Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - "Just miserable"

"Cold is bad, wet is bad, but cold and wet is just miserable." - my friend Josh.

For the first time since May I rode my 34 mile round trip commute. I could say I need to ride to break in the saddle, to get used to riding long distances, to test my new winter riding gear - but I did it because I wanted to. That, and I need to get my weight back under control. So I set off this morning at ten of noon for work, 17 miles from here. The trip was uneventful. Scenic, but uneventful. Every body of water I passed - French and Perkiomen Creeks, Schuylkill River, Schuylkill Canal - screamed for photos, but I left the camera at home. My habit of stopping for photos every mile or so, while it makes my Flickr account full, doesn't help me break in the saddle or aid my conditioning. And it showed in my commute time, ten minutes longer than my last bike trip to work.

The return leg was a little more interesting, in a less pleasant way. I knew rain was to move into the area by late tonight, but I thought it wouldn't be here until after I was home. So I left work at 10:35 PM. The first raindrops hit me as I rode the wooden pedestrian bridge over the Schuylkill River. I sped up as best I could as I crossed onto the trail. So did the rain. It was a light drizzle an hour later as I rolled past the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. By now I could see my breath as I pedaled. The thought of making a long descent on a ice-slicked country road in the dark motivated me to such a degree that I knocked 15 minutes off of my previous best return commute time. It's amazing what a person can do when they want to avoid being "just miserable."

My best return time was the morning after a high fiber dinner. It's a wonder what intestinal distress can do to your cadence.

Motivation takes many forms, and can be found in the least expected places.

My best return time was the morning after a high fiber dinner. It's a wonder what intestinal distress can do to your cadence.

:roflmao:

Motivation takes many forms, and can be found in the least expected places.

I agree.

While thinking over yesterday from the comfort of a warm, dry bed, my commute was a first. All my previous commutes had another purpose other than riding - my car was out of commission, I was in training for a long tour and needed to get miles in, gas prices were too high, etc. This is the first time I rode my commute because I wanted to ride. It's not an easy commute by any means - 34 miles total, 17 of those miles at night, with rolling hills, a hiking path under a highway and along a railway embankment, a wooden pedestrian bridge 100 feet above the Schuylkill River, and no shower facilities at work. And I did it because I wanted to.

Now if I can get used to this saddle. I need to ride a lot more often than once a week to determine if it's OK for me.

Good job on the commute. Do you plan to do this often?

I used to wake 20min before work, take a quick shower, dress, and go speeding off to get to work on time. Now that I'm car free, my life is more organized and planned. I'm aware of weather conditions and plan in advance which has carried over into other parts of my life. A ride on a nice day is great but I also enjoy the challenge of riding in crap weather and test where my limits are. It helps that my RT is a measly 8.5-9mi :p

Good job on the commute. Do you plan to do this often?

I used to wake 20min before work, take a quick shower, dress, and go speeding off to get to work on time. Now that I'm car free, my life is more organized and planned. I'm aware of weather conditions and plan in advance which has carried over into other parts of my life. A ride on a nice day is great but I also enjoy the challenge of riding in crap weather and test where my limits are. It helps that my RT is a measly 8.5-9mi :p

I plan to and then don't follow through. :)

That said, commuting takes four hours out of my day, and so I don't do it often. This was my fourth commute this year. I'd love to commute more often, but I miss that time. And I find my commute challenging. Still, I'll try to pick up the pace a little and commute more often.

My mistakes from this commute:

1. Not allowing enough time on the inbound. I didn't have a 'cool-off' period before changing. I could have used it.
2. Not checking my rear blinker before leaving the house. It's out. Fortunately I had a backup.

I plan to and then don't follow through. :)

That said, commuting takes four hours out of my day, and so I don't do it often. This was my fourth commute this year. I'd love to commute more often, but I miss that time. And I find my commute challenging. Still, I'll try to pick up the pace a little and commute more often.

My mistakes from this commute:

1. Not allowing enough time on the inbound. I didn't have a 'cool-off' period before changing. I could have used it.
2. Not checking my rear blinker before leaving the house. It's out. Fortunately I had a backup.

Also I need to solve the cold legs problem. The "windstopper" tights I wore last night didn't keep my legs warm enough in the sub-40 degree weather.

Get leg warmers and put under the tights 2 layers work good for me!

Gotta love random motivation!

Also I need to solve the cold legs problem. The "windstopper" tights I wore last night didn't keep my legs warm enough in the sub-40 degree weather.

What I've been wearing for mid-40's is a pair of Head (the ski brand) windblocker pants with a polyester liner. There's not much insulation value and they're not 'cool' for cycling, but they block wind really well. I'll add midweight long underwear and even a fleece layer underneath for colder rides but the pants alone will do fine for a while. Best of all the pants cost me $8 on ebay last winter :)

Hey Neil - Maybe ya should stop in for week 8 of our Biggest Loser Thread...kind of as a guest contestatnt!! Give us a little challenge...come on over. Weigh in on Monday - then post your goals...and then weigh in the next Monday. We'd love to have you!! Sometimes just staying at ine weight for a while is truly a success. The whole gang are really moderate... we just aim to drop a few - nothing huge...just steady progress. Come on over and inspire or be insired!

Hey Neil - Maybe ya should stop in for week 8 of our Biggest Loser Thread...kind of as a guest contestatnt!! Give us a little challenge...come on over. Weigh in on Monday - then post your goals...and then weigh in the next Monday. We'd love to have you!! Sometimes just staying at ine weight for a while is truly a success. The whole gang are really moderate... we just aim to drop a few - nothing huge...just steady progress. Come on over and inspire or be insired!

Can I knock over Uncadan again? :)

Get leg warmers and put under the tights 2 layers work good for me!

I might try that next time it gets into the low 40s. Thanks!

One side effect of the commute is that I haven't slept well the past two nights. I'm not sure what the problem is. Could I be so out of shape that I need a long recovery period? Comments?

One side effect of the commute is that I haven't slept well the past two nights. I'm not sure what the problem is. Could I be so out of shape that I need a long recovery period? Comments?

What is keeping you up? I'd pop some Ibuprofen and see if that puts you to sleep. For me, most of the time when it's riding-related insomnia, it's due to anxiety :).

Also excellent work! I do agree that's a lot of time out of your day, for me finding the hour to hour and a half my commutes take is kind of hard, which is why I was up at 0520 today. :)

What is keeping you up? I'd pop some Ibuprofen and see if that puts you to sleep. For me, most of the time when it's riding-related insomnia, it's due to anxiety :).

Also excellent work! I do agree that's a lot of time out of your day, for me finding the hour to hour and a half my commutes take is kind of hard, which is why I was up at 0520 today. :)

When your work day starts at 2:00 PM, you shouldn't be waking up at 7:00 AM, especially after a 34 mile ride the night before.

Sigh. I leave in 45 minutes. Now where are those reflective leg bands? :roflmao2:

When your work day starts at 2:00 PM, you shouldn't be waking up at 7:00 AM, especially after a 34 mile ride the night before.

Sigh. I leave in 45 minutes. Now where are those reflective leg bands? :roflmao2:

Well, that was interesting. My front derailer broke again, and like last time, three miles from home. So much for my commute. :cry:

Well, that was interesting. My front derailer broke again, and like last time, three miles from home. So much for my commute. :cry:

I have another temporary fix while my shop orders a new front derailer. Lets see if I can get through tomorrow's ride without a problem.

I have another temporary fix while my shop orders a new front derailer. Lets see if I can get through tomorrow's ride without a problem.

Ouch! No good to hear, but at least it's the front and not the rear. The fronts are much more affordable, it seems, the rears are just.. pricey.

Hope it goes better for you tomorrow! Good vibes headed your way, etc etc.

Speaking of being miserable......

Yesterday and for much of today I will have spent all day outside in sub 40 degree weather with a strong North wind. I had a cold when I got up yesterday and by the time I loaded up to come home had a case of the shivers I just couldn't get rid of. I think my fever broke last night since I woke up absolutely soaked and with a pounding head. Sigh, one more day of misery.

I "think" I may have found a safe window to ride my death road if I want to commute. Deosn't look like it will be in teh next few days though.

Neil, I think your bike is getting even for thinking about giving him up for adoption. It's kind of like a marriage, you don't get the benefit of a reaction at the moment you do something to upset your partner.
They wait until you least expect it or it will have maximum impact value, THEN they react!, lol.

Neil, I think your bike is getting even for thinking about giving him up for adoption. It's kind of like a marriage, you don't get the benefit of a reaction at the moment you do something to upset your partner.
They wait until you least expect it or it will have maximum impact value, THEN they react!, lol.

Actually I think my bike and I have a relationship like this couple:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=486264

Actually I think my bike and I have a relationship like this couple:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=486264

Yea, I read that train wreck of a thread. I doubt it's degenerated to that level with your bike. It might be more like the Odd Couple though.:)

Yea, I read that train wreck of a thread. I doubt it's degenerated to that level with your bike. It might be more like the Odd Couple though.:)

At times I think it's a sick S and M relationship. I'm on the receiving end of the pain. :)

At times I think it's a sick S and M relationship. I'm on the receiving end of the pain. :)


In the Roadie forum this is considered quite normal, lol.

Hi,
I have only two bikes for now the MTB is more forgiving in damp weather and seems to want to stay upright, the Roadie is supper quick with little work but can be a bit more unnerving if you hit a little bump or leaf litter...
WHich bike is the choice of the day, I can work harder on the MTB or go fast but alittle less forgiving if you whoops on the roadie.
I hope your derailer problem is easily fixed, I can't stand to be off the bike more than two days I really miss the rides.
Doug