2008: Highlights and lowlights

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