Author Topic: cycling season has arrived  (Read 1077 times)

jim-ratliff

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #15 on: April 04, 2011, 10:38:59 am »
Had another spectacular ride with the wife on Saturday when we rode Trinity Road (10% average grade for 3 miles, so not that long but steep with parts close to 15%) in Sonoma. Relative to our respective abilities she is in better shpae that I am at this point in the seaosn. If this keeps up we will

Ok, that's just humbling!!  3 miles at 10-15% grade and you call it a spectacular ride.   ;D  Maybe if going down the hill!!

I guess, as Lynn always says, its all about specificity of training. 
You ride what is in your area (but I couldn't ride what is in your area or in the Rockies).
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midwif

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #16 on: April 04, 2011, 06:16:43 pm »
It snowed friday at my upper ny state locale.
And given meput's plans to ski "the Loaf" this weekend due to the
gift this nor'easter was supposed to bring, I was almost tempted to chase some snow.

Then I remembered my credit card bill. It's been a great ski season. Now its time to settle up.

Oh, and time to try out that BRAND SPANKING NEW MOUTAIN BIKE I got sitting in the garage!!
As the 2 inches of wet, slushy stuff melt off my deck and yard, Jim and I  decided to do a first test ride with my new
wheels.

We did 5 miles. Some firm dirt trail, some mud, puddles, some softening icy/snowy spots in the shade.
WHAT A LOT OF FUN!

I am looking forward to a real ride. With appropriate foot wear. (forgot the biking shoes, so not cleated in).

There are a fair number of dirt roads in my neck of the woods to explore on our bikes. And a 30 mile single track in Pa we have our eyes on.

What bike you ask? What components?? Gee, I just ride the thing. Jim picked it out. Carbon with slx components is all I know. Disc brakes. Shocks??
Hmm, can't remember :D
Jim can fill you in. :-[
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jbotti

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #17 on: April 04, 2011, 08:16:36 pm »
Jim, it is a very different experience with a compact chain ring and an 11-28 on the back. It also (as you mention) has a lot to do with getting used to riding lots of hills. We have nothing but hills out here and because it never snows the grade tends to be on the steeper side. In six months of living here you would be comfortable on most of the hills (again with the right chain rings and cassettes).

Glad to see you and Lynn are getting out and enjoying your bikes. For me it is almost as good as skiing.

jim-ratliff

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #18 on: April 04, 2011, 08:29:40 pm »
John:

I do have a compact crank and a 12-32 cassette based on a SRAM cassette except that I replaced some of the lower gears with different/lighter Shimano cogs (closer gearing in the middle where I currently ride the most).

The truth is that I just started riding two years ago and am still getting into shape. I also never knew about slow twitch vs fast twitch muscle fibers, but I was a basketball and baseball player in high school so I was basically fast twitch fibre person the first 60 years of my life.? >:( ;D and that's the story I'm sticking to.

But it is still impressive to hear about others rides.

Lynn, on the other hand, run's an 11-25 cassette and non-compact crank and does just fine.? Have to admire the aerobic base of former triathloners.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2011, 07:12:00 am by jim-ratliff »
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jim-ratliff

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #19 on: April 04, 2011, 08:47:39 pm »
Lynn:

I am impressed that you remembered that the components were SLX,
And that that is one step up from my XT components.
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jbotti

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #20 on: April 04, 2011, 10:26:56 pm »
Well those of us that have been doing endurance athletics (running and cycling etc) for many yeras wish we had some fast twitch fiber left in our bodies!! Unfortunatley in my 30 yeras of endurance training I have pretty much lost all the fast twitch that may have ever existed and I was not starting with tons. Some form of balance between Aerobic, Anaerobic and flexibility is the key especially as we all get older. You probably need to cycle more and I need to do more strength training and we all need to keep up our flexibility.

Some amount of the training process in cycling and endurance sports is psychological. There is no substitute for knowing that you can run for 2 hours or cycle for 6 or climb for 20 miles staright because you have done it before and you know how to get to the end. But all of this will come my friend!!! Enjoy and take it at your own pace.

jim-ratliff

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #21 on: April 05, 2011, 06:48:15 am »
The main thing for me is that cycling is FUN, it doesn't feel like "working out"and that is important. And it is like skiing in the outdoors beauty respect. I must have seen 20 deer on a quick after work ride yesterday, some pretty close up.
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meput

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #22 on: April 05, 2011, 06:47:24 pm »
Jim,

Don't do a Matt Lauer and hit one of those deer :D.

Weather looks good for . . . . . skiing next weekend (isn't that what this forum is about?)  :o

Have fun on the bike.

Jim

jim-ratliff

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #23 on: April 05, 2011, 07:32:49 pm »
Jim:

Wellll, the site does have the word ski in the title, but mostly it's just about whatever anyone feels like talking about.
In fact, prior to the Ski Logik thread the largest thread was about coffee and espresso machines.

 But l will admit that I'm a bit jealous of the fact that your season continues. I'm like Perry, making the spring switch. The high here yesterday was 80.
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Perry

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #24 on: April 19, 2011, 04:12:29 pm »
My miles are increasing, now just over 80 per week with 65 the last two weekend.  Having some fun while I sweat!  Which reminds me of another thing I like but we won't go there!! >:D

meput

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #25 on: April 19, 2011, 08:53:28 pm »
Live on a lake in central Maine. Ice went out today, so spring is coming.

The 'loaf has mid winter coverage with spring conditions. No bare spots yet. Winter weather advisory for several inches of snow over the next 24 hours. The bike continues to gather dust. >:D.

Using both my SS's and monster 78's. Cold enough last Saturday that I used the SS's all day. Having to put in mental energy on which skis to use? ::).

Still putting off the mental energy of compact chain rings vs 53/39 set up....what cluster to use?....clincher vs the tubulars....toe covers vs boots....vest vs jacket.... water vs cytomax....what route has the least amount of sand on the road?..........


jim-ratliff

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #26 on: April 19, 2011, 09:06:23 pm »
Upstate New York, the snow is mostly gone, but the trails are still pretty muddy in some places.?

#2 -- Lynn thought she could pedal through this muddy section.? She didn't quite make it.? Note the muddy shoes (from the knee down).? Not from this fall, there was a MUCH muddier section earlier. (FWIW, I was really impressed how well the Candy cleats and pedals worked in that much mud).

However, let there be no doubt, while we are collecting a few bruises here and there (and we won't go there as to where), we are having a blast exploring places that road bikes won't go.


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« Last Edit: April 30, 2011, 03:32:47 pm by jim-ratliff »
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jim-ratliff

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #27 on: April 20, 2011, 07:06:06 am »
Live on a lake in central Maine. Ice went out today, so spring is coming.

The 'loaf has mid winter coverage with spring conditions. No bare spots yet. Winter weather advisory for several inches of snow over the next 24 hours. The bike continues to gather dust. >:D.

Using both my SS's and monster 78's. Cold enough last Saturday that I used the SS's all day. Having to put in mental energy on which skis to use? ::).

Still putting off the mental energy of compact chain rings vs 53/39 set up....what cluster to use?....clincher vs the tubulars....toe covers vs boots....vest vs jacket.... water vs cytomax....what route has the least amount of sand on the road?..........

Maybe I need to consider a trip to 'the Loaf' next year.? Would feel weird to have the ski season end, and then be able to go up there a month later and ski. Maybe we should consider a "the season is over - NOT" Realskiers trip to Maine next spring.? Highs here in the nation's capitol 80+ today.

I use a compact chainring and a 12-32 cassette on my road bike.? I have a Gore jacket with removable sleeves to address the vest vs. jacket question.? And, for me, water and GuJel.? For wheels, Neuvation (or Zipp 404's in Lynn's case) clinchers and Continental 4000S tires.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2011, 07:13:28 am by jim-ratliff »
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LivingProof

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #28 on: April 20, 2011, 09:38:33 am »
Upstate New York, the snow is mostly gone, but the trails are still pretty muddy in some places.?

#2 -- Lynn thought she could pedal through this muddy section.? She didn't quite make it.? Note the muddy shoes (from the knee down).? Not from this fall, there was a muddier section earlier.

However, let there be no doubt, we are collecting a few bruises but having a blast learning to mountain bike.



OMG, the pic of Lynn standing in mud just destroyed my image of our urban New Yorker. There is a street rumor that Lynn consented to MTN biking because it was an opportunity to shop for a new pair of shoes! (Mike ducking)

Who cleans the bikes? Cleaning my cross-trainer is not a favorite chore and it's never been as dirty as Lynn's nice, new, formerly shinny bike. I showed a pic to my wife and asked if she would be willing to try MTN biking. Her answer is "Hell will freeze over....".

Keep the pics coming and good for ya that you are out there doing it in the mud. Jim, don't run into her!


@meput
Jim,
I assume you ride a traditional road bike? Do you use larger tires? We in more urban areas complain about our roads, but, I'm sure Maine rural roads can be bone jarring. Had I my choice, I'd be at the 'loaf rather than putting in miles. Last weekend, riding in northeast winds, steady at 20 with gusts to 30, reminded me of how much fun it is (not) to put your nose into the wind and make 10 mph.


jim-ratliff

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Re: cycling season has arrived
« Reply #29 on: April 20, 2011, 12:13:20 pm »
LP:? But the return bike trip at a sustained 30mph must have been a blast??? Like working your way upwind on a sailboat, the? reward is the tacking downwind (Hobie 16) on the way back.

The rumor on the street regarding Lynn and shoes is true.? Narrow Sidi's in a coordinated color it is.

Lynn wanted to take the Power Washer to them.? I told her I was afraid that might do more damage to paint and bearings than the mud.? So we decided to leave them muddy and look the look.
Actually, I hurriedly rinsed them off with a hose at the time - but was on my way to a week in Boston and wound up washing my bike in the bathtub at the hotel.? Hers????? ?>:D
« Last Edit: April 20, 2011, 02:57:18 pm by jim-ratliff »
"If you're gonna play the game boy, ya gotta learn to play it right."