dagray

My name is Dave and I live in a very rural area. I used to ride everywhere due to lack of a car in high school and enjoying a good ride. At that time the bike was a Centurion Le Mans with 27 x 1 1/8th tires and I was 175 pounds and six foot four. Fast forward 20 plus years to now from 1988 and I still have the Centurion, but quit riding as I would even at full pressure in the tires squish the tire enough to create friction making a ride unpleasant and causing tire damage. I now am down to 386 from 396 and six foot Three due to diet (carb counting due to diabetes) and exercise.

I purchased a 2013 Raleigh Talus 29er on March 8 of this year as that is when the bike store was having a 20% off sale as well as getting my wife's bike repaired and her rims modified to be quick release, and getting my son's bike tuned up, and a trailer to pull the three year old in. I also bought a Giant brand trainer but am having issue getting the 29er to fit.

I have been able to ride a little over a mile at a time and my recovery time is getting better, I know I need to ride longer distance with more frequency, but I enjoy getting out on the bike and notice a big difference after I ride as I feel better.

I chose biking as it is no impact and I get more exercise value out of a mile ride than I do out of a mile walk.

At 43 (almost 44) years of age I have pulled my head out of my rear end and started to not be sedintary in my lifestyle. I started gaining weight as a federal security officer (1997-2002) as the job had me sitting for long periods which would make me tired and when I got home I would plop in front of the computer or TV and then for the last year at a sit down job I noticed my weight going up again. I have 20 years federal service (four military and 16 as a federal civilian), and I want to be able to enjoy my kids and live longer. I still spend time in front of the computer or TV, but also spend time being active.

Thank you for having me,
Dave

PhotoJoe 

Welcome to the nuthouse. Good luck on your journey. Hope we can be a part of it!

HuffinandPuffin

Welcome to the Forum

Most everybody is here because that need/want to change their life someway. Welcome to the club.

Try and make a big push in your Exercise Commitment! Do not look at cycling as your only option. Try and do something in the exercise realm on your recovery days. Set a goal! Create a real sense of Urgency to reach that goal. Keep us posted on your journey!

Phil

RIDE SAFE

Black wallnut 

Welcome to bikeforums! 1 mile will turn into 2 will turn into 4 will turn into many more. Enjoy the journey. BTW where is Boadman OR?

dagray

Thank you both for the welcome. I walk, I lift my youngest, do house projects (hey let's face it any activity is better than sitting) like clean the aquariums, weeding. By recovery time it was taking me a couple hours to not feel the effects of riding (i.e. feeling normal), but it is now down to about 30 minutes. I am working on my distance as well so that I can stay on the bike longer. I was really fighting the weightloss as I take insulin at bedtime to help combat diabetes and insulin inhibits weight loss (I was at a 576 glucose level in December of 2012 and within a few months of eating right and medication I was able to bring my glucose to an average of 130, so now we are working on the weight as that will also help lower the glucose level).

I am motivated to do this as the VA made it seem like the diabetes was a death sentence and so I had my family doc hook me up with the local "Diabetes Education" at the hospital who taught me about counting carbs and letting me know I can eat what I want as long as I do so in moderation. I quit a 25 year smoking habit in November 2009, only drink a very small amount on very infrequent occasions, I have cut out soda for the most part with a diet soda as a treat maybe once a month or so (not once a day like it used to be). I do most of the cooking at the house so we don't eat a bunch of fried food or go to fast food joints; rather I make a dry rub out of spices and then bake the meat on a broiler pan so we aren't getting as much fat in our diet. Of course I am the flip side of the diabetic coin as I tend to not get enough carbs per day.

I know one thing I have to do is to not try to ride the way I did in high school initially, but work up to being able to ride that way.

I am looking to build a bike hanging system to hang all the bikes in an area out of the weather, but easily accessible so that the get used (once in the shed they seem to hide). I already am noticing a difference (now to figure a way to get music to my ears while I ride (either a headset to connect to my phone or borrow my son's iPod.

Again I thank you for the welcome. I could use advice on tires for the road bike as initially I want to use it on the trainer (Giant Auto) inside on those windy/rainy days (mostly wind here in eastern Oregon as we are in the desert), but also will want to ride it outside as I cut weight.

Blessings,
Dave

dagray

Boardman is on I-84 about 50 miles west of Pendleton right on the Columbia River, but in the desert. We have great salmon, steelhead, walleye, and sturgeon fishing here as well as bird, big game, varmint hunting. We have hiking/biking trails, old historic highways that are now closed to vehicles, and other recreational activities.

We have to drive 30 minutes to Hermiston to the nearest bike store and to stock up on our groceries and have to drive at least an hour to get to most specialty items. Boardman has a population of 3300. I moved here in 1997 to take federal civilian employment.

cafzali

First off, I'd ride outside ASAP, if I were you, primarily because it increases the likelihood that you'll stick with it. Let's face it, none of us like riding on the trainer much. We do it when we have to for weather or time reasons, but it's generally not much fun. If you pick a relatively flat route, that won't be any more arduous than a session on the trainer and will be more fun.

As far as all-purpose tires, if you are going to mix trainer and road use, I'd recommend something tough like Continental Gatorskins. I've gotten more mileage off them than any other similar tire and think they're worth the price premium.

dagray

Actually That is the plan to ride outside on the 29er as much as I can, and to ride inside on the road bike with a trainer when I can't get outside due to weather or time of day. I prefer to ride outside and get some breeze to help keep me dry. Maybe I can get the oldest boy to ride with me too as that sometimes is a motivating factor. Thank you for the recomendation on the tires

Black wallnut 

dagray, I know where Boardman is located. Living up in Ellensburg as I do I know how our winds are. Often we have the same weather warnings. I've heard good things about the Continental Gatorskins, however I've had great experience with Specialized Armadillos. However I would recommend against paying for a preminum tire until you are done with the trainer for the season. Trainers eat tires faster than the road does..

dagray

Black Walnut, Thank you. As the road bike has been in the shed on flat tires (goat heads got em) for 10 years I think I need to replace the tires anyway... I want the ability to run the pressure so that I am not sitting/riding on the rim even while on the trainer. I also am thinking about replacing the pedals from the ones with rat traps/cages to a cleat system so I can use the shoes/cleats I purchased when I picked up my new bike. I went in picked up shoes with cleats as a rigid sole helps my feet to not hurt, four helmets (one for each family member), three pair of riding gloves (one for each riding family member), eye protection, a good tool kit bag to hang under the seat with levers, a patch kit, and tire guage). I also got the trailer hitch five bike carrier so we can take our bikes places as we have a trip to Cannon Beach planned in August. I picked up the trailer as I am hoping to not only pull the three year old (which I have done on short rides already), but take my camera equipment and pack a lunch for a nice leisurely ride through the wildlife refuge.