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

"I like the idea of being a Clydesdale. I own a bike. Do I have to ride it be a Clyde?"

A coworker asked me this question as a joke. And I answered it as such. But I knew in my heart this light jest had some meaning for me. I hadn't ridden my bike in two months. My exercise had slacked off to near-nothing. I'd put on weight.

I had any number of reasons - read excuses - for not riding; the cold, the wind, the rain, lack of time, seasonal depression, fatigue..... like many fat people, I can come up with any justification to avoid physical activity. And I'm practiced at it. As Hamlet would say, "tis as easy as lying." Meanwhile, I was continuing to post to the Clydesdale/Athena forum without riding a bike. I felt l was living a lie, a lie not only in my posting here, but a lie about my weight loss. After all, putting on weight reverses whatever I'd accomplished in loss.

To add insult to self-injury, a Clydesdale poster, TechKnowGN, wrote of me, "For every reason he has not to ride, he still does it anyways." I tried not to think about this remark, which was about as effective as sitting down and consciously not thinking about a green polka-dotted three-headed platypus. So after brooding on the comment yet again, I found myself seated at my computer, staring out the window. I saw the street, and imagined my tires rolling over it. I said to myself "it's time. Let's HTFU."

Out of the dresser drawer I pulled my winter-weight jersey and bib tights. I found two pairs of wool socks and a compression shirt, and blew the dust off my helmet. Roark was waiting for me in the garage, just as he was left two months ago. I loaded him in my car, grabbed my jacket, gloves, and balaclava, and headed down to the Schuylkill River Trail.

I parked at my gym, which is a short distance from the trail. It took only a minute to get ready. In no time the helmet was on and I was in the saddle. I steadied myself for a moment on my right foot, said "do it", and gave the downstroke on the left.

I was unsteadier than I had been two months ago, but I soon regained whatever ability I had, and before I realized it I was pedaling with confidence. However, approaching dusk and the presence of ice patches on the trail limited my ride to a bit more than five miles. The trail was empty and cold, lined with bare trees, whipped by the wind gusts. The Perkiomen Creek had patches of ice:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1170/3165570110_feb79e755a_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1104/3164785705_e2fd00bc00_b.jpg

John James Audubon's home Mill Grove looked down on the frozen Perky:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/3164783131_160ac38c16_b.jpg

The ice ended at the Perk's confluence with the Schuylkill River:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/3165548022_85b2661ce9_b.jpg

I rode as far as the newly completed bridge on the latest opened segment of the Schuylkill River Trail. Previously there had been a quarter mile of gravel detour here, but now there's a nice paved bridge.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1173/3164694089_a10174fbb5_b.jpg

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. Thanks TechKnowGN! You reminded me that the road is always ahead of me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/3164705103_fee2c3911b_b.jpg

Good for you. I feel your pain as I was in the same boat until the 1st. Isn't it amazing how out of shape you can get in such a short amount of time?

Most excellent. Any ride is a good ride, but you folks who ride in the real cold have my respect.

Glad you got out, Neil....

Keep at it. It's good for ya.

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:)

Actually, you ARE every bit the cyclist the high milers are....

You ride according to your needs and wants, not a thing wrong with that. I just enjoy exploring my extreme upper limits. That's my need and want. Neither of us is either inferior or superior, just a different focus.


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:)

Actually, you ARE every bit the cyclist the high milers are....

You ride according to your needs and wants, not a thing wrong with that. I just enjoy exploring my extreme upper limits. That's my need and want. Neither of us is either inferior or superior, just a different focus.

+1

There isn't a right way vs wrong, or better way to do this. Any ride is a good ride, and any mile is a good mile. I celebrate a ride around the block just as much as a century. Each can be, and often are, major milestones.

I'll actually be somewhat relieved when I get past my March ride. The ride means a great deal to me, so I will be pounding out some training miles to give myself the best chance I can to finsh it, but I also enjoy just lazily wandering around for 15 miles with no worries about any metrics.

I was actually humored to see my favorite routes are all around 12 miles when I mapped them out. I do combine them a lot though.

Most excellent. Any ride is a good ride, but you folks who ride in the real cold have my respect.

+1 I couldn't handle even going out in the cold, let alone riding in it. Good job :thumb:

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:)

OK, I won't change. You like me just the way I are, err, am. :)

I agree with you the emphasis on miles, miles, miles on the C/A forum at times is a little distracting. I've remarked before about threads in which the testosterone was so think you'd need Lorena Bobbit's knife to cut it. I enjoy both reading about "epic" rides and occasionally doing one myself. But, to borrow an image used by Mr. Beanz, I'd also enjoy reading a post about a ride to the market to buy three lemons. Or a mountain bike ride down singletrack.

Oh, and by the way, as Tom S. has pointed out, you are a real cyclist. No more poaching on my low self-esteem turf, OK? :)

Good for you. I feel your pain as I was in the same boat until the 1st. Isn't it amazing how out of shape you can get in such a short amount of time?

Yes. Although I'd like to skip both the amazement and the loss of conditioning. The five miles on flat ground made my legs tired. Working out at my gym afterwards didn't help matters.

Weather permitting, I'll try to get out again today. I expect the ride to be a difficult one, even for a so-called "recovery" ride. My recovery ride will be longer than the ride I'm recovering from. :(

I get it. I really do.


I'm not sure you do. My post wasn't directed at any rider other than myself. I was mocking my excuse making. And paying a compliment to TechKnowGN for saying something nice about me.

You Rock Neil.

Keep it up.

Winter in Texas

Sunday 1/4/09: Its 70" here at 6:30 AM

You Rock Neil.

Keep it up.

Winter in Texas

Sunday 1/4/09: Its 70" here at 6:30 AM

Not so much here in Dallas today.

Currently 35 degrees with 25 mph North winds making it feel like 25 degrees. Our high is only supposed to be 44.

Never fear though, back into the 60's tomorrow.

Hallo Neil - Way to go for getting back up on the bike. I have been riding 1x/or maybe 2x times a week - so I too have slacked off -and have been eating and cooking...not a great weight loss story these last few months. But I have held on pretty well - and am very excited about yesterday's ride - and Friday's killer aerobics step class (My calves are now in quite a bit of pain)


Anyhoo - good for you for getting going. :CLAP:I think - here's the Bee's take - if you rode strong all summer and will ride againstrong and have a bike or two and gear all over your house....you must be a Clyde...ohhh and have a giant heart.


So no worries - do not beat yourself up for the past two months - just simply resume...the bike...the gym....our new BL thread..whatever it takes.

Your #X Fan:champ2:,
Sue

Good for You. I, too am getting back in the saddle after a little break.

Thanks for the pix and inspirational message, Historian.

I've *almost* gone out on the SRT a number of times since it got cold, but then wussed out for various reasons.

.

Glad you got back in the saddle. I was out for 2 weeks on vacation, even that felt guilty.

Fell off the wagon after the MS 150.Did several metrics and longer rides for training and completed the MS ride.For some reason couldn't get myself back on the bike.Found more excuses than reasons to ride.Weight is back up ,so out comes the winter gear.Maybe I'll see you on the "Perki" trail

I don't remember how much time I took off. It was 2 or 3 weeks. I do remember pulling the rower out in October. I knew from last year that it takes
a couple months to get to the point where I can get a good workout on it.

Everyone had to learn how to deal with the off season. There are lots of ways to do it. I use a simple periodised routine of rowing, using a trainer and snow shoveling.

But it took me years to get there. The first year I had the trainer I didn't use it much and I didn't like it. I now use it a couple times a week. I row a couple times a week. I need to go to the gym and do some core work, but mostly I go to the gym for a month or two when summer ends and Spring begins.

I just got Base Building for Cyclists the other day. Much of what is in it I had learned the hard way. There is a rhythm to what we do. In the winter we get ready for Spring, in Spring we prepare for the summer, in fall we ready ourselves for winter.

Well I'm glad you're back in the saddle and off the pitty pot, missed seeing the good photo's you always manage to get.

V

Excellent to read, Neil! It's all about - as you noted - that first downstroke. After that it's all gravy.

I think winter is tough on many, but mostly on those of us who rely on the outdoors for our exercise/leisure. I'm still riding, but I don't think "enjoying" will come until the temps dip back above 50 :).

Neil, your pictures remind me of growing up back East. Those cold, calm bare tree days can be very peaceful. Congrats on getting out. As a kid I used to ride to school in the winter, but I've been in California for 30+ years and I'm finding 50 degrees to be my current lower limit, but we've got a lot of folks on this forum who ride in whatever Mother Nature brings. You've insprired me to start bringing my camera along.

It is too cold out for me. You da man, Neil, You da man.

Neil you are an inspiration to me. I am always blown away by the willingness and determination of all you riders that live and ride in the cold weather.

It helps take away any excuses I try to give myself about the weather here in Southern California. My god we are spoiled!

Way to get back on the horse Niel! I have been slacking as of late and instead of finding reasons to not ride, I made a deal with myself. I bought a new Brooks Champion Flyer for the Trek and it NEEDS to be broke in. I NEED to "re-lose" five of the thirty pounds I lost year (win, win). I have chosen to get back on my horse and ride just as you've done. Thanks for the unintentional push, I needed it :thumb:

+1 I couldn't handle even going out in the cold, let alone riding in it. Good job :thumb:

My cold weather gear:

Balaclava
Decente "lobster-claw" gloves
Compression shirt - for loose skin/rolls of fat
Decente winter-weight jersey - too small even when I purchased it a year ago. The compression shirt helps, but I still look, to steal a line from P. G. Wodehouse, like I was poured into my clothes and someone forgot to say "when."
Etxe Ondo winterweight bib tights - size 2xl, and still far too small for me. It takes a couple of minutes to get them on, and they are so tight, particularly in the leg, that I cannot remove my socks without taking off the tights first. Still, they keep my belly in, they are padded so I don't have multiple layers of fabric getting caught on the saddle nose, and they are reasonably warm. Also, they are the only 'high end' cycling clothing I own, so there's a certain snob appeal I don't get with, say, my Performance tights.
Cycling socks underneath wool cycling or hiking socks
My normal Sette Rival II cycling shoes or boots.
Performance fleece cycling jacket
Performance commuter cycling jacket

Sometimes we'll get a day in the winter that has very calm winds temps in the high 20s and I really enjoy riding on those days.
Just getting started is the hard part sometimes.

It's good to see you posting your rides again... I enjoy them a lot. I have a penchant for winter solitary rides I think.

It's good to see you posting your rides again... I enjoy them a lot. I have a penchant for winter solitary rides I think.

Today's recovery ride went well. 7 miles, 2 more than yesterday. Photos to come.

Glad to see you got out the second day too. I'm hoping for a short ride after work tomorrow. Just so I can say I'm keeping up with the Historian on numbers of days in the saddle. Now the weather and workload has to cooperate so I hit the bike around 4 and be done by dark. I'll be shocked if I pull it off.

So which one of us will get their third day in the saddle first, you or me?

Outstanding, Neil! A bit of a warning, for whatever reason winter riding is amazingly addictive. If you need gear suggestions, let me know, I think I finally have it figured out (for me at least).

Outstanding, Neil! A bit of a warning, for whatever reason winter riding is amazingly addictive. If you need gear suggestions, let me know, I think I finally have it figured out (for me at least).

Sure, post your gear list here. The more information the better.

OK, I won't change. You like me just the way I are, err, am. :)

I agree with you the emphasis on miles, miles, miles on the C/A forum at times is a little distracting. I've remarked before about threads in which the testosterone was so think you'd need Lorena Bobbit's knife to cut it. I enjoy both reading about "epic" rides and occasionally doing one myself. But, to borrow an image used by Mr. Beanz, I'd also enjoy reading a post about a ride to the market to buy three lemons. Or a mountain bike ride down singletrack.

Oh, and by the way, as Tom S. has pointed out, you are a real cyclist. No more poaching on my low self-esteem turf, OK? :)

Whenever I start to get down on myself about my speed and climbing ability, I just imagine how well the 150lb (and some still call themselves fat) weight weenie roadies would perform if they had to carry an extra 215 lbs on their bikes while they ride. (that's how much it'd take for them to match my weight)
I bet they wouldn't do much better than me. (probably worse)
Climbing with that much weight should be developing my "Legs of Steel".

Glad you're out and about again and that you are of a size where you can fit into the cold weather gear!

Glad to see you got out the second day too. I'm hoping for a short ride after work tomorrow. Just so I can say I'm keeping up with the Historian on numbers of days in the saddle. Now the weather and workload has to cooperate so I hit the bike around 4 and be done by dark. I'll be shocked if I pull it off.

So which one of us will get their third day in the saddle first, you or me?

Probably you. I'm coming down with a cold. Someone decided to HTFU too much and rode without a balaclava today. :(

Good work Neil, just make sure you continue to ride because you want to.

Also to jboyd, set your computer to the clock setting and ignore your miles, check them once a month and record (in case your battery goes dead) or remove it altogether.

Sure, post your gear list here. The more information the better.

Here's what works for me, so far this year:
40-50 Degrees
Base Layer: Underarmor T-Shirt, cycling shorts
Socks: Smartwool medium weight
Outer Layer (upper): Columbia zip-up fleece
Outer Layer (Lower): Pants (old khaki or jeans)
Shoes: Regular tennies :D
Gloves: Full finger, Specialized or Mechanix (I prefer these, and they are cheap cheap cheap)

30-40 Degrees
Base Layer: Underarmor long-sleeve T-shirt, cycling shorts
Socks: Smartwool medium weight
Mid Layer (upper): Long-sleeve cotton mock turtleneck
Outer Layer (upper): Hardshell fleece
Outer Layer (lower): Pants (khaki, hiking, jeans)
Shoes: Regular hiking boots
Gloves: Cabelas "GoreTex Thinsulate" Glove (I can't say enough good about these.. please see below)
Head/Face: Fleece baclava

10-30 Degrees
Base Layer: Underarmor long-sleeve T-shirt, cycling shorts
Socks: Heavyweight wool socks (Smartwool or store-branded)
Mid Layer (upper): Columbia pullover henley, or other brand
Mid Layer (lower): merino wool or standard long-john bottoms
Outer Layer (upper): Hardshell fleece
Outer Layer (lower): Pants (khaki)
Shoes: Columbia Bugabootoo winter boots
Gloves: Cabelas "GoreTex Thinsulate" Glove
Head/Face: Fleece baclava

Below 10 Degrees (this is the tough one)
Base Layer: Underarmor long-sleeve t-shirt, cycling shorts
Socks: Sock Guy/Cheap starter summer socks as liner, Heavyweight wool
Mid Layer (upper): hooded sweatshirts, sub -10 Columbia fleece
Mid Layer (lower): merino wool or standard long-john bottom
Outer Layer (upper): Hardshell fleece
Outer Layer (lower): Denim jeans*
Shoes: Columbia Bugabootoo winter boots
Gloves: Cabelas "GoreTex Thinsulate" glove
Head/Face: Fleece baclava, fleece scarf (Columbia, the only brand I've found that doesn't reek after two or three uses :))

WHEW that's a lot of stuff! :) That's, again, what works for me. In the winter I prefer to layer (obviously) and for bottoms I generally prefer cheap older clothing, as the muck and grime on the roads will make their way there. That being said, I just ordered some of Cabelas' "WindShear" fleece pants (their version of GoreTex from what I can tell) and I'll be evaluating them as soon as the UPS truck makes it here. Lower body is the only place I have problems, specifically my legs, so I'm hoping those cure that problem. I KNOW GoreTex pants would, I'm just not spending upwards of $150 on them. :)

Also, the gloves I mention, well they are the best $30 I've ever spent. I went on a ride when it was 25 degrees out, and my hands were sweaty. On this year's sub-zero windchill ride, I was the only one who mentioned how comfy my hands were. They are that good and the price is really hard to beat. I'm considering grabbing a second pair just to have around.

Again, I prefer layering, and lighter layers as opposed to bulkier, and probably warmer, layers. Next winter I'm going the tights route, but as right now my sizing is all over the board I'm going to wait until then to buy some good tights.

:thumb: +1 fan of those who ride in real cold that we don't get here in the south.

If I had to cope with that weather, I'm afraid I would become a hermit!

Well I have gotten a couple of rides in this year. The Specialized Crosstrail is what I was riding. It sports Crank Brothers 50/50s. Three jerseys, one fleece, one vest, balaclava, gloves, and wool socks. I wore bibs and covered it with winter sweat pants. (Heavy material)

26F and patches of ice on the path. Feels good though. I have taken to wearing Cocoons over my glasses. I sort of look like an alien creature. Two flats and a broken spoke and a wheel out of true.
Down to the local shop to get the spoke fixed and the wheel trued.(rear wheel) First flat was a thorn in the rear wheel. Second flat was a tiny sharp piece of stone in the front. I put on Slime Tubes front and back. Stock wheels with Crosstrail not exactly Armadillos.

I'll be breaking out the Miyata with the Nimbus Armadillos on them. I got lazy and did not put the studded tires on.

I don't ride below twenty as a rule because it justis not that much fun. If others go I'll go. Otherwise it looks like a spin class.

Historian, I hope you do not have a cold.

Quick addendum, and I'm going to make a post about them, Cabelas' "WindShear" Fleece pants are amazing. 28 degrees, average speed hovering around 16mph on my 7 mile commute, at points I was wondering if they were TOO warm. Worn only with cycling shorts underneath.

They're good. Real good. Clyde-sized versions available.

Historian, I hope you do not have a cold.

Too late. :(

Too late. :(

Bummer Dude! Get well soon!

You definitley need some homemeade chicken soup!

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;)

<SNIP>


If you look at 1000 and divide it into 52 weeks that means you rode on average about 20 miles a week. If you have time for one major ride a week, than that is not bad at all. For a lot of up and coming riders you may average a little over 10 MPH so that would be a nice 2 hour ride each week. There is NOTHING wrong with getting about 2 hours of physical activity a week. If most Americans got that much activity in their lives we'd see a lot less obesity, heart problems, etc. Be proud that you got out there and did something that you can enjoy AND is good for your body.

I could get to 3000 miles this year, but that is because I am extreamly lucky and now live relatively close to work. That means I now get about 50 miles a week just making cycling part of my commute. If I had to find time outside of work and commuting to go cycling 10 miles each day, then I'd never be able to do it. I then try to get in one 20 mile club side in each week... most of the time I manage, but sometimes family obligations get in the way. If I were to try to ride 50 or 60 miles once a week, every week, then I'd probably be divoced in no time. As I stated I am fortunate that I can commute by bike and therefore enjoy my activity while doing something that has to get done anyways. Cycling vs. taking the car adds about 20 minutes to my commute. My family and I can all easily adjust to that.

Don't worry what others do... enjoy the ride and be pround of what you accomplished.

Happy riding,
André

To add insult to self-injury, a Clydesdale poster, TechKnowGN, wrote of me, "For every reason he has not to ride, he still does it anyways." I tried not to think about this remark, which was about as effective as sitting down and consciously not thinking about a green polka-dotted three-headed platypus. So after brooding on the comment yet again, I found myself seated at my computer, staring out the window. I saw the street, and imagined my tires rolling over it. I said to myself "it's time. Let's HTFU."

...

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. Thanks TechKnowGN! You reminded me that the road is always ahead of me.




Sir -

I knew I'd want to spend some time reading this thread when I actually looked at it, and I hadn't had time til now, but I would like to respond to a few points.

1. I am humbled, honored, and thrilled that my words motivated you. I guess sometimes when we read/hear/see what other people see in us, it helps us to see ourselves that way too. My fiancee regularly reminds me that she finds me attractive, and know how much it helps me to feel that way about myself.

2. Ice is dangerous. IMHO it is not an excuse to say you aren't riding due to icy conditions. I absolutely refuse to ride in conditions where there is serious danger of ice. Getting into an accident will not help me, you, or anyone get in shape faster. That said, it's good that you put off the cold as a reason not to ride.

Way to go, TH!

All You Cold Weather Riders have my Respect.
Sunny 68* Cool Day.
All I could muster was 20 miles.
I just didn't have the energy.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/LeagueCity1854.jpg

Sir -

I knew I'd want to spend some time reading this thread when I actually looked at it, and I hadn't had time til now, but I would like to respond to a few points.

1. I am humbled, honored, and thrilled that my words motivated you. I guess sometimes when we read/hear/see what other people see in us, it helps us to see ourselves that way too. My fiancee regularly reminds me that she finds me attractive, and know how much it helps me to feel that way about myself.

2. Ice is dangerous. IMHO it is not an excuse to say you aren't riding due to icy conditions. I absolutely refuse to ride in conditions where there is serious danger of ice. Getting into an accident will not help me, you, or anyone get in shape faster. That said, it's good that you put off the cold as a reason not to ride.

Way to go, TH!

Oh, trust me, I don't do ice. The Historian don't play that. :)

As for hardening up, I was going to ride my age today, my 43rd birthday, but the 29 MPH wind gusts probably mean this isn't happening. I will be riding some distance, however.

Oh, trust me, I don't do ice. The Historian don't play that. :)

As for hardening up, I was going to ride my age today, my 43rd birthday, but the 29 MPH wind gusts probably mean this isn't happening. I will be riding some distance, however.

I was going to mention yesterday, whenever you get down remember how far you've come. If I tried to ride 43 miles, I'm sure I would fall into a coma somewhere along the way ! LOL.

Oh, trust me, I don't do ice. The Historian don't play that. :)

As for hardening up, I was going to ride my age today, my 43rd birthday, but the 29 MPH wind gusts probably mean this isn't happening. I will be riding some distance, however.

Ice is not to be toyed with. On icy days I'm no longer riding, the whole "being on the edge of nervous breakdown because you KNOW you ARE going to fall" thing isn't cool.

And great men have great birthdays. 1 day apart, ours are. :)

Ice is not to be toyed with. On icy days I'm no longer riding, the whole "being on the edge of nervous breakdown because you KNOW you ARE going to fall" thing isn't cool.

And great men have great birthdays. 1 day apart, ours are. :)

I believe yours is tomorrow, Ben? You'll be getting my email if it is. :p

Ice is not to be toyed with. On icy days I'm no longer riding, the whole "being on the edge of nervous breakdown because you KNOW you ARE going to fall" thing isn't cool.

And great men have great birthdays. 1 day apart, ours are. :)

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: