Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - The Historian HTFU!

Well Happy Birthday Historian and Ben:thumb:

I'll leave out the comment on the Chamber of Commerce type weather we have today.......:innocent:

Riding with ice I can get over for the most part with equipment and slowing down. I used to love when I was alone riding on ice/snow. It is the motor vehicles especially the 4x4s that make me really nervous and constantly look for an escape plan. More then once I'd be making a nice little bike snow angel after I dove over a snowbank because of a sliding 4x4.

Hey historian maybe you could do a few rides that add up to 43 today. At least ride for 43 minutes, or walk or ? :thumb:

I'll get in a good ride of some kind this afternoon. The 43 mile birthday ride is probably taking place Saturday. Daytime highs are to be below freezing all next week. :(

:HAPPY BIRTHDAY 1: Historian and Ben!!

:HAPPY BIRTHDAY 1: Historian and Ben!!

And Neilfein too, who celebrated his birthday Tuesday.

I'll get in a good ride of some kind this afternoon. The 43 mile birthday ride is probably taking place Saturday. Daytime highs are to be below freezing all next week. :(

This didn't happen. I saw a road sign nearly get blown over. NO WAY am I riding in that. Perhaps I should re-title the thread "The Historian STFU?" :(

I'll be at the gym this evening, instead of riding. :cry:

Winter stinks. I really don't feel like challenging myself while there is snow and ice piled up on the sides of the road, and the quiet streets won't be plowed until spring thaw. I'm going to comfort myself with walking the indoor track at the community centre and swimming in heated indoor pool. Yes, the theme of my winter is "indoor". Cowardice and wimpiness at it's finest is the definition of Cyclokitty.

On the other hand, if we have a sudden heatwave (I love those!) then I'm getting on my bike.

Well Happy Birthday Historian and Ben:thumb:

I'll leave out the comment on the Chamber of Commerce type weather we have today.......:innocent:

Please do. :notamused:

Thanks for the fine writeup and photos on this and your other post. Your winter scenes remind me of my home town in northern IL. I've been in TX for 30 years now, but I haven't forgotten the "joy's" of winter riding. If your goal is to HTFU, you're already there (IMO); getting about and about in sub freezing weather definitely qualifies.

Winter stinks. I really don't feel like challenging myself while there is snow and ice piled up on the sides of the road, and the quiet streets won't be plowed until spring thaw. I'm going to comfort myself with walking the indoor track at the community centre and swimming in heated indoor pool. Yes, the theme of my winter is "indoor". Cowardice and wimpiness at it's finest is the definition of Cyclokitty.

On the other hand, if we have a sudden heatwave (I love those!) then I'm getting on my bike.

We could be getting up to four inches of snow tomorrow. This will be the first sizable accumulation of snow in nearly three years. Last time I had to shovel was when I began my weight loss in 2006. Well, it's exercise at least. :(

We're expecting about 10 cm this weekend (if the weatherman can be trust - pffft). This is the snowiest winter since last year...:notamused: Apparently we've received about 80 cm so far since November and January looks snow filled.

Last year it was April before the snow melted on the MUPs but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that March will be mild. I remember a March that was incredibly hot with temperatures in the high 20s celsius and I was in heaven.

I am very out of shape, and the ride showed it. But all in all I did well for two months of layoff. And I did ride my bike. Despite the excuses I gave to not ride, I did it anyways.

I'd had much the same problem aside from riding to work and back which is (now) a short and completely routine ride for me. Longest ride I'd done for nearly 3 months was 7 miles riding round the block with no hills, and I'd been feeling a bit crap about it. A knee injury had largely ruined my September and October, then November and December had been miserable as hell, and the cold had been triggering my asthma on anything other than a short easy ride. Perhaps my worst crime had been ignoring bikeforums (too busy, I told myself). You're an encouraging bunch!

The weekend before Christmas came round, and with it a weekend of relative warmth and sun. I had a lovely ride out towards Ramsgate, and got the train back.

I took these photos on the ride - you can see what a lovely day it was...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/3133039781_f4f457d012.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/3133040051_9dc9e41c29.jpg
22 miles turned out to be a bit of a challenge having not done any decent riding for several weeks, but a lot of fun!

Went out again today, after a shorter break, but again remembered how much fun cycling is. I'm back, and I'm ready for 2009's cycling. Not so much HTFU. More like EITFU (Enjoy It...) :)

I get it. I really do. Recently the board has been filled with "3000, 4000 & 5000 mile riders. I just barely hit 1000 miles this year. It seemed like I rode a lot. I ride more off road, and I am sure that contributes to my lower mileage, but fact is, I am not the cyclist the high mile guys are.

But, I had my own come to Jesus meeting with this very subject recently. I admire the hell out all of you who set big goals and reach them. But I have come to the conclusion, that my lack of miles does not make me a poser or any less of a Clyde. Matter of fact, lower miles will assure my continues status;)

I have said this before, and I am sure some of you cross your eyes when I say it, but for me, the bike computer is more of a foe than a friend. I log every mile and every ride, including all the stats. Mileage, avg spd, max spd, temp, time, trail, etc. But I have discovered that when I ride for FUN, I want to keep riding and I can't wait to ride again. When I worry about my distance or avg spd, my mind hurts and stop enjoying the ride. I am also someone who could give a rats butt about competing. I don't care. If you want the trophy, fine, take it. Means nothing to me.

I just want to be a riding clyde. I have ridden 50 miles a few times, so it is not like I am spinning the block. Most of my rides are 15-20 miles, and I would rather scream down a twisty singletrack then anything else.

If clydes were only about winning the tour, or the century a week club, the forum would be empty.

I am proud to be a fat 51 year old weezing bag sore bones and muscles. Neil, you are my kinda clyde. Don't go changing to try to please me:)


Heck, does that all sound familiar and a bit like my story too give or take.

Great stuff.

How's the elevation on that trail? I imagine since it's by a river one could avoid some of the PA-style uber hills.

I'm a former hill-loving freak, but am easing back into it again after some health issues, and would love to take the family to PA for a Spring weekend ride & 'getaway.'

I should add that my elder son and wife would be looking to add a visit to a historic Civil War site, so I'm looking to combine. Probably one day of riding, one of a historical bent.

[They all ride and can handle anything from technical trail to rail trail, it's just me who's in low-mileage/no hills rehabilitation mode right now.]

Great stuff.

How's the elevation on that trail? I imagine since it's by a river one could avoid some of the PA-style uber hills.

I'm a former hill-loving freak, but am easing back into it again after some health issues, and would love to take the family to PA for a Spring weekend ride & 'getaway.'

I should add that my elder son and wife would be looking to add a visit to a historic Civil War site, so I'm looking to combine. Probably one day of riding, one of a historical bent.

[They all ride and can handle anything from technical trail to rail trail, it's just me who's in low-mileage/no hills rehabilitation mode right now.]

The Schuylkill River Trail has about a 1-2 per cent grade from Mont Clare to Philadelphia. Fortunately, there are no Civil War battlefields nearby - Lee was stopped at Gettysburg, 120 miles away. There is a Civil War museum downtown, as well as many Revolutionary War cites and museums. If you'd rather not travel to the city, Valley Forge is a great place to visit.