Fifty Plus (50+) - No Interesting postings?

Funny how sometimes there are plenty of New postings on the forum and at other times there is a dirth of them. Seem to be in the dirth right now but considering as how everyone is winding down the season and not much going on- I suppose it is normal.

So Saturday night- been dodging the weather for most of the day in the garden and not much on the biking scene. Tomorrow I will be riding down to the coast to watch the remembrance day service. In theory it should be the 11th hour of the 11th day of the11th month to commemorate the ending of the first world war but it is held on the nearest Sunday to that date. Eastbourne has special significance in that one of its residents is one of the 4 remaining servicemen from the first world war. He is 112 and I doubt that he will be at the service tomorrow due to the weather that is expected. Plenty of rain and wind so unless he is going and staying in a car- he will not be there. I will be- just to pay my respects to the many members of the armed forces that did not come back from their theatre of action that they participated in. Unfortunately- that includes many of my Comrades from my time in the forces.

So all I have planned on the bike front tomorrow is a slow ride down to the coast- then meet a few of my old regiment that will be there and home. Sounds dismal but just something that I like to keep up each year. And you never know- the weather may be kind enough for me to get a few miles in after the service.

Take it that some of you have better weather than we are expecting so may have plans to do the last metric of the season- or just get out to clear the cobwebs. So what are your plans for tomorrow?

Over here we have combined all of the rememberances into on day, still held on the 11th but known as Veteran's Day.

Unfortunately, from my point of view, it is not a universal holiday and many, if not most people will have to be at work.

In case I get busy and forget to post this..... For all of you who have served in the armed forces, Thankyou.

Your post reminds me of the 1992 Roger Waters CD "Amused To Death" which is dedicated to Private William Hubbard (1888-1917), Eighth Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, City of London Regiment.

...And to quote maddmaxx " For all of you who have served in the armed forces, Thankyou."

Funny how sometimes there are plenty of New postings on the forum and at other times there is a dirth of them. Seem to be in the dirth right now but considering as how everyone is winding down the season and not much going on- I suppose it is normal....

So what are your plans for tomorrow?

Funny you should post this. I had a very active session, for me, this morning (11/8/08) on Bike Forums. I subscribed to four discussion threads, sent four PM's and receive done reply to which I responded. Also I did a 28 mile RT commute today on an overcast, but otherwise pleasant November day in the mid 50's, even in the morning. I rarely ride on Sundays (tomorrow) due to Family schedules.

Speaking of PM's, since I have been posting to Bike Forums for the past few months, I have a sent to received (sent:received) PM ratio of 263:103, about 2.6:1. The sent # includes not only initial "cold" messages but also replies. Maybe that would make an interesting discussion thread on some Forum; how many responses do you receive to PM's?

Today is another beautiful day in SoCal. Perfect for a bike ride to where ever. I just wish I was all heeled up and could ride.

:(

I never have sent (well, maybe two) a PM as an originator. but I always respond.

It's a very American outlook, isn't it? Nothing much is happening there, so nothing is happening in the rest of the world.

Right now I am putting in a lot of kilometres as spring progresses and summer looms. The weather actually has been like a normal spring around here, rather than an overpowering feeling of drought. Sunshine interspersed with rain each week. It's done wonders for the orchards, and the hay and silage is already being harvested in anticipation of a second cut later in the season.

In addition, the temperatures have been fairly mild compared with previous years, so the riding has been pretty darned good.

I've been using my ride time to explore my region, taking sideroads I normally would bypass. That means picking and choosing depending on the bike -- MTB sometimes, road others. Then there are the state forests around here that are challenging in their climbing... and their descents. But the Australan bush is a magnificent place to be.

I've also been giving my new Merlin CF bike a good workout, my fixed gear is about to tick over 3000km for the year (today, when I go shopping), and I've been planning a single-speed project for a commuter bike using an MTB frame. I've just been on another mini-spending spree, acquiring bar-end shifters for a long-term touring bike project, tyres of various sorts, and other minor gear.

And Machka and I are planning her move to Australia next year, which is very exciting for both of us.

Of course, the Australian racing seasons is about to start, and there is huge anticipation as Lance Armstrong makes his road-racing return in the Tour Downunder. We've already had the Herald-Sun Tour which passed through my region, and the MTB racing season is in full swing, according to my employer's top boss -- who is now a confirmed off-road nut.

So there you go. Expanded horizons and all that.

It's a very American outlook, isn't it? Nothing much is happening there, so nothing is happening in the rest of the world.



Err, Rowan - Stapfam, the original OP, is from England. Unless the US has annexed England, this was an English perspective, not American.

It's a very American outlook, isn't it? Nothing much is happening there, so nothing is happening in the rest of the world...

Except that OP is from...

Ahhh you beat me to it.

At least I can point out that it's "dearth", not "dirth".

OK... Northern Hemisphere, then!

Err, Rowan - Stapfam, the original OP, is from England. Unless the US has annexed England, this was an English perspective, not American.

There will always be an England....

There will always be an England....

And you can see Ireland from your house! :roflmao2:

And you can see Ireland from your house! :roflmao2:

And you can see Mexico from San Diego, and recently I saw Canada from Washington state.

Over here we have combined all of the rememberances into on day, still held on the 11th but known as Veteran's Day.

Unfortunately, from my point of view, it is not a universal holiday and many, if not most people will have to be at work.

In case I get busy and forget to post this..... For all of you who have served in the armed forces, Thankyou.

With that thought in mind:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2753145534_8c404081f8_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2753141954_8d3ecb3dd9_b.jpg

And you can see Mexico from San Diego, and recently I saw Canada from Washington state.

Does that qualify you as an expert on foreign policy?

Does that qualify you as an expert on foreign policy?

So I've heard!

Excuse me you foreign policy experts, but back on topic, I am going to ride my bike up Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado tomorrow. Maybe I will be able to see New Mexico? That will be cool for the northern hemisphere. But I am no foreign policy expert.

And you can see Mexico from San Diego, and recently I saw Canada from Washington state.

One time I saw the mountains above Las Vegas from the mountains above Palm Springs. It was a beautifully clear day.

One time I saw the mountains above Las Vegas from the mountains above Palm Springs. It was a beautifully clear day.

I had the opportunity once to stand atop Table Mountain in South Africa. Face one direction, and you can watch the sun rise over the Indian Ocean. Turn around a few hours later, and you can watch the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean.

http://www.countrywidegolfholidays.com/Gallery/1179820407SA%20(Table%20mountain).jpg

OK... Northern Hemisphere, then!

The Northern Hemisphere shares a common perspective?

Let's see, that would include the USA, Canada, Mexico, all of Europe, Russia, China, Japan, Iran, Israel, Georgia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and so on and so forth.

I'll be more specific then...

It is a typical outlook from those living in countries, such as the US and the UK.

Happy now?

OK... Northern Hemisphere, then!

How do you stay attached down there... Being upside down and all that. :D

Be careful, otherwise I might just have to grind you guys into the ground by posting how good life is every day here.

I've just come back from my shopping trip, round journey of 60km, riding fixed gear of course. It was magnificent. Sunny, hardly any wind, mid-20s deg C temperature, polite drivers (not one erect finger, but plenty of thank you waves for wide passing).

Beautiful fragrances wafting from various gardens, verdant pastures with cattle grazing contentedly... life is truly good when there is cycling like that to behold.

I've got a few things on my list on eBay that may be resolved tonight. Yesterday I scored a blue and silver helmet to match the Merlin.

The fruit on the trees in the orchards where I work is growing nicely, we've kept at bay black spot infections that almost ruined our crops last year, and there is plenty of work to keep me securely employed despite the downturn... I like my job most days. Irony is, some of our plums are headed as exports to England early next year.

How do you stay attached down there... Being upside down and all that. :D

Gaffer tape.

The Northern Hemisphere shares a common perspective?

Let's see, that would include the USA, Canada, Mexico, all of Europe, Russia, China, Japan, Iran, Israel, Georgia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and so on and so forth.

We all view the water circulating round the bowl in the same direction after hitting the flush handle.........don't we? Well, perhaps not.

Having spent a reasonable amount of time in both hemispheres in the past several years... I can't tell you. I usually close the lid before flushing.

The Northern Hemisphere shares a common perspective?

Let's see, that would include the USA, Canada, Mexico, all of Europe, Russia, China, Japan, Iran, Israel, Georgia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and so on and so forth.

The Northern Hemisphere would, of course, include the continent of South Africa, or so I have heard.

I can see Catalina Island from atop the hills behind my house (on a clear day). Some of those hills are scorched black from the recent Marek fire. 2 homes were lost near here and today we are going to a fundraiser bbq to try and help those people. One of the guys was a contractor and he lost all of his tools. He was a renter and I don't think he had any insurance. My landlord loaned him his old motorhome to live in, which was a very cool thing to do.
The other guy who lost everything is an artist and he had 65-70 paintings getting ready for a show/sale and he lost all of them. He is also living in a motorhome now.
We were evacuated but had no damage to our stuff. Felt pretty good about that.
My job is so slow now that I am using savings to pay rent and basics, but I got out for a 70 mile ride yesterday with my club and it was beautiful and I felt good.

Be careful, otherwise I might just have to grind you guys into the ground by posting how good life is every day here.

I've just come back from my shopping trip, round journey of 60km, riding fixed gear of course. It was magnificent. Sunny, hardly any wind, mid-20s deg C temperature, polite drivers (not one erect finger, but plenty of thank you waves for wide passing).

Beautiful fragrances wafting from various gardens, verdant pastures with cattle grazing contentedly... life is truly good when there is cycling like that to behold.

I've got a few things on my list on eBay that may be resolved tonight. Yesterday I scored a blue and silver helmet to match the Merlin.

The fruit on the trees in the orchards where I work is growing nicely, we've kept at bay black spot infections that almost ruined our crops last year, and there is plenty of work to keep me securely employed despite the downturn... I like my job most days. Irony is, some of our plums are headed as exports to England early next year.

Oh, yeah? Well, I just got back from my glorious ride. There was this wonderful gray sky with periods of almost charcoal colored clouds moving through that dumped copious amounts of life sustaining water on an already soaked earth. The color and texture of the mud flying up my back and about my ankles and lower legs was quite impressive, almost like a liquid dark chocolate. And the temperature was absolutely perfect for chilling a bottle of white wine, while the wind gusting at 25 to 30 mph whisked away any offensive odors that might be lingering. The abundance of colors from fallen leaves on the roadway contributed to my excitement as my wheels almost slid out from under me on several occasions.

I was absolutely thrilled that the new cleaner I recently purchased on-line did a bang up job of getting my bike back to it's original color. Prior to wiping the dirt and grime off my shoe covers, I couldn't help but notice the variety of shapes and colors mixed in with the simple brown earthen colors. And the fragrance of the chain lubricant I applied as my very last "cycling experience" of the day left a pleasant memory that will linger through the day.

From my house I can see Indiana.

Is South Africa a continent?

Is South Africa a continent?

So I've heard!

We are now back on standard time, so last week was the first week of night riding. For the next four months, most of my riding will be at night. I leave work right around sunset. It is a one hour trip home, so I get to see everything fade to night.

Next month, we will be having our earliest sunsets; from then on, each ride home will be a little brighter. One of the best things about cycling for me is following the ebb and flow of the seasons. Venus and Jupiter were bright on Friday evening as I started up the hill toward home and will appear increasingly closer in the next weeks. I'm looking forward to the changes in the sky as I ride.

Paul

Hey - no more sightings unless they were accomplished from a saddle.

All I can see from my house is trees, mostly hardwood. I can't even see the neighboring properties, much less another state, country or continent. Today seems to be the absolute peak of the fall colors for my trees, so usually when I look out a door or window, I am captured, staring slack-jawed and amazed by the kaleidoscope of yellows, browns, oranges and greens so brilliantly in view.

I would love to be out there riding my bike along the roads, seeing more of the trees, but I'm stuck inside in a Lortab fog, waiting for my throat to recover from the 8 weeks of daily radiation that finally ended Friday. There is a whole lot of pain going on right now, but it should all get just a little bit better every day from this point on. :)

Hey - no more sightings unless they were accomplished from a saddle.

I've seen Maryland from PA:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2805349418_2d07dcff3e_b.jpg

Hey - no more sightings unless they were accomplished from a saddle.

I've seen the People's Republic of Cambridge while cycling in Boston ;-)

I've seen Maryland from PA:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2805349418_2d07dcff3e_b.jpg

I've seen it up close too:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2796705218_fa71514cbc_b.jpg

Hey - no more sightings unless they were accomplished from a saddle.

Ventoux from quite near the top.