With most of December having been a write-off after being laid low with a virus and then a nasty bout of tonsillitis, my poor bike has been forlornly gathering dust in the corner of the spare room as I've guzzled Lemsips and antibiotics.
Now returned to health, I'm two parts excited, one part dreading getting back in the saddle.
We all know that awful feeling of legs and lungs simultaneously bursting into flames as you attempt to pedal up a piddling incline while being overtaken by snails and tortoises.
I've never been one for New Year's resolutions, so think of this more of a wish list for 2015.
1. Cycle all the way round Loch Rannoch, Perthshire. The past 12 months have seen two aborted attempts: the first courtesy of a broken wheel (on that occasion I managed 12 miles before disaster struck) and the second after foolishly setting off in near gale force winds (only eight miles before calling it a day).
2. Conquer my fear of descending. Uploading a post-ride Garmin file only to discover that I've gone downhill slower than I've climbed some steep uphill sections is frankly embarrassing. So too is looking like Edvard Munch's The Scream whenever poised atop anything bigger than a mole hill.
3. Learn to drink on the bike rather than having to stop by the side of the road and pretend to be admiring the scenery. Admittedly I am getting better, but there are still moments where panic sets in and I end up chucking my water bottle into some nearby foliage, invariably of the variety containing millions of thorns/stinging insects.
4. Accept that while wearing padded cycling shorts the answer to the question: "Does my bum look big in this?" will always be yes. Especially, if like me, you have substantial junk in the trunk to begin with. Move over Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian ...
5. Get a routine. Eat, sleep, cycle, repeat.
What are your cycling goals for 2015? Feel free to share in the comments section below.
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