Sunday, February 14, 2010

The Adventure Ends



It's been two years since I started this blog and I'm throwing in the towel.

Some of the things I set-out to do have been achieved; 
  • I've overcome my writing-shyness and now feel comfortable talking in a one-way conversation to perfect strangers.
  • I've shown-off some of the places I ride and the city I love to people around the world. 
  • I've met some nice genuine people online with common interests. 
  • It's ended up as a bit of a diary of my cycling life and is interesting (to me at least) to look back on and see what I got up to.
But I've failed in other ways;
  • My writing hasn't improved, and that was one of my main objectives.
  • I've fallen into the trap of feeling a bit full of myself at times and trying to make my life sound more interesting than it really is. There's a certain amount of ego involved in writing a "solo" blog and I'm not entirely comfortable with that. 
  • My wife resents the time I spend on it and friends and work colleagues just think I'm stupid.
  • Hardly anyone reads it and fewer comment.
Although I plan to spend less time in front of the computer I'm starting a community cycling blog for my neighborhood. There is nothing out there for everyday cyclists, it's all about road racing, mountainbiking and BMX. Of course I may be the only one interested in nurturing bike culture around here, we will see.

 

Thank you to everyone who has stopped by and left a comment or two, I really appreciated it. I will not be deleting the blog and if I do something interesting worth sharing there may be a post or two in the future.

And lastly a big thank you to Doug for encouraging me to start this blog in the first place and leaving the first comment. His cycle commuting has been an inspiration and taken me from a once a week "toe in the water" to riding every day without even thinking of taking the car. 




Keep the rubber-side down,
- Antoine

10 comments:

Joboo said...

Peace!!!!!!

Joboo

Doug said...

Thanks for sharing Antoine. I've enjoyed reading every entry. My own list of achievements and failures for my blog would definitely mirror your list.

Most of all I really enjoy your sense of humor. Thanks for the laughs.

cyclotourist said...

Thanks for sharing your antipodean electrons with us here in the North! I think it was a fine and worthy endeavor.

coastkid said...

iv enjoyed your blog antoine, ive enjoyed your tails from the other side of the world and hope you still post when you can an update on life down under...
best of luck with the new adventure
stay safe and have fun...bruce

the Scarlet Manuka said...

Farewell, and thanks for some interesting posts. Funny how we feel such expectation to service a blog. I'm sure we'll bump into each other again somewhere, in this small (but super!) city.

Craigers said...

Thank You Antoine for sharing your beautiful country with all of us via two wheels. I am guilty of being a regular reader, but part time commenter. All the best to you. Peace Brother.

tswg said...

I also followed but didn't comment. Most of my comments are technical questions that I post on your flickr shots. Keep em' coming.

tswg

Antoine said...

Thanks everyone, I'm missing it already.

I'll try to retain that sense of humour Doug, I need it to get through a 12hr day at work without turning postal.

@Mundo Rider: "expectation to service a blog", that's not the half of it. I actually feel guilty when I haven't read or commented on other people's blogs!

@Bruce: I went for a nice ride last week with a young guy from Christchurch that contacted me via Flickr. He just built up NZ Pug #8 with a 9-speed Alfine IGH. I didn't take any photos but he was riding a borrowed MTB anyway. I was literally twice his age and managed to keep up. Old guys rule!

- Antoine

Pondero said...

Alas, with blog suspension, it appears I'm too late to this party. I just figured out that you are the owner of the very nicely built cross check I've seen in my photo hunts.

Best wishes on the new project!

Mel said...

Good luck on your future endeavours, Antoine. I've enjoyed reading your blog and have found inspiration here.
Thanks. :)