Neil_B

I confess I've used the same threat with the runt of my litter, when he suggested I ride a bike through campgrounds while wearing a gorilla costume. My little brother thinks it would give me a good chance at appearing on "Finding Bigfoot."

My favorite self-jab was my announcement that I could be located on Google Maps.....

nerys

Today neil and I met at Tyler State park. it was great. had a lot of fun. only about 6 miles but 50% of that was what I consider pretty aggressive uphill (lowest gear 4mph man is that tough)

neil is a beast compared to me. powering up the hills at easily twice the rate I could achieve. I an deathly afraid of putting to much "power" into the crankset on this bike as I exceed its mass spec by 190 pounds. so I trade power for "revolutions" and while power is not so hard for me revolutions IS hard for me.

but I figure this works out well. Less stress on the crankset and a better work out for me. I tell you I am huffing and puffing up the hills and it feels great. thanks to the recumbent NO back pain. just muscle burn which is what we want right?

One of my primary fears is breaking the bike. cause then my riding is over. I can't afford another one assuming I can't fix it. SO I don't know if I can do this successfully but I am going to try and start putting asside some cash every week. even if its just $10 or $15. thats hard for me since my cash tends to go into my bills but a few less DX goodies and I should be able to do something.

the idea is a bike fund. this way if I break something I can get it fixed right away and if it lasts long enough (or I lose weight fast enough to no longer threaten the bike) I will the fund to BUY another bike if it comes to that. either way this seems to be working and i want backups to keep it working so going to try and work on that.

I was surprised besides the back pain the walking is no so painful. the climbing is murder of course but on the flats no real pain. this time last year there was real pain doing that so I am going to incorporate a lot more walking.

walking has the benefit of requiring zero equipment and is doable virtually anywhere anytime for any length of time as available.

we also have a gym membership. I am going to make a concentrated effort to make regular use of it. I think if I can just use it regularly for a few weeks it will become "habitual" and "addictive" and just keep going from there.

for some reason imgur REFUSES to function on my one phone but fine on the other its really starting to P me off. problem is there is no EASY way to get them onto the computer (since samsung thought it would be a great idea to get rid of wonderful UMS and go with horrifying MTP)

only way is to take apart the phone (I wrap it in a complex case to protect) remove the memory card and put it into the computer directly. not doing that tonight since I have to find an adapter that will recognize the 64gb card I use. Grrr (darn you samsung UMS was SO freaking nice) (the issue is I have THOUSANDS of pictures on the phone and it does not DATE name them for file names and I can't access anything accept a file name without first "downloading" the file to the computer (MTP no real time file access like UMS)

on google plus I have a couple more panoramics though from today :-) and a video uploading of neil getting going.

he was getting upset with himself for having trouble getting going from a stand still. he is a silly person though. he just had two knee's replaced after being literally busted for a nice chunk of his life.!! his body literally has a new geometry he has to relearn. told him not to sweat the little stuff. get over it and move on with the good stuff :-)

Neil_B

The bike is a pedal forward design, and its not designed for climbing. Nerys overrates my climbing ability considerably. Lance Armstrong would have trouble climbing on Nerys' bike.

Not to bring this thread into another discussion of me, but the "getting going" part was from my struggling to get my right foot on the pedal. I spent four years learning to bring a twisted leg to a certain position and now the muscles are having a problem getting my foot to a different position. Time cures all wounds....

I agree with Nerys that I am a silly person.

nerys

My MS 150 page

https://main.nationalmssociety.org/si...al&fr_id=20331

if I did it right ms150.nerys.com should forward to that once the DNS update propagates :-)

Neil getting going :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5eieokr0WY

Grr for some reason it cut off the very end. I wonder why it did that. odd. gonna have to keep an eye on that.

Sayre Kulp 

It's a Day 6 bike, right? Shouldn't be THAT bad. I ride a CF bike and they are not really that bad for climbing. Yes, it's more difficult to stand up and mash the cranks, but when sitting and spinning, it's really not all that different.

Neil_B

Your carbon fiber machine is of a different bloodline than the Day Six. The seat and seatpost alone weighs more than your entire bike.

nerys

nah I can't climb for crap cause I am 438 pounds and out of shape :-) hehe. no doubt about that. :-)

yeah I was IMPRESSED by how much my seat weighs !! gonna have to weight it one day just for sh*&* and giggles :-)

put it this way its weighs so much it made the difference in whether it would sit right on the bike rack !! all that plywood I added does not help much either :-)

the bike itself though is shockingly light for its otherwise rather large size.

Neil_B

BTW, back to weight loss..... my journal from Jan 8, 2006. I weighed 400 pounds.

https://www.fitday.com/fitness/Public...&Month=0&Day=8

[TABLE="width: 648"]
[TR="class: Footer"]
[/TR]
[TR="class: Header"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Amount, bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Unit, bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: Footer"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Amount, bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Unit, bgcolor: #E6ECF2"]Total[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oatmeal with maple flavor, cooked[/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Amount"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Unit"]cup, cooked[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Apple, raw[/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Amount"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Unit"]cup, NFS[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Topping, butterscotch or caramel[/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Amount"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Unit"]tablespoon[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]WaWa Pretzel[/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Amount"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Unit"]serving[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wawa Turkey Hogie with cheese[/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Amount"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Unit"]serving[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wawa Diet Green Tea[/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Amount"][/TD]
[TD="class: cp_Unit"]serving[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]0.0[/TD]
[TD]0.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: Footer"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6ECF2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

This was the day that the penny dropped, when I realized that I couldn't outwaddle a bad diet.

Exercise this day was stacking firewood. For 20 minutes.

I lost 25 pounds. Hint, hint.

Neil_B

I saw the part about "model aircraft" providing streaming video. Just what we need, Nerys' predator drones.....

nerys

yeah. I have a Radian electric glider. one of my plans this year is to build a "backpack" frame to store the glider in without being heavy (the glider itself weight just a couple pounds under 5 IIRC) very powerful. I mount video camera's to it.

like this

this is two flights I made

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCUM3LCRsPg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei696mp-ldo

another nice one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CGzmAHs4JY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HKJFnmgpFA

this is actually a car DASH CAM DVR. I wish I could find more (crashed it once a wee too hard and it died) I can't find this camera again it shot the supreme best 720video I have ever seen from such a package. all the "knock offs" I have found in my attempt to get another one have been horrible in comparison :-(

and of course I jam camera's on rockets too. here is my L2 flight. (over 9foot tall rocket) from that same wonderful dash cam!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsEZWynytQs

Sayre Kulp 

The only carbon fiber on my machine is the fork & seat. The rest of it is aluminum. How much do those Day 6 machines weigh anyhow? Even with extra plywood, I can't imagine it being more than 40 pounds or so.

Neil_B

35 pounds for the stock bike.

Neil_B

Well, there goes the anonymity of a screen name.... looks like "Nerys" was as easy to crack as "The Historian."

nerys

there is no anonymity online. on a thin tissue paper thick veil of perceived anonymity :-)

Neil_B

I can't tell which of us suffers more, you with the rocket habit or me with the chess history racket. Probably you, since people actually are interested in rockets.

Neil_B

I live in a rolling area of Chester County. You live in a flattish area. 'nough said.

Also, I spin up hills. Even now when I don't need to worry about damaging my knees I don't mash to climb a hill. Spinning is the best, most efficient way. Use those gears.

Neil_B

Not a bad idea to have funds set aside to take care of bike repairs, but I don't see you breaking the crankset.

My suggestion is that you look up wheel truing, or have someone show you how to true a wheel, and you check your wheels once a week. Make sure they are in true and the spokes tensioned properly. The wheels are sturdy mountain bike wheels, but you could break a spoke. Bike shops charge between 18 and 25 dollars to replace a broken spoke and retrue the wheel. You are a hands on, mechanically minded guy, so get a repair manual or find some online video tutorials and learn some basic bike repair.

What tools do you have? I suggest at a minimum a good multitool, floor pump - like the one I had at Tyler - tire levers for replacing a tube, spare tubes and a batch kit, a tire boot.... I see you have a frame pump. A pedal wrench is nice too.

As you increase your mileage, you might want to consider cycling gloves, and switching to shoes with a more rigid sole. Also, I know you hate non-natural fabrics, but a bike jersey is handy not only for wicking sweat, but the rear pockets are nice.

Rock31

I have a 5x Jersey I can send to one of you, just need to dig it out of my closet, just shoot me a PM or Facebook message and I will mail it out sometime next week. If I remember correctly it is either Red or Yellow...

Neil_B

Offer accepted. Nerys and I will fight over it. Or I'll wear it until he's shrunk enough to fit into it.

This is the photo after the ride, and I'm wearing a sweatshirt because my jersey is so tight I had to wear it unzipped. To paraphrase the thread title, some folks think I'm trying to fix Nerys but I'm working with him to fix myself. Dude is keeping me accountable to myself.

nerys

symbiosis. parasitism never lasts but symbiosis can go on forever. Huahahahaha :-)

Today we did just shy of 17 miles (strava came up a little short) 16.84 miles (strava 16.1 miles)

https://app.strava.com/activities/37300171

it is my first time going past 10 miles and it was FANTASTIC. it was a bit rough I could actually "FEEL" the 10 mile point. I was pedaling along and started thinking I wonder if we hit 10 miles yet this "feels" like 10 miles and at that moment Isaac chimes up 10.23 miles. WOW freaky :-)

I now have a total of 164 miles on the Day 6. Very exciting. I can't wait till I push for 20 miles onward and upwards.

the "stop" for lunch in the middle recharged me better than I thought. I think I could have pushed onto 20 miles. I was aching but less than a typical 10mile ride early on.

I am also a lot less sore sitting here typing this out tonight than typical. in fact only my "butt" is really sore. :-)

I will do a recovery ride of at least 10 miles tommorrow (does that sound about right?) just taking it easy. no hills :-) hehe

Pano from today.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...50201300939890

Group shot



Pictures from Tyler Park





Nice HDR shot



Wussing out would not try and ride it :-)









I think these are from the first Valley Forge trip (the hike)





more from the other camera in the next day or so.

nerys

max image count reached. here is the left over



Got the new Thule Rack (same as Neil's) for $50 on craigslist. WOW what an improvement. the Pepboys rack goes back tomorrow (junk but in reality it was meant for a trunk)

the Thule rack is SO SOLID that I can grab the BIKE attached to it and shake the van. very nice. Just need a couple bungees for "extra" security and to keep things from rotating/spinning. I have it rigged so the rack stays ON the van not to be removed except to change vehicles (and I might get another one for the other car so I don't have to do even that (adjustment is a finicky pain)

it also spreads the load much better and best of all does NOT rest on the glass. great rack !! I will get pictures tomorrow if I remember too.

Gonna make up some "sleeves" to wrap the straps to keep the UV off them if I can figure our a nice way to do that.

hey Neil. are they replaceable? ie can I BUY them cheaply? the straps it comes with? there are actually only 4 straps (6 connection points) this way I can keep a set in the car just in case. also plan to install a security line to the roof rack. quick carabiner connection so its easy and fast as a backup so if something fails it increases the chances I can stop and save the bike :-)

its amazing how PERFECTLY the day 6 mounts if you remove the seat and mount it upside down. almost like they did that on purpose (I wonder if they did)

bdinger

So by no means have I read all of the replies, just your first post and a couple on this page. In 2005 I was 572 pounds, got down around 350 by 2009, and spiraled back up (or down) to 471 by February of this year. As of today I'm at 306 and still falling, and I'll never go back.

If I can offer any advice it will be to track everything - even if you grab a handful of chips, a cookie, a nut - and meet with a nutritionist. Find a plan that works for you and run with it. The nutritionist part is critical, however, as I've found myself to balance a diet. My diet right now is 1700-2100 calories per day (most days I'm spot at 1780, on days with long rides I'll be closer to 2100) with hardly any carbohydrates, processed fats, sugars, or processed anything. Veggies, meats, more veggies, more meats, fruits and almond milk. And lots of riding of bicycles.

Also I know this seems trivial but believe in yourself. That's the only thing that got me out of a sinking depression upon realizing I'd almost undone all of my work earlier this year, I made myself believe in myself. Dozens of times per day I say to myself or in my head "SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP, YOU CAN DO THIS".

Sound stupid? Silly? It works.

You can fix your world. Track. everything. Get a system that works. Then just keep moving, be it a two hour ride or a two minute walk. Ironically one of the smartest things I did for my weight loss was while at work I use the bathroom in the lower floor, then walk around the building to go back upstairs. Seriously. That may seem like something of little impact but I generally drink 200-250 ounces of water per day while at work.

So you know, I pee a lot.

Anyway all I know is that when I see someone like you I wish I could bottle up the feeling of walking into a regular store and buying regular clothes, or perhaps just being unnoticed in a crowd. It's brilliant. It's worth it. You can do it.

Neil_B

Regarding the "wussing out" on not riding Nerys' bike, I should note I have balance problems and recumbents seem to make them worse. I've never been able to get balanced on a recumbent.

Neil_B

Ride was slightly less than 17 miles, running from Betzwood in Valley Forge to Longford Road and Egypt Road in Monte Clare. Side trips included Lower Perkiomen Valley Park and the lunch stop at the Perkiomen Cafe.

Nerys and the Iron Chef arguing in Lower Perkiomen Valley Park.



Riding together just outside Valley Forge.



Ten minutes after we stopped, sweat is still pouring off Nerys.



Nerys with another rider working to get back his form. It was a new personal best for both.

Neil_B

I don't know if the straps for the Thule are available separately. Do you anticipate tearing them?