I've tried to stress that point with Peter from the beginning.

Yes, you have. And I remember too! But a perfect example is needing to change the wonderful covered bridge ride for fear that I won't be able to handle it.

Yes, it's probably the smartest choice, and for the best - but that doesn't mean that it doesn't sux either!

Any ride will of course be fun, and whatever is planned will be great :thumb:

But *I* can still wish it were otherwise! :notamused:

Give it time, Peter. You'll eventually be amazed, as you get off the weight, how much your capabilities will increase. You'll just have to take a bit of extra care to not get too dehydrated, etc, when those capabilities increase. Slow and steady improvement will win the race for you.

And, I must remember that point! Like many others, I am guilty of wanting more! Believe me, I remember when I first got the bike (before the TKR) and all I did was ride it to the end of my driveway - and slowly walked it back up (rise of maybe 10 FT in bout 400 yards - just enough to coast down)...

Quality of life for both myself and Cin *is* much, much better today than anytime in the last 6+ years...

Hmm, let me see! About 70,000 miles on the bike, 0 road crashes. a ton of riding through mountain roads with only 2 MTB crashes in the last 5 years. I'd say I'm doing pretty good considering you're still trying to figure out how to ride through the park without popping your tires!:roflmao2:

Patting myself on the back? Hmm let see, 15 years older than you, with a better resting HR and the ability to drop you on the climbs even with a separated shoulder, yeah, I pat myself on the back!:D

Good advice! Like I said, start from block one. It will come if you follow a program for improvement. You can do it! Your quality of life has improved by what, being positive and just doing it!:thumb:

If I asked for a trainer and this guy showed up. I'd switch gyms! I think the other dude that did the 60 miler the other day is still alive!;)

Right and last I checked he didn't have congestive heart failure either. Don't be ridiculous.
Oh yeah have fun dropping me on the climbs. It wouldn't happen. Just because I don't like them doesn't mean I'm not good at them.

Right and last I checked he didn't have congestive heart failure either. Don't be ridiculous.
Oh yeah have fun dropping me on the climbs. It wouldn't happen. Just because I don't like them doesn't mean I'm not good at them.

Ok guys lets zip up and stop the mesuring contest :lol:

Peter sounds like your doing great on the bike, I am sure over time the hills will come.

Unless there's an act of God or an arson, the covered bridges will be there for when you are ready.

I'd been to Pine Grove Furnace State Park three times before I tackled Pole Steeple. Frankly, if I'd tried it before the third visit, I wouldn't have reached the top. I showed good sense to wait until I was ready.

And I wasn't the fastest hiker up the climb. Some posters, like CPFitness, might consider me as "failing" for that. But I think they are missing something.

Don't let people who are missing something deter you, Peter. And then you will ride across a covered bridge in hill country, or climb a Pole Steeple, or whatever.

Peter, here would be my advice. Talk to your doctor about the hill climbing more, seek a second opinion and maybe a third. What Beanz says is correct you will gain with time and less weight and it will be a slow battle. However, you do need to have a conversation with your Dr/Drs to make sure raising your heart rate that high isn't going to put you at risk. None of us know your full history, none of us are cardiologists. If you don't like your current cardiologist go see a new one. You have to have a good relationship with them and be quiet frank with them and tell them you expect them to be quiet frank with you. One problem with many drs is that they have this god complex or think they are so much god damn smarter than you that you wouldn't understand. you need to have a dr that you can say hey look i've lost 50 lbs. i am riding a lot, i want to get better climbing hills so i can loose more weight and become healthier, what can i do? is doing it going to put me at increased risk? will my heart strength/function improve by riding these hills until i can't ride anymore? it seems like you dr may just be blowing off your efforts and not taking the time to discuss this with you because he thinks you are just going to give it up because most ppl do. This is why i would seek another opinion, you want a cardiologist who is going to spend the time with you to help you strengthen yourself safely.

It sounds like you got a promotion. :thumb:

Heh~! Umm... not sure that I'd call it a promotion, but the stress level is much lower :P

Dude, don't make me laugh! I've read your other posts about other cyclist blowing by you with ease....on the flats!:rolleyes:



Yeah, I'm not sure why everytime I try to show others that it can be done or try to motivate others to climb with a motivational story of past experience, the inexperienced nay sayers take it as patting myself on the back and arrogance! (see CPFITNESS post above)

Usually some dude challenging another rider in a some other post!:rolleyes:...I'd die for a chance to race this dude!;)

:popcorn

Hey, you're always starting trouble!:D

nah. Just an inattentive observer.

This place has been kinda quite though.:p

Is this like the stomping around Sumo Wrestlers do before the actual match?

...

Where was I? I ferget...

at the start of a climb looking to go up I think.

I know, trying to add some excitment but nuthin' doing!:D

I love how you take everything out of context to try to make me look bad when everyone probably thinks your a loser with no life for following me around the forum cutting and pasting. I have no problem with your positive encouragement, but you seem to be content with not taking science into account.
And yeah I get blown away on flats in central park. You know why? Because they are cyclists! They are 175 lbers on performance bikes. I'm 235lbs. I'll put myself up against others in my weight class and do just fine. At 18% bodyfat realistically my weight isn't going to get below 220. Hard to compete against 175 lb guy.

Anyone who can think Mr. Beanz a "loser with no life" needs to spend time reading the forum.

i was simply stating that someone who is sweatin me to the point of following me all around to read all of my posts and compile them really needs to get a life. The quote where I allegedly challenged a guy to a race was completely taken out of context; it was from a thread where someone was dismissing the flatbar rapid as not able to compete with other entry level road bikes, which is simply not true.

But like I said, I've got no problem with his positive encouragement of others, in fact, I think it's great. But all the positivity in the world isn't going to make congestive heart failure disappear

Not at all what you wrote:

"...everyone probably thinks your a loser with no life for following me around the forum cutting and pasting." I doubt anyone thinks Mr. Beanz is a "loser with no life."