185 on the doctor's scale today with my clothes, that probably means I'm down to 182-183. So I've lost 5-6 lbs in the past 3 weeks. Man it doesn't come off so easy when you're over 50. I'm riding 300 miles weekly and eating friggin raw carrots and salad. Jeesh. But I hope to be down to 170 or less by Labor Day. Of course I'll only get on the scale if the doctor makes me, and I won't see my doctor again for a while, so I won't know what I actually weigh. And I don't care as long as I continue to feel better on the bike and my clothes get looser every week.

Specialist thinks I'm doing fine, blood work all normal except for one relatively minor genetic marker, she's putting me on folic acid to counter that and she thinks I'll be on Coumadin for the rest of 2011, but I should probably be off it by Jan. 1. Also depends on what today's ultrasound of the leg showed (we didn't get the radiologist report back in time for our consult). But she can see the marked improvement (I saw her about three weeks ago) and she continues to say that the fact that it gives me no pain even while cycling aggressively is the most positive sign. Leg is 70-80% better in my view, but it still has a way to go. Slowly improving every week.

Time for the nuclear option: hunger strike

That wouldn't work. I'd would cheat and gain weight.

Bedtime for Pcad. 50 miles tomorrow, rolling @ 5:30AM.

Hey, not for nothing but I just rode the fastest TT I ever rode, and it was about the longest too. I'm feeling better on my bike every day. I'm really re-discovering now much I love cycling. Considering where I was 6 weeks ago (the hospital) I'm not doing so bad.

These guys can give you pointers.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/cali...er-strike.html

Six miles?

Speaking of fast girls, last week I helped pace a girl cyclist back to the group that dropped her. We met recently on a group ride. Somewhere in her 30's, she's a very avid cyclist who competes, rides mountain bikes, cross, you name it. On this particular day last week, I had just finished an emergency pedal repair on the side of the road when a fast moving group of 10 or so flew past me. I was on the return leg of a climbing ride, and because there were some considerable challenging rollers still left to go, I was mostly in that "just get home at a reasonable pace" pace. Focused as I was on just keeping the pedals going round, I didn't pay much attention to the cyclist I passed on a medium grade roller.

A few seconds later the passed rider pulls up alongside me and says, "You don't say hi to a girl?" Without looking, I knew who it was and apologized, saying it wasn't intentional, that I was just in that me zone. She told me she was dropped by her group, a regular Wednesday fast training ride. At that point we were on a section of Mulholland that usually weeds out slower riders because of accumulated pain, especially when it's the return leg of a much longer ride.

So whatever it is in us that incites competition, I set about giving her a lead in the attempt to bridge her back to the group. We stayed together for a mile or so, and eventually caught sight of the group ahead of us on a long roller. When we got to the roller, we both stood up on a tall gear to get over that thing. As we neared the top I was at my limit and slowed, so she passed ahead of me. I followed her over the top and down the shallow descent for awhile at what I can only guess was her max effort. It was an awesome sight people. All out, every muscle straining, skin gleaming, hard breathing, unable to talk. Her, not me.

After that little bit of rest while behind her, I passed again to lead along a flatish section. I held the lead for nearly a mile until the last climb we call 7 minute hill. That's when I turned to check on her, but she was nowhere in sight! I somehow dropped her. I actually felt bad, so I soft pedaled until she caught up a minute or so later. Her group was waiting for her at the top.

The end.

Oh my! Dear Penthouse, I never thought this would happen to me...

All these fast girls should slow the eff down before they totally pulverize our already fragile male egos.

iJen, this means you.

I just went outside here, it's 4AM. I can't believe how hot it is. The sun won't come up for over an hour and feels like a hot day in friggin Memphis already.

I like it. Too many winter days up here where I freeze my Pcad ass.

103 here today with heat index 115...perfection..I'm fat, but LOVE heat!

We know.

So are you tubby.

If you're waking up at 4:01 a.m. to post on BikeForums, you haven't made much progress in life.

I passed (other direction) a girl cyclist in full kit yesterday. She was purty and built like an Olympian (USAC and USOC are here, so who knows?). It made me feel fat and old. Then I remembered I AM fat and old, and kept on riding.

I guess that's progress, admitting it.

This is the post I need to read when I feel burnt out. Well done, sir.

He was getting ready to ride, gomer. I got 25miles in before work today myself.

At least I'm not mired in Piggly Wiggly Land.

51 miles this AM. Two flats. So it goes.

Three, if you include your head pot belly...