General Cycling Discussion - Describe your riding

What best describes your cycling? Pick which closest fits you.

Feel free to elaborate as I am sure there are too many different options to nail them all down in a poll!

I chose "mostly commuting alone" because my rides (or "trips") still feel to me like commuting, even though I no longer am employed by any heartless greedy corporate entity. :dance:

I almost always have a goal in mind, and it often includes shopping or a meal--you might say I do recreational/utilitarian commuting at this point.

I usually ride on weekends, but I see to it that I can log in about two to three hundred Km on those weekend ride, and to top that ride I have to take my son on his bike cruising with me after or before I embark on those weekend rides, And I am with you JonR, have to get away from those greedy corporate work, that I am in, coz' can't get home early on weekdays has to work for these greedy corporate boy, You know what I mean...

That's a tough one to answer but, not by choice, I find myself ust going places alone. Wonder if maybe I showered more. I don't really know anyone who rides like me other than my dedicated riding buddy.
I did have the luxury yesterday of landing in a ride with a about 40 tri-athletes cruising around the city. Some big triathalon is taking place here in Edmonton this weekend. That was very fun but they weren't riding very hard or anything. Their bikes were beautiful (so much carbon, oh god!). I would have loved to see them all suddenly leave me in the dust. And the motorists actually respected them when they took up a whole lane.

Kittyfury,
Yes the World Traithlon was being held there this morning, who won, did you watch it, last week the Toronto Traithlon was held here I was able to watch a part of it, and I can totally agree with you with all those traithlon bikes that was here, these guys have all the gadgets to to simply turn the road to real hot asphalt....

Lately, my rides have been errands around town, go to the grocery store, or to get to my yoga class (yeah, that's new). I haven't rode with hubby this week, but I will tomorrow.

I did do a nice ride on Friday, just because I felt like it! Okay, that exercise thing was a good reason too, and the weather was nice...I can think of more excuses... :D

Mostly commuting alone for me, but I usually extend my commutes by 10-30 kms if I have time, or get up early enough.

I'm attempting to work in more errands, though to avoid using the car, and get more time on the bike.

I try to get out on my days of for solo rides but this summer has been busy and I havn't done too much of that.

And then there are the park rides with my SO, pleasant, low intensity, but at least I'm on the bike!

Originally posted by technogirl
Lately, my rides have been errands around town, go to the grocery store, or to get to my yoga class (yeah, that's new).
Yoga=cool!

I believe yoga classes ought to benefit a cyclist. Let us know...

I took t'ai chi classes for a couple of years, never got beyond the first third of the long form (Yang style) but did benefit a lot from what I learned. People spontaneously told me my posture was better; I felt better in general, etc. Learned one maneuver that would make a good party trick...:)

Now I can hardly remember how to do any of the movements. I guess I can add t'ai chi to my long list of "ought-to"'s.

Most of my riding is either running errands alone or group "Urban Assualt" mountain biking. With some trail rides alone or small groups thrown in.

Yeah, most of my riding is done alone, too. I don't have any friends who feel the same way about hills that I do :( , and I've still got the 'flu. I tried to get rid of it in my usual manner yesterday (i.e. riding until it gets the f**k off message) but my seatpost broke after just 30km :cry: :cry: :cry:

Chris

Is was hard for me to vote. Because I rarely ride alone,but I do sometimes.And I do road riding,commting,and off-road.I haven't don any touring...YET!!! But most of the time I am in groups,my parents don't like me to ride alone.

Originally posted by Chris L
my seatpost broke after just 30km

Chris, I hope you weren't hurt--I've read that seat-post failure is one of the most dangerous things that can happen on a bicycle.

Originally posted by JonR

Chris, I hope you weren't hurt--I've read that seat-post failure is one of the most dangerous things that can happen on a bicycle.

I was OK, albeit a little p*ssed off because it was an absolutely perfect day for a ride. I also realised that pedalling out of the saddle for 30km straight (well, I still had to get home) really sucks.

Chris

In terms of mileage, I do more touring. In terms of frequency, its commuting (to the store, bank, etc. - not work :() and short sightseeing rides. I picked touring because its what I enjoy most.

Originally posted by JonR


Now I can hardly remember how to do any of the movements. I guess I can add t'ai chi to my long list of "ought-to"'s.

You should definitely take it up! You have to tell us about the trick though... :D

It's funny how something, a class, can change your outlook. I mean, geez, I go to class, and become focused, relaxed, and happy. Weird, huh?

Okay, so most people think Yoga is easy. However, it's quite difficult. Can you imagine having your knees on the floor and your back on the ground? Yeah, neither could my knees! :D Ouch! And it's quite funny to see me ride my bike with a yoga mat tied to my rear rack! :)

Yikes, Chris, a broken seat post? I'd be pretty pissed off, too. I guess I need to ad that to my list of stuff to worry about! :) Hey, I'm glad that you're okay.

Almost always ride alone. Occasionally my brother will join me, but not very often. I have a couple of routes about 15 miles long which I do 3 to 5 evenings a week, after work. Go longer on week ends. I love my solitude, so riding alone is fine with me. I guess I am mostly a recreational rider, but also like the health benefits. I'm proud to announce that at 13 pounds lighter and 1.5" less waistline, I am starting to reap some benefits of exercise and and better nutrition.

All of my riding is commuting and errands, which is fine with me. I find it more fun using the bike for transportation for everyday activities than for recreational cycling.

Jonathan

I ride for fun, commuting, fitness, socialization, to take my dog swimmin' and for therapy so I can walk somewhat normally, ( I have bad knees and ankles) and don't go nuts. I ride alone, with friends and with a local club of non racers and with people who ask for coaching. I used raced occasionally and I may do so again when the fat accumulation, from several years of various health problems, recedes. I ride the road almost exclusivley and love to "hammer" when the time is right.

Ride Happy
Pat

I generally ride solo during the week and with others on the week ends. -- I approach my riding "seriously," as if I were in training (six days a week, alternating hill work, sprint interval days, endurance days, etc.) . . . but, I'm too chicken (AND too slow!) to try racing.:blush:

Let's see. I do my daily 5 mile commmute. In summer I try to ride extra miles in the evening, usually on my own, except for a training ride on Wed. with my bike club. The weekends, include alternate Fridays, are for longer rides, a club ride if any look interesting, or if not, on my own.

Originally posted by Chris L
my seatpost broke after just 30km :cry: :cry: :cry:
...
__________________
Wind and hills build character!


Riding without a saddle will really build character (hey, it probably knocks a pound off the bike weight). ;)

Most of my cycling is solitary commuting. I hardly have time left to
do any other kind of riding, though I think when I get the chance
I will, and my commuting over the years has prepared me somewhat for other kinds of riding.

I would love to tour in beautiful scenic places, or learn offroad skills (again, closer to nature). Group rides on the weekends might be really neat, too.

One of these days...it's coming!

Originally posted by bikebrat
I generally ride solo during the week and with others on the week ends. -- I approach my riding "seriously," as if I were in training (six days a week, alternating hill work, sprint interval days, endurance days, etc.) . . . but, I'm too chicken (AND too slow!) to try racing.:blush:

Bikebrat,
You are definitely ready for racing. You train harder than 90% of the people who race. Enter a race as a beginner to get a feel for racing and then move up in class.

Originally posted by Chris L
...my seatpost broke after just 30km :cry: :cry: :cry:

Chris
(That was on July 21.) Chris, did you ever replace the seatpost, or are you still riding standing up??????

Yeah, I replaced it the day it broke. Lucky for me, my LBS is open on Sundays (well, it was sunday Australian time). Even luckier for me, they made the time to put it on free of charge (not that I couldn't have myself, but if you're offered good service, you should accept it :D ).

Chris

In my former life (before wife and kids) I'd bike commute 75 miles a week and still have time for a couple pleasure rides.

These days I'm lucky to get a weekend solo ride or two in. Just too much on my plate. I haven't surfed in over a year and I'll be damed if I give up cycling. Sorry, it struck a nerve.

My trainer is constantly staring at me from the corner of the room although it's just too hot to climb on that thing and sweat!

Originally posted by Greg
These days I'm lucky to get a weekend solo ride or two in. Just too much on my plate. I haven't surfed in over a year and I'll be damed if I give up cycling. Sorry, it struck a nerve.

Greg, from your posts you sound sensible and intelligent, so I hope I don't have to worry about angering you by suggesting that often it's possible to re-adjust priorities in order to do what you really want to do.

A too-full schedule translates more often than not into an unsatisfying life. Especially for one who's aware of what satisfaction can be.

Good advice JonR.

Got another kid due in a month.

The more you add, the less room there is!

Originally posted by Greg
In my former life (before wife and kids) I'd commute 75 miles a week and still have time for a couple pleasure rides.

These days I'm lucky to get a weekend solo ride or two in. Just too much on my plate

Thank you for your input, Greg. You have given me a whole new outlook on my life. Ladies and Gentlemen, don't worry about trying to find me a woman, I retract all those complaints I made about being single in that other thread. I think I'll stay this way for a while yet. :p

Chris

Don't let me twist this thread into a critisism of my marital status.

It's all good. All of it.

My life has changed 1000 ways in the last 15 years and unfortunately many things have been left on the shelf for a while.

Take a simple surfer, add:
- marriage
- mortgage
- credit cards
- stressful job
- kids
- mutual funds in the dumper
- commuting
- etc......
and here I am.

I will get by......

I know it's hard to sort all those things out, and having principles and living up to responsibilities makes it all the harder. I have friends in the same boat and it pains me to see what they have to miss out on, in order to do the right thing in several directions at once. That's why I was hesitant to post what I did earlier.

There may yet come more opportunities for cycling. Who knows!