jmaradin

Well today I was really shocked. I was riding to school which is about 17 miles away and I had just gotten to about the 10 mile mark when this guy on a full zoot cervelo caught up with me. Stops next to me at a light and said, damm for a big guy you sure can move fast. He proceeded to give me a few tips and then check out my Salsa. I really liked his bike as well I was definitely riding and smiling after I dropped him (dunno how really) I don't really feel fast. I tend to ride about 18 to 20 mph on my commute and he was doing about 15. Mind you this guy was about half my weight. Pretty shocked right now why in full kit with at least 5 to 6k below him he was moving at this speed. I will keep up my 350 to 400 miles per week.

Mr. Beanz

Guy might have done 10,000 ft of climbing the day before and was sticking to his training program. I've done it, then gone out the next day as a recovery ride when another rider tries to draw me into a meaningless 5 mile sprint. I just let him go, hold my pace and laugh at his ignorance as he pulls away thinking it was a race.


"Pretty shocked right now why in full kit with at least 5 to 6k below him he was moving at this speed"

Discipline maybe?

jmaradin

Most likely was his recovery ride, however I definitely felt good about the compliment. Keeps the motivation up for sure to keep at this.

magohn

Let me get this straight. Your 360+lbs, been cycling for less than a month, ride 400 miles per week , average 20mph, and go to school full-time?..........

mkadam68

+1 I'm a little curious too.

chefisaac

Doesn't matter the type of bike or anything else. Your assuming that because he has a nice bike and decked out, he should be moving faster. Kinda like saying fat people shouldn't ride.

That's awesome you are riding a lot.

What tips did he offer up?

jmaradin

He noticed that I tend to keep my knee's too wide as well as my foot position on the pedal was a little off from what he mentioned that you lose some efficiency. I am hoping some wider pedals as well as stiffer shoes which I am picking up will make a difference. As far as my riding level, I have been back to riding seriously since January and casually riding since last fall. I bought a mountain bike last year and a city type commuter bike in January. Both of those bikes helped me improve my fitness level and I went from 440 ish lbs down to 360 since about October. The Salsa was more of a reward to myself for the journey that I have made as well as something much faster for the commute that I have now. I have one more reward planned for myself as I am hoping that I can hit 250 lbs by spring. If I make that goal I will be purchasing a Carbon bike. I rode a Specialized Roubaix that I love the hell out of but I need to feel comfortable with the weight that I will be putting on it. I commute 5 days a week to school which is a 35 mile round trip as well as riding on the weekends usually 50 to 100 miles each day. I have taken riding very seriously as it is the type of exercise that I can actually handle. I actually despise the gym and feel it is a waste of money but I probably will have to join one sooner or later to work on building more muscle. I am definitely building endurance and helping my CV system at this point with the amount of biking that I do. My speed has definitely increased but I do want to get faster and I know that will come with time. Ideally I would like to go faster but by the time I get to school right now my legs are burning and I feel wobbly for half the morning even after eating and taking a shower. It is however possible that I am incorrect with my speed as I do not run a gps. I use a wireless cateye type computer and those have been possibly wrong in the past. My commute generally with a few stoplights included and usually a stop for the restroom takes me about 70 minutes. If I rode straight without stopping I feel it maybe would take me 50 to 55 minutes or so, maybe a bit less. My bike computer shows me averaging anywhere between 18 to 20 mph when I am spinning however and that is what I go by. This past weekend on my longer trips the computer had me anywhere from 14 to 18 with peaks way above that going downhill. Of course going uphill lots lots lots lower . As far as my assumptions, it was just more of a shock. Most of the time I see roadies around here, they are just quietly zooming around. This guy was classy in the fact of being friendly and offering advice, much different than what usually happens around here. I am hoping that I run into the guy again. Maybe I can learn more from him and gain a training partner so that I don't ride alone for my faster rides. When I ride with my fiance I have to ride much slower as I don't want her left behind but that is ok. She usually calls it a day around 10 miles and then I can go burn off some energy.

jmaradin

I think the biggest thing that I need to work on now is diet. I have been losing about 2 to 3 lbs a week so far, with gaining a bit over last winter during the holidays. I want to look at stepping my weight loss up a notch. I figure for me to hit my goal weight of 200 by next July I will need some serious work. I figure I need to hit a average of 4 lbs a week which is no easy goal so I need to change my diet. If anyone has suggestions of easy to prepare items and especially things that will hold a while so I can prepare in advance for 5 or so days would be great. My weekdays are quite crazy usually as I get up around 5am and do not hit the sack till 11pm generally.

RichardGlover

Cervelos are nice bikes.

Sometimes, the people on them are really fast; sometimes they're not so fast. Might be the same person from one day to the next..

That said, they tend to attract new road cyclists that have a lot of disposable income. It's their money; they can (still) spend it how they like. I like it when they do; it helps keep the LBS in business.

mkadam68

JM--if you're ever in SOCal, lemmee know. Be happy to show you the sights & local group rides.

Daspydyr 

A good word from a fellow biker feeds the soul. Count this as a good day.

There is a female rider on an OBREA who passes me (I'm on a MTB using the pavement to get to trails) all the time. But she smiles and always has a cheery greeting. She can pass me all the time.

RubeRad

You should look into pedal extenders...

TrojanHorse

All the other stuff aside, I'm just shocked he deigned to speak. He must be unusually human for a roadie.

Seattle Forrest

It's a well known fact that people on Cervelos are friendly and charming. And unusually handsome. And wise. And...

chasm54

How remarkably ubiquitous prejudice is.

TrojanHorse

Way to snip off the smiley face on the quote - it must have hit a little close to home.

Seve

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