The joy of cycling

Crockett

Crockett

5,000+ Posts
Getting ready for my first 50 mile ride at the hotter than hell in Wichita Falls has been energizing. I used to take a lot of 4-6 mile rides. Now I'm doing 18-25. I'm still too big, but my body has a lot more leg muscle and as my stamina increases, the recovery time is shorter. A fast (for me) 20 mile ride saps my strength, but after i rest and eat something, I can mow the yard or wrestle with my 15-year-old son.
On hills where I used to get complaints from my body -- the legs and lungs are saying "ah-right we can get this." I feel joy instead of pain as I kick it into another gear and make physical exertions i couldn't have done 20 years ago.

I'm still practically crippled and arthritic when I want to run and jump, but put me on a two wheels and I can blow past a lot of younger, slimmer folks who paid a lot for their bikes. Just gotta say, even though i didn't realize it until middle age -- bicycles are awesome.
 
Awesome, Bro
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My ligaments are snapping left and right from running and jumping, so I've really been considering a bike.
I think you just talked me into it.
 
Good for you.

I love to cycle, but can only find enough time for it on the weekends. During the week, I jog.

I ride a road bike, which is hopefully what you have. I live near the start of the Hill Country and on the weekends cyclists are thicker than flies around here. I got passed by a peloton of 20-25 bikers that were hauling a@@ the last time I rode. They must be training for the HTHH too.

Nothing makes you feel better about yourself than an exercise program, especially when you begin to see results, like you are.
 
LC : My orthopedist told me of a man who cycles in mountain bike races with bilateral artificial knees. I was going to brag that I had lost only cartilage playing football, but the doc told me I was missing a ligament that I guess never was diagnosed back in the day. Disconnected for so long, it eventually went away.

Clean: Actually I ride a hybrid. I'll probably switch to a road bike someday, but at my weight (260-270) I like the heavier frame and more importantly the heavier spokes and wheels. It costs a lot to replace spokes and true a wheel. My Giant Cypress is oversized, kinda like me. (Anybody much over 6' should pay up and get the XL frame -- much more efficient for us big guys) Even with the heavy bike, I've still broken a pedal and blew out a tire hitting a bump too hard. I spoke to a friend, a pretty serious biker, about maybe getting a lighter bike. He tells me at my weight a lighter bike "would not be statistically significant."
 
A hybrid bike sounds like the way to go for you Crockett.

True story:

I had a neighbor who was a really big guy. I'd used to see him out mowing the lawn with no shirt on and it wasn't a pretty sight.

He used to see me riding my bike and came over and started asking me questions about cycling. The next thing I know, he'd bought a bike just like mine. We rode together for a while and then winter came and I didn't ride with him any more.

The next spring he tells me that he is going to do a full triathlon. I didn't say anything, but I thought "yeah, right".

Well he sold the bike like mine and bought a $5,000 tri bike. Then, he turned over management of the roofing company he owned to his wife and trained all day, every day: cycling, running, swimming, and lifting weights.

He cut off all his hair and I think he had full body laser hair removal because there wasn't a hair visible anywhere. Of course he lost a ton of weight and was a ripped, lean mean machine.

Long story short, he did the Lake Placid Triathlon (full distance) and did it in a respectable time.

I moved away and lost track of him, but later I saw him on TV. He'd entered a lottery or something and won the right to compete in the Iron Man in Hawaii.

I never would have believed it, but he made it happen. Dreams can come true.
 
That's an inspiring story. I'm not that obsessed. In fact, i'm kinda worried about finding exercise when the days get shorter and I'l have fewer opportunities to get in my long rides. As it is I can get in only three long rides a week. I used to work hard on my Schwinn Airdyne, but after riding outside, it's not much fun to get on a stationary bike.
 
Way to go Crockett. I've been an avid cyclist for years. I used to ride Texas tours here and there, although I've slowed down recently. Now, I'm content with a nice morning ride when I can squeeze it in.

I did the HTH 100 a few years ago, and believe me, it is true to its name. On that ride, we started with cool morning temps, got hit with a fast moving blue norther blowing serious gusts, got pelted with a short but stinging rain shower, and were left to heat bloated with humidity. What a blast!

Cycling is a joy - bring on the suffering!
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If 50 is fun, El Torito, maybe I'll try for 100 in 2014. Glad to know others find joy on the bike.
 
Crockett,
Let me recommend a secluded but delightful little tour in my neck of the woods:

The Tour de Gruene

Its a visually stunning tour starting in Gruene and looping up and around Canyon Lake. It will take you through beautiful Hill Country, alongside the Guadalupe River, and all that Gruene and New Braunfels have to offer.

If you are free in early November, you ought to check it out.
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Wow: That does look like fun. And Mrs. Crockett and little Crockett would no doubt enjoy Wurstfest and shopping in Gruene. Are there some pretty good bands? We'd drive that far to see Brave Combo.
 
Is it more of a race or casual ride? The 45mi recreational ride looks pretty slow (12mph avg) but the 65mi ride looks pretty hard (16mph avg) depending on the climbs. Typically I ride comfortably with my wife at about 15.something on 35mi rides. Even though I would prefer to ride 65, at a 16 mph pace I think we would be too tired to enjoy the events afterwards.
 
The Tour de Gruene has time trials both individual and team, for the competitive cyclist. I'm all about the recreational ride and soaking up the scenic beauty. There are some challenging inclines up by the Lake and around the dam.
 
Just for an update: I did the Hotter than Hell 50 miler and had a lot of fun -- for the first 40 miles. I decided to keep up with a friendly woman who is really in shape and does triathalons. She was riding about 14 miles per hour and was too fast for the women who are her usual cohorts. She knew a lot more about cycling than me and provided a lot of advice. But after a mile 40, i just couldn't keep up.

This was a great learning and motivational experience. It took me about 4 hours and 15 minutes, respectable time for over 50 riding a hybrid. My goal now is to do 50 miles more elegantly next year. I'll train more for distances and try to lose 30-50 pounds. If I can maintain pace for the whole 50, then I'll get a road bike, cycling shoes, etc. and start doing 100s.
 
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