2025 Races and Goals
Here's what I'm targeting this year.
Every year I pick a couple goals to work towards on my bike. At times, this has just been something to look forward to - a leisurely week of bike touring in France in 2019, for example - while on other occasions this has provided a bit of external motivation to help me stay on my bike as consistently as I really, actually do want to. (It’s sometimes easier to have conviction than to follow through on it.)
Last year, I had two targets: the Michigan Coast to Coast and the Mishigami Challenge. I’d also hoped to take a 3-4 day bikepacking trip this fall, but in part due to a broken hand that didn’t pan out.
Things went pretty well! I placed 40th overall at Michigan Coast to Coast in some truly abysmal conditions; going into the race, I expected a top-50 finish out of myself, and I thought an exceptional day on the bike might net me as high as a 20th place finish. And the Mishigami Challenge went about as well as I could have hoped. Focusing on just a couple key events allowed me to tailor my build to the June-July window for both races and otherwise just enjoy my time on the bike.
Aiming for More in 2025
This year, I’m trying to keep just a couple “A” targets, but add to that a handful of second and third tier goals.
Most of those secondary targets are coming in conjunction with a dive into randonneuring. Although I joined Chicago Randonneurs in 2024, other commitments meant I wasn’t really able to participate in club rides or go for any “rando” achievements. That’s going to change in 2025 as I aim for some personal best single-ride distances and generally try to dive headfirst into club activities.
I also failed to make it out bikepacking last year, excepting a quick overnight gear test shorly before Mishigami. I did get out camping a couple times, but two other attempts at actually going bikepacking last year had to be aborted due to weather and a mechanical, respectively. I fully intend for that to change this year; or at a minimum, to go camping a lot more while attending randonneuring events in Chicago and beyond.
All together, that’s going to make for a pretty busy schedule of more minor events/rides in 2025, even if the main focus is still just on a couple peak races. I’m very excited!
The 2025 Targets
So what are my specific targets for 2025? Let’s get into it.
Key Races
In 2025, I’ll be trying to peak for two races.
July 12 - Mishigami Challenge
I wasn’t sure I’d be back in 2025, but it’s so hard to say no to a race in my own backyard, especially when I think there’s still improvement to be had. I’m incredibly optimistic that this race will continue to grow (both the full Mishigami and the Mini-Gami), and I know that 2025 is going to be the most competitive Mishigami yet. Racing around Lake Michigan is just too much fun.
If you’re interested in participating, registration is open!
October 4 - Arkansas High Country Race
Up and down, up and down, through the Ozark Mountains we go. This race is only slightly shorter than the Mishigami Challenge, but with about three times as much climbing. In my opinion, this is fast growing into one of the most prestigious American bikepacking races, and more big races are something we desperately need stateside when we compare to the plethora of options in Europe. Past winners of this race include Ted King, Meaghan Hackinen, and Abe Kaufman.
I expect to spend plenty of time in the Driftless area of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin this year in preparation, as my climbing legs have atrophied to an uncomfortable degree since living in Austria (where climbing crazy-steep ramps was a matter of course for just about any ride).
Second-Tier Goals
In addition to the races I’m targeting this year, there are a handful of personal achievements I’m targeting.
Nonstop 600k Brevet
With a 40 hour time limit within which to complete a 600k randonneuring brevet, there is plenty of time to ride half the distance, get a decent sleep, and then ride the second half the next day.
But where’s the fun in that?
The longest single ride I’ve ever done was 423k before I DNFed the 2023 Moran 333. Now: that was quite a different course than a predominantly-pavement randonneuring ride would be. The 2023 Moran 333 was chock full of gravel roads, long sandy hike-a-bikes, and rain. If I was trying to equate that to a full road course - which is not a thing you can really do - I’d say it was at least the equivalent of 500k.
That still leaves me 100 kilometers short of a nonstop 600k brevet.
Even though I’m in (or will be in) better shape than I was in 2023, this is going to be a challenge. It’s going to mean more than 24 hours on the bike (and likely closer to 30) with only a few short stops for resupply along the way. It is doable for me, I think, but firmly in the space of “something I’ve never done before.” That’s both daunting and exciting.
My first opportunities to accomplish this goal will come in late May and early June with brevets put on by randonneuring clubs in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio. TBD on which of these I’ll be attending, but I anticipate going for it then.
If that doesn’t pan out, I will have several other opportunities throughout the year. Late June will see the second edition of Chicago Randonneurs’ Spotted Cow in a Barrel 600k; clubs in Michigan and western Illinois will be hosting 600k brevets in August; and Chicago Randonneurs will be partnering with Indiana Randonneurs for a Chicago-Indianapolis-Chicago (or Indianapolis-Chicago-Indianapolis, if that’s your preferred direction) 600k brevet in September.
R-12 Award
This is a randonneuring achievement for completing at least one 200k brevet or established route (called a “permanent”) in twelve consecutive months.
Distance wise, this is well within reach for me. Riding 200 kilometers is never a small thing, but it’s a thing I’ve done dozens of times at this point. The challenge comes with the weather and the consistency.
First, the weather. Living in Chicago, January is not typically a month for outdoor riding. Same goes for December and February. (Usually.) But this award doesn’t care how cold or snowy it is outside. It only cares that you get out and do a ride.
Second, the consistency. The first 2-3 months of the year are usually deep in my offseason, and therefore not times I’m typically stretching out to 200k rides. I’ve also had a habit the last few years of taking significant time off from the bike at the end of my season. To achieve this award, I’ll have to at least limit that.
That’s why this award appeals to me. It’s just a little bit of external motivation to keep exploring on my bike, and not just exploring new routes, but also new ways of enjoying being on my bike. Like the goals above, it’s going to push me to do something new.
ACP Super Randonneur
Another randonneuring achievement! This one is awarded for completing a 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k brevet in a single season. Given my other goals for the year, this also seems pretty easily achievable, but for me the goal of this award isn’t really about the award.
Instead, it’s about connecting deeply with the randonneuring community in my city and beyond. I’m tracking about 90 randonneuring events for 2025 already. Now, there’s no way I’ll make it to even half this number - many are on the same days, among other reasons - but by and large a free weekend in 2025 is a weekend I’ll be looking to join a brevet.
I love the solitude and meditation I find in cycling. I don’t want to give that up. At the same time, I value the cycling community around me, and in particular the other crazy people who choose to be on their bike literally all day when given the option. Chasing this award is about making sure I remind my introverted self to get out and make some connections.
One Other TBA Goal
This is related to a…something…that is to be announced. For now what I’ll say is: this is a goal that I very much want to include in my schedule despite the fact that it’s a tricky fit to my calendar. It won’t quite be an “A” goal for me, but will slot in to a priority between the top races above and the secondary, year-long randonneuring goals. I’m hoping to be able to say more about it soon.
Big Goals? Don’t Be Afraid of Them
There’s always a chance some of this could shift, but these are the targets my eyes are on for 2025. They’re what are helping me sit happily for hours on the indoor trainer through the winter, and what many of my vacation days for the year are planned around.
Do you have a goal for the year? Maybe one you aren’t quite sure you’re ready for?
Go for it! It doesn’t have to go perfectly, it just has to help inspire you.
Choose something that feels like just a little bit of a stretch from where you are right now. My big ticket items over the last several years have been:
2019 - a first-ever bikepacking/touring trip, in the Dordogne Valley of France; about 330km over 7 days; all hotels, no camping, lots of food and wine
2020 - solo hotel touring/bikepacking from Salzburg, Austria, to Berin, Germany; about 1100km over 10 days
2021 - long weekend bikepacking trip in Illinois and Iowa; 3 consecutive days over 100 miles each after only ever doing a 100 mile ride twice before
2022 - Mishigami Challenge, my first-ever bikepacking race and by far the furthest I’d ever attempted to ride
2023 - Big River Gravel Series and Moran 333
2024 - Michigan Coast to Coast and Mishigami Challenge
Whatever your big swing is for the year, get to it! You can do it!
And most of all: Have fun on your bike!
Tim.
For us newbie’s to the idea of taking on something like Mishigami. Can you make a post about your method and tools you use to plan and organize your multiple potential stopping points each day and how you identify all your potential stop/refueling points along the way? Your posts thus far have been very helpful.