Fifty Plus (50+) - Do you get cranky when you don't get any?

Did I get your attention? What I'm talking about here is cycling. For some reason, and this year especially, if I don't get out on my bike, I'm just not right with the world. After about 3 or 4 days of abstenance, I'm hard to live with, don't sleep well, and generally not a happy camper. Do you live to ride? Are you addicted?

Odd the timing of your post. Just finished 15 miles, 37degrees F, 29 WC. Just 'HAD to' cause I'm leaving for a business trip tomorrow for next 2 weeks. Philippines, they're having trouble with rebels (not the US southern kind, these boys are Mean!) so will be escorted by armed guard when going anywere close to were I visit. My main concern - How am I going to find a place (actually time) to ride? (Honest) Weekend will be spent in a much safer area so I should find something.

YES! And I'm cranky this morning. My wife doesn't ride. So, the trade off for the time I spend away from her is that I spend Saturday mornings with her around the house. Today, we worked on raised beds for our vegetable garden. Not a bad way to spend the time, but not cycling. Wouldn't you know it, just as I got the last of the tools put away, the rain starts. I'm real cranky right now. I hate time spent on the trainer, and that's where I'll be for an hour this afternoon.

Odd the timing of your post. Just finished 15 miles, 37degrees F, 29 WC. Just 'HAD to' cause I'm leaving for a business trip tomorrow for next 2 weeks. Philippines, they're having trouble with rebels (not the US southern kind, these boys are Mean!) so will be escorted by armed guard when going anywere close to were I visit. My main concern - How am I going to find a place (actually time) to ride? (Honest) Weekend will be spent in a much safer area so I should find something.


Good grief, man. Nothing I've got planned that will keep me off the bike is anywhere near as serious as this! I'm going to stop being cranky right now. I sure do hope you remain safe! Post when you get back and let us know how it went.

My answer is yes, in either context. Thank God I have a bike which I can ride fairly easily year round. At least I can't blame any lingering crankiness on a lack of cycling! ;)

I had to go bikefree for two weeks. Rear wheel let go of three spokes. New wheel under warranty arrives, need freewheel tool. Call one bike shop they sound confused when I ask for Park Tool FR1. Walk in other bike shop and counter boy insists I need the FR5. Out of desperation, I take the FR5, it doesn't work. I order FR1, spoke wrench and new Shimano freewheel from Harris Cyclery. Things start to get better.

Parts arrive Thursday, no time to fix bike for Friday commute. Fixed bike today. It is like a nightmare has finally ended. New wheel and freewheel make the bike feel totally different. The freewheel has higher gears than the original and should make my commute much faster. I was getting a little short tempered, cranky and contemplating violence til today.

While I'm not 50+, just about 40, I totally know what you mean about getting cranky if off my bike. If I'm off for whatever reason my moods totally seem to change after a few days. A good ride can completely clear my head and equalize whatever the hell it is in my head that affects mood. I just call it getting my ya-yas out. :)

Come home safe Baron, are you going to the south?

Did I get your attention? What I'm talking about here is cycling. For some reason, and this year especially, if I don't get out on my bike, I'm just not right with the world. After about 3 or 4 days of abstenance, I'm hard to live with, don't sleep well, and generally not a happy camper. Do you live to ride? Are you addicted?

Getting a bit of a chore at present- riding I mean. I have only two months to find peak fitness, so every ride is taken with a great deal of effort. No time to relax and look at the scenery and as we are in training- while the group collects we push on and take a longer loop to the next meeting point. Then this thing called house chores is getting in the way aswell. After 3 months of cold weather, the temp is finally something respectable but it is raining. Thank goodness the clocks go forward tonight over here, so I can get the longer evenings to do some gardening. Hold on though- that means I have to get up at 5AM from now on- Tomorrows ride might be late in starting.

I don't live to ride as I think I am getting enough of that at present, but I just wish I could get a ride in where I don't have to do 50 miles nonstop- (Missing the breakfast and the pies) or don't have to do it at maximum effort for 2 hours at a time. Roll on summer where the rides get easier.

Come home safe Baron, are you going to the south?

Thanks to you both for caring, Yep- but not the island of Mindango. That's the hot spot.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2817729.stm
Going to Cebu actually. Much safer, I'll be about 45 minute drive from the major resort area (staying there over the weekend :D ). Been a few local rebels killed though last few weeks. Kinda reminds me of 69-70 - first trip to the big hurt (vietnam).
This ole boy knows how to survive. I'll be back and post how the ride went.

Odd the timing of your post. Just finished 15 miles, 37degrees F, 29 WC. Just 'HAD to' cause I'm leaving for a business trip tomorrow for next 2 weeks. Philippines, they're having trouble with rebels (not the US southern kind, these boys are Mean!) so will be escorted by armed guard when going anywere close to were I visit. My main concern - How am I going to find a place (actually time) to ride? (Honest) Weekend will be spent in a much safer area so I should find something.

I was on a ride a couple of weeks ago with a guy who grew up in Manila. He said that, when he was a youngster, there was a group of fast riders that trained on fixed wheel bikes around Manila. He said they are what really got him interested in riding as a sport.

My wife and I both got rid of our crankiness this morning - no, not what you think either.

Got her out on the bike for 10 miles with a group (Club Hypoxia) from BikeJournals.com. They went ahead and did 40 miles while we turned back.

Right now she is still recovering from Shingles, a pulled rib, 3 sinus infections, so a 10 miler was real good for her. She had a blast, we had lunch at Confluence Park in downtown Denver along with about a thousand other bicyclers who frequent the area. It was fun. Beautiful 60F 'ish day.

My wife is from the Philipines and so now I have family there all over it seems, Cebu is beautiful from what I hear. The rebels have certainly been more active in the past few years it seems. We're to go over in '07 for a visit. Maybe if the rebels went for a goodo ride they mightn't be so cranky? :rolleyes:

Did I get your attention? What I'm talking about here is cycling. For some reason, and this year especially, if I don't get out on my bike, I'm just not right with the world. After about 3 or 4 days of abstenance, I'm hard to live with, don't sleep well, and generally not a happy camper. Do you live to ride? Are you addicted?

I'm definitely addicted. I've gotten to where I can't sit still in late-afternoon meetings--I want to go outside and play!

Even weirder: I've started having bike fantasies. I'll be right in the middle of some other kind of daydream, and my mind will wander, and the next thing I know I'll be thinking about riding. I must be getting old!

Odd the timing of your post. Just finished 15 miles, 37degrees F, 29 WC. Just 'HAD to' cause I'm leaving for a business trip tomorrow for next 2 weeks.

Warmed up to 42, 31WC: went for a SECOND ride. Same distance, slightly faster.
Plane leaves early a.m. :D

My wife thought I started this thread from title, think what you will. I was off yesterday, but it only got to 38F. The wind was over 10 mph. I just can't handle it below 40F. And boy am I getting cranky. Tomorrow I get done at 4 and it's supposed to be in the upper 40s. YES!!!! :D
This winter has been too long. :mad:

Yes, and yes. It's the endorphines.

I tore my ACL/MCL on Jan 11. No skiing, biking, hiking etc. I'm keeping busy riding the trainer and doing Pt. I had ACL sugery on Feb 28. OS says I can start riding around the neighborhood but no serious riding until early June.

Kathi

Yea, in fact right now I'm kinda double cranky. After not riding for two weeks due the weather it looked like today was finally going to good enough to ride. Soooo, what happens, Thursday I come down with a cold that by Friday turns into a sinus and respitory infection. So here I sit, indoors, definately cranky..:(

I tore my ACL/MCL on Jan 11. No skiing, biking, hiking etc. I'm keeping busy riding the trainer and doing Pt. I had ACL sugery on Feb 28. OS says I can start riding around the neighborhood but no serious riding until early June.

Kathi

:cry:

So sorry! How did you do that?

:cry:

So sorry! How did you do that?


Well, DnvrFox it was quite a silly accident. I was sking to the SuperB lift at Copper and I was looking for my group. I didn't see the closed rope and ran into it. It was like a bungy cord and catapulated me backwards. My skis held their edges and I didn't stop until my legs could go no farther. I couldn't stand up or release my bindings. Ski Patrol had to pick me up to get me off the skis. I went to the Copper clinic and they diagnosed the MCL/ACL tear.

I have a very good ortho and a good pt, who keeps me very busy exercising.

The accident happened on ski day 20 so I still had a good season.

Kathi

:cry:

So sorry! How did you do that?


Well, DnvrFox it was quite a silly accident. I was sking to the SuperB lift at Copper and I was looking for my group. I didn't see the closed rope and ran into it. It was like a bungy cord and catapulated me backwards. My skis held their edges and I didn't stop until my legs could go no farther. I couldn't stand up or release my bindings. Ski Patrol had to pick me up to get me off the skis. I went to the Copper clinic and they diagnosed the MCL/ACL tear.

I have a very good ortho and a good pt, who keeps me very busy exercising.

The accident happened on ski day 20 so I still had a good season.

Kathi

After about 3 or 4 days of abstenance, I'm hard to live with, don't sleep well, and generally not a happy camper. Do you live to ride? Are you addicted?

Yes! I'd never make 3 days without imploding. I get cranky, stiff and sore, and I know that Linda can't stand being around me :)

So, yeah, I guess I'm addicted.

After a loooong winter, the weather is finally starting to turn the corner away from winter and maybe towards spring. Over the last 4 days, Linda and I have gotten out each day, logging around 90 miles. She tells me that the last week that we logged 100 miles was last October :(

And, today was the first day we've seen the sun in over a week.

C'mon spring!

Steve

Oh yeah......my wife even pushes me to get on the bike if I get that way.

I just went an entire week without riding, only the second time that's happened since I started riding a year and a half ago.

First, it was 11 inches of rain on the weekend, Monday was work followed by a concealed weapon license renewal class, then Tuesday morning, a falling 100 pound piece of sheet metal managed to miss all of the steel on my left boot (steel toe and metatarsal guard) and crush my little toe. It was Friday before I felt bold enough to ride, a full week since I last rode.

Rainbow colored toe and all, it was nice to get back on the bike.

I'll be back and post how the ride went.

Made it back no trouble but guards wouldn't allow any bike trips. Did put 120 miles plus (52 one day) on a trainer - very sophisticaed equipment in nicer resort. Saw some roadbikes with folks in nice jerseys, helmets. But mostly hybrids are used. Only a few of the engineers I worked with ever biked. Basketball was the big sport. Most said smog was too unhealthy. Rebels not the problem said guards, muslims kidnapping americans asking for ransom the main fear.
Also - guards advised not taking pictures (in public) - shows you are an ameatuer and an easy target.
After I get oover this jetlag I'll be back on the roads here.

I wouldn't know. I havent missed more than 3 days since getting hit by a golf ball in March of last year. Retirement is great I highly recommend it !

I haven't been on my bike for one whole week now! I've been sick, and unfortunately it's been an upper respiratory thing with a hacking cough. Does anyone have a suggestion for getting back on the bike? What can I expect?

I've had the same thing. Just go ride. Go as far as you can and then turn around and go home. For me that was 2 miles before I couldn't breathe anymore. The next night was a little better and the third time out I did 10 miles and was OK while riding but nearly hacked up a lung in the garage afterward.

The thing that has seemed to help me is an old fashion vaporizer with Vicks in it. The cough is much looser than it was a few days ago.

It better go away fast. I start vacation tommorrow and have a metric planned for mid-week.

YES. More that 2-3 days of my cycle I become a real bear. Just ask my wife.:) :)

After riding home I write in my bike journal and I keep my bike books near the bed. Everyday that I am not on the bike I am miserable. I hate looking for a second job because it will interfere with my bike time.

+ 1

Year round in San Diego? Won't just about any bike handle that duty?
I'm enjoying the three months of nice weather we get in Wisconsin, although it's going to be 97 on Sunday - I'll just have to get out early. Come fall, I'll start posting questions about indoor trainers - I used to run through the winters, but not sure whether I'll ger up to ride in the snow and ice.