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Man, I feel old. My B-day was Wednesday and I didn't get to ride until today. I chose a route I have not taken before and may not again. I had to get 39 miles in and I wanted a change of scenery. How it happened is beyond me but the stupid route was all up hill. Next time I will ride it backwards and not have to pedal. There was one hill I was in the lowest gear and doing a small wheely with every stroke. I did manage to maintain 35mph for a mile without turning the pedals. I think that was the only downhill I had. I guess it was the hills but I hurt more now than I have in a while and I do 30 and 40 milers on the weekends alot. Maybe it was just mental.
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...There was one hill I was in the lowest gear and doing a small wheely with every stroke...
Spin man, spin :)
...and well done - how many of your peers could do/say the same?
First off, GREAT JOB!!!!! Keep up the good work and it will get easier.
I have a hill that my wife called heart attack hill when we walked it before starting to ride bicycles again. When I started riding down there, it was a hill that I would hit the bottom at about 30mph and be lucky to make it to the top without my heart rate monitor beeping at me, because I was near my max heart rate, and I would be in the lowest gear by half way up and that last 50 yards were a small wheelie when trying to make it. We were there for a long weekend this summer, and my goal was to ride that area at least three times and to make that hill without popping a wheelie with each pedal stroke. I finally did it, but it was not easy. I had to change my shifting habits and shift a little earlier each time and get into the small front quicker, even though that is not the quickest change to make on a bike.
I then borrowed my friends mountain bike as he seemed to have no problems, but he had three up front instead of me with only two. I made it much easier on his bike because of the gearing of his mountain bike compared to my road bike.
Spin man, spin :)
...and well done - how many of your peers could do/say the same?
How can you spin if you are already in the lowest gear?
I need a mtb for some of my rides. The lower gears and the 26" would help.
I think it is a timing thing with shift gears sooner to keep the speed up and the cadence up. Once you get better at shifting points, it may help you with that. It seemed to help me, but I still have no choice on some hills but to mash with my current gearing.
How can you spin if you are already in the lowest gear?
I need a mtb for some of my rides. The lower gears and the 26" would help.
fair enough - I meant smooth your pedal stroke out. That should help prevent lifting the front wheel. Lower gears will make it easier to increase your cadence (the other spinning :D ) and take some pressure off your knees. The wheel size change - not so much.
. There was one hill I was in the lowest gear and doing a small wheely with every stroke.
When I ride something steep, I like to lay ontop of my ride. Helps eliminate the loss of traction.
Congrats on the ride. I have the same goal this year - 40 when 40. I have until May (and I'll be out of town for my b'day, but will get out that weekend).
Looking back the hill was steep enough and at the end of a slight incline leading up to it that I should have done my knees a favor and just walked up it. I am stubborn and I haven't had to stop and walk in over 2 years, I am paying for it today though.
Thanks all for the comments.
b_young,
Do you play dobro, or is that just a picture you like?
I am not sure if you can call what I do to it playing yet? I pick at it some though. I bought a Beard kit a couple of years ago but I haven't really learned it yet. One of my friends is an excellent musician, and he inspired me but life happens and eventually I will learn how to play it. For now I just pick it up every now and then and try to run some scales as well as some songs out of a do it yourself type book.
Do you play?
One of my other favorite sites which I haven't been on in a while is Reso-nation.org.
I am a bass player in a rock-n-roll band that plays occasionally for fun, but played for 15 years and opened up for bands like Steppenwolf, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Black Oak Arkansas and Rick Derringer. I played rhythm guitar in another band before that, but I was not a solo artist at all and decided to go back to playing bass. Our guitar player, is also a dobro player, a mandolin player, piano, little fiddle, little banjo. So, I want to learn the banjo again and start playing with him in a blue-grass band. There are some amazing musicians in our area, but they are going to remain complete unknowns as they only do it for fun. My neighbor is learning the mandolin, and wants me to get back into guitar or banjo, so I am really thinking about it. I just don't know where I will fit it all in time wise.
Good luck in learning and playing the dobro. It is a great sounding instrument that very few people play and even fewer play well.
How can you spin if you are already in the lowest gear?
I need a mtb for some of my rides. The lower gears and the 26" would help.
Do you have a triple crank? If not, consider it. You'll probably need to change both derailleurs as well (and the chain?) I do a lot of fully-loaded tours, so a triple is vital to be able to pedal the load up hills. I don't use my granny gear much when I'm riding locally (unloaded) but there are a couple of hills around where I do. It's nice to have it in reserve!
Do you have a triple crank? If not, consider it. You'll probably need to change both derailleurs as well (and the chain?) I do a lot of fully-loaded tours, so a triple is vital to be able to pedal the load up hills. I don't use my granny gear much when I'm riding locally (unloaded) but there are a couple of hills around where I do. It's nice to have it in reserve!
I have a Specialized Sirrus, it does have a triple crank. There have only been 3-4 times I have been in the lowest gear. It was just extremely steep. Luckily, only for a short time. I thought about stopping and walking but I was scared I would not be able to unclip before I fell over. Knock on wood but I haven't taken a fall because of my shoes yet and I have had them for a year and a little over 2000 miles.
I came close a lot. I haven't done any tours yet. The most I have rode was 110 in a day, that was another time I was in the lowest gear about 55 miles into it. The majority of my riding is to work. 21 mile round trip and I feel like I am doing a half loaded tour. Clothes, lunch, laptop...around 20 to 30lbs depending on the day. I am wanting a new bike so I don't want to put anymore into this one. But it still will be 6 months or more before I can upgrade. I am thinking about a Tricross Comp.
Flip,
I feel as though I am in the presence of greatness. That is some company you keep. WOW!:eek: What band are you with? Care to share any music files?
My friend I refered to earlier, I have no doubt could be great. He can play anything with strings other than a piano. He has around 30 guitars. Dobros (square and round neck), mandolins, banjos, lap steel and the normal Taylors, Martins... and he can play them well. He loves playing Doc Watson style, playing base with his thumb and rythm with his other fingers. He doesn't realize how good he is. He plays in a band with some guys at work. Mainly just local and only raise enough to buy more equipment. The one thing that there band needs most is a base player. They have a few guys that play base, but a base player that knows what they are doing can make an enormous difference. Especially in Bluegrass. They play mostly country, some classic rock and some Bluegrass. So, we are hiring operators at the nuke plant, which is where we work. If you ever consider a move south, we could get you a job and a band.;):D
We are moving south, but it won't be for about 2 years and 4 months at a minimum. Keep me in mind though!!!!
Our band is a nothing garage band. Our guitar player has done the North American tour thing with a band that was called Sweet Sorrow back in the late 80's and early 90's. Now he can play any music around, sort of like your friend. We only have one song that we ever recorded as Code Blue, and it is not of very good quality, because we mastered it to tape, and then we lost the 8 track to damage as soon as we did our first master that wasn't what we wanted, but we had no choice.
I will see if I can dig up any of his bluegrass stuff, and then convert it to MP3 and then we can talk about emailing the files, or I can post them to a web site for you to pull them down.
Riding 39 miles on your birthday is pretty good, but I have to tell you about my buddy Joe. He did 80 miles on his 80th birthday, which was a couple years ago. I don't think he was able to do 81 and 82 though his age was catching up with him and all he tried was half his age.
I bet his goal is to ride 100 on his 100th ;)Riding 39 miles on your birthday is pretty good, but I have to tell you about my buddy Joe. He did 80 miles on his 80th birthday, which was a couple years ago. I don't think he was able to do 81 and 82 though his age was catching up with him and all he tried was half his age.
One of the guys I ride with is about to turn 67, he just retired again so I guess that would be re-retired. We do 30's and 40's at least once a month and he jogs daily. He thinks he will have trouble with his and I laughed at him. He is going to start riding 3-5 days a week with his wife after a jog.
I hope I am still just kick'n at 80, the doc said I should have a heart attack somewhere between 50 and 70 which is why I started riding again 3 years ago. I am hoping to push it back a little more.
We are moving south, but it won't be for about 2 years and 4 months at a minimum. Keep me in mind though!!!!
Our band is a nothing garage band. Our guitar player has done the North American tour thing with a band that was called Sweet Sorrow back in the late 80's and early 90's. Now he can play any music around, sort of like your friend. We only have one song that we ever recorded as Code Blue, and it is not of very good quality, because we mastered it to tape, and then we lost the 8 track to damage as soon as we did our first master that wasn't what we wanted, but we had no choice.
I will see if I can dig up any of his bluegrass stuff, and then convert it to MP3 and then we can talk about emailing the files, or I can post them to a web site for you to pull them down.
I'd like to hear it. PM me when you get it. Where are you moving to?
We have another bluegrass band here called Exit 81. Which is one of the Russellville exits off of I-40. They are pretty good, check out there website. Bluegrass is all over here. There is a town called Mt View north of me that has a lot of big names and is a neat little town. Any weekday and more so on the weekends in the summer you can go to the town square and there will be no less than 4 bands just pick'n on the square. Also, look up Turkey Tracks on the web. It is in the middle of absolutely nothing but 3-4 times a year there are around 3-4 thousand RV's in this guys field for around a week with nothing but Bluegrass. They have a stage or two but also a lot of campsite pick'n.
Most of the bands here usually play Country, Classic Rock, and Rock. So it shouldn't be that hard for you to find people to play with. Like I said a good base player can make a big difference in a band.
He is trying to finish up his latest bluegrass CD in his studio. I will see what I can find out about it and when it will be done.
Man, I feel old. My B-day was Wednesday and I didn't get to ride until today. I chose a route I have not taken before and may not again. I had to get 39 miles in and I wanted a change of scenery. How it happened is beyond me but the stupid route was all up hill. Next time I will ride it backwards and not have to pedal. There was one hill I was in the lowest gear and doing a small wheely with every stroke. I did manage to maintain 35mph for a mile without turning the pedals. I think that was the only downhill I had. I guess it was the hills but I hurt more now than I have in a while and I do 30 and 40 milers on the weekends alot. Maybe it was just mental.
Riding my age made me feel young. Tired, yes, but definitely young.
Neil B., 42
Riding my age made me feel young. Tired, yes, but definitely young.
Neil B., 42
You're right Neil. Riding always makes me feel young. I wasn't meaning this as a complaining type thread, its just I haven't had my butt kicked in a while on the bike.:mad: Its good to have it done to you every now and then. I'll gripe about it for a little bit, then I will ride it again and again until I beat it.:D
You're right Neil. Riding always makes me feel young. I wasn't meaning this as a complaining type thread, its just I haven't had my butt kicked in a while on the bike.:mad: Its good to have it done to you every now and then. I'll gripe about it for a little bit, then I will ride it again and again until I beat it.:D
I didn't understand you to be complaining. I thought you were bragging, like the soldiers Henry V speaks of in the St. Crispan's Day speech. '...then he will strip his sleeve and show his scars, and say "these wounds I had upon St. Crispan's Day.' Whenever I hurt after I ride, I tell people about it. I earned that pain! :D
We can always count on you for a great quotation, Neil :D
I didn't understand you to be complaining. I thought you were bragging, like the soldiers Henry V speaks of in the St. Crispan's Day speech. '...then he will strip his sleeve and show his scars, and say "these wounds I had upon St. Crispan's Day.' Whenever I hurt after I ride, I tell people about it. I earned that pain! :D
We can always count on you for a great quotation, Neil :D
+100000
Thanks Neil
+100000
Thanks Neil
Here's how I felt this weekend after my first serious ride in nearly a month - 36 miles Saturday. My butt was sore, I was cold, and my joints were unhappy. It was great! :D
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/2272681226_cdc394f0d5_b.jpg
Nice picture. I want to see the water running in our streams again. Everything is solid right now.
Here is a picture of the back of my bass. The signatures are;
Rick Derringer (Upside down on the electronics cover)
Rick's Bass player on that tour
Nick St. Nickolaus (Steppenwolf)
http://www.charliewalkerrealestate.com/bicycle/bass_sig_1.jpg
I lost a lot of my pictures in a move, so I don't have the proof of the signatures that I used to have. I do have people that I still play in the band with as witnesses, and I play this bass every practice and show. That is why Nick's signature is wearing off as that was 14 years ago that it was signed.
That's amazing. You are so lucky. That had to have been fun times.
It is amazing how some of these guys are great to talk to and others still think they are untouchable.
Derringer and Nick were easy to talk to back stage. Some of the other bands we opened for were not that good of musicians and were there to just make some money and get out. Too bad.
We did have some great times with some of the bands that we opened for though.
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