2008: Highlights and lowlights
Our US editor ponders the year that was
Published:
This past year was one of the more exciting and dynamic I’ve had in the past 40 or so (can’t seem to remember the first two), so I thought it best to share the highlights and lowlights from my perch in (nearly) always sunny Mountain View, California. Apologies to anyone offended by that last comment – come visit if you’d like!
So much happened in the bike world, and it seems time flies by faster the older we get. I’ve had my share of excitement both on and off the bike, so I’ve broken out in the year in a few different categories, starting with general highlights and lowlights, followed by the products I liked best and interviews I enjoyed most.
Thanks as always for making BikeRadar.com your place to read, learn, laugh and sometimes cry. Happy New Year’s!
Highlights

Bike camping with the Rivendell gang http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/first-ride-rivendell-bombadil-19039
Road riding with Greg LeMond http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/the-world-of-greg-lemond-18686
Reading son Henri’s first blog http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/just-ride-17579
Watching Tom Boonen win his second Paris-Roubaix http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/tom-boonen-wins-his-second-paris-roubaix-15790
Eddy Merckx http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/greek-warriors-18126
Establishing an after-school Earn-A-Bike program in East Palo Alto http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/learning-to-earn-16540
Helping an 11-year-old find the ideal bike http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/stepping-up-to-the-big-leagues-16084
Riding with my kids and their friends http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/young-guns-15789
Lowlights

Dealing with dentists http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/a-kick-in-the-teeth-19130
Getting my first moving violation ticket for rolling through a stop sign http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/pie-plates-and-motorcycle-cops-19577
Trek and Greg LeMond duking it out in the courts http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/he-said-she-said-trek-greg-and-lance-15717
Tom Boonen’s cocaine bust http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/the-shame-of-it-all-16963
Riccardo Riccò’s Tour de France CERA/EPO bust http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/the-juice-weasel-17631
The passing of Sheldon Brown http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/like-a-monkey-handling-a-peanut-14646
Occasional saddle discomfort http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/level-that-saddle-son-18897
Best Products

Guru Geneo road bike http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/geneo-08-32017
Swobo Novak commuter bike http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/urban/product/novak-31336
Cannondale SuperSix road bike http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/supersix-1-double-us-2008-31766
Look 986 carbon hardtail mountain bike http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/986-32323
Best Interviews

Robert Egger, Specialized http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/interview-specialized-designer-robert-egger-18508
Jim Felt, Felt Bikes http://www.bikeradar.com/beginners/news/article/interview-jim-felt-aerodynamic-guru-17960
Gary Erickson, ClifBar http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/interview-clifbars-gary-erickson-18250
Sycip Brothers http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/interview-sycip-bicycles-16352
Lance Armstrong http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/tour08/?id=/features/2008/lance_armstrong_jul08
Matt Fritzinger, NorCal High School Racing League http://www.bikeradar.com/racing/article/interview-matt-fritzinger-norcal-high-school-racing-19144