Safer Cycling Calgary News Blog

At the end of one year and the beginning of a new year, most people take some time to review the year just completed, and make some goals for the new year. I'm no different, but I look at not just my personal life but also my business. Due to the nature of my business, there's a lot of overlap, so it's sometimes difficult for me to separate the two. It's ok if I don't make a clean separation, like for example on my bike computer: I only tracked the total distance my bike travelled this year, and I don't know or care how much of the total was work-related and how much was on my own time. I was sad to see that I only rode 483km this year, but I didn't do any daycamps, only one Advanced course and not nearly as much riding on my personal time. For 2024, I am hoping that my shoulder feels better and I can do more riding outside of work and that I can run at least one daycamp. 

A quick summary of Safer Cycling Calgary's 2023 year:

• 102 successes in First Time courses (combined adult and child; 79% success rate)
  
• 16 on-road course participants, including staff from 2 libraries
• 56 participants in busiest month (June).

2024 is the 13th year of operations for Safer Cycling Calgary and despite much growth and improvement, there are always more changes to explore and goals to reach for. 

Some of the things I hope Safer Cycling Calgary accomplishes this year: 

• run at least one (but hopefully more) week of daycamp,
• 75% or higher success rate in First Time courses (combined),
• average 8+ participants per week for the season.

As personal goals, I hope that I can:

• ride at least 600km during the season,
• change my existing grips for the lock-on grips I bought 2 years ago,
• explore a community that I don't know well by bike,
• make progress on learning how to wheelie on my mountain bike.

There will be some changes to business things, including some prices, in 2024 but the offerings will remain the same. My focus has not changed and the big dreams have not changed.

I hope that your ambitions, goals and hopes for 2024 include learning new cycling skills, improving your cycling skills, or continuing to practice your cycling skills. Don't put pressure on yourself to hit specific targets - they're targets, not requirements! - but do set some goals so you have something to work towards as well as reward yourself for achieving. 

Wishing you a great 2024, and I look forward to helping you reach your cycling-related goals in some way. 

- Melissa Malejko
Owner of Safer Cycling Calgary