Long Tom

I'm embroiled in a massive home project involving demo'ing half my house, moving the remainder about 50 feet, putting it on a foundation, then building a new 825 ft/2 addition. I'm currently digging foundation trenches.... with a shovel. Heavy equipment would be too invasive at the new homesite.

So for the last week or two it's been cutting trees, digging out stumps, taking out old fences... in a heat wave no less.

I get done with a day and I'm too whipped to ride. It's an ugly "whipped", too; massive sweat all day and beat up lower back. Should be done tomorrow (with the trenching).

I'm getting huge workouts, but MAN do I miss riding!! On the flipside being in great aerobic shape- and used to sweating in the heat on my climbs- has given me the ability and stamina to really hit this hard and long every day.

I did ride with a buddy after a long day of this stuff the other day. I was totally whipped as we started... the first long climb was like "just shoot me".... but by the end (30 miles) I felt great. Need to remember that.

f4rrest

Yuck. I'd rather be riding. Hire some guys.

big chainring 

Ditto. Hire some illegals to do the work. Thats how all the McMansions are built in my neck of the woods.

But good to hear people still are doing manual labor. Its good for the soul.

I used to read Sporting Cyclist magazine back in the 60's. It was an English publication. Back then England was all about time trialing. With events that included 12 and 24 hour TT's. Many participants were farmers and manual laborers, trades persons, etc.
Working a tough job produced tough cyclists.

Long Tom

I'll be "hiring guys" at some stages but at this point, not. I've got a guy helping me move the house (he's actually done it before, haha) but dammit Jim, I'm a DIY guy, not a hirer!

I'm almost done trenching. The I form up the footings and pour at least the one for the old (moving) house... then the move (skidding, likely).... then form up the foundation for the addition... THEN I can finally start in with the more fun stuff, meaning carpentry that isn't at ankle or knee level!

Definitely need more guys than just me when the concrete flows.

All the endurance work on the bike is paying off hugely. I can go and go out there, hot sun and all. Just not nearly as fun as doing it on a bike.

f4rrest

I was a DIY guy as well. Have remodelled homes, copper repipe, service panel installs, wood floors, built cabinetry, built plantation shutters. Designed a whole bunch of crap. CAD, machinist, painter.... etc.
Always wonder what I might have been able to achieve riding/racing instead. Prime years.

Long Tom

I deplore debt and in fact carry none. If I can keep this thing on budget, I'll still have money in the bank when it's done.

I was quoted $20k for the move and foundation work. I'm thinking I can do it for well under half that. If it takes me a month, that's a good-paying month.

Heaving around on-topic... lol.... I think I'll knock off early today and go for a spin. Three days of trenching, I'm tied up in knots. A ride would do me good.

Long Tom

I shamed myself, with this thread, into an evening ride yesterday.

Was so whipped at 5:45 that I was sitting on my front porch trying not to throw up the water I'd drunk. By 6:00 and some Air Wings playin' I was recombobulated. I did a portion of my hill loop. 22 miles. My lower back was so tired.... so very tired.... but I tell you what, the restorative powers of a very aerobic bike ride are just miraculous! I got home in the cool late evening feeling fantastic, batteries recharged, which is so counter-intuitive when you started out exhausted and THEN ride a very hilly, steep route!

I'm gonna keep on it, keep pushing myself to ride at the end of these brutal days. If nothing else I've put in the work in the last year+ to get into great aerobic shape; I don't want to backslide!