One of the first things you learn when starting to ride a bike is to look where you’re going.

Look ahead!

Keep your eyes fixed on where you want to go!

Because if you don’t you might fall.

And then when you get into riding seriously and want to get better at descending you learn that you need this skill even more, ensuring that you fix your eyes on where you are headed, looking at the exit of the corner, not down at the road.

And in life we always talk about looking forward to things, things we can’t wait to happen, thinking about what the future will hold.

It’s important for us to have things that we’re excited about – the end of the hard week, the drinks we’ve got planned with friends, the holiday we really need.

But it is also essential to look back.

When you hear the car behind you.

When you’re in a fast moving group to check if you’re buddies are still on the wheel.

When you’re about to take a turn.

And again the same applies to our daily lives.

Looking back gives us a chance to think about what we’ve achieved, to remember the great times we had, and to hopefully learn some lessons to take into what we do next.

For me I’ve got three major things from the past year that stick out:

1) Starting this new enterprise. It is something I never thought I would do. I didn’t think I had what it took. Maybe I still don’t. But I do know that in the past months I’ve learnt so much about so many things, things that I know will be useful in the future whatever I do. And I’ve had so much fun doing it.

2) Gravel Biking has been so much fun this year. And looking back it has helped immeasurably with my bike handling, and also as a way to keep the flame alive for road cycling. It is almost like living in a different city when you take the gravel bike out, popping out of forests onto roads you’ve ridden along hundreds of times, but never knew what delights lay just off the road. I look forward to much more gravel in 2025.

3) The final thing is the most important to me. And that is the support and companionship and fun I get from riding with my friends. While I sometimes like to ride alone, nothing beats riding with friends, whether it is smashing up hills, powering along rolling roads, shooting the breeze on a recovery ride, or falling off in the mud too many times to mention, my friends have been what makes my rides most memorable. Thanks to everyone that’s taken the time to turn the pedals with me this past year. Let’s do it all again in 2025.

As a little Christmas gesture, I am offering all newsletter subscribers a 10% discount on any standard Borne Cycling tour booked before the end of January.* Simply sign up to the newsletter and pay your deposit and the discount will be applied when you come to settle the balance.

Have a great Festive break everyone. These weekly blogs will be back in the New Year.

What I’ve been listening to while writing

Low – Christmas

Now it’s time for the festive tunes. This is the best alternative Christmas album with the very best Christmas song ever (IMHO) Just Like Christmas. Stick this album on and enjoy.

*not applicable if any discount already applied, or on bespoke trips.

Check over your shoulder

Resolve

The 4S … a monster day out