cranky old dude

I have a few hobbies and cycling/bike repair is just one of them, though it has been the major focus of my recreational life for the past few years. I also get very excited about photography, collecting die cast and tin plate toys, and collecting and operating toy trains.

I'm a Gemini and if you read about that kind of stuff, Gemini's supposedly have a tendency to drift from project to project. We bore easily. I do fit that description and I'm getting bored with cycling. Oh, I'm not quitting...I've just lost a bit of the passion.

The Trek is still on the back porch and all set for winter commuting, though right now I'm content driving my little truck. I kind of enjoy not haveing to second guess the next move of each motorist I encounter lest they squish me like a bug! I've still got the Airdyne in the basement so I can keep in shape if I don't winter commute. I've even got a couple of bikes stashed down there, so I'll always have the opportunity to tinker.

I'm off to a great start too. Yesterday was one of our rare clear, dry Autumn days and rather than saddle up , the bride and I drove over to a local park and we just wandered about in the woods a bit. Gosh, that was relaxing! I've taken the liberty of posting a picture or two....




That's not our cell phone on the ground...we found it there (well, my wife found it). We decided the easiest thing for all parties involved was for us to turn it in at the Verizon store and let them sort it out.

I've sensed a strong urge to play with the trains this winter and I expect that's the direction my passions will flow for a while. I started a bi-level layout a few years back. The track is secured on the lower level but not much else is done so there's a lot of fun yet to be had designing and creating the rest of that little world.

I'm glad to have climbed down, or more acurately, up out of the saddle for a spell and I'm looking foreward to a cozy Lionel Winter.

See Ya Later (maybe)!

Allegheny Jet

Your wife has a Mona Lisa smile. I can't tell what is on her mind.

cyclinfool

Lenny,

I am sure you'll be back. I have only another 3 1/2 weeks before I am consumed with ski season - if I do any riding then it will mostly be on the trainer - although my riding buddy and I were toying with the thought of studded tires to go with the new lights...

BCRider

As someone with a list of hobbies as long as my arm I hear ya. I haven't been around BF much recently because I "discovered" a new hobby. But now I'm back to some extent.

My motorcycling this year faded a lot. Did a few track days but no road trips. My road motorcycle likely got less than 1000 kms put on it. After a bunch of years of track and racing I'm just plain burnt out for now.

But it'll come back. We folks that enjoy the confusion of multiple intrests typically wax and wain this way. And you'll wain at some point and suddenly bicycles will be the Elixir of Life for a while until you focus on something else in turn.

Having multiple intrests may mean that you feel like it's hard to focus but frankly I enjoy the variety. My one big frustration is that because I'm always shifting focus it makes it hard to actually get past good in any one area and actually achieve excellence. At least excellence as I percieve it.

Take a break for now. BF and all the characters that make it up will be here when you get the bug again.

BikeArkansas

I find this very interesting. Of course a person can become bored with any single recreation. The main draw to bicycling for me is the conditioning. The rest of cycling, such as the cycling friends, the new places and bit of competition are secondary to the conditioning.

Part of the conditioning is based on the fact that I cannot do much of anything else because of a back problem that causes extreme sciatic nerve problems. Riding a bicycle does not cause sciatic nerve problems -- for me. I am not speaking for others.

Therefore, since the sciatic nerve problem is solved by riding a bike I will likely stay involved with cycling much longer than someone that does not share that problem.

With all this considered, sometimes necessity is the controlling factor. In other cases I can understand wanting a change. Simply put, I do not have that luxury to change my recreation due only to the fact I am bored.

jdon

Bah! Winter blues. See you in the spring!

gcottay

As jdon says. Either that, or somewhere south of the ice line.

BluesDawg

Looking forward to your upcoming "how to lose 20 lbs." posts.

Enjoy yourself, whatever you're doing.

BCRider

If COD is anything like me he's not going to stop riding if he takes a break. Just that obsessing over his bikes and hanging out here won't be central to his day like with us lost souls

I sure never quite riding for the past year while obsessing over my new intrest. But the purchasing and modifiying of bikes stopped and they only got the basics of cleaning and chain lubing. And they DID tend to be a little more dirty between cleanings. And my internet time allowance was spent on reading about my new intrest to learn all I could so there wasn't any left over to check in on the BF soap opera scenarios.....

I suspect COD will be much the same before he sees the light and returns to the fold.

Louis

Yup, he's a lifer just like most of us.

This has been my worst cycling year ever because of motivational problems. Even buying a new bike in February didn't motivate me. But...I'll always be passionate about cycling and I am about to begin training for next season.

Low mileage hasn't, however, stopped me from cruising BF and making the occasional smart assed remark.

See you soon, Cranky.

billydonn

Leisure omnivore it would seem.

kjc9640

Cranky, enjoy your time with the trains and shoot us a picture once in a while. I am sure no one would mind even if it is not bike related. At least I for one would not mind. Enjoy your winter.

Tom Bombadil

I've been less passionate about cycling this entire year. Rode about 30% less than last year. But my trips to the Root River, Elroy-Sparta, and Katy trails this autumn were very relaxing and enjoyable. Definitely put me in a better frame of mind as I head into the cold and darkness of yet another Wisconsin winter.

Digital Gee

Put me in the "less passionate this year" club as well. Don't know why.

Grillparzer

I'd like to thank your wife for the great job she's doing at Wal-Mart cutting prices. Ride a lot or ride a little, what matters is that you ride.

jdon

I am thinking (inspired by commercials) that all you fella's with low cycling interest have discovered Cialis..

freeranger

I've probably put less miles on my bike this year than any year in the last two decades. Of course, part of it has to do with the fact that the state in which I now live has no rail-trails (whereas Md-Pa had tons of 'em). And very few mtn bike trails with any length that are nearby(think I got spoiled by some-in the past-mtn bike trails in Pa which I'd rate up there with any I've seen or read about). Tried road riding-don't like competing with a ton of mechanical bull for my portion of the road, though most drivers in our area are decent about giving way to bikes. Just got my new road bike derailleur(had to order from England-couldn't find one in the US), and haven't even bothered to put it on my road bike yet. Used to be if something broke, I'd have it fixed within a few hours of receiving the part. The new der. will probably make it onto the bike this winter. And I've rediscovered the joy of guitar-playing once again, after a long hiatus. Guess hobbies come and go, never thought I'd lose my enthusiasm for cycling like I have lately, though.

Timtruro

I have ridden more this year than last, probably due to the fact that I am now retired. Intend to ride as much as I can until the real cold weather sets in (they were predicting snow today but its just raining this morning).

Still didn't reach my goal for this season, but that is just one more reason to look forward to the next one.
Maybe some time in Florida or Arizona this winter wil allow for some more warm weather riding.

probe1957

I hear what you're saying there Lenny. This is the first year I have been on a bike in probably 35 years. I thought about buying myself a much better bike but have decided to hold off until I see how I feel next year. I did ride probably 1500 miles this year. Hard to justify an upgrade, from a practical standpoint, only riding that kind of miles.