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What Limits Your Riding?

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Old 09-19-10 | 02:48 PM
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What Limits Your Riding?

In the process of trying to find a comfortable sit I've come across many reasons why people don't ride more often or further than they do. Others seem to have no limits.

One person told me they quit altogether except for toying around the neighborhood because they couldn't find a pain free saddle. Another because they don't have a very good place to ride.

Mine are two fold: Discomfort and time. After about 30 miles or so my butt just hurts too much for it to be fun any more. Also, there are only so many hours in the day and I do have other things in my life.

If you have something that limits your cycling what is it? Or, what are they?
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Old 09-19-10 | 03:02 PM
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I have lots of nice bikes, plenty of time, an understanding wife, good health (fingers crossed), and live where I can ride out my door into the country.

The only reason I can come up with is lack of motivation.

Last edited by Louis; 09-19-10 at 08:06 PM.
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Old 09-19-10 | 03:54 PM
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Work and wife.
Work isn't as understanding as my wife about my wanting to ride more.
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Old 09-19-10 | 03:56 PM
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Old 09-19-10 | 04:02 PM
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Work.
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Old 09-19-10 | 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by seemunkee
Work and wife.
Work isn't as understanding as my wife about my wanting to ride more.
+1
Work & Wife!

One I intend to leave behind and the sooner the better. The other....I can't imagine life without her.

Let me put it this way: I occasionally get the urge to climb into my Tour Easy, point it westward, and just go. What keeps me within a one day out & back range is not my job!!
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Old 09-19-10 | 04:28 PM
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Old 09-19-10 | 04:51 PM
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Work. New CEO and he has promised to keep me very busy.
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Old 09-19-10 | 04:52 PM
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Old 09-19-10 | 05:17 PM
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work and climate
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Old 09-19-10 | 05:40 PM
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My biggest constraint is work. I had thought about trying to slow down after I turned 60, but right now I am "working my age," i.e., 60 hours per week, between doing my day job and teaching two night school courses at UCSD. In this economy, I am thankful to have steady work which I enjoy and which pays decently.
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Old 09-19-10 | 06:10 PM
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I'm 65 and usually ride alone and the thing that limits my riding (distance) is not feeling safe in many of the neighborhoods that I could ride through. I live in the close in burbs of Atlanta. Need I say more.
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Old 09-19-10 | 06:15 PM
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Work and family obligations are the biggies. Occasionally health issues get in the way. A recent broken leg has slowed me down a bit.
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Old 09-19-10 | 06:15 PM
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Like 10wheels, Sleep but I would add lunch and dinner to that list. I also simply don't have the energy or fitness to ride everyday. Four or five days out of seven is the most I can do without the legs complaining.
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Old 09-19-10 | 06:21 PM
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My coach limits my riding time. Three years ago when I decided that coaching myself was not working due to my overtraining, I hired a real coach. The first thing he made me promise was that I would not exceed his workouts and do recovery rides as prescribed. I'm also semi-retired, working three days a week, and have a very understanding and supportive wife.
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Old 09-19-10 | 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Latitude65
In the process of trying to find a comfortable sit I've come across many reasons why people don't ride more often or further than they do. Others seem to have no limits.

One person told me they quit altogether except for toying around the neighborhood because they couldn't find a pain free saddle. Another because they don't have a very good place to ride.

Mine are two fold: Discomfort and time. After about 30 miles or so my butt just hurts too much for it to be fun any more. Also, there are only so many hours in the day and I do have other things in my life.

If you have something that limits your cycling what is it? Or, what are they?
Physical and neurological - I have mild but obvious scoliosis, severely knocked knees, and problems with balance.

Comfort - I've yet to find a saddle that doesn't chafe or rip me up.

Psychological - my joy in riding is limited by my perfectionist streak. It bugs me no end that I can't do things other, better, 'real' cyclists do - such as ride fast and use clipless, or even mount properly. I've given up riding in groups after a bad experience with a group of roadies in Harrisburg a year ago. Aside from a couple of friends who I still ride with from time to time, I avoid riding with groups now.

I went from 3000 miles in 2007 to less than 500 this year.
 
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Old 09-19-10 | 06:37 PM
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Run down physical condition - continuous sinus and ear infections, family/work stress and mild depression. Last winter it was several 2+ foot snow storms when we normally only see a couple 3-6" storms.
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Old 09-19-10 | 07:05 PM
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1. Work
2. Rain. Won't start a ride in rain but will finish one if I get caught in it.
3. Snow. Please excuse use of four-letter word.
4. Ice. Might as well be a four-letter word.
5. Cold. Another four-letter word. 15 F or less. Above 15 is OK if no #3 or #4 four-letter word junk on road.
6. Evening rehearsals for two different choirs in which I sing.

As far as I can tell, tsl laughs at numbers 3, 4, 5, and perhaps 2. Methinks he's a tough hombre.
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Old 09-19-10 | 07:19 PM
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I've developed arthritis in my hands which is slowly getting worse. I can't use my bikes with the thumb shifters anymore, so no more roughing it up on my mountain bike. I've equipped one of my bikes with the ergo grips and am seeing if that helps. I hate wearing riding gloves because they get so frikkin hot, but I may have to to cushion my hands. Can anybody recommend some that are cool and will absorb a lot of shock so my hands won't have to?

We are finally crawling out of the super intense summer heat so I'll be able to get in more ride time. YAY!
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Old 09-19-10 | 07:23 PM
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Work. When it's hot the job kicks my butt, when it's cool the days are shorter.
I also ride pretty hard on Saturdays and need to recover so I would never ride 7 days a week. If I didn't have to work I would probably ride 5 days.
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Old 09-19-10 | 07:39 PM
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I am having a very difficult time getting my bike dialed in. We were up to 4 x 6.5 + 15 +12 a week..about 50 a week, but I have managed to get my knees messed up by my endless adjustments and my hands are still WAY to low. I have an appointment this week with a pretty good fitter and hope to put all that behind me. I hope and think LIGHT will be the limiting factor after that..I am not all that up on night riding.
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Old 09-19-10 | 07:42 PM
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Old 09-19-10 | 07:44 PM
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Okay real answer...same as doctor j except for #6 I don't sing.
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Old 09-19-10 | 07:52 PM
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I've been thinking about my initial post of the old "Lampoon" cover.

Work isn't my only excuse. I can come up with a lot more and it really makes me disappointed with my self.

It's too hot/cold.

It's too early/late.

I need a long ride and I don't have the time.

I can do a short ride but I really need a long one.

After four hours my legs turn to jello.

It's a holiday weekend. Might be some impaired drivers out there.

Excuses, excuses, excuses.
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Old 09-19-10 | 08:07 PM
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Time, or lack thereof and other household chores and family obligations. It may pick up soon however since our daughter and son-in-law live 2 miles north of the Katy Trail in St. Charles, MO. Since they just made us grandparents with a little daughter, I'm sure the wife will be wanting to go down there more. Gramps too, of course! But the trail is so close
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