Hi everyone (self intro)
08-28-14 | 09:42 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Hardening the F up
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 209
Likes: 1
From: Galt's Gulch, New Hampshire
Bikes: 02 Litespeed Siena, 29# hard tail Tank
Hi everyone (self intro)
I'm new here, but not new to cycling. I rode my first century in 1975... at age 14, with a friend (on his 14th birthday) with about 30# of gear each. Camped out for a few days, then we rode our second centuries going home. Still can't believe our parents let us do that. It wasn't the smartest thing we could have done... something about damned fools and puppy dogs...? Anyways...
I was the 16 - 20 yo that fixed your bike when you took it to the shop a couple years later, when a complete tune up cost $15 (of which I made about $2.50).
I was the ridiculously fast, untrained collegiate. A friend following me in his car claimed that I made 42 mph on a flat road, no wind. Not certain it was really the answer to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe and Everything, but 42 was pretty ef'fing fast on a bike.
After crashing in the rain on a century ride in my late 20's (toe clips plus cleats, never got out, first thing to hit pavement was my new Bell helmet, completely destroyed on its first ride!) I lost interest. This year, I'm back, finally. Bought a hard tail 29er as a one bike, do-it-all compromise, not being certain what I was going to do. It currently has slicks on it because I really haven't taken to trail riding. I prefer roads, about 50/50 asphalt and dirt (in central New Hampshire).
Couch potato no more... I am riding 1 - 1.5 hours a day and I am fit, feel great. I am not "trained" however, and playing with Strava I am just blown that (well trained) humans can climb 70 feet a minute on a steep, smooth climb. That's probably not ever going to be me at this point, but I think I can probably improve my current 40 - 45. I've decided to start learning exercise physiology because I want a) more power/weight, and b) I think by adding a little scientific interest to Winter indoor exercise (which I hate) I can get myself to keep fit through the off season. So I am going to start reading Friel this weekend and have a Mio Alpha strapped to my wrist. Having a think about goal setting, but that should be another thread.
I was the 16 - 20 yo that fixed your bike when you took it to the shop a couple years later, when a complete tune up cost $15 (of which I made about $2.50).
I was the ridiculously fast, untrained collegiate. A friend following me in his car claimed that I made 42 mph on a flat road, no wind. Not certain it was really the answer to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe and Everything, but 42 was pretty ef'fing fast on a bike.
After crashing in the rain on a century ride in my late 20's (toe clips plus cleats, never got out, first thing to hit pavement was my new Bell helmet, completely destroyed on its first ride!) I lost interest. This year, I'm back, finally. Bought a hard tail 29er as a one bike, do-it-all compromise, not being certain what I was going to do. It currently has slicks on it because I really haven't taken to trail riding. I prefer roads, about 50/50 asphalt and dirt (in central New Hampshire).
Couch potato no more... I am riding 1 - 1.5 hours a day and I am fit, feel great. I am not "trained" however, and playing with Strava I am just blown that (well trained) humans can climb 70 feet a minute on a steep, smooth climb. That's probably not ever going to be me at this point, but I think I can probably improve my current 40 - 45. I've decided to start learning exercise physiology because I want a) more power/weight, and b) I think by adding a little scientific interest to Winter indoor exercise (which I hate) I can get myself to keep fit through the off season. So I am going to start reading Friel this weekend and have a Mio Alpha strapped to my wrist. Having a think about goal setting, but that should be another thread.
08-28-14 | 10:32 AM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 602
Likes: 23
From: high above the pounding surf of Lake Erie
Bikes: Couple of rigid MTB's and a fixed gear
Welcome!! Nice resume.
1975!?! You're old.....oh, so is everybody else here.
The committee will rule on your acceptance....I can tell you, though, with no pics of the new ride, things don't look that good.
1975!?! You're old.....oh, so is everybody else here.
The committee will rule on your acceptance....I can tell you, though, with no pics of the new ride, things don't look that good.
08-28-14 | 12:22 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Hardening the F up
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 209
Likes: 1
From: Galt's Gulch, New Hampshire
Bikes: 02 Litespeed Siena, 29# hard tail Tank
It's a "Motobecane" Fantom Elite. Other than being a little chubby at about 29#, it's met my needs well. At season beginning I was a little chubby too, didn't feel comfy on drops, wanted the option of being able to ride trails, knew for certain I'd be on some rutted, washed out & muddy dirt/gravel roads, so 29 hard tail seemed to make most sense. Now I think I'd be fine on drops and have much love for carbon cross bike sorts of things and feel confident on dirt roads on skinnier tires. However, I have promised myself that I will not buy a pricey fly weight bike until either a) I can pedal my 29# Moto up the local 400' hill climb in 7:00 flat (best to date is 8:56) or b) I change my mind
.
08-28-14 | 12:54 PM
#5
Senior member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,369
Likes: 889
From: Oakville Ontario
I'm new here, but not new to cycling. I rode my first century in 1975... at age 14, with a friend (on his 14th birthday) with about 30# of gear each. Camped out for a few days, then we rode our second centuries going home. Still can't believe our parents let us do that. It wasn't the smartest thing we could have done... something about damned fools and puppy dogs...? Anyways...
I was the 16 - 20 yo that fixed your bike when you took it to the shop a couple years later, when a complete tune up cost $15 (of which I made about $2.50).
I was the ridiculously fast, untrained collegiate. A friend following me in his car claimed that I made 42 mph on a flat road, no wind. Not certain it was really the answer to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe and Everything, but 42 was pretty ef'fing fast on a bike.
After crashing in the rain on a century ride in my late 20's (toe clips plus cleats, never got out, first thing to hit pavement was my new Bell helmet, completely destroyed on its first ride!) I lost interest. This year, I'm back, finally. Bought a hard tail 29er as a one bike, do-it-all compromise, not being certain what I was going to do. It currently has slicks on it because I really haven't taken to trail riding. I prefer roads, about 50/50 asphalt and dirt (in central New Hampshire).
Couch potato no more... I am riding 1 - 1.5 hours a day and I am fit, feel great. I am not "trained" however, and playing with Strava I am just blown that (well trained) humans can climb 70 feet a minute on a steep, smooth climb. That's probably not ever going to be me at this point, but I think I can probably improve my current 40 - 45. I've decided to start learning exercise physiology because I want a) more power/weight, and b) I think by adding a little scientific interest to Winter indoor exercise (which I hate) I can get myself to keep fit through the off season. So I am going to start reading Friel this weekend and have a Mio Alpha strapped to my wrist. Having a think about goal setting, but that should be another thread.
I was the 16 - 20 yo that fixed your bike when you took it to the shop a couple years later, when a complete tune up cost $15 (of which I made about $2.50).
I was the ridiculously fast, untrained collegiate. A friend following me in his car claimed that I made 42 mph on a flat road, no wind. Not certain it was really the answer to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe and Everything, but 42 was pretty ef'fing fast on a bike.
After crashing in the rain on a century ride in my late 20's (toe clips plus cleats, never got out, first thing to hit pavement was my new Bell helmet, completely destroyed on its first ride!) I lost interest. This year, I'm back, finally. Bought a hard tail 29er as a one bike, do-it-all compromise, not being certain what I was going to do. It currently has slicks on it because I really haven't taken to trail riding. I prefer roads, about 50/50 asphalt and dirt (in central New Hampshire).
Couch potato no more... I am riding 1 - 1.5 hours a day and I am fit, feel great. I am not "trained" however, and playing with Strava I am just blown that (well trained) humans can climb 70 feet a minute on a steep, smooth climb. That's probably not ever going to be me at this point, but I think I can probably improve my current 40 - 45. I've decided to start learning exercise physiology because I want a) more power/weight, and b) I think by adding a little scientific interest to Winter indoor exercise (which I hate) I can get myself to keep fit through the off season. So I am going to start reading Friel this weekend and have a Mio Alpha strapped to my wrist. Having a think about goal setting, but that should be another thread.
08-29-14 | 10:31 AM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 2,388
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Welcome! I'm a year younger than you, but I always feel 14 years old while I'm riding. Well, until I push it, or wake up the next morning, or do the smart, prudent thing in traffic. But that first wave of endorphins has a way of setting back the odometer. go, Go, GO!
