Biking Popularity
 

I have a pleasant surprise today. This Fast bike across America supported tour is starting Monday, April 23, 2006. There are 37 participants (at least 8 women)!
Average 119 miles/day for 27 days, two day rest, 87,000 ft elevation change, total miles about 2,900.
That is a lot more Bikers than expected and more than in the past.
Please observe that such a trip requires a very substantial investment in time and money. Interesting that so many have the resources and willingness to do this. You also better hope nothing goes wrong (like get sick last minute).
Training for it is also very time consuming (not much time for posting here).

I am very thankful for all the help I got on 50+ but in fairness, "Training and Nutrition" was very helpful and "Touring" actually got me started on BF.
So thanks again and see you end of May. I need to do some last minute training for the next two days and then I am off to CA. I will have this Lap Top with me.

So if anyone worries about the future of Biking, it is getting more popular. My LBS seems to benefit also, there is now a waiting time to get things done.

http://www.bamacyclist.com/Journal20...6fastsouth.htm

Enjoy your ride--and good luck!

Now not too much training for the next few days. Let the legs rest a bit- Let the body rest- Let the brain relax. Well done on getting ready for this ride- and remember that the pain is not going to be there- It will be a figment of your imagination. The euphoria of having done the training will get you through the ride- and from the way you have trained this ride will not be as hard as you think. Only thing is- don't show up too many of the youngsters.

Hear from you in a month- but if possible keep us posted on the ride.

Will, looks like we can follow your group's daily progress at the Bama site. This is going to make one h*ll of a Ride Report when you get back. I'll probably ride a little mor distance in the next few weeks, saying to myself, "Would Will Dehne turn back, or ride on farther?" We all know the answer. Stay safe, have fun!

Ride Will Ride!!!

We're really excited about your adventure. I wish I was out there with you!!

Good Luck! We are all rooting for you......

Ride son. May the wind be always at your back.
God speed.

Will - you da man! Enjoy every minute of it. My goal the first year of my retirement is to ride across the country.

Hi Guys,
How did I know that the 50+ forum would give poor little old me positive reinforcement?
You Guys are great and should all be in motivational endeavors.

I feel about as fit as ever but keep my fingers crossed for those things out of our hands. My favored poem at times like that is DESIDERATA.
Thanks and I will keep posted.:)

Will -

Good luck, my friend! Stay safe and have a good time!

Steve

Go get 'em, Will. Can't wait for your report.

We look forward to your reports and it's great we can go to the listed sight and check out the journey. Just remember, its not all about how many miles per day, you're going out to see America by bike!, there are times you should stop and smell the pie!!

You are our main hope for changing the image of fat, slow, hybrid riding old farts.
Long live the image of fit, older, serious cyclists.
Most on this forum are envious (in some way), all of us are rooting for you every mile.
Be safe and have fun.

What's wrong with fat, slow, hybrid riding old farts, eh?

Don't get me started on self described "serious cyclists" setting the limits for an "approved" cyclist profile. If you wish to do so, let's do it on another thread.

I-Like-To-Bike:
There is no value judgment on this issue from me. May I relate an experience?
You decide if it is worth this post.
I biked for over ten years. Often 100 miles in ten hours on Rails to trails in Wisconsin.
I also love to eat and drink lots of red wine. My weight kept going up until I was size 40 waist and 240 lb. at my six foot height.
Somehow I decided that was too much and looked what to do about it.
I changed my diet and started exercising more aggressively. That worked. Next I came up with this idea of cross country at 100 miles in 6 hours. That really did it as to getting in shape.
There are folks out there who wish to know that this can be done as well want to know how to do it. Those folks I like to communicate with.
People who are comfortable as they are? This is a free country and we must not compare ourselves to others. That will get us nothing but arguments.
I do believe in self improvement and personal best and pursuit of Happiness.
(My favored poem on that is DESIDERATA, it says it better than I can.)

You can do 100 miles in 6 hours, WOW! That's pushing 18 mph average

I felt like I was doing good yesterday when I did 20 miles in 1:41. That was without stopping, an average speed of 11.8 mph.

I be waiting to hear the scoop when you get done with your trip, would love to do something like this (I think).

Sorry, NO.
100 miles in six hours is 16.67 MPH. Big difference to 18 MPH. Meant to be pure biking time. Add one or two minutes for water stop.
I did 50 miles yesterday on a flat prairie path, against and then with the wind. At 18 MPH average.
That was very hard work. The wind was such that one way I averaged 16.5 MPH and the other way exeeded 22 MPH on occasion.

An excellent post. But it doesn't alter the obvious elitism in the post to which I referred.
Using bicycling to improve one 's physical condition is fine. Of course maintaining/improving mental conditioning may be just as important in some cases. I find surprising the angst so often expressed on the BF, including this list, about the "required" pain and strain (and equipment purchases) necessary to attain some arbitrary goal; a goal often set by self appointed experts to achieve the exalted state/"image" of "Serious" cyclist.

I could not resist posting this. I hope you do not mind, PLEASE.

Text of the Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.Be cheerful.Strive to be happy.

I have been involved in some form of physical sport ever since I was 8. Competitive sport since 9. Some people enjoy reading- some photography- some Sitting infront of the TV eating Pitza's. My life has been sport. Funny thing about sport is that you are not born to it- you cannot read about it- you cannot cram it up on the internet-- You have to do it.
For some of us on this forum, sport is taken seriously, along with the physical training- the eating correctly and the correct life style. It is a major part of their life and it cannot be knocked. For some others it is just a way to lose a few lbs. Tone the muscles a bit and keep the inevitable day just a bit further away.

It does not matter how you start into the game of Cycling. It does not matter how far into the game you want to move. What is important to most on this forum is that we are in the game. Winning that game does not matter but participating in it does. So whether you do 500 miles a week at 20mph- Go out every weekend and do a long ride or just do a 10 mile ride occasionally- It does not matter. All that matters is that we are active and pursueing an activity that we want to do- and in the manner that we want to do it in.

I probably do the hardest one day ride of any of us. It is hard, and does not get easier with each passing year. More than 50% of the entrant do not complete it. It is that hard. Why do I do it? Because I want to- it is as easy as that. There is no way I will be one of the front runners of the finishers- They will do the ride in 10 hours and I will probably take 12. I do it on a bike that is a bit special admittedly but that bike is now 4 years old.
Elitism In the sport of cycling-- Yes. But on this forum I very much doubt it. Bragging- exaggeration- not highlighting our failures ---Yes. Encouragement to other riders--- yes. Having the ability to talk to a lot of other riders that enjoy the same "Sport" as ourselves --Yes---and that is what the 50+forum is for and about.

Posted on this forum earlier today. Without any smiley or ironic icon modifiers:
"You are our main hope for changing the image of fat, slow, hybrid riding old farts.
Long live the image of fit, older, serious cyclists."

Comments?

PLEASE, "Let IT BE".
Will

Some of us commute, some of us like to cruise and recreate, a few may even go out can collecting, others may use the bike to meet women (!), and some use the bike as a tool to push back encroaching barriers of aging and social expectation, even personal barriers of doubt and "angst". Some just like speed and sweat and endorphins. Doesn't seem to matter here at BF50+......no one is excluded nor have I seen anyone discouraged or blown off because of their skill level or style of riding. I haven't found much that would cause anyone to feel excluded because they were less than elite-- unless that person was predisposed to those associations.

It seems normal to take pride in pushing back a barrier, whether it's Will Dehne's 3000 miles or a recovering
back injury's ride round the block. If you follow threads here, it seems evident that all riders at BF50+ are encouraged and reinforced.... not just the "elite" top achievers. Nothing is inherently wrong with being a fat old fart or with being a lean, intense old fart. I won't deny that societal judgements about fat and lean, dedicated and casual, 100 miles and 10 miles do creep in here-- but then so does politics, religion, and sex....just like in all other aspects of life--at the dinner table, the work place, church lobbies, bike forums, etc..

The point is----- we do a pretty communally good job of keeping that stuff in balance and respecting everyone. You're free to post and be listened to, so is jppe. The value judgements are left to you-- I doubt others are being disapproving in a chronic, destructive way or there is an inherent tone of valuation at BF50+. In the end, we're all basically "old farts"-- who cycle no matter what the modifier.

Will,

Best wishes on your ride, it should be quite the adventure. Along with everyone else on this forum, I look forward to your ride report.

Nick

Why is it that when people have different opinions there is always one that says the other is wrong?

We all ride for our own reasons. Some like to try to turn the clock back and some like to ride easy.

No one is wrong. No one needs to be wrong. Whatever floats your boat.

Regards,

Bill