So who is this Roller Dave Guy? (long)
 

Hi.

um, it's me?

No, I suppose that's not enough, is it.

I'm 42, qualified to be more than TWO Clydesdales, and awaiting the delivery of my new bike.

I used to ride quite a lot in my teens and early twenties, but eventually succumbed to the call of motorcycles, hot rods, and a sedentary lifestyle and unwisely stopped.

I had a Maruishi Road Ace 404 I couldn't even straddle it was so tall. At 5'11" I'm not exactly short, but I had to step up on a pedal and swing my leg over to get up on that tall bike, but it was stiff, and loved to go.

I rode it everywhere. I even moved out of my mom's place with it, hauling all my stuff to my first place on my own in a home-made trailer.

Until I got my '74 Camaro and broke the old bike's heart.

Now, I'm realizing a lot of things I wish I'd seen more clearly years ago, and taking back my life.

In 1999, I was living on public assistance in subsidized accessible housing and hadn't felt more than a dull ache in my legs in over two years when I realized that if things were EVER going to get any better, I was the only one who could bring about the change that would bring improvements in my condition.

Long hours of physical therapy, exercise in a pool, my girlfriend being brutally honest and telling me I was STILL slacking....

Cutting out all sugar-pop, as many carbs as I could, and learning new ways...

And I relearned how to walk.

Not well at first, but better and better... regular market rate apartment, retake the driver's test, pass...

Buy a house, Start a business, make some money, spend a whole lot more...

Life starts to come around, I begin to feel that I am making some headway taking back what is mine, what I threw away through stupidity and neglect.

But the summers pass by my window and I have a deuce of a time getting out under all that sunshine without a lot of help. It isn't much fun making your loved one push you any distance in a wheelchair when you are close to 500 lbs so mostly you don't ask, you just look out the window and die a little more inside every day...

Well NOT ME! Life is like a rollercoaster you only get to go around once, and if you finish with all yer limbs YOU did it WRONG! I'm gonna stand up at the top, scream my head off, make some NOISE...

I WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT!

So, after long consideration, I decided to revisit one of the few times in my life when I felt truly happy and get back on a bike. Albeit, not a skinny-tired road bike like the days of my youth.

I began fooling myself into thinking I was going to build myself something suitable from a pile of junk behind my shed and a few relatively nice 'donor' bikes I bought specifically to cut up for my project, and who knows, I might just begin actually building one day, but I finally realized I can't wait until then to begin.

So I bought a new Lightfoot Magnum, and not JUST because the old guy on their web page looks exactly like my dad, and I miss him terribly..

I expect it on Monday, or Tuesday, and I'm as excited as... something. (can I say "hell" on this forum?)

So excited, I just HAD to stop lurking.

So there,

RD

My guess is the weather's finally coming around in St. Paul so we need to hear accounts of your adventures soon. :D

Oh yeah, I will be more than happy to dig into my big bag 'o adjectives...

I plan on putting the trike up on a trainer until I can do at least two miles under moderate resistance, the I'm thinking the bike paths along the river near downtown St Paul are level enough to build my endurance further.

You can bet you'll hear all about it.

Thanks,

RD

Hi Rollerdave,

Here's some motivational reading.

http://optifat.blogspot.com/

Big Ben posts here, and he's dropped from 500 some pounds to about 300, IIRC. He's also completed a mountain bike race.

http://istanbultea.typepad.com/largefellaonabike/

Scott recently announced he'd reached his high school graduation weight of 221, from over 500. Perhaps you read about him in your local paper.

http://mattyspeaks.blogspot.com/

Matty reached 250 or so from a high of 515.

And then there's an account of a fellow who dropped from 385 to 242 and taught himself to ride a bike at age 40. He went from learning to balance to riding a century in ten months.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=371043

I hope to start reading such stories from you, Rollerdave.

Hi Roller Dave! *wave*
Welcome to our nice group of people of struggling with weight loss. But even if I'm not losing any weight at certain weeks, biking is still tons of fun and keeps me going for more.

Eat smart and healthy and ride your bike often and the sky is the limit.

Hi RD, very nice introduction. You seem to have the proper mind set coming into this. All I can think to say is to take things slow and be certain that your doctor approves of your new physical activity. In addition to those suggestions you are obligated to follow unofficial clyde forum rules:

1: Post Pictures

2: Share your adventures

Those "rules" help to motivate everyone be it the clyde veterans or the lurkers who've yet to come out. Welcome to the forums.

Bau

Welcome aboard, rollerdave :D

Be sure to contribute to this thread, and check out the very first post on it as well. ;)

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=228767

I am subscribed to this thread.

Wow! Personal responsibility. What a novel concept in this day and age! I think we'd all live in a better world if more people thought like you.

You sound determined and ready to go. You'll do great. Now go get'em tiger!

And welcome!

Dave, you are the man. I mean that. I started on June 15, 2008 at 567 pounds, and now I'm down in the 300's. I'm trying desperately to hit 299 by June 15, 2008 although deep down inside I'd really like to hit the 267 mark :). I've taken the approach of slow, but steady weight loss, and every weigh-in remind myself that while losing 2 pounds this week may seem like not a lot, losing 10 pounds when I weight 500+ seemed the same.

And man, I remember those days. I remember in 2005 I moved within two blocks of work so that I could start walking to work, in hopes of getting in something resembling exercise. I thought that two blocks was killer, I'd even get sweaty from it! I moved onto the second flood of my complex because I didn't think I could make the trip up to the third floor every day.

Now I'm riding 20-30 miles a day on my bicycle, averaging between 14 and 16 mph over those miles. I'm happy, relaxed, and enjoy life. While I'm still way overweight, I'm also finally ALIVE, something I couldn't say nearly three years ago.

Guys like you and Neil keep me going. I can't imagine the struggle it will be for someone who couldn't walk to attempt to make the change you are making. Keep it up, the next time I'm up in the twin cities I'd love to ride with you!

OK, now I got some reading to do!

That's OK by me, helps fill the time until that crate fills my garage.

As for pictures, tales of adventure, and updates, I think I can do that.

RD

I love that route. :love: Excellent choice. :beer:

I try.

It's relatively level, has handicapped parking for my massive ground pounder of a truck, follows a road closely enough that I can call in help if I get in over my head, or can be met for a picnic snack when my Becky gets off work at 3M nearby.

Plus, the scenery can't be beat.

RD

Hey, RD,
I can certainly identify with you. Like you, I'm also a double Clyde - 441 lbs as of 3 weeks ago, when they weighed me at the hospital before knee surgery. I've also got a trike; I bought a Sun EZ-Tad SX. I can even go along with the ground-pounder of a truck (F250 Crew Cab 4x4 in my case). I've started riding along our local riverside trail (Little Miami Scenic Trail) - my longest ride so far is just over 5 miles; the first couple of times out, though, it did me in just doing a flat 1.9 mile loop.
- Bob

Sorry, I was 41 when I learned to ride, not 40. It was so long ago I forgot my age at the time. They say the mind is the first thing to go.....

No, time flies when you're having fun!

East Hill

+1 doesn't do justice to how strongly I know this statement to be true.

rollerdavem,

And I live in St. Paul! So if you ever find your motivation lagging, give me a PM and you'll have an instant riding friend.

Susan

Welcome to the forum and good for you. I was 375 and so out of shape, I would sweat in the shower. Good luck with your riding and let us know how you do.

Hey bdinger, what ever happened to your FX, did you get a new frame? I don't remember ever hearing.

I did! Trek replaced it last year under warranty, then it got ridden very little until late last week. I still don't trust it, but can't afford (or rather, don't want to afford) to replace it right now. Great bike, loads of fun, but a Surly calls my name... :)

I'd be delighted to take you up on that once I get up to speed.

I'd like to thank you all for the wonderful replies and encouragement, it makes me really glad I decided to stop lurking and start participating!

Thanks,

RD

:beer:

you go , Dave.!........... what a great, inspirational thread! keep us posted

karl