Thanks

I took a short ride today just to see how I would do and was happy with how I did. I tried a few hills too. I forgot to put on the chest HR strap and also forgot to hit the start button for about a mile too. I need to get retrained I guess. Its been to long off the bike. Hope I'm ready for the Tour de Mesa in a few days.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/76202457

Please see this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...cross-training

I need help. Will turn 65 in Dec. From you experience, what sould I do about medicare/insurance? My insurance now for me and the wife cost a little over $1000 per month. What can I expect to pay with medicare?
Thanks,

I am with Secure Horizons and my co pay is 10.00 for my doc and 40.00 if I see a specialist, but there are so many options. We got a broker to come over and help us choose a plan that best suits us. I was on no meds but the wife was on lots of meds so our plans were different. Good luck. Remember anything the government touches it screws up something terrible.

I am with a Medicare HMO (RMHMO) - costs a bundle, and they cover a lot. Our expenses have been astronomical this year, and they lost a whole bunch of $$ on me and my wife.

Some of the plans include a rec center membership - I believe Secure Horizons does. Mine doesn't.

Phil:

Good luck with the Tour de Mesa. Burr, I have some neuropathy in my feet, too: don't know what kind - my doc decided it was enough that I had it, without spending big bucks to find out why. It started about 15 years ago when I had high blood sugar for a short while. I think my left foot got worse on the long flight to Ethiopia last month - so it may have something to do with lost circulation in general. It's a nuisance: feels like my socks are all rumpled up under my feet all the time, my feet are cold at night, and it has some effect on my balance, but it's not stopping me doing anything.

Ride report: I'm in Sines, Portugal, tonight: a gritty industrial port in a beautiful setting. Did 74 miles today, a record for this trip, and I hope to do 80+ tomorrow and get to Lisbon - my first tail wind of the trip is forecast. Today was slowed down a bit at the beginning by 5 long climbs from sea level to the plateau at about 700 feet above sea-level. Saw my first other touring cyclists of the trip - four German guys headed my way, and a young couple - also German by the look of their gear -headed south. Beautiful sunny weather! Photos soon - would have been tonight but I had to fight with the computer for two hours to get on the internet.

Regular medicare Part A (hospitalization) has no premium Part B (doctor and related expenses) is just under $100 a month today and pays about 80%. Medigap or supplemental comes in several flavors but covers what Medicare doesn't and will be $60 to $150 according to what plan you select. These plans let you use any doctor you choose that takes Medicare and are good everywhere in the country,

There are also, depending on where you live, HMOs that are less expensive, usually and have more complete coverage, but they are area specific, have different pay scales for in and out of network providers and often cover nothing but emergency if you travel out of the HMOs area of service. There are also Advantage programs in some states which differ widely according to the state (and sometimes county) you live in. Lots of choices and no one size fits all. Medicare Part D has a separate premium and is just for drugs.

Your medical premium and out of pocket costs will probably be considerably lower when you go on Medicare. I have been happy with Medicare and in spite of Phil85207 gratuitous "anything the government touches it screws up something terrible." I have found Medicare to be a lot more useful than most private insurance programs that I have been inflicted with over the years.

Talk to people who are on Medicare in your area about what they use and why. Look for seminars from people like AARP in your area. You have to brush up and figure out which type of plan will work work best for you and your wife. Your circumstances may lead you to decide on different programs for each of you depending on your particular needs.
Do it now, don't wait til the last minute. Good luck.

Agree. Medicare pays promptly, the MD's accept my HMO almost universally, no hassles, much easier than my former "private insurance." I believe Medicare's overhead is significantly lower than private insurance. I have never had a problem, and, in fact, when I disputed something with my HMO - supplement - RMHMO - they made the HMO pay. That was a $2,000 item.

Well I got done with the Tour de Mesa, or should I say it's done with me? Anyway it was a good ride, I'm glad it wasn't any longer. That long climb near the end was a killer for me with the heat getting up there, and of course a 10+ mph head wind going up it. I swear the gusts only came at the steepest part. Wind wasn't much of a factor except for that climb. Here's the link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/76753916

Kudos. :thumb:
Looks like you coasted a lot because your cadence was zero. ;)

Keep Pumping Phil, your doing good.

Yea for some reason it quit. I noticed it dropping to 45 or so when I knew I was around 90 a few times and then there was nothing.

I have to confess I was glad there was not one more mile cause I was just about done in near the end. That last climb out was really tough on this old guy with a stiff 10+MPH head wind. By that time it was also getting hot too. I passed lots walking up that had not paced properly and didn't have enough in the tank. My advantage was that I have this route as one of my regulars so I knew better what coming near the end. Still it really worked me over. I guess three weeks off the bike before the event did come into play.

Yea, If you notice I coasted all the way up Usery Pass mountain according to the Garmin, but I can tell you for sure it didn't feel like I was coasting.

I took a few days off after the Tour de Mesa and today did a easy paced ride with several rest stops.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/77463859

I'm in Almeirim, Portugal, having given up on my plans to reach Santiago de Compostela. I realised on Monday night that, with strong headwinds forecast for the rest of the trip, I would never make it riding up the coast before my plane leaves. Sunday I visited the westernmost point of mainland Europe, and that was a heck of a climb in a headwind. Monday I rode 35 miles, all strong headwinds, all up and down about 1500 feet, and was whacked at the end of it. So yesterday I rode across the spine of Portugal, another long, hot climb (temps. have gone up to the 90s) and then through fearsome traffic to Santarem, where I thought I'd coast across the Tagus River. I forgot that ALL old towns in Spain and Portugal are built on the tops of hills, so had to deal with that first. Got to Alpiarca, no accomodation to be had. Had to backtrack here.

The next five days I'll be riding across almost empty parts of Portugal and Spain, and accommodation will be an issue every night. Then the local train into Madrid from Caceres, which will avoid the hassle of Madrid's freeway snakepits, on to the airplane and home. Three days' rest and the MS1509, Houston to Austin.

I've posted photos on my Facebook account. If anyone is interested my Facebook name is john.l.berry (the thing in the middle is an 'ell'). There's an album for Spain and one for Portugal (which I think is called March 2011)

You are doing/did our dream.

Glad you are well and happy, keep pumping

AND ENJOY

Sorry John, I couldn't find the facebook page. Lots of John l Berry's and the only one from TX was real young. Anyone else find his facebook page?

Some pics of John Berry.
Unable to find him on Facebook.

http://johnlberry.com.s52923.gridser...rador-gallery/

10wheels: thanks for finding my web page with the photos of the Labrador trip. Phil, my Facebook account is JOHN.L.BERRY, except all lower case. Address Austin, TX, age 69.

I'm sad to report that today was the end of my trip: I haven't added everything up yet, but it's something like 1150 miles in 28days. The last two days were through the emptiest parts of Europe I have ridden in: today 60 miles with no settlements on the road (two just off it) and no gas stations or restaurants for the first 50 miles. And it was hot - nearly 90F: when I finally saw a cafe, the bartender was pouring a glass of lemonade from a 2-liter (1/2 gallon) bottle for a customer. I said "I'll buy that!" He started to say, "You can't" and then decided to call the owner and ask him. The owner said "2 Euro". I said, "Done" and drank a third of it right there.
The area is a high granite plateau used for grazing (but I saw few cows or sheep), and incised by tributaries of the Ebro, each of which meant a beautiful rush down to the bridge and a long crawl back up.

I'm in Caceres, Spain, the most interesting place I'd never heard of (World Heritage site, completely preserved medieval city, etc.), and will take the train back to Madrid either tomorrow or the next day. I was sitting eating my dinner this evening wondering why so many people were hanging around in the little plaza in front of St. Matthew's Church, and all of a sudden a life-size medieval statue of Jesus on the Cross gets carried out and they start a Stations of the Cross Procession.

I have time to ride two more days, but from here on in it's all motorway to Madrid - not fun and not safe (probably not legal either - I already had a guy my age stop on one of the best riding roads I had encountered, just before leaving Portugal, to tell me I was being illegal and had better get off there before the Guardia came along. I ignored him!). For 16 Euros me and the bike can ride in the lap of luxury to downtown Madrid!

All the best to all of you

John

Take care and enjoy

Yesterday I did a little 11 mile ride and forgot to take water. When I got home was in bad shape. I hope I remember on Monday.
Just getting back into bikes. Can no longer drive a car/truck. Eyes are bad.
I am 70. I wish where I live was more bike friendly. Too many drunks and druggie's.
Does anyone purchase on line from www.modernbike.com
I need 12 items. Or if you know of a better place.
thanks. I will see you if you get real close.

I just bought from here:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/TopCate...10053_10052_-1

Sbrener, glad to "see" you here and I hope you enjoy the bike again.

Let us know how we can help!

sbrenner, what 12 items are you wanting? Maybe a "shopping list" will help us guide you to the best site.

Took a little ride today, 11,291 miles. I think it must be some sort of a record. -:0)
Had some kind of glitch, the cadence and distance didn't show on the garmin but boy did I cover some ground. LOL
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/78888706

I like your speed stats. :)
Avg Speed: 3.9 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 2,803.1 mph
Max Speed: 24.8 mph

I was gonna say something about the wind in my hair, but alas, No hair.

I don't know about this Garmin 800, at least my Max speed went down. All the way down to 110.3. -:0) It must have been those new tires I got??
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/80641726