New Year Rising: Goals for 2014.

Yes, I realize it’s “bad blog form” to not have a big “goals for the new year” post before the New Year. But we all* know that I’m a bad blogger, so I’m not sweating it too much. And I was too busy to get it done in time, so sue me.

And I realize that my “Open Letter” post was a bit of a downer, so I want to start off the New Year on a positive note. And let me clear up a few things from that post: One, I am not moving from Portland, at least not any time soon. Two, I’ve always considered what I’ve done as “art”, and my decision to become “more of an artist” doesn’t mean that I’m going to pretend to be Andy Warhol or something, and relentlessly pursue money.

2014 will be a year of modest epicness for me. I’m not doing any big tours as my life and work schedule won’t allow. The most I’ll probably get is a week and change. I get two weeks of vacation this year, one of those I hope to use to go out to the Midwest in May for the Lake Pepin Three Speed Tour. I’ve known about this awesome event since 2005, and have been really jonesin’ to go for the past few years. I hope to make this the year that happens.

This leaves one other week for vacation. There’s still loads of areas that I want to explore by bike that are within the Northwest. Southern Oregon holds promise (and I really haven’t explored it yet), and I would love to return to Vancouver Island and do the Islands again. But the dry landscapes of Eastern Oregon are a’callin’, so I probably go there, most likely in September when it won’t be quite as hot.

Of course, I’ll be doing plenty of bike overnights and mini tours, tours 3 or so days in length. This is nothing new, and there are plenty of available options close by. The bigger difference for this year is that I’m going to try to camp even in the winter months.

And what about rides that I’ll lead? Well, there will be plenty of those, of course. But I’m going to try to keep it to a manageable size, as I have only so much time and energy. I want to lead a few more rambles of course. I’ll lead some rides during Pedalpalooza, too, like the Midweek Columbia Gorge Ride. I’d like to revisit the Pedal Potluck Picnic series and do maybe one or two. I hope to teach one Bike Camping and one Bike Touring workshop in spring. I don’t know if I’ll teach these during Pedalpalooza, as I’m getting a little burnt out on them and don’t want to overdo it.

And yes, of course there will be some Three Speed Rides! You can check out the post over on Society of Three Speeds detailing those plans.

And this year marks ten years of Urban Adventure League! Yep, that’s right, I started doing all this stuff back in 2004. I want to revisit a few of the “classic” tours like Alameda Ridge Bike Cruise and South PDX expedition. This will be probably the last time I lead these rides/walks.

In general I want to be realistic in the amount of stuff that I do/lead when it comes to bike stuff. I don’t want to keep on doing things that I don’t have much enthusiasm for anymore. This will be the last year that I help organize Portland’s Tweed Ride, and I’m looking at stepping down from Cycle Wild’s board as well, though I still hope to be involved with the organization.

In the creative realm, of course I’m going to attempt to be a “real” artist. This will mean that I will do my darndest to draw more, and make more stuff. There’s a few publishing projects on the horizon, the big one being the big revision of the Zinester’s Guide to Portland. I also want to work on a new edition of the Cycle Touring Primer and publish a few comix during the course of 2014. I’d also like to do more comix/illustration for publications. I’ve got my foot in the door of one magazine, and I’ll provide more details when it comes along.

Yes, it’s a lot. But if even accomplish some of it, I know 2014 will be a full and fun year.

Now if I could just grow a mustache like Greg, then 2014 will be a banner year!

*All six or seven of you.