Ride Report, November 1, 2007

23 miles. That's more like it.

Yesterday's ride was on the Schuylkill River Trail from Audubon to past Norristown, and back to the Perkiomen Trail's exit from Lower Perkiomen Valley Park. Dennis, my regular riding companion, was getting over a cold, so we took it easy. I doubt Dennis thinks so, since he was worn out by the end of the ride.

And I was feeling the riding as well, since I'd not been riding much since the MS ride a month ago. I've only been out on the bikes a handful of times, and only once on a long ride - 50 miles at the Bucks County Covered Bridges ride two and a half weeks ago. I had no idea my conditioning would deteriorate so quickly. I've been out three times this week, which if continued should get me back to where I need to be.

Being a glutton for punishment, I went to the gym afterwards for upper body lifting. This, like riding, is something I've neglected recently. And I'm paying for it today.

I'm going to start my 'winter' training next week with a pilates class on Tuesday. Since core stability is a problem for me, the class should prove helpful.

Ride Report, October 31, 2007

I'm a century cyclist and I'm blogging about a 3.5 mile ride, but that's what it was today. The bike feels like a brake is dragging, but the brakes appear to be OK. Tires are properly inflated too. I'll look at it again tomorrow when I have more time.

At least those 3.5 miles put me at 2500 for the year. Now the question is if I can get to 3000 by December 31.

Continuing Adventures of Mike of the Bike Patrol

From Studebaker Road, an account of Mike's recent "Hot Pursuit" of vandalizing skateboarders:
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They try to outwit me by hiding between parked cars but it’s no use. These are the same tricks I used as a skateboarder hiding from security at the Anaheim Convention Center back in the 70’s. Clay wheels and all.

The fools. They know not with whom they are dealing with.

Twice I rode up on them while they were looking the other way from aside the fenders of parked vehicles. Each time with a locked rear wheel surprising the vandals so much so that they even tripped over each other in their haste to make a get away.

I called for back-up..

"Middle Aged Tubbos"

We quote a tribute, I think, from Studebaker Road:

"A cycling friend of mine from the web is planning a bicycle ride from PA to CA. What’s that you say? It’s been done before? Well, not like this. His story is different from most. Inspirational to be more exact.

"I read perhaps a dozen bike blogs, most of which share a similar story. Middle aged tubbo’s who have changed their ways by means of the bicycle. When I’m in a funk and the desire to ride has gone away I turn to the blogosphere. If these people can do it, so can I. After a few reads my motivation has returned and I’m out the door.

The Historian. His blog has always been a focal point for me. His journey from 385 pounds and never ridden a bicycle to recently completing a 100 mile ride in a single day is amazing. The ups and downs of reaching his goal is a must read.

"The Historian's Pedalwest Destiny! Follow the journey. "

I'm not sure how I feel about being called a "middle aged tubbo," but I have no doubt it was well meant. Thanks, Mike!

Ride Report, October 29, 2007

5.75 miles on a local loop in 50 degree weather. My legs were like lead, and my average speed was a little over ten miles per hour. As usual, I can't determine what is causing the problem. Is it the cold? Am I suffering from overtraining from the MS ride a month ago? Is it my weight gain? Or have I lost conditioning from my relative inactivity the past two weeks? I'm afraid I'm going to need to be analytical and nail this problem down.

Neil's Covered Bridge Ride - Report for October 28, 2007

Severe rain Saturday morning forced the postponement of the first annual Neil's Covered Bridge ride. The rain was only the last of the problems that almost thwarted my first organized ride. Of the original nine invitees, only three said they were coming, and two couldn't make the rain date. Only the determined "guybierhaus" from Bike Forums joined me on the ride. We were rewarded by crisp fall air, and some spectacularly beautiful scenery. Since it was cold and just the two of us, I shortened five miles from the ride course, avoiding a couple of hills. The route was precisely 20 miles, and our moving speed was about 10.5 MPH. I felt out of shape; my conditioning must be suffering from inactivity.

Guy's photos of the three covered bridges are to the right. They appear in the order we crossed them. They are the Kennedy Bridge, the Rapp's Dam Bridge, and the Sheeder-Hall Bridge.

Guy described the ride in a post on Bike Forums:

"Neil put together a great ride. Avoided those long, long hills I can do without. More surprising is he managed to cross three covered bridges in under 20 miles. Got those other Covered Bridge Rides beat, and the price was right too."