding goes toward actual cancer research. That may have changed but it’s worth looking into.
Our lives have followed similar paths, and I’ve always admired how you’ve used your talent to benefit those less fortunate.
Good luck, my faster, funnier, fitter brother! May all your dreams for 2015 come true!
Comment by Frank | 12.30.2014 | 12:07 pm
Excited:
- A new job starting Jan 5th
- Possible participation in the Leadville 100 MTB race (Lottery)
- Fatty’s new posts
Nervous:
- My wife getting a job as well
- My wife not divorcing me due to making her give up a good job, find a new job, move to a different state with a 200% increase in cost-of-living expenses, find an apartment/house etc…(I think she really, really loves me! I am so lucky!)
- My father-in-law’s last weeks? on this earth due to cancer (more angry, frustrated, feeling for my wife than being nervous)
- Possible participation in the Leadville 100 MTB race (Lottery)
Comment by Papa Bear | 12.30.2014 | 12:42 pm
Fatty, the Huntsman Cancer Institute helped my father-in-law immensely during his battle with the cancer that finally took him from us, and they are the ones I support with my donations. I would love to see your support go to them too.
Comment by Bart the Clydesdale | 12.30.2014 | 12:49 pm
2015 should be the year that you and the Hammer race in “The Iceman Cometh Challenge” it is not a long race, but a great event. With the Hammer’s recent times her winnings could pay for the trip. Traverse City is a post card pretty area, maybe not in November but lets not quibble about details.
Comment by Bart the Clydesdale | 12.30.2014 | 12:52 pm
I have a suggestion for your 2015 race calendar.
2015 should be the year that you and the Hammer race in “The Iceman Cometh Challenge” it is not a long race, but a great event. With the Hammer’s recent times her winnings could pay for the trip. Traverse City is a post card pretty area, maybe not in November but lets not quibble about details.
Comment by Scott | 12.30.2014 | 1:00 pm
Excited:
Graduating with my first degree.
Riding new places
Finishing a ride that has beat me into submission previously
Nervous:
Starting a master’s program (while working full time, 3 kids, TG for my wife)
Crack under pressure and/or fail to complete ‘beat into submission’ ride
I’m looking forward to the new Fatty adventures, whatever they may bring.
Comment by LidsB2 | 12.30.2014 | 1:14 pm
Excited:
- Retiring from the military after 20 years
- Starting a new career
- Moving to…somewhere…when our kids finish school in May — it’s weird to have a choice
- Ramping up my mileage after a 2 year lull in my riding
Nervous:
- See bullets 1-3 above
Looking forward to the FatCyclist.com reboot.
Comment by Jeff Dieffenbach | 12.30.2014 | 1:23 pm
I don’t know if this has always been LiveStrong’s mission (“We’ve worked to identify the issues faced by cancer survivors in order to comprehensively improve quality of life for members of the global cancer community.”), but my understanding has been that they’ve purposefully stayed out of the research path where they thought they’d have relatively little impact. Instead, they’ve tackled an aspect of cancer that they thought hadn’t been getting enough attention. However well they’ve executed on this mission (I’m in no position to judge), I laud the focus.
Comment by Mark in Bremerton | 12.30.2014 | 1:24 pm
Your 2015 indicators are going to ensure that one of MY resolutions is to keep reading!
Any charity you choose I’m sure will be worth supporting, so it’s your call, IMO.
Excited: I retired, so I’ll have lots of time for riding adventures.
Nervous: I retired, so I’ll less money for riding adventures.
Comment by Brian in VA | 12.30.2014 | 2:26 pm
In my opinion, what charity you choose to assist is up to you. Those who wish to fight with you, may do so. Those that don’t, won’t and need to STFU about it. Simple, no?
Excited: new opportunities, new friends to make, new goals to reach (2500 miles this year – I know that’s not much but it would represent a 30% increase for me)
Nervous: not much, really. I’m comfortable in my skin, will do my best, and let the results speak for themselves. I’ll either be proud of them or determined to better them next time around.
Looking forward to another year of this and Susan’s story, too.
Happy New Year!
Comment by Will Benton | 12.30.2014 | 2:53 pm
Just because Lance cheated like every other rider in the TDF doesn’t mean you should stop supporting LiveStrong. Would you not donate to Toys for Tots because of Bo Bergdahl? Stop donating to United Way because of Ray Rice? If you believe in LiveStrong support LiveStrong.
Comment by Jenni | 12.30.2014 | 4:35 pm
I have decided I only want to support places working to CURE cancer. I want a cure. Nothing short of (wait for it)…a cure. Lance issues aside, Livestrong doesn’t do that. I want to envision the money I donate going to pay the scientist who comes to work one day and discovers the…you guessed it, CURE.
I like the Roswell Institute for Cancer for that reason and it has a fantastic annual ride a bunch of us Friends of Fatty have been doing (Buffalo, NY)
I’m excited about beating Jeff Dieffenbach in our new year’s weight loss competition, and of putting on the first annual Lost a Bet ride. The rules are simple: make a bet with someone, come to terms about the rules, mercilessly pursue beating the pants off that person. Jeff and I have bet a 10-mile ride, the winner gets to choose the route of the loser, who must be wearing an “I lost a bet” note on their back. I considered also having Jeff pull me on a platform upon which I’d position a Lazy-boy recliner and keg of beer though we lack the desire to build said platform. Jeff in the past has suggested the loser must ride an invisible bike (man I wish I had thought of that one). Anyone is free to join us if you’re making your own New Year’s resolutions. I’ll likely be blogging it, I have yet to come up with Jeff’s route, who knows the Boston area?!
I’m looking forward to continuing to call you friend Elden, and supporting you however I can.
Happy New Year everyone!
Comment by Miles Archer | 12.30.2014 | 5:00 pm
No blog anniversary for me, but I turn 50 this year and it’s my 20th wedding anniversary.
Last year I did a lot more swimming than riding. I need to find some riding events nearby to get/keep me motivated. Any friends of Fatty doing charity rides in SF Bay area – specifically East or North bay?
A big yes on cancer research charity fundraising.
Looking forward to the changes you’re threatening (as long as I can still read via RSS)
Comment by spinecho | 12.30.2014 | 7:07 pm
I have been following your regularly blog almost since its inception. I rarely post (not much to add to the conversation) but in this case just wanted to say I think it would be fantastic if you chose to support cancer research/support institutions with your fundraising. Thanks for all you do.
Comment by Liz M. | 12.30.2014 | 8:12 pm
So glad you are completing Susan’s story this year. Very much looking forward to that. Best wishes with your other goals.
For 2015: I plan to run a few races, up to and including a half marathon late in the year. Also, do some yard work before the neighbors take up a collection to buy us out. So that means less time for the bike, but I will continue to commute and probably do one short, easy bike tour in the summer.
And I am all for raising money to fight cancer and I trust your judgment on how best to focus our resources.
Comment by clydesteve | 12.30.2014 | 9:54 pm
excited about donuts
nervous that there might not be enough maple bars
Comment by Calvin | 12.30.2014 | 10:24 pm
I am excited and nervous about 2015 being my first year of racing. I’ve made a training plan that I’m committed to and started a blog to track it all. So I think that’s all I need to have a good first season.
Comment by Libby | 12.30.2014 | 10:27 pm
I want to finally finish an organized charity ride/Gran Fondo which means I’m also nervous about getting sick & not being able to train.
I look forward to more Tales from the Fatster. &comments from Friends of Fatty…especially Leroy’s dog.
I look forward to “Susan’s Story”.
I hope to finally being hired to do something related to my two degrees and is really interesting.
Comment by Chris | 12.31.2014 | 7:44 am
This is the year I send Fatty an autographed copy of my book about the Leadville 100…
Comment by rb | 12.31.2014 | 8:24 am
whatever you do please don’t try and create your own social network with logins and stuff
And yes, come to iceman. It’s a shortish race in non-epic terrain which features crap weather. Pretty much the anti-Fatty wheelhouse.
It’s also 4000 people who live to ride and love to ride having awesome time. Just ask Brad…he was there last year!
Comment by Marty | 12.31.2014 | 9:20 am
In 2015, I’m looking forward to:
1. Daughter’s graduation from high school (empty nest)!
2. DK200 (full monte this year)
3. TOMRV (Tour of Mississippi River Valley)
4. De-materializing my life (except for the bikes, keeping the bikes)
5. 100MON (maybe ride 100 miles underwater at night)
6. Hotter Than Hell 100 (Is it really that hot?)
7. Weighing under 170 for the first time since high school
Worries:
1. Finishing the DK200
2. Training for the DK200
3. Turning 58
4. How will I do it all this summer without a time machine?
Happy New Year!
Comment by Fellowfattychris | 12.31.2014 | 10:28 am
Excited:
1-For my 2015 at large entry into the Xterra World Championship race in Maui
2-To continue my goal of +1 new bike every year, 2015 will be my 3rd year in a row purchasing a new bike after a previous very long gap of 12 years between new bikes
Worried:
-About how my wife will react to another request for a new bike this year. #1 in 2013 went fine, #2 in 2014 wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked.
Comment by Heidi | 12.31.2014 | 11:19 am
Sounds like you have a lot of exciting stuff lined up, Elden. I’m looking forward to reading Susan’s story – good on you!
I’ve never been attached to the concept of new beginnings at New Years, but this year life is pretty open for me. Who KNOWS what wonderful things will transpire? Excited, yes. Worried, nah.
Comment by AKChick | 12.31.2014 | 11:24 am
This past year has been such a blur – where did 2014 go? I didn’t do any charity rides and I’d like to do one this year. I’ll probably focus on local charities, but I do plan on giving to Livestrong. There are MANY organizations that focus on finding a cure. There are FEW that focus on patient support. Having just lost my 32-year-old brother-in-law to cancer, and watching my mom go through treatment for small cell lung cancer (she’s doing fabulous!), there is a huge need for patient care and especially caregiver care outside of treatment. There are a couple organizations in Anchorage that do this, and I plan to support them.
I can’t wait to read the consolidation of Susan and your journey with cancer. I joined your reading community when she was diagnosed for round two.
I would love it if we could find an event – a charitable one if possible and one that any level of ability could participate in – and have a Team Fatty event. I was only able to attend two of those. I have met so many amazing people through your blog (including you and your lovely wife). I’d love to meet more.
Excited:
- My mom finishing radiation and chemo
- My new carbon fiber road bike (with disc brakes!) that should be here Feb-March (it’s been delayed 2x now but I can’t ride so…)
- Much needed 3 week vacation in Kauai with friends and family – yes, we are bringing bikes. :)
Nervous
- My mom finishing radiation and chemo – her cancer is inoperable, but is still local – will the tumor have shrunk?
- Crossing my fingers that there will be some major changes at work – the stress level has gotten better, but it needs to become better than what it is – my job is not worth my health or sanity.
- My new bike. I wasn’t able to test ride the actual model, but a couple steps down. I hope it exceeds my expectations.
Happy New Year to Fatty, The Hammer, their kids and to all the many Friends of Fatty out there!
Comment by Christina | 12.31.2014 | 12:17 pm
Well, I think Rebecca Rusch challenged me to a downhill race, so I’m going to need to train for that.
I’m looking forward to the Susan book. I only “know” her from this blog and the Susan that is presented here is amazing. I have to imagine the book will only expand upon that.
Comment by Amy | 12.31.2014 | 1:17 pm
I was pleased with the shift to World Bicycle Relief, thank you for spreading the world about what they do. I’d prefer you to stay away from LiveStrong, there are plenty of other great places to give good money that are less troublesome ethically.
Comment by Joel Helfire | 12.31.2014 | 3:15 pm
As a local whose mother has been in Huntsman more than I would like, I would love for you to get behind them instead of LiveStrong. They are doing great things up there.
Comment by Kukui | 12.31.2014 | 6:12 pm
My Excited list looks remarkably similar to my Nervous list:
2015 is the year I am:
- leaving my job
- moving to Maui and finding a new job
- hoping cycling is a viable option on Maui because gods forbid I take up swimming… ;)
- planning to raise cycling community / awareness / advocacy in Hawaii because, moving from Washington, I am literally going from the most bike-friendly state to the 10th least bike-friendly
- hoping my plans work out and I don’t have to come all the way back!
I am looking forward to Fight Like Susan. As for cancer fighting fundraising, I trust whichever group you choose to support.
Happy New Year, Fatty and FoF!!!
Comment by Mefly | 01.1.2015 | 7:34 am
Glad to hear you are keeping up the fundraising work. That is awesome.
One thing I noticed from this blog is you two have FUN riding. Structured training can suck a lot of the fun aspect out of riding and in many cases doesn’t make you stronger rider. I distinctly remember a post you did a while back about your friend and his Leadville bomb after following a structured coaching program.
Having said that, happy new year and best of luck.
Comment by MikeL | 01.1.2015 | 11:27 am
Ultimately it does not matter what we the readers want you to do in terms of who you support. WBR, Livestrong, Huntsman, a local charity are all worthy recipients of support. What matters is where your heart is and what matters to you.
Here is hoping that everyone out there has had a good holiday season and that next year and beyond will be good for you.
Comment by Chris | 01.2.2015 | 7:44 am
2015 will be a year of change – both excitement and nervous at the same time.
I’ve said it before – you should seriously consider doing the 24 Hours in the Canyon event at Palo Duro Canyon.
http://www.24hoursinthecanyon.org/
It’s great event, run by great people, in a beautiful setting, all for a great cause – Harrington Cancer Foundation.
Comment by Cyclingjimbo | 01.2.2015 | 10:02 am
What a great thread of conversation. Fatty, you bring out the best in us.
Our basic problem is that the need is so much greater than our ability to satisfy it. We absolutely have to work on a cure for cancer – and MS, and Alzheimer’s, and on and on. We also have to think about people here and now who are affected by these terrible diseases; they deserve the best we can offer and they and the people who love them deserve our support.
Fatty, we love you and your family – you are part of our families as well, and we will support you in almost anything you take on. One thought to consider when choosing your next project: when it comes to support organizations our thoughts also turn local, as in “what are we doing here where we live?” This is one advantage of organizations like Livestrong – we can all identify with their mission and the people they reach. I will support almost anything you put up for our consideration because I know your heart is in it; I will support it even more if I know some of that support will be coming back to where I live to help people I know.
So many challenges and we are but few. But we are strong and when we are together we can tackle anything.
Happy New Year everyone. Keep reaching and reaching out.
Comment by MukRider | 01.2.2015 | 11:18 am
I’ve always thought that LiveStrong is a great match for the Fat Cyclist community because it focuses on living better after a cancer diagnosis. By your very nature you encourage people to live better and enjoy life! So if not LiveStrong, perhaps a like minded charity focused on living with/after cancer.
Comment by esteefatty | 01.2.2015 | 10:23 pm
Happy New Year to the Nelson family and all the FoF. Looking forward to another year of pulling together for WBR and any other good cause Fatty chooses. I still support Livestrong for the important support work they undertake for patients and families.
Comment by D Street | 01.3.2015 | 8:34 pm
Great to hear you are not stopping this blog!
Lots of exciting things this year:
• Watching my kids race their new 29er’s this year
• Achieving a Sub 10 time at Leadville this year
• Creating my own blog and writing about all the things I love
• Raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Colorado Chapter
• Seeing all the friends I made in Leadville again this year
Keep up the Great Work Fatty!!!!
Happy New Year!!!
Comment by Tom in Albany | 01.5.2015 | 7:26 am
Happy New Year, Fatty and FOF!
My one goal for this year: Ride! OK. Not really.
Last fall, my 8-year old son said, “Daddy? Will you teach me how to mountain bike?” Woah. Now I’m scared as heck because I don’t consider myself a very good mountain biker. But it is a heck of an opportunity to get my son sucked into this sport that I love so much! So, my goal is to get him a mountain bike and help him learn.
Comment by Tes | 01.12.2015 | 7:34 pm
I’m sure I’ll support whatever charity you choose. That said, while supporting a local charity is great, I think most people aren’t local to your area. Maybe something that reaches further than one community?
2015
Time to close my eyes and take a leap. Excited (and terrified) to make big changes. One of my fave quotes: If nothing. Ever changes, nothing will ever change. 2015 will be my year of change.