This is a sort of strange post, but giving myself permission is something I have been getting closer and closer to the past few years.

Most of you know I am not into mileage and "how fast I can go."

However, I continue to read about amazingly long rides and faster times, and there has continued to be a little inkling in the very far back inner parts of my mind that I REALLY ought to be tracking miles, pushing for faster and faster speeds, etc.

Monday, I spent some time with my very excellent physical therapist, evaluating and talking about two issues. Some pain in my left hip that is at times rather bothersome and some tightness in my right lower back, also irritating.

Her evaluation was that i have some breakdown in my left hip, and that my lower back has a muscle that is tight and is pulling my right hip up so that it is 1/2 inch higher than my left hip. They may be interacting with each other. We discussed celebrex, glucosammine and chondroitin and she prescribed 2 stretching exercises. We discussed my lifestyle and exercise - she is a great fan of my exercising routines - except she suggested I might consider altering some of the things I do so as to not accelerate my hip problems.

So, today, I did a 5 hour ride/swim at a pace and speed which I thoroughly enjoyed and from which I derived no pain. This was on my mtn bike through some dirt and sand and on the MUPS, and a 45 minute swim.

I feel I now - at 72 - have been able to give myself total and complete permission to ride as I REALLY enjoy, without those slight concerns that I might have subconsciously had of speed and distance. Hey, that is a really nice feeling.

Well, I just wanted to share my thoughts. No replies required.

You said "No Replies Required" so I won't. Dang, I already did . . . Anyway, +1 - Enjoying your active lifestyle is the point, isn't it?

That's kind of how I started out riding several years ago.

"I came out for exercise, gentle exercise, and to notice the scenery and to botanise. And no sooner do I get on that accursed machine than off I go hammer and tongs; I never look to right or left, never notice a flower, never see a view - get hot, juicy, red - like a grilled chop. Get me on that machine and I have to go. I go scorching along the road, and cursing aloud at myself for doing it."

H.G. Wells, The Wheels of Chance

I've also heard that riding all day at a sustainable pace is not an athletic feat, but a triumph of the will.
But at a mere 60 years, I've yet to learn that lesson, H.G and I are still doomed to ride together.

The life worth living is the one where you get to set the metrics you'll use to measure progress toward the things you think are important. No one else can set those metrics or decide for you what's important. Seems to me you've done a fair amount of deciding what's important to you and how to measure it. The life we have is something precious. I'm always amazed at the number of people who never purposefully decide how they will spend theirs. So, yes, Denver, give yourself permission to spend yours the way you want.

Smiles per miles. That's what you ought to track.

+1 I pushed myself into rides that I really didn't enjoy and realized that it should be about "smiles per miles" rather than "no pain, no gain." But I still feel a pang of speed/distance envy now and then.

Little kids have it down. When I was a little kid, I would jump on my bike and ride and ride - Sometimes I was a confederate or Union soldier and my bike was a horse. Sometimes I would ride and see how many bugs I could squish. Sometimes I was a cowboy and the little girl next door was a cow (she didn't like that very much).

But I didn't know how much my bike weighed. I didn't have a HR monitor, or a computer. I didn't know anything about "aerobics".

The first bicycle ride that I did not enjoy was when the Boy Scouts made us do what they called a "Bike Hike". Set distance, lots of rules, frowning faces. All I could think about was when I get home I was going to get on my "horse" and chase bad guys out of the neighborhood.

Are you implying that I am entering my second childhood?

Lately you've been a man possesed, a punisher. I, on the other hand, am thinking of cutting 25 miles off of next weeks century. Maybe I need a vacation?

Denver,
What are the new stretches the physio has you doing, if you don't mind saying? Your attitude continues to inspire me to keep riding and to improve both my cycling and my health.

Bill

I would need to post - a not so good - picture. They are hard to describe. It is specifically for the muscle in the lower back that is tight. She told me the name of the muscle, but I don't recall it right now.

'K, I'll stick with the ones the PT taught me several years ago. They work in spite of the broken TI screw head in the hardware. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Nora and your family.

Bill

I think I'm into your mindset, Dnvrfox. I ride for fun, mostly on trails around the city here. If I see a vista that i want to enjoy a bit more, I'll stop and enjoy it. Maybe take a swig of water or munch a peanut bar while I'm doing it. I have only a limited amount of time for my rides that rarely exceeds 2 hours. But I find that I relax, my mind unwinds, and my feeling of well-being improves. I'll take it where I can find it!

I forget whether or not yoga is a part of your routine. I have a vague memory that you have posted that it is. If not, there are number of asana's that target lower back/hip flexibility.

Sarah Powers's "Insight Yoga" DVD has a "Liver Series" that really works those areas. It's Yin yoga, so it's very slow and gentle - but it really seems to be loosening up my lower back. The Chinese medicine/meta-physiology is a bit wacky for my taste, but the physical techniques appear to be excellent.

https://www.amazon.com/Insight-Yoga-S...2152149&sr=8-3

The asana that Yin yoga called "Swan" (and other yogas call "Pigeon" might loosen exactly the muscles involved.)

https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/863

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLtiwdJMUNQ

Just to be clear, I am not a doctor or even very knowledgeable about anatomy. I am just a 58 year old guy who discovered yoga as a part of a weight change (down about 95 lbs over the last year!), and is really enjoying yoga and becoming flexible, albeit at a miniscule pace. :-)

Mike

Sorry, I am not into Yoga, neither is my PT. Thanks for the thought.

Everyone has there life to live and isn't it great we all don't want the same things. It seems for now at least that I need to measure my ridding stats and compare and strive to be better than I was. When I first started to ride it was just for some exercise, but now it seems I need to prove something to myself. go figure.

I rode around this morning, and took some pictures- see the other thread started up there for them.

You know, I might contridict your doc.. Although she gave you props on your exercise routine, she told you to slack up on some. All well and good, but in my UNPROFESSIONAL OPINION, the reason you are do SO WELL with those impairments, is BECAUSE OF YOUR INTENSE ROUTINE.

Again, not saying the doc is wrong, I would say listen to your body. If those routines sends a tweak to your hip or other weak part, then back off. If not, I would say, keep on with the keeping on.

Not a Doc, but a PT.

She is not prescribing - we had a discussion about options. I make my own choices, and she knows and appreciates that.

I don't think that fixating on speed and distance is a good thing. Ten years ago, I typically rode with an A group. Most of the people were my age or somewhat younger. Most of the group was really into the competitive aspect of the rides. It was as if it was their own little Tour de France. In the next few years, many of these riders were unable to ride at that pace anymore and no longer had a chance of "winning" their weekend race. None of the really competitive riders is still riding as far as I know. The fast riders who liked cycling for cycling's sake are still riding. They are all riding slower, but they are still riding. Interestingly enough, the two best riders in the group were not particularly competitive and both of them still ride.

Hey, I appreciate all the great responses, even though I stated that responses were not necessary.

I was sort of curious if I would ring anyone else's chimes with this thread. Seems as if at least some folks understood what I was writing, and a few even agreed.

Thanks, all.

I too am in your camp of riding for enjoyment and / or exercize although mine is to "get rid of extra-size" or at least maintain without growing too much. You are on the right track. I am a young one to you, only 60 and still working but do take time to try and keep my health... not necessarily 'keep in shape' but healthy yes...with the enjoyment or riding and enjoying the outdoors.