Fifty Plus (50+) - What goes through your head?

I like to think about a lot of things when I ride, sometimes it is funny things I might bring to this forum, sometimes it's work but on those rides where I am pushing myself I sing songs. I had two songs that kept me going this past weekend - Woodie Guthry's "City of New Orleans" and CS&N "Marrakesh Express". Peddaling to the beat. I guess these were two appropriate songs given the fact that about 40 miles of the two legs were spent traveling next to an old rail line. Other days it's other tunes, sometimes old movie tunes, british marches but never rock & roll. It's interesting how you occupy your mind with the hours spent pedaling away!

I generally think, and solve problems like global warming, what chain lube to use, the inequitable distribution of wealth, why do bad things happen to good people, what is the best gear to use on this hill, mans inhumanity to man, Ginger or Mary Ann, the best way to raise children, where did I leave my car keys, and the communication issues between genders.

For me it's the usual...work, kids, pretty girls, other personal stuff...I don't sing while cycling, 'cause everyone could hear me. I used to sing when I would ride my motorcycle, though. Oddly enough my two favorites to sing while on the motorcycle were Janis' "Piece of My Heart" and the Vanilla Fudge version of "You Keep Me Hangin' On".

Oh yeh...pardon my pedantry, but Steve Goodman wrote "City of New Orleans" and it was popularized by Arlo Guthrie, Woody's son.

Air.

I addressed this topic a couple of weeks ago. I largely just pay attention to the ride itself. The vibration from the surface, the smells in the air, the trees, the flowers, the countryside, the sky, the way the shadows are cast across the trail in front of me, how my legs feel, etc.. Sometimes I do get a song in my head. But I almost never think about problems or plan upcoming events or dwell on life's issues.

Now when I take a walk, it's mostly thinking about life's issues. If I need to get out and think about something, I have to walk rather than ride. If I need to get away from thinking about problems, I take a ride.

"why am i so slow?"

"come on, u can do better than this"

"jesus christ that was hard, i guess i could take a little break...(quick flashback to being dropped)"upshift and hammer


i think of nothing else over and over, and as i sit here i look forward to doing it again tomorrow

FightingPanther ... you are a "collegiate racer" and are over 50 years old?

Not to pick nits but "City of New Orleans", one of my all time favorite songs, is an Arlo Guthrie tune.

Not to pick nits but "City of New Orleans", one of my all time favorite songs, is an Arlo Guthrie tune.
Goodman wrote it, Arlo sang it.

Goodman wrote it, Arlo sang it.

David Hasselhoff sang it, too. :cry:

When I'm standing on a long climb I can NOT get John Lennon's Across the Universe out of my mind. It fits my breathing pattern exACTly... Right Left Right Left WORDS are FLOWing OUT like END less RAIN in TO a PAP er CUP.... I love that song, but MAN!

David Hasselhoff sang it, too. :cry:

There are some things that a decent person ought not to share.

Goodman wrote it, Arlo sang it.

Dutch singer/actor Gerard Cox scored a hit with the translation of this song, called "Het is weer voorbij die mooie zomer." I'm not making this up.

While in traffic, I think about what's going on around me... where's that car, is anyone coming up from behind, does that driver see me, do I need to slow/shift now or can I wait, etc.

On open stretches with very few cars, I let my mind wander more. I think a lot about my dad and how much he is missed. Mostly, I think about how much I enjoy riding my bike and what a difference it has made in my life.

There is the whole thing about having fun, what a joy it is to ride (and gettin' healthy in the process! whatta deal!!). Sometimes something I see, or my surroundings, will inspire certain thoughts or cause me to think of certain songs. I don't carry my MP3 player with me on rides, so I'm not listening to anything but the sounds around me.

Lately it's been the theme from The Addams family.:crash::cry:

Generally, I think about the traffic until I get to the immensely flat MUP I use for some distance rides. THen I just usually zone out and zen the ride. On my hill routes, though, I embrace the lactic acid- yeah, that's the ticket- the burn, baby! Who can think of anything else when your guads are on fire???

I addressed this topic a couple of weeks ago.

I missed that'n when you posted it. Thanks for mentioning the thing, because I just read it and I'm glad that I did. I particularly liked this comment, which you made in that thread:


I'm sure that if I rode with someone who normally rides a spirited 30-50 miles, pushing themselves to maintain a 17-18 mph pace, that I would drive them crazy. On my 26 mile ride last Friday, I stopped 8 times (I didn't count them as I rode, I can remember all of them). Once was when I rode over an old metal railroad bridge and I stopped to examine the bolts - which had some very interesting shapes.



That's me too! I won't do that on every ride, but I'll do it on every ride where something sparks my interest or curiousity. When I ride it's "me time". I clear my head of all my concerns and cares, and enjoy every tiny aspect of the ride. The breeze on my face. The sights around me. The texture of a stretch of road. The challenge of the hill in front of me. The feel of the blood coursing through my legs. the sound of the water in the creek under the bridge I'm riding over. Everything!

I'm not a religious person, in the sense of holding to a faith. Stuff like this is plenty enough for me!

Right foot down, left foot down, right foot down, left foot down, left foot down (oops - OUCH!), right foot down

The big question for me on a bike ride is: How much fun can I have right now?

You want my thoughts and don't even offer a penny?

You want my thoughts and don't even offer a penny?

Around here, we all get paid the going rate--and not a penny more.

Many times it's "what has Donna stopped to look at now?", other times it's "I sure wish she'd find something to stop and look at, so I can catch up!!". On hills, I find that (and don't shoot me if this get's stuck in your head): Mickey Mouse Club-Mickey Mouse Club-not the rest, just that part-seems you can fit it to any cadence you wish to keep, and it works to keep me going. It fits my hill climbing prowess also!

Things just seem to pop in and pop out, usually it's one song or artist that lasts for the whole ride, last night was Greatfull Dead night. I also have had complete conversations with my self, out loud. Those usually end when I say, to myself also out loud, "Who the hell are you talking too?"

I like to think about a lot of things when I ride, sometimes it is funny things I might bring to this forum....

That's a bad habit of mine, and fortunately I post very little of what I find remarkable during my epic adventures. Like last weekend when going down a hill at 30 MPH a rabbit darts out right in front of me and I miss him (or her, didn't have time to check too thoroughly) by two inches and I'm thinking, "Just wait until I write that up. I don't know who crapped more, me or the rabbit", and then I get home and determine that the incident was not worth initiating a new thread over.

I generally think, and solve problems like global warming, what chain lube to use, the inequitable distribution of wealth, why do bad things happen to good people, what is the best gear to use on this hill, mans inhumanity to man, Ginger or Mary Ann, the best way to raise children, where did I leave my car keys, and the communication issues between genders.

Ginger and Mary Ann.

If I am hammering, I like "Boys of Summer" by Don Henley, or Four Sticks by Led Zeppelin. for other times I think about various things.

When riding the range, I often sing Home on the Range. " I also have been thru Guthrie's City of New Orleans,just seems right. Most frequent, its personal problem solving, or else just appreciating the scenery and just appreciating our addiction to crusin.

Ginger and Mary Ann.

See, I was just missing the big picture. The issue is now clarified.
Thank you.

I'm on a MUP for almost all of my 10 mile commute. On the way in I'll see 3 to 5 people. So I'm basically zoning out being outside - enjoying the sunrise, the fresh air, the hum of the tires on the asphalt. I rarely think about anything else as the commute is my relaxation time. On the way home the MUP is more crowded so I need to pay a bit more attention but the "eye candy" helps with that alot. Still, it is more a time of relaxation for me more than anything else.

Most of my rides are alone up here in Gilpin, lots of fast scary descents, lots of grunty climbing. I always start out thinking some version of "i'll be glad when I get warmed up"....then about 3-4 miles in I'm concentrating on my average speed (almost obsessively) and enjoying just being out in the colorado countryside. On climbs I watch the side of the road (found a few sweet items that way!) and the trees. Rarely do I have a tune in my head. I may talk to my legs (Jan and Ivan) a little bit to urge myself on, but mostly I'm just digging being more or less fit and breathing hard and watching my speed.

My wife says everything can go thru my head, as she sees light from the other side if she looks in my ear. On the other hand I wear an mp3 player, so music goes in. Although quite frankly it must all be dribble, cause I can't remember any of it nor much of the ride. Although I do recall on last ride I finally was aware the player did play the same song twice. Can't remember the song though. What was the topic?

Have to do some maintenance when I get home- Brakes must be binding or the tyre pressures are too low. Did I actually swop out the standard crank for the Compact?

I addressed this topic a couple of weeks ago. I largely just pay attention to the ride itself. The vibration from the surface, the smells in the air, the trees, the flowers, the countryside, the sky, the way the shadows are cast across the trail in front of me, how my legs feel, etc.. Sometimes I do get a song in my head. But I almost never think about problems or plan upcoming events or dwell on life's issues.

Now when I take a walk, it's mostly thinking about life's issues. If I need to get out and think about something, I have to walk rather than ride. If I need to get away from thinking about problems, I take a ride.

I couldn't have said it better. When on bike, I am nothing but open perception and experience of that perception. Proper "thought" falls away to pure existence. It's a form a moving meditation (best experienced on fixed, IMHO) without Mind, yet full of mindfullness.

Walking, well, yeah. That is the other side of the coin.

If I need to get away from thinking about problems, I take a ride.
Exactly

Apparently not much...

Take last nights ride, left house went to son's house, to make certain the trash was to the street, it was not, also noticed truck not home, only wife's, so he did not ride his bike w/trailer to the station today (he is fire fighter).

Took different route from his house than norm, a few more gentle climbs. Remember taking water break at corner, start of a trail head for a path. Started off with no one in site, slight decline before major climb. Here comes a rider on my left, passes me at base of the climb, continues lead to about 15 yards, then dies out, and no room to pass, on-coming riders gathering speed on descent. Boy I was disgusted. Top of the hill, dropped this rider, yet was a little upset, and then noticed he was standing on pedals closing the gap. He catches me at end of the path (about 1 mile), while I wait traffic to clear intersection. then he streaks off in front and I let him go, further up the path, I turned and headed through a education campus, and picked up different path heading south, passed a lovely lady going other direction and asked myself, should I turn around:rolleyes:, thought continued for a little longer than norm, then came upon the fire house my son is stationed, "Oh, I do not see his truck, must have rode his bike this morning", so I stop to visit. No bike inside, strange. One of the crew says hi, and says he (son) TDY (temp duty) at another station.

I continued on, did two circles of lake I ride usually once, same lady passes me going other direction, of course. Reenter park area, and started ride toward home, passed going other direction the dude from the hill, nodded a HI!, then paid no mind, and left park for streets home. Picked up pace for last mile and pulled in drive, put bike away, and then while checking if vehicles locked, here is the hill guy, he passes then turns around and stops at end of drive-way, I walked toward him, he says, "hey! for an old guy you do pretty good, sorry about the hill back there." We exchanges some small talk, and went on the house, wife asks, "what was that about and how was your ride?", and I replied, "oh!, nothing, nothing at all and ride was nice nothing much to talk about".

Hopefully, she will get release from Drs to return to riding then I do not have to recall every detail of the ride to share with her...:o

I prefer listening to Audio Books when cycling. Current book is Oral Histories by Lee Smith.

Oddly enough my two favorites to sing while on the motorcycle were Janis' "Piece of My Heart"...Oh yeh...pardon my pedantry, but Steve Goodman wrote "City of New Orleans" and it was popularized by Arlo Guthrie, Woody's son.

Doncha mean Erma Franklin's Piece of My Heart, that was later covered by Janis Joplin? Erma, Aretha's sister sang the original AND real deal version of the song. Still have my 45 of it.

That's a bad habit of mine, and fortunately I post very little of what I find remarkable during my epic adventures. Like last weekend when going down a hill at 30 MPH a rabbit darts out right in front of me and I miss him (or her, didn't have time to check too thoroughly) by two inches and I'm thinking, "Just wait until I write that up. I don't know who crapped more, me or the rabbit", and then I get home and determine that the incident was not worth initiating a new thread over.

It's turtle migration season around here and I had one dart out in front of me the other day. I managed to miss it but the rider behind me said I came close enough that it exhibited its' predator defense behaviour (emptied its' bladder) lucky for me I was wearing my dark shorts.

;)

It's turtle migration season around here and I had one dart out in front of me the other day. I managed to miss it but the rider behind me said I came close enough that it exhibited its' predator defense behaviour (emptied its' bladder) lucky for me I was wearing my dark shorts.

;)

A turtle "darted" out in front of you and pissed on you?

I like to do mental math problems while riding, especially as they relate to the ride, like trying to figure how fast to go for a certain time to get up to a certain average pace. The other day my bike odo passed 6000 miles, so I spent the ride figuring out how many times my front wheel had turned. The easy calculation is wheel circum = 2 meters, 1600 M per mile, 800 turns per mile, 800 x 6000 = 4,800,000 turns of the wheel. The tougher calculation (which took most of the ten miles home) is 6000 mi = about 9600 km, wheel cir = 2020 mm, 9,600,000,000 mm traveled / 2020 mm = about 4,752,500 wheel turns. Anyone want to check my math? (no calculators allowed).

Doncha mean Erma Franklin's Piece of My Heart, that was later covered by Janis Joplin? Erma, Aretha's sister sang the original AND real deal version of the song. Still have my 45 of it.

Very cool...I didn't know that, but just found it on youtube...thanks:thumb:

That's a bad habit of mine, and fortunately I post very little of what I find remarkable during my epic adventures. Like last weekend when going down a hill at 30 MPH a rabbit darts out right in front of me and I miss him (or her, didn't have time to check too thoroughly) by two inches and I'm thinking, "Just wait until I write that up. I don't know who crapped more, me or the rabbit", and then I get home and determine that the incident was not worth initiating a new thread over.

Whatya mean - around here people will start a new thread about something as silly as ripping thier shorts (sorry bout that DF :lol:)

It's turtle migration season around here and I had one dart out in front of me the other day. I managed to miss it but the rider behind me said I came close enough that it exhibited its' predator defense behaviour (emptied its' bladder) lucky for me I was wearing my dark shorts.

;)
It'l like the story of the turtle that was mugged by a gang of snails. When questioned for details by the police, the turtle said, "I don't know, it all happened so fast".

I tell myself: Don't think about the distance. Don't think about how hard it is going to be. Just enjoy the moment. Enjoy the wind blowing in my face. Enjoy the sounds of the birds, the shadows cast upon the farm lands, the wheat in the fields, the corn growing.
I think about what this person yelled at me as they drive by.
I think about my investments.
I think about the Bible, my daughter hoping she won't get pregnant at 15 and what my reaction will be if she does. (Her mother lets my daughter's boy friend hang out at the house all day when no one is around in spite of my worried . . . I'm divorced.)

I think about what I will do if I get a flat, where I'll stop next and what I might eat. I think about thirst. I think about if I'll be upset at the driver that kills me. :D

Very cool...I didn't know that, but just found it on youtube...thanks:thumb:

Always glad to be of service when the subject is Righteous R&B; nothing better will ever go through my head.

A turtle "darted" out in front of you and pissed on you?

Well, speed is relative and I don't have fenders...

I generally think, and solve problems like global warming, what chain lube to use, the inequitable distribution of wealth, why do bad things happen to good people, what is the best gear to use on this hill, mans inhumanity to man, Ginger or Mary Ann, the best way to raise children, where did I leave my car keys, and the communication issues between genders.

post ride: pie or cake?

Ginger and Mary Ann.

Mary Ann is a doper. Who knows what Ginger is into.

Ginger and Mary Ann.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about Mrs. Howell. :eek: