Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - The Seasons of the Clyde Forum

Bautieri and I were having lunch along the river in Harrisburg and talking....

"There's a real seasonal pattern to the Clyde Forum" Bau said.

"Yeah. You want that last onion ring?"

"Take it. In the new year we get the new posters who discover they are fat and out of shape, so there are a lot of "What bike do I buy? posts."

"Followed by the "What other gear do I need" posts."

"Lots of posts about bike shorts in March and April. Then as the summer comes around, everyone is posting about their mileages and rides. You know, the "I rode ten miles" threads with a dozen exclamation points."

"I like reading them. And I've probably contributed a lot of threads like that."

"Fall and winter comes, and everyone gets cranky because they ride less and their weight goes up, so there are a lot of arguments. But then spring comes around and it repeats itself."

" And I remain a constant. Each year there are a new crop of posters replacing the ones who left. Sometimes I feel like Wilbur in Charlotte's Web, waiting for the new bunch of spiders each spring to write something."

Bau put down his soda. "Dude, the testosterone level at this table just dropped to the floor."

"Yeah, and I just compared myself to a pig. Are you going to finish that...."

Nice post Neil...I am here to stay.

That is so true :)

You left out the numerous clyde-worthy/clyde-size wheel, tires, shorts and jersey threads. As common as the "Can I Tour on This Bike?," "Trailer vs. Panniers" and "Prevailing Winds" threads that are started in the touring forum each year.

Maybe it's because the main thing about bike riding is bike riding. There's only so much to talk about. Everybody has more or less the same questions getting through the first year or so of doing it - Can I do it at all? What do I need to get started doing it? What do I need to do it better once I've started? Wow! I've been doing it for a while, and it's really cool!. After that, it's all about doing it. (Unless you get into A&S, in which case, you're probably too busy talking about it to ever do it.)

"Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives"

I was a Clyde when I joined BF, then slipped out of the club just about the time I found this forum. But then I came back with a vengeance. Unfortunately, I fear you won't be rid of me anytime soon. But at least I'm a Clyde that exercises.

Neil, your dialog made my day. Thanks.

// I was having a "meh" day, and you pushed it over into "good" territory.

i'm still around and will be for awhile..

not losing any weight but my endurance is definately improving along with losing inches..

You left out the numerous clyde-worthy/clyde-size wheel, tires, shorts and jersey threads. As common as the "Can I Tour on This Bike?," "Trailer vs. Panniers" and "Prevailing Winds" threads that are started in the touring forum each year.

Understood. Brevity is the soul of wit.

Neil, your dialog made my day. Thanks.

// I was having a "meh" day, and you pushed it over into "good" territory.

Anytime I get to work in a Charlotte's Web reference is a good day for me. As a child, I couldn't understand why the smart spider would do all that work for the whiny pig. As an adult, I understand friendship defies explanation, so lines like the following become clear:

“Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.'
You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.”

Neil, well referenced!
I'm delighted to be a member of the forum, and looking forward to becoming emeritus in the coming year.

Hi Neil, and everyone. I guess I am a new spider. ;)
In fact, I just posted a query about what bike to buy right before I read this thread. Yes, I am fat and out of shape, inflexible, and I need a bike. I have been walking
my local trails and my husband is getting tired of that and wants to ride again. I told him sure, as long as I get a new bike. But it has to be a low step through and it
can't be ugly. I am 54, he is 62. He is younger than me physically, but I am younger than him mentally. :)

Love it Charlotte's Web...yeah...I am new here...hope to be here for awhile! So can I be Templeton? :lol:

You left out the I broke my wheel season. That seemes to be late summer early fall after they've gotten a few rides in on the bikes they bought to loose those holiday pounds...

Neil, you guys definitely hit the nail on the head.
(even down to the "You want that last onion ring?" :lol:)
After so many years, I've found myself coming to BF (especially Clydes and Athenas) less, and following individual blogs and pages more frequently.
I should probably check in more and offer support to those anxious about starting the cycling experience.
Of course I should also be getting out more for rides instead of posting....
And you can look forward to my posting "I rode more than 10 miles!!!!!" again if I start riding more than for commuting/errands/dog exercise.

LooneyTick: If you're "mental" this is the place for you!!!

There definitely is a cycle, and I look forward to how the pace picks up as spring approaches and people get excited for the summer.

In the new year we get the new posters who discover they are fat and out of shape

I had to chuckle at the "discover they are fat"... it gave me visions of someone waking up in January and suddenly exclaiming "I'm fat! So that's why I haven't seen my feet in months!".

I know what you mean though, when I decided to do something about being fat some years ago and joined the gym I stuck with it in one form or another for nearly three years and got heartily sick of January, when all the people with fine sounding New Year resolutions joined the gym, swarmed over everything so nobody could move in the gym only to never be seen again after a few weeks. Interestingly for me the original draw to cycling was to get around faster, the fact I'm not as fat now as I was then is a side effect I hadn't even considered at the time.

A friend of mine helps organise a local Park Run and he said the numbers in January are hugely higher than December, and I'd imagine they'll soon be winding down to their normal level of the people who want to run rather than the people who decide they want to Do Something, or (more likely) Be Seen To Be Doing Something.

But then if people take up cycling and only some stick with it, I figure the ones who stick with it make it worth sharing whatever experience I have that's worth sharing with the others too.

it's winter and I can't stand it. Being stuck indoors a lot... only biking I do is on a trainer or to school... not the same as touring. There certainly are cycles in the year... like right now all I do is research new touring/camping gear. Daydreaming of sunshine and good weather!!!

...got heartily sick of January, when all the people with fine sounding New Year resolutions joined the gym, swarmed over everything so nobody could move in the gym only to never be seen again after a few weeks.

Dont knock these lovely people - I LOVE NY resolutions. I picked up a 3-month old Trek fX 7.3 Disc - fully loaded (rack, fenders etc) with less than 50 miles on it last March for $300 and change. Without the NY resolutions Id be "-1" bikes. I love my Trek. I find myself riding it more than my full-carbon Roubaix because it doesnt matter if I ride it in rain, snow or scrape it - it was $300! :)

Dont knock these lovely people - I LOVE NY resolutions. I picked up a 3-month old Trek fX 7.3 Disc - fully loaded (rack, fenders etc) with less than 50 miles on it last March for $300 and change. Without the NY resolutions Id be "-1" bikes. I love my Trek. I find myself riding it more than my full-carbon Roubaix because it doesnt matter if I ride it in rain, snow or scrape it - it was $300! :)

In the cycling world I'm sure there are some serious bargains to be had from people who started January with a money-no-object mentality and start February with a get-this-thing-out-of-my-face mentality and don't care how much they lose on the deal. Perhaps I should be looking out for a chance to upgrade in the new few weeks, but then I'm happy with the bikes I have.

My issue was that in the gym I gained nothing from the people who suddenly decided to start working out in January - for me it was all pain and no gain.

In the cycling world I'm sure there are some serious bargains to be had from people who started January with a money-no-object mentality and start February with a get-this-thing-out-of-my-face mentality and don't care how much they lose on the deal. Perhaps I should be looking out for a chance to upgrade in the new few weeks, but then I'm happy with the bikes I have.

My issue was that in the gym I gained nothing from the people who suddenly decided to start working out in January - for me it was all pain and no gain.

:) Good point.

I wasnt particularly in the market for a new bike but the price was such a steal. I highly recommend hitting Craigslist around mid-Feb -> early March. The NY resolution is a distant memory and the sun hasnt risen from its slumber to attract all the newbies to the roads. Great deals to be had!

I had to chuckle at the "discover they are fat"... it gave me visions of someone waking up in January and suddenly exclaiming "I'm fat! So that's why I haven't seen my feet in months!".


It's called denial. I've lived it. I "discovered" I was super obese years after I reached the qualifying weight.

It's called denial. I've lived it. I "discovered" I was super obese years after I reached the qualifying weight.

I know what you mean - even though I never made it over 300 it took me a while before I was willing to accept that I really was quite seriously overweight and needed to do something. It's just the idea of "discovering" rather than "accepting" that made me chuckle.

Perhaps its not so much a "discovery" that a person is fat but more finally gaining the motivation to do something about the excess pounds. I feel that this is more the situation for me. I have never been in denial about my obesity but have not been willing to make the commitment to change.

Love it Charlotte's Web...yeah...I am new here...hope to be here for awhile! So can I be Templeton? :lol:

Not if I have to share the slop trough with you. :lol:

Love it Charlotte's Web...yeah...I am new here...hope to be here for awhile! So can I be Templeton? :lol:

http://image.space.rakuten.co.jp/lg01/70/0000539070/43/img842474a6zikazj.jpeg

LooneyTick: If you're "mental" this is the place for you!!!

"Mental" as in nutty? Or weird? I am. Not a psycho mental case though.

"Mental" as in nutty? Or weird? I am. Not a psycho mental case though.

It could be Cousin Jethro means we discuss thinking and motivation a lot.

^^ Or maybe just a reference to LoonyTick's name.

"Mental" as in nutty? Or weird? I am. Not a psycho mental case though.

I'm no longer able to differentiate between these. I do like British humor though so that makes me borderline whatever.

I'm no longer able to differentiate between these. I do like British humor though so that makes me borderline whatever.

you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. ;)

I'm no longer able to differentiate between these. I do like British humor though so that makes me borderline whatever.

The sea? It's the blue bit between the land and the sky.

I cleaned up some posts. Please don't carry arguments from one thread to another.

Thanks for your cooperation,

CbadRider
Forum Admin

Thank you so much! Could you please also take a look at other threads where similar passive-aggressive styles have taken place. Unfortunately they are numerous.

Thanks!


I cleaned up some posts. Please don't carry arguments from one thread to another.

Thanks for your cooperation,

CbadRider
Forum Admin