Fifty Plus (50+) - Ride Against Paraskavedekatriaphobia

Paraskavedekatriaphobia, as I'm sure you know, is the fear of Friday the 13th. Millions of people the world over share this fear, most particularly in English speaking countries for some reason.

Wikipedia says, "Strangely, there is evidence to suggest that Friday the 13th is actually unlucky. Psychologists have found that some people are especially likely to have accidents or fall ill on Friday the 13th [citation needed]. This has been attributed to such people feeling a heightened state of anxiety on that day. The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina estimates that in the United States alone, $800 or $900 million is lost in business each Friday the 13th because some people will not travel or go to work. [1]

The date is also well-known in the motorcycle (biker) community: since 1981, motorcycle enthusiasts and vendors gather every Friday the 13th in Port Dover, Ontario, Canada. This tradition started on November 13, 1981 by Chris Simons as a gathering of approximately 25 friends. The event has grown substantially, with an estimated 100,000 people attending in August 2004, as well as music bands, vendors, a bike show, etc."

So, I'm proposing a RAP -- a Ride Against Paraskavedekatriaphobia on Friday, October 13th, by all interested BF 50+ riders.

We could pledge to ride thirteen miles, or any multiple thereof. We could enjoy one piece of pie for each thirteen miles ridden. We can show the world that there's NOTHING to fear about Friday the 13th, but, in fact, it makes for a heck of a good excuse to go for a ride.

So -- who's up for joining me a week from Friday for a special first annual 50+ RAP? :D

What kind of pie?

Friday the 13th is my lucky day! I'll ride.... what kind of pie you having? (I'm hoping for a Blueberry.....)

Count me in...

Oh, why not!

Me too!

My multiple of 13 will probably be 1.15385.

How about Rhubarb Pie?

Either Pecan or Apple, Cranberry, Raisin w/walnuts! and french vanilla ice cream on the side!!!

Sounds good!! Ride and Pie.

Do you have to slice the pie into 13 pieces?

Do you have to slice the pie into 13 pieces?

No, but perhaps you can eat your slice in 13 bites. :)

I'm in.

Friday the 13th- and in particular if it falls in March- is my UN lucky day- WHY? I am hopeless remembering birthdays and it is my eldest daughters birthday on march 13th and she was born on a Friday.
I never seem to get her card in the post in time so have to deliver it by hand, and then have to put up with a slice of her birthday cake. She is on a health food kick and her cakes are terrible.

Mind you- Don't know where I can get pie at 8pm on a ride so might have to make do with a coffee and muffin at Subs.

Right arm - count me in...

Hey Great! Count me in!

Don't forget!

I'll be doing my riding first thing in the morning, because I have to drive to Los Angeles, and won't be able to return until 11 p.m. Ugh.

But the ride will be FUN! :)

40% chance of snow tomorrow, but I'll give it a shot.

being almost over my jetlag, I'll rise before dawn and pedal into the sunrise as part of my effort to help the team overcome transkedapaleria-blah-blah0blah...:D

Why, this is just the excuse I need to take a day off from work tomorrow. I just told my administrative assistant that I won't be in. I'm shooting for 52 miles so I can share pie with my wife and the two friends we're having dinner with later in the evening.

Does it have to be exactly 13 or can I go over...heck, either way I'm in!!:D

It's cold and windy with rain showers here. The only riding I'll be doing today, if any, is on the trainer.

Besides, I'm not superstitious (knock wood, salt over shoulder...).

It's cold and windy with rain showers here. The only riding I'll be doing today, if any, is on the trainer.

Besides, I'm not superstitious (knock wood, salt over shoulder...).

I'm out the door in twenty minutes. 58 degrees so I won't freeze. :D

Missed this post originally, so belatedly, I'm in . . . 13 bites and all!

It's a lovely fall day on the Western Slope and it will be a good excuse to return to the local park trail where yesterday a red fox crossed my path twice and a white pelican was swimming alone on the lake -- DG, is this an omen or something to worry about? :eek:

OK, I rode 13.67 miles this morning. Temperature was 37 degrees with winds 20-30 mph and gusts to 40. Windchill was 28. Some sun but mostly clouds. Great ride! Here's a photo my dad took of me outside the restaurant were he and my mom have breakfast most mornings. Cheers all.

I'm out the door in twenty minutes. 58 degrees so I won't freeze. :D

You are really starting to pi$$ me off!! :D

Missed this post originally, so belatedly, I'm in . . . 13 bites and all!

It's a lovely fall day on the Western Slope and it will be a good excuse to return to the local park trail where yesterday a red fox crossed my path twice and a white pelican was swimming alone on the lake -- DG, is this an omen or something to worry about? :eek:

It is. Do a google for animal symbols. In native American cultures, as well as Celtic and others, animals "appear" in your life for a reason. The fox is often a symbol of cunning and camouflage, but I'm not aware of what the pelican might represent.

Most likely, you're doomed. But save room for pie!

Well, did the ride.

Along the way, I nearly hit a man walking around the front of his parked panel truck. We both said a quick "Whoa!"

A few minutes later, I nearly hit a car turning left in front of me, who decided to slow WAY down quickly and unexpectedly. My fault for entering the intersection too soon.

A while later, I was almost hit by a car easing out of it's parallel parking spot.

Aside from that, it was a glorious, cool, refreshing, energizing and envigorating ride! Now for my second cup of coffee!

So if I'm cunning, I will figure out how to get more than one slice of pie out of this, and like the pelican, my mouth will hold more than my belly can :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

No pie for me! I was going to do 52 miles so I could get a slice of pie for my wife, our two dinner guests, and me. But, I only did 39 miles. So my wife and the guests get the pie, and I must do without.

I'm about set to go out on a 30 mile ride. To celebrate Friday the 13th I'll be wearing black shorts, black socks, black gloves, and this jersey:

http://www.probikekit.com/imgLarge/C9550-A.jpg

But this "black cat" is all good luck!

Couldn't do the ride till after work- Some of us have to. Lights on right from the start and first thing that happened was a car pulled out right in front of me. Few choice words. On the MUP there seemed to be a few dog walkers, so had to keep slowing. Other point I found was the number of complaints about my lights- or rather light. It was dazzling them so changed over to the Cateye EL300 and couldn't see a thing in comparison.The cateye is the spare lamp. Other thing I noticed was taht I needed the helmet lamp that I did not bother putting on the bike as I was only planning on 26 miles-2x12 + a bit. On those dark trails I need the helmet light- if only to see the switches on the lamp(s). Local cafes are not open at this time of year so planned on stopping at Subs- They were packed out so straight back on the bike and ride home. Made the diversion to put the extra couple of miles in and finished up with 26 miles on the bike. No problems other than a few idiot drivers on the road, and the fact that Friday night is not the time to go to a seaside town with all the youngsters out to go to the clubs. Too many people- young people- in large crowds that wander all over the road- that is if the cars were not trying to get a bit too close to me.

Think I'll start going offroad for my night rides again. Only the wild life to get me worried up on the hills.

Post Script- Just got moaned at. Went to the fridge and there was a slice of apple strudel- or rather two- NOne there now so that was why I got moaned at. But as I told the wife- they were very small pieces. And they were nice.

Had to wait around all day for a utility man to come. I had hoped he would come early as I planned to ride 39 miles.

So I had to settle for a 13 mile ride, which I finished during the last 13 minutes of daylight. This put me at 2213 miles for the year. :D Oh, and I climbed in elevation 130 feet from my house to the top of a hill which is 1300 feet above sea level. I completed my Ride Against Paraskavedekatriaphobia on my vintage Collegiate, a '66 model, along 6 different roads. And BTW, it was 39 degrees when I returned home.

Interestingly, nothing unusual happened along the way. ;)

Perhaps I have tempted fate...:eek:

http://www.pacfit.com/crazy.bmp

Sorry DG. I set out this morning to vary my exercise route a little. Of course pitch dark 45 degree temp, still air. By the time I got home it was at 15.87. Just my bad luck!
And No Pie In My Fridge!! stapfam I'm jealous!

OKay, I rode 13 miles to honor Friday the 13th and then stopped.

Then I rode 9 miles specifically to honor Friday the 9th.

And nothing bad happened.

But the wife and I did share a Panera's Chicken ?Fragione? hot Panini sandwich during the ride. And two apples. And it was very good.

I got my ride in. 13 miles, multiplied by 8.786 = 114 miles. It was a personal challenge. I will do a separate post of the ride. But Friday the 13th was a great day. I had absolutely no problems.

I saw this challenge late last night. It was a great Fall day today, sunny & 67F and I finished early with staining shingles on the South side of our house so I changed, pumped my tires & set off out South Bay Rd to the Chehalis Western trail. Only saw 4 other cyclists and a few walkers, most had dogs both on & off leash. Lots of dogs about but I had no problems & wildlife was scarce, only saw a few squirrels & rabbits. Probably because of all the dogs! Forgot to watch the miles so after I left the trail, found some pie (Raspberry cream!) and rode home I had done 18 miles. What's next? Pumpkin pie on halloween???

Honorary participants...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2006/oct06/oct13two_up_tt/uecvtt

My favorite wife & I did a 14-mile route through our county at the pace she's been riding since I left for Germany. 1 hr 9 minutes, 575 calories, HR avg 112, max 130. A very mild ride for me but this morning she complained that she ached all over.

Riding this route that we do 3 - 4 times/week is a wonderful sense of being back home. My rides in Germany were always along paths and trails with other bike traffic, walkers, walkers with dogs, walkers with strollers. There was never more than a mile's ride without having to slow to pass someone else on the MUP. In constract, the Brazos county roads allow a refreshing slip into that state of pedaling where the miles flow by, observations of wildlife are possible & you never need to ring the bell to pass someone.

There were at least a half dozen other cyclists out in 'our' network - the road cyclists were invariably polite and acknowledged me with a dip of the head and a hello. Not sure why such polite protocol has begun in the past month but I like it.

Just as we pulled up to the RR crossing 1/2 mile from home a slow freight train crossed. We stood at the crossing while this s l o w train slowly got up to speed so that the light had disappeared, the streetlamps were on and we had to ride carefully on that last half mile. I suppose that was the unlucky part of Friday the 13th but knowing that so many of you were also pedaling safely, I was filled with the confidence to overcome superstition and make it home safely.

There was no pie - only the typical Friday night pizza so I had to slices of cheese pizza warmed in the microwave and pretended that better days full of blueberry pie are just over the horizon...:)

I'm ready for Thanksgiving and PUMPKIN PIE! Is that Friday, Nov. 24th over sometime over the weekend? How many miles are appropriate?

Started the ride, but failed to finish. As I neared the mid-point of a 26-mile ride I started hearing a strange clunk and just as I hit the 13-mile point of my ride the bottom bracket gave out. :(

Fortunately my wife insisted I take the cell phone so I was able to call for a rescue.

So now I'm without a ride. My new bike is won't be in until the end of October and I'm debating whether i want to tackle the repair work myself or take it to the LBS.

I'm not superstitious, but . . .:eek:

Started the ride, but failed to finish. As I neared the mid-point of a 26-mile ride I started hearing a strange clunk and just as I hit the 13-mile point of my ride the bottom bracket gave out. :(

Fortunately my wife insisted I take the cell phone so I was able to call for a rescue.

So now I'm without a ride. My new bike is won't be in until the end of October and I'm debating whether i want to tackle the repair work myself or take it to the LBS.

I'm not superstitious, but . . .:eek:

Whoa....

Started the ride, but failed to finish. As I neared the mid-point of a 26-mile ride I started hearing a strange clunk and just as I hit the 13-mile point of my ride the bottom bracket gave out. :(

Fortunately my wife insisted I take the cell phone so I was able to call for a rescue.

So now I'm without a ride. My new bike is won't be in until the end of October and I'm debating whether i want to tackle the repair work myself or take it to the LBS.

I'm not superstitious, but . . .:eek:

Borrow or beg the tools if you don't have them and get the damaged one out and get one from the LBS. It'll get you riding quicker than waiting for the new bike, and you will have to get it repaired in any case so the "Spare Bike" is ridable.

By the way- I hate new bikes. All those adjustments to make- all the bits having the "Newness" wearing off them and all those bearings to loosen up. Tell you what- I have a spare run in bike at home so I'll swop for the new Bike. What is it by the way?

Now I'm getting nervous --
The new bike is a Trek 7.6 FX [7+6=13:eek: ]
And it is likely to be Halloween when it arrives! :D

I've decided this a great time to improve the old mountain bike with a new crank, so that the "back-up" bike is better off-road than it has been . . . or maybe I should just swop with stapfam -- and get a trip to England out of all this!