How was 2009 for you?

Harry B

Its not been the best of years for me. Financially it has been a struggle, no pay rise, 4 day week etc etc. In all I'm about £20k a year down on where I should be .

Our home got burgled which hasn't helped (thankfully my bikes were untouched).

On the plus side my cyclings coming on fine. Lost plenty of weight over the year. Did L2P, Chiltern 100 and a few others. Went on a velodrome fo the first time. Should start racing early in the New Year

Hopefully the financial situation should improve in 2010 and if this poxy weather ever gets better the cycling improvement can continue

How has it been for you?

Barkiesnake

SH*TE

snakehips

Mustn't grumble in the circumstances.


Snake


My Library

nolf

Eventful year.

Had my first full time job (working for a multi-national financial services company), got my first 1st on an essay, got my first race top 10, then my first race win, started a dissertation, completed my first business report, had my £1.5k bike stolen. 3 crashes, with 1 smashed brake lever and a buckled wheel to show for it.

Plus I learnt the meaning of hard work. A regrettable and unpleasant experience.

deptfordmarmoset

Bigger ups and downs than a mountain goat....

northernneil

built extension on side of house,
got lots of decent rides in
went skiing twice
went to cyprus for a mates wedding
then I got married
then went to paris on honeymoon
so all in all a decent year
all positives

the negatives
drove 32,500 miles
far to much time away midweek staying on my own in travel-lodges
business is really slooooow to the point of I might have to think of something else to do
was hoping to be much fitter financially and pysically

so all in all more ups than downs, flat broke now like but after a year like that what can i expect !

iain_j

Had its ups and downs. Dunno whether there were more downs than ups or if that's just my perception as of late....

On the upside, I finally got out of the dead-end job of the previous 5 years. I actually had the interview in October the year before, but the organisation drags its heels so much it took them til February to get me into the job. But I got there. More pay, better people (apart from 2 of the 9 I work with, shame), better work. And extra annual leave having been in the organisation for 5 years 8)

On the downside.... a friend got cancer, she's beat it now 8) but the news knocked me for six and set me off on a right downer, and dragged up some old anxiety issues which I'd swept under the carpet, six months later still struggling

Cycling-wise, other than a grumbling knee, no injuries to keep me off the bike, and no mechanical maladies, but I've still done nowhere near as much cycling as I'd have hoped for. Did marginally less than last year when I crashed and bust my ribs. Hmm. Try again next year.

Anonymous

Started Sh1t, got worse, went ok a little in the middle, ended sh1t.

shockedsoshocked

Nout special really.

redddraggon

Didn't do any Work at Uni, still graduated, started a PhD, still not done any work.

Porgy

ups and downs.

stopped being homeless at end of 2008 - so that was a vast improvement.

Still maintaining good relations with wife - so that was at least positive.

Became a member of the Environmental Managers' professional body

fanancially - just scraping along the bottom

bike wise - nearly 5000 miles under the belt - a record for me.

It's starting to look like I bottomed out in 2008. I hope so!

Crapaud

NapoleonD wrote:

Started Sh1t, got worse, went ok a little in the middle, ended sh1t.

+1 and I'm anticipating a downturn.

bagpusscp

End of my first year{and the good ladies} of now woking only part time .3 day week each by choice. We have both found the extra time to do the things we want, fantastic.
People at work say don't you get bored :?: I have never had the time to find out 8) I tell them.
Plenty of hobbies is the key.

A man of the cloth once said to me"We will all spend a long time looking at the lid"
That was my que :roll: :idea: :arrow:

Lazarus

Still in work ( didn't think that would be the case last December ) so i can't grumble. also managed to smash a car windscreen with my body in June and managed to somehow walk into the ambulance, so yet again must not grumble .

I'll give 2009 6 out of 10.

But 2010 hopefully will rock

APIII

No pay rise, but thankful to still have a job
Went on a 4 day week for 3 months in the spring, but only took a 10% pay cut
Didn't ride as much as I'd hoped, but did get to ride in France and Majorca
Rode my first cx race


All in all, it could have been a lot worse

iain_j

Grateful for still having a job but the head honcho sent an email today cunningly disguised as a Christmas greeting (more than the last 4 head honcho's ever did ) but with an ominous message that next year will be a challenge with money cuts :?

Splottboy

Broken femur 08 meant a bit of blow, but I got back on and was riding well.
Then 4 different lovely doggies chased me on 4 different occasions - the bane of all postmen - so torn groin/abdomen was the icing on the cake!
So, 2010 gonna be MY YEAR!!!!

CdrJake

Until March 09, I had an appaling year, divorce, my ex wife trying to take me for as much as possible. The same old really

Since March 09, things are looking better, new lady in my life, being given the chace to enjoy the things I like doing rather than what my ex-wife liked doing and the career generally looking healthy.

STEFANOS4784

Mundane.

STEFANOS4784

djbarren wrote:

family complete at 3 kids.:

.......'til she leaves you

bobtbuilder

Mixed year for me:

Made redundant in January.
No work until I got a crappy temp job in late March.
Bought an Orbea Orca in July 8)
Bought a house in August.
Got a proper job that I like in September.
Had shoulder surgery in October.
Need only 54 miles to reach 3,000 in 2009.

I'd prefer a less "interesting" 2010.

teticio

tore an achilles tendon running
tore a hamstring running
fractured a bone in my foot running
thought i'd better take up cycling instead
got a grade 3 ac shoulder separation from fooling around on the mtb

but otherwise it's not been too bad

NWLondoner

A mixed year to be honest. Work was not too bad and as i still have a job in retail in the current climate then can't really grumble.

My cycling improved slightly but did not meet the target that I was aiming for.

I am hoping that 2010 will be a MUCH better year for my cycling and if i achieve some major targets i am dangling a nice new Focus Izalco Pro 2.0 as my reward 8)

BigJimmyB

NOt bad really.

No pay rise, but just got a way better job in the same firm, so that may yield a better salary, although I'm happy to be in a job right now!

BUT, money ain't everything....

After 2 years of trying and tears, Mrs BJB fell pregnant with twins, due in the next few weeks.

My teenage daughters are doing great at school, the eldest getting ready for GCSE's and preparing to go to 6th form. They both make me very proud. 8)

I've had ups and downs on bike this year, done some great rides and some pi$$ poor customer service which kept me from MTB'ing for more than 3 months in all :twisted:

For those whose 2009 wasn't the best, here's to 2010.

Best regards
BJB

johnmclean

Medial ligament injury at the end of 08, and it was 9 months before I could run again, but I could still ride though :-)

Completed the Lake Taupo Challenge, NZ, 160km in 5hrs 35mins. Could have done better, so looking at going back to chase 5hrs.

2000 miles clocked, hoping for 3000 in 10!

All the best for 2010...

shouldbeinbed

financially disasterous, so many things have gone wrong I'm beginning to believe in a divine power and that I've really really p***ed them off.

otherwise still here heath wise, ridden to work everyday, still got a job to ride into and my son has had his 5 years remission assesment and is now under the maxilofacial people rather than the other lot so on that score absolutely brilliant.

deptfordmarmoset

In the post today a letter from the police, putting a bit of justice back into what's been a mostly sh$te year for me, - the bloke who wrote off my car while it was parked off road and then scarpered around last Christmas has just got 6 months' disqualification, a £525 fine, 6 penalty points and £85 costs. Nothing material for me in it. But for once, the right person is paying.

Bet the lying toerag wishes he hadn't scarpered and then lied to the police now.

This has given me a bit of faith back.

rogerthecat

Awesome, lost 4 stone, feeling fitter than I have ever been, moved from Suffolk to Hampshire, 2008 was a bummer after returning from the STAN.

mkirby

2009 was almost as bad as 2005 (which was a very bad year for me)

Spent most of it working for a boss i cant stand in a job i couldnt stand. Manage to get a new job in october, job is mundane but its at least related to my degree and the people are nice. Previous boss is applying to work here too

Still single after too long, had to sell my boat Hardly done any cycling.

2010 is looking to be just as crap with no prospects on the horizon. The only good thing is i might finally be able to move out and not have to put up with the folks shouting at the dogs every 5 mins. But somone will take the glimer of hope away from me no doubt.

I shall take solace in the new bike in the new year.

takethehighroad

Broke up with my girlfriend, had a sh1t time working in Franece, broke my collarbone and had to come back, had a sh1t summer, then got a job, started uni again, and realised that everyone didn;t think i was a tool and that i actually had some friends, and I've ha d whale of a time for the last 4 months or so. Now thinking of starting things up with the ex again...

Stone Glider

Wonderful. A granddaughter arrived in April and she thinks I'm really funny. Another one due to arrive in Australia in May but it is a long way away and i wont' have that sort of link with that one

The wife did the Budget last week and we are solvent! So 2010 looks like another year to enjoy.

Best of luck to everyone for the year to come, you may well need it

Chris.