2021. Done and dusted. The planet makes another trip around the sun and we wave goodbye to another calendar year. Firstly, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to visit my site and read what I write! It is much appreciated. As the years seem to these days, 2021 has absolutely FLOWN by. I hope you’ve all squeezed as much out of the last twelve months as you possibly could have.

It’s been another good year for me. Saddle time hit at an all-time high and work at FulGaz has been going great guns. The big Ironman acquisition was finally announced after being “in the works” for what seemed like an eternity. Not much has changed for the customer just yet, but big things are coming!

Mike Clucas (FulGaz founder) and I enjoying a ride in Tasmania.

At the beginning of the year, I turned the big FOUR OH. I will admit, it knocked me around mentally for a few weeks, maybe longer. I probably had a couple too many whiskeys at times, and had a number of “wow am I really forty? my god!” mini-breakdown moments, but I’m cool with it now. It’s just a number, right? Cycling, and getting stronger on the bike, really helped. I certainly don’t feel forty, but then again what does forty actually feel like?

I sometimes feel guilty when saying I had a good year. I know many, many people did not, with the virus-that-wont-quit still wreaking havoc. There are many industries that have been absolutely decimated. Tourism was hit hard with the border closures, that’s a huge chunk of the Tasmanian economy and employs of thousands of locals. I’ve been very fortunate. The past two years have been incredibly good to me, from both a personal and professional standpoint. I do not take it for granted.

At the beginning of the year, I set an arbitrary target of 10,000km. I smashed that target earlier in the year without really keeping track, then aimed for 12,000km. I rolled past that marker too, finishing the year with over 13,000km, a new high for me. I doubt that will be repeated. There was over 100,000 metres of elevation gain too! That’s like climbing a vertical staircase all the way into outer space!

2021 TOTALS
Distance: 13,074 km / 8,124 miles
Elevation Gain: 101,730 m / 333,760 ft

On a whim, I decided to tackle the Rapha Festive 500 again. Yes, it’s definitely a little easier here in Australia as it’s mid summer, but it’s still a decent chunk of saddle time to fit in around the Christmas period and work. I wasn’t too fussed either way and went at it without a plan (not recommended). Thankfully the weather was on point, which made for some very enjoyable riding. I flew through the 500km in six days.

So that’s me done, signing over and out from 2021. Once again, a HUGE THANK YOU for visiting my little corner of the internet and taking the time to read, like and comment on my pages. I really, really, do appreciate all of you.

From way down south in Tasmania, wishing you all a fantastic New Year and may 2022 treat you like a protected GC leader on a big budget UCI World Tour team!

As always, keep those pedals turning and your wheels rubber side to the road!