tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47090080697733290962011-11-27T19:32:01.264-05:00Can a middle aged, obese man turn himself into a cyclist?The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.comBlogger7351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-31820919427493965192010-12-11T12:30:00.000-05:002010-12-11T12:30:45.349-05:00

Some thoughts on my running experiences, originally posted to Bike Forums a couple of weeks ago. ******************* Last time I ran was in high school. I attended a private school that had no more clue what to do with a bent, bookish, fat kid than anyone else. When I wasn't shunted off to the weight room by myself, unsupervised, because they thought I couldn't handle gym class, they tried to

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-68042975399231706052010-12-11T12:13:00.002-05:002010-12-11T12:13:58.296-05:00

.... is 285.4. And down I come!

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-27252827106696110072010-10-27T10:39:00.000-05:002010-10-27T10:39:52.845-05:00

After finally purchasing a new scale, I got down to the messy business of weighing myself. This is the first time I've stepped on a scale in a year. Did I come in at 320? 340? Worse? 296.4. I tried it three times. Each time the same weight. So either my Taylor scale is wrong, or I'm the same weight I was last year. Well then, why is my waist size up? Perhaps it's simply that I'm not doing

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-27858047593728466262010-10-27T08:14:00.001-05:002010-10-27T08:15:31.009-05:00

An interesting comment at Becoming Timberman, a blog for the swim-run-bike crowd: "Confidence. When you schedule a race, do that race, even if you think you're not ready for it. If you've trained, and you're healthy, do the race. You might feel like you aren't as fast as you want to be, but the training is there, and the only thing that might make you feel like you can't do it is your mind.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-72674613253201500322010-10-26T09:12:00.000-05:002010-10-26T09:12:26.563-05:00

I've 'restricted', if that's the right term, my exercise to walking the past two days. Sunday I was out for two miles, and Monday 1.2. Unfortunately my bruised ribs aren't ready for lifting at the gym, and I was so wiped out by my ride Saturday I'm leery of riding any distance until I'm further along in my recovery. As for recovery, it's been nine days since my accident, and I feel much better.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-25322917603489957892010-10-26T09:03:00.001-05:002010-10-26T09:06:33.039-05:00

Saturday morning I set out to ride the Bartram Trail section of the incomplete Schuylkill River Trail. I was still sore from a crash the weekend before, and didn't know how much riding I had in me, but I'd been off the bike for three days and I missed it. Also, the fall colors were calling me. So fortified by three Ibuprofen tablets, I headed an hour's drive north. The plan had been to

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-90833660608753435332010-10-22T09:34:00.000-05:002010-10-22T09:34:16.156-05:00

I've taken the last three days off from exercise while my bruised ribs heal. Depending on how I feel, I'm aiming for a ride Saturday morning at Hamburg, riding the trail from their to Auburn and back. By the time I drive to the trailhead the Ibuprofen will have kicked in and my discomfort will be manageable. Or so I hope. I miss being active. 

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-89002557222545384322010-10-20T10:32:00.000-05:002010-10-20T10:32:19.478-05:00

My first ride after my crash Sunday was the local seven mile loop along French Creek. Aside from a bent front skewer, the bike was fine, and I didn't notice any problems aside from soreness in the expected places. I did need to take a two hour nap after the ride, which was unexpected. I had a wave of fatigue wash over me, and I collapsed onto the bed still in my riding gear. French Creek at the

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-68666535396734143892010-10-20T10:18:00.000-05:002010-10-20T10:18:02.405-05:00

My two days off work had been damaged by my accident on Sunday. But I wanted to salvage what I could of them, so once the rain cleared I headed north to Hamburg for a ride on the Bartram Trail section of the Schuylkill River Trail. I put in five miles, being limited by the onset of darkness and the 'catch' in my breathing I later diagnosed as a cracked rib. Still, it was worth it. Fall in Penn's

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-37957091713345740212010-10-20T10:09:00.000-05:002010-10-20T10:09:16.701-05:00

My ride on Sunday with my friend Sayre was a crashing success in more than one way. Oh, our trip from the Reading Area Community College parking lot up the Union Canal Trail was wonderful. We turned around at Blue Marsh lake after taking in the views from the visitor's center. Sayre is both a thoughtful conversationalist and a rider considerate of my abilities, and this trip wasn't the hammerfest

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-20455939503522303272010-10-20T09:41:00.000-05:002010-10-20T09:41:37.658-05:00

 My friend Sayre has lost 145 pounds over the past year. He recently posted to Bike Forums about it, and solicited advice on future goals. I wrote the following about regaining weight in the future. "My biggest fear is a backslide...'" Since no one has touched this, and I have some experience with both a rapid loss of a lot of weight and, err, backsliding, here are my thoughts. 1. Get rid

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-8871742281934329042010-10-11T23:55:00.000-05:002010-10-11T23:55:09.889-05:00

Notung, Notung, sword of my need! Getting a steel touring bike prompted the Wagnerian name for my latest ride. Like Siegfried, I'm still forging my weapon. I need to add front and rear racks, panniers, and decide what to do with the bar ends. Unfortunately I'm not able to get my hands down to the bar ends to shift while riding. I'd love to find an option that allows me to keep the drop bars, for

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-39055789736127849442010-10-11T23:41:00.000-05:002010-10-11T23:41:47.407-05:00

I made a posting to Bike Forums mentioning I've restarted Historian on Two Wheels to help me get focused on weight loss and improving my physical ability. One of the comments made in the ensuing discussion was: "You know what you need to do, that's half the battle, the easy half. We would all be the ideal weight if life didn't keep getting in the way....." Although the sentiments were

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-2437855295934145172010-10-11T23:29:00.000-05:002010-10-11T23:29:06.113-05:00

I let myself down a bit today. Too much to do before work, and so I only got in a walk of a mile and a fifth. Still, that "only" is more outdoor activity than many Americans get in a week. And being outdoors is glorious. How can I not like that? Especially while the Indian Summer is in effect here in Pennsylvania. Two days into my reduced calorie intake and I'm doing OK. I've held to 2200 or

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-86338651959031648932010-10-10T19:14:00.002-05:002010-10-10T19:18:35.043-05:00

Did a four mile ride on the 'bike trail' in nearby Upper Uwchlan Township. The bulk of the trail is on sidewalks in the Byers Station housing development. The only nice portion, uninterrupted by grade crossings, is from St. Elizabeth's church to Larkin's Covered Bridge, a little less than a mile.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-54447598253191077202010-10-09T19:33:00.003-05:002010-10-09T20:02:26.354-05:00

It's been a rough two years, folks. I've slipped up, fallen back into old ways, and grown into much of the man I used to be. I've goofed off and forgotten what I should be doing. In short, I put back on a lot of the weight I lost four years ago.So, as part of my renewed effort at becoming less of the man I was, I'm turning the lights back on at Historian On Two Wheels. The big key to my losing

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-88014321234605000662008-09-20T23:19:00.001-05:002008-09-20T23:19:15.166-05:00

100_1422Originally uploaded by neilbrennenRoark getting a free 250 dollar retrofitting at Cadence, the upscale Philadelphia bike shop. The fitting was a gift from Bicycle Club of Philadelphia for being the club's Most Improved Rider.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-85737143230684295612008-09-20T23:11:00.001-05:002008-09-20T23:11:27.034-05:00

100_1477Originally uploaded by neilbrennen

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-14203843528479935752008-09-20T23:09:00.001-05:002008-09-20T23:09:31.142-05:00

100_1442Originally uploaded by neilbrennen

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-40778778644012599782008-09-20T23:08:00.001-05:002008-09-20T23:08:08.467-05:00

100_1603Originally uploaded by neilbrennen8:10 AM on a Sunday, and not a car to be seen in the downtown.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-81332392368074954832008-09-20T23:05:00.001-05:002008-09-20T23:05:57.327-05:00

100_1591Originally uploaded by neilbrennenOur Hero, err, Historian awaits the start of Bike Philly.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-43688395229794857562008-09-20T23:04:00.001-05:002008-09-20T23:04:16.473-05:00

100_1592Originally uploaded by neilbrennenThree thousand riders await the start of Bike Philly.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-3289233228185171082008-09-20T22:56:00.002-05:002008-09-20T23:01:53.499-05:00

Sunday morning was clear and warm. I decided to drive to the start of Bike Philly, instead of riding as I wished, because of time - I hadn't brought lights, sunrise wasn't until 6:45 AM, I needed to pick up my rider information, and I didn't know how strict the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the event organizer, was about enforcing their 7:45 AM deadline for appearing at the ride. So

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-37911674854050922752008-09-20T22:45:00.004-05:002008-09-20T22:52:33.350-05:00

Friday night I and my bike headed into Philadelphia for what promised to be a weekend of hard riding. Not only because Bicycle Club of Philadelphia's Scenic Schuylkill Century was a challenging course, but because I had to deal with a new fitting on the bike, and learn to use clipless pedals as well. Would I be able to finish the rides unscit did mirror the concern I had in my heart. Would I have

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-81801242841071391992008-09-02T08:47:00.002-05:002008-09-02T08:52:24.252-05:00

"Did it!" That was the text message I sent on completing my nine-day tour from north of Pittsburgh (McKees Rocks) to Washington, DC. That's a very happy Historian grabbing the Milepost 0 marker on the C &O Canal Towpath in Georgetown. I'll be posting the full story of the ride over the next week or so, along with other tales of my misadventures over the summer months. Stay tuned.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-12322038562276567632008-09-02T08:46:00.000-05:002008-09-02T08:47:07.908-05:00

It was an interesting summer, and I'm glad I took it off. But back to the blogging grindstone.....

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-49856383541683563392008-05-19T10:40:00.001-05:002008-05-19T10:40:52.548-05:00

HPIM0350Originally uploaded by neilbrennenTaken at the end of my 16.5 mile commute to work.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-16400954812913937742008-05-19T10:37:00.001-05:002008-05-19T10:37:59.924-05:00

HPIM0371Originally uploaded by neilbrennen

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-49532351955174815942008-05-19T10:36:00.001-05:002008-05-19T10:36:24.362-05:00

HPIM0395Originally uploaded by neilbrennenAlong the Greenbelt in Harrisburg Sunday, May 18.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-87430608036756572732008-05-19T09:36:00.002-05:002008-05-19T09:44:35.521-05:00

A brief video accidentally shot while on the Greenbelt in Harrisburg Sunday. Herb, Ben, and Neil B. pose for a jogger who tried to take a photo of us.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-1259599786746497502008-05-19T09:10:00.001-05:002008-05-19T09:10:08.666-05:00

HPIM0373Originally uploaded by neilbrennenGrave marker, Salem UCC Cemetery in Oley, PA.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-63488872992542131502008-05-19T09:07:00.000-05:002008-05-19T09:08:33.026-05:00

Sunday I traveled two hours to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capitol, to ride in a group training ride for Team Clydesdale. Meeting me were Ben and Herb, two Team members and Bike Forums posters.Meeting us also was the rain. I first turned the car wipers on by the time I'd reached the Turnpike exit for Hershey, and the rain was a steady downpour by the time I'd reached Ben's house. Despite the

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-13603918870600222432008-05-19T08:59:00.001-05:002008-05-19T08:59:51.004-05:00

HPIM0376Originally uploaded by neilbrennenPhoto taken following the Fantastic Voyage bike ride through Oley Township, May 17, 2008

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-18560266305598845602008-05-19T08:57:00.001-05:002008-05-19T08:57:26.267-05:00

HPIM0393Originally uploaded by neilbrennenThe sun setting along the Susquehanna River, at Harrisburg, PA. Taken May 19, 2008, following a ride for Team Clydesdale.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-7171062607339946762008-04-20T19:52:00.003-05:002008-04-20T20:26:32.383-05:00

"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses.... it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-2941781313411396642008-04-20T18:50:00.000-05:002008-04-20T18:51:40.906-05:00

My ride today was from the new trailhead in Monte Clare on the Schuylkill (skool-kill) River Trail, to its intersection with the Perkiomen (per-key-o-men) Trail. I rode the gravel and cinder PT up to Schwenksville (shwenks-ville), visited the only bike shop on the trail, and then turned around.The temperature was in the low 70s, and spring was all around the trail, including these lovely flowers

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-69610996113274090512008-04-16T10:28:00.002-05:002008-04-16T10:31:14.945-05:00

16.56 miles on the Schuylkill River Trail and Perkiomen Trail, from Port Providence to Betzwood, and including a ride to Upper Indian Head Road. Crews are still continuing to pave the SRT extension to Port Providence. They have a mile to go, and the trail extension could be finished by week's end.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-67671785133170129842008-04-15T09:22:00.002-05:002008-04-15T09:26:47.124-05:00

A photo taken from the end of my ride with "Little Darwin" of Bike Forums this past Saturday at the Pawling's Road trailhead to the SRT. Not so little Darwin is on the left. While this was the end of Darwin's ride, I had another 14-15 miles to ride home. Note the threatening sky - I tried to hurry!

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-76159512526498121992008-04-13T10:45:00.002-05:002008-04-13T10:48:42.970-05:00

I had the pleasure of riding with the Bike Forums poster "Little Darwin" this morning and afternoon on the Schuylkill River Trail. We rode from Audubon to Conshohocken and back, a distance of a bit more than 20 miles, followed by another two or so miles off the trail to the Perkiomen Cafe for lunch. The threatened rain held off, despite an at times forbidding sky, and the temperature reached 70

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-8820068582570461292008-04-13T04:15:00.002-05:002008-04-13T04:27:02.037-05:00

16.27 miles on the Schuylkill River Trail with my co-worker "Lance" - not his real name. Lance hadn't ridden since the MS City to Shore last year, and so this was a warm-up lap for him. We rode from Lower Perkiomen Valley Park in Oaks to Norristown Transportation Center and back.Unfortunately, while I had a good ride, it could have been longer. If I didn't have a flat rear tire when I got the

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-17532651103322372132008-04-10T07:50:00.003-05:002008-04-10T07:59:17.686-05:00

16.84 miles in and around the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, the Schuylkill River Trail, the Perkiomen Trail, and the Audubon Loop.The morning's ride got off to a bad start. My right brake began dragging, and nothing I tried - removing and resetting the wheel, adjusting the brake head, etc - seemed to solve the problems. Fortunately a former bike mechanic was riding nearby and stopped and found the

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-60771102871899849012008-04-08T22:57:00.002-05:002008-04-08T23:02:35.173-05:00

My first ride after my Manayunk Metric Saturday, and I felt like I had nothing in my legs. I squeezed out 5.24 miles in a local development before I called it quits. I still managed 11 MPH and change.The only good thing about the ride were the new helmet and the new shoes. The helmet fits like a glo-, well, like a very good helmet should, and the shoes seemed OK. It will take a longer ride to

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-52255964847788517042008-04-08T22:53:00.002-05:002008-04-08T22:56:54.265-05:00

One innovation the MS Foundation is trying this year is the addition of blogs to individual fundraising pages. I kicked off "Neil's Training" with a capsule of my posting here about my metric century Saturday. To read this blog , go to my fundraising page at the link at the top of THIS blog.My post from my MS blog:First Training Ride of the YearMy first training ride for 2008 was a 100 KM trip

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-7573402872147823172008-04-08T08:36:00.001-05:002008-04-08T08:39:51.596-05:00

So far I've raised 268 dollars in direct contributions to my fundraising for the MS City to Shore, and I have a 50 dollar check to send in as well. As it stands, I'm nearly a third of the way towards my 1000 dollar goal. And still there's five months to go.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-84600165025390629082008-04-08T08:25:00.003-05:002008-04-08T08:36:21.279-05:00

New gear is always exciting for a cyclist. Yesterday I was covered head and toe by 'new' items. The helmet was sent to me by "RB1/LUVR" on Bike Forums, and the Sette Rival II shoes were part of an order from Price Point.I should be outside shortly to try them out, so expect a report.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-30091531696392617152008-04-05T21:02:00.006-05:002008-04-05T21:56:56.147-05:00

Well, it wasn't a metric century in Manayunk. But I did pass through this trendy part of Philadelphia. And I did ride 100 kilometers. So the title is partially correct.The ride began back at the Pawlings Road trailhead on the Schuylkill River Trail in Audubon. My friend JT and I set off at 8:47 AM under cloudy skies to ride down to Philadelphia, loop around the Art Museum, and head back.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-71145291016962928302008-04-04T08:23:00.003-05:002008-04-04T08:28:04.569-05:00

I rode for about six miles on Neil Fein's homeward commute. Unfortunately I lost my directions and tried to meet Neil being guided by memory and 'guydar.' Some heated cell-phone conversations later, we met and rode to his apartment together.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-62770819995022374692008-04-04T07:54:00.002-05:002008-04-04T08:16:37.729-05:00

I look a little more grim than usual in this photo from my ride on March 22. I'm in Highland Park, NJ, with Neil Fein, having hot chocolate outside on a crisp, sunny winter's day. I should be having fun. Instead there's a problem forming in my right boot, and it's showing in my face.The explanation for that last sentence takes us back to that morning. I arrived on Friday and spent the night at

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-38257118075600129652008-04-04T07:51:00.002-05:002008-04-04T07:52:19.591-05:00

3.84 miles around the neighborhood. Just noted for the sake of completeness.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-59676664160365776742008-04-04T07:43:00.003-05:002008-04-04T07:50:37.842-05:00

During a visit to Baltimore last weekend, I rode a bit more than 25 miles with "staephj1", a poster to Bike Forums. He mentioned there would be a little bit of climbing in the ride, but I was completely unprepared for what I faced. I managed to climb the road up the Loch Raven dam, but it seemed there was just one damn hill after another. Two of them defeated me to an extent, and I had to hike

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-88381017061021723802008-03-17T08:24:00.002-05:002008-03-17T08:31:19.402-05:00

I seem to have shaken off the last of this headcold I've had the past few days. While the weather remains changeable, and I still find it too cold, I am riding again. Yesterday I drove to church instead of riding because it was raining, but later the skies cleared and I rode my local loop, 11 miles. However, between the temperature being 20 degrees colder than Saturday, my fighting a headwind

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-68919692834053435672008-03-17T08:21:00.002-05:002008-03-17T08:23:53.726-05:00

My MRI was inconclusive, which means I see a neurologist and get another scan in three months. Meanwhile the problem of lightheadedness that originally brought me to my doctor has cleared up now that I am exercising more, my weight is dropping, and I am sleeping better. Imagine that!Thanks to all the readers who contacted me to offer support. I needed it.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-11080580412550621912008-03-15T19:32:00.002-05:002008-03-15T19:39:09.846-05:00

My usual local loop this afternoon. 11 miles, average speed 11.23, the last half of the ride carrying groceries in my panniers. As you may have read elsewhere on this blog, I did climb the hill on Lucas Road again. Not all my form disappeared over the winter.This is only the second time this winter I could ride in shorts and a short sleeve jersey. The only thing notable about the ride is that I

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-78341466576615564832008-03-15T19:30:00.001-05:002008-03-15T19:32:32.305-05:00

A follow-up to the little doggerel I wrote in December on my climb of the hill on Lucas Road:A month later, days were dark and cold,And Neil the Clyde-climber felt weak and old,He added fat to his big Clyde-folds,And didn't ride his bike like a Clyde.Three months went by in the winter cold,Neil's Lucas Road climb grew stale and old,And he longed for the days he was fearless and bold,and climbed

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-48434624093374584092008-03-13T07:54:00.001-05:002008-03-13T07:57:31.469-05:00

A three mile test to make sure the rear wheel was working properly. Move along, folks, nothing to see here......

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-4800530461244452972008-03-07T10:09:00.003-05:002008-03-07T10:18:14.259-05:00

The Indian Creek Roll and Stroll, run by the Indian Creek Foundation, is scheduled for June 21 this year. It was my first big ride, and I felt both brutalized and pumped by finishing the 39 hilly miles around Souderton. That's me in the orange and black Fat Cyclist jersey in the starting line photos, borrowed from the gallery at the Roll and Stroll website. This year I will tackle the metric

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-91044295764213595652008-03-05T06:38:00.000-05:002008-03-05T06:39:24.924-05:00

Friends,I'm riding the MS City to Shore in 2008, with the goal this year of riding the full 175 miles over both days. I've begun fundraising for this year, with the goal of topping last year's figure. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will use funds collected from the MS Bike Tour to not only support research for a cure tomorrow, but also to provide programs which address the needs of

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-91008966692564005312008-03-05T06:37:00.001-05:002008-03-05T06:38:40.405-05:00

The verdict on the problem with the bike is that I broke a spoke at the hub. The bike will be back tomorrow. Hurray!

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-54819629089451838102008-03-04T07:14:00.002-05:002008-03-04T07:29:01.747-05:00

As on Saturday and Sunday, I wasted much of the morning, but the warmer temperatures led me to pull out Roark and go for a short ride through the local developments. Between the temperature in the 50s and the sunshine, I was warm enough with my lighter-weight tights, and I wore bike shoes instead of the hiking boots I've favored all winter.As I pulled into my driveway I heard a "

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-25473596540813534422008-03-02T20:13:00.003-05:002008-03-02T20:24:47.497-05:00

As preparation for the big tour Neils on Wheels have planned for the first week in June, we are going to have an overnight camping tour to Green Lane Park in the last weekend of April. This is probably as close as we can get to the travel conditions we will find between Pittsburgh and Washington DC. We will be using the gravel Perkiomen Trail to reach Green Lane, and like the tour in June, we

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-88064529031277063662008-03-02T19:12:00.002-05:002008-03-02T23:43:12.275-05:00

I spent much of Sunday feeling sorry for myself. My weight was up, I felt out of shape, my clothes don't fit right, I have a possible problem in my brain, blah blah blah. So finally I manage to rouse myself from my self-made stupor, and get some riding in. Self-pity is an intoxicating drink, and I consume too much of it. Exercise helps sweat it out of my system.(Yes, the previous paragraph was a

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-2001137841809372922008-03-02T12:52:00.003-05:002008-03-02T13:20:40.589-05:00

I spent much of Saturday feeling sorry for myself. My weight was up, I felt out of shape, my clothes don't fit right, I have a possible problem in my brain, blah blah blah. So finally I manage to rouse myself from my self-made stupor, and get some riding in. Self-pity is an intoxicating drink, and I consume too much of it. Exercise helps sweat it out of my system.First I had a trip to my bike

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-9547515119947792732008-02-23T22:21:00.004-05:002008-02-23T22:28:53.691-05:00

The President's Day weekend promised to be a cold one,so naturallyNeil Fein, the NJ half of the Neils on Wheels Bike Touring Team,wantedto do an overnight tour. "It's only 35 and 30 mile legs" he saidon thephone. I was very out of shape and hadn't ridden any distancein nearlya month. So of course I said "Sure." What better time and placetobreak in my new Bicycle Club of Philadelphia jersey but

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-50651558779738726622008-02-23T22:18:00.001-05:002008-02-23T22:20:20.111-05:00

I thought I should get a camp pad as well. This is a Wenzel foam pad.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-17806519999094614762008-02-23T21:29:00.003-05:002008-02-23T21:32:41.008-05:00

I considered getting a small one man tent as Neil F. did, but I'm about five inches taller and, ahem, 50 pounds heavier than my fellow Neil. So instead I picked up the Columbia Lost Lake Two Man tent, shown here. It's about six pounds.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-55187788041517080962008-02-23T21:24:00.003-05:002008-02-23T21:28:39.214-05:00

Since I need gear for my upcoming bike tours, including my trip to Green Lane in April, from Pittsburgh to Washington in June, and cross country in 2009, I thought I'd start posting about my purchases. Here's the 40 degree sleeping bag I picked up, the Albany by Wenzel. The bag weighs all of four pounds.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-42308253196623787062008-02-21T10:09:00.001-05:002008-02-21T10:09:27.509-05:00

100_6940.JPG Originally uploaded by neilfein If any bike jersey makes you look like a comic book hero, the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia jersey does. Me at the Griggstown access point on the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath this Saturday.Our hosts Saturday evening have twin two year old boys. The rugrats were impressed with the jersey and my helmet light, so I used a deep booming voice

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-67640164998161413022008-02-21T10:04:00.001-05:002008-02-21T10:04:08.498-05:00

100_6955.JPG Originally uploaded by neilfein Monday afternoon I rode with Neil F. to try out one of his new bike commuting routes. His company is relocating his office, and since he doesn't drive, he needs to find a way to get to work. We rode 8 miles through afternoon traffic I'd not ride in if I could help it.Tuesday morning I rode with Neil to his carpool, about 3 miles, and a longer

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-17248951568300124062008-02-21T09:46:00.001-05:002008-02-21T09:46:30.502-05:00

100_6942.JPG Originally uploaded by neilfein My overnight tour with Neil F. began at 11:00 AM on Saturday, in the cold. And the cold was a constant theme for me during the first day of the ride. Aside from a sore butt, the cold weather was the biggest complaint about the ride. We rode through some beautiful countryside, so scenic I almost forgot it was Jersey, but I was chilled. By the

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-13424031063717055842008-02-21T09:27:00.004-05:002008-02-21T09:31:48.850-05:00

A very short warm-up ride for the weekend bike tour. I arrived early at Neil F.'s home in New Jersey, parked the car, and set up the bike. When Neil rode by on his way home from work, I followed him. My buddy had an errand to run getting flowers for his wife, so we rode 6 miles round trip through downtown traffic to fetch tulips.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-36754805980857159222008-02-21T09:27:00.001-05:002008-02-21T09:27:15.255-05:00

100_6953.JPG Originally uploaded by neilfein I don't know why I agreed to pose for this. I wasn't drinking. Photo by Neil Fein.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-48720384816686301432008-02-21T09:23:00.001-05:002008-02-21T09:23:43.928-05:00

100_6776.JPG Originally uploaded by neilfein From the end of our joint Birthday Ride in January. Taken while Neil tried to reach his wife to pick us up. I'm in the background - look for my headlamp and handlebar light.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-12434955168687652462008-02-21T09:00:00.002-05:002008-02-21T09:20:08.098-05:00

My apologies for the recent absence of posts. I'd like to say I stopped blogging because of the writer's strike, but that would be a falsehood.In mid-January I began experiencing episodes of lightheadedness. The first one or two I wrote off as the result of a lack of sleep. After the fifth one in a week I saw my doctor. Soon enough I was sent up to Pottstown for a CT scan. The scan revealed a

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-53112619222852216492008-02-21T08:56:00.002-05:002008-02-21T09:00:04.833-05:00

8 miles on the Perkiomen and Schuylkill River Trails near Audubon and Oaks. The weather was cold but ridable. No issues to report other than a touch of lightheadedness at the end of the ride.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-39390315967438120492008-02-21T08:55:00.001-05:002008-02-21T08:55:53.311-05:00

100_6781.JPG Originally uploaded by neilfein The Neils on Wheels team tackle the bear statuary in Central Park. Photo by Martha Fein.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-57976781461888855172008-02-03T21:59:00.000-05:002008-02-03T22:01:49.985-05:00

I was recognized as Most Improved Rider at the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia annual meeting and Awards Banquet, held at the Manayunk Brewery. (Incidentally, Neil F. and I had lunch there during our first ride back in June 2007.) This was a special award the club devised in my honor. The club president cited me as (here comes that word again) "inspirational" and "proof that anyone can ride a bike

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-88307211534827657162008-02-01T09:20:00.000-05:002008-02-01T09:28:33.529-05:00

I took the opportunity to ride around downtown Elverson, Pennsylvania while my car was undergoing its yearly inspection. This was my first ride in nearly two weeks, my first ride in Elverson, my first ride on the bike since the drivetrain was cleaned, and my first ride in sub-freezing weather. The three miles I rode were bitterly cold, and I began to get frostbite on my left hand despite my

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-36770272974417868952008-01-21T12:35:00.000-05:002008-01-21T14:11:40.623-05:00

Saturday's ride with Neil Fein was 41 miles from Princeton, NJ, to Washington's Crossing, PA, and back again. The roads were lightly-traveled, the terrain was scenic, rural, with light rolling hills. We had Mike, a fellow Bike Forums poster, with us for most of the ride, so we each had someone new to talk to. Neil's route and cue sheets were perfect, and we had no problems with wrong turns or

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-65478256468871876562008-01-14T12:18:00.000-05:002008-01-14T12:32:10.808-05:00

Having spent four days fighting off a head and chest cold, I was eager to be back on the bike. On discovering that a group of Bicycle Club of Philadelphia members were planning a ride from Valley Forge to Paoli to visit a member recovering from knee replacement, I wanted to go too. And when the ride leader stated no one would be dropped, I signed up.Paoli is a sizable climb from Valley Forge,

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-81772697228523960862008-01-14T11:54:00.000-05:002008-01-14T12:14:04.786-05:00

I received a pair of bike shorts as a gift. They are road shorts, but not bibs. And, like many guys with guts, they don't stay up well. While lamenting my lot, I stumbled across the following post on Bike Forums:"I couldn't stomach the difference in price between shorts and bibs so i buy Aerotech shorts, and a $4 set of suspenders. I put on an "Underarmor" shirt, the cycling shorts with the

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-46385959587785439992008-01-14T11:36:00.000-05:002008-01-14T11:41:11.263-05:00

Yesterday's ride was 13 miles on the Perkiomen Trail, leading into the newly constructed Skippack Trail. I've mentioned my fall and the winter storm in another post, so I'll concentrate on describing the trail itself.The Skippack Trail is an initiative of Skippack Township. It links to the Perkiomen Trail near Graterford, follows PECO right of way up a climb and into the township's Palmer Park,

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-56774537858050587032008-01-14T10:49:00.000-05:002008-01-14T10:56:12.327-05:00

Ah, the first fall of 2008! Yesterday afternoon I clipped a bollard crossing Collegeville Road on the Skippack Trail. Fortunately, I tried to put a foot down, which reduced my momentum when I hit the pavement. I landed on both hands and knees, and my long-fingered gloves and tights took the road rash for me. The bike seems to be OK, and I'm fine, although I feel very creaky this morning. I have

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-81800372331972122282008-01-09T14:48:00.000-05:002008-01-09T14:49:28.173-05:00

From my tour blog Pedalwest Destiny:I'm postponing my cross country trip from June 2008 to May 2009. There's just too much to do in too short a period of time for me to accomplish such a ride in 2008. I'll still update this blog regularly, so please keep reading.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-41558611050651498952008-01-09T14:15:00.000-05:002008-01-09T14:29:29.595-05:00

Some folks honor their birthday by drinking. Others mark the occasion by partying or eating to excess. I celebrated mine with a bike ride. Since God provided a beautiful spring day for the 41st anniversary of my nativity, I went on a ride with my friend Dennis on the Schuylkill River Trail. For the first time this winter I went without tights, choosing leg warmers and shorts. I did wear a jacket,

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-76311701116534730882008-01-08T05:40:00.000-05:002008-01-08T06:16:13.029-05:00

No riding outside today. I was too tired from the 43 mile ride on Saturday and subsequent 'bonk', and my four miles of walking in Manhattan. But I did go to the gym. While there I completed 28 minutes on an elliptical machine, 15 minutes on a spin bike, a full upper body workout, and my scoliosis stretching. And I saw a number of people who I haven't seen in a while, including one buddy I've

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-63787414173432887302008-01-07T11:51:00.000-05:002008-01-07T12:20:06.088-05:00

No cycling on Sunday. Instead I've celebrated another non-scale victory in my first trip to New York City. Neil F. and his wife brought me to town for our joint birthday celebrations.While some folks may think this is a trivial milestone to celebrate, it's actually quite an important one. The victory over obesity isn't just a matter of removing pounds from your frame. It's changing the way you

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-52606414802214979142008-01-07T10:31:00.000-05:002008-01-07T12:20:38.541-05:00

As odd as it is to find two Neils who ride together, it's odder to find two Neils who ride together and have birthdays two days apart. So in honor of our joint anniversaries we decided to celebrate by riding our ages. Or more accurately, my age, since I am the elder Neil by three years. So Neil F. plotted a 42 mile route in New Jersey and we planned our ride for Saturday, January 5th.Our

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-11170796070382855632008-01-02T10:15:00.000-05:002008-01-02T10:24:03.468-05:00

Mike down on Studebaker Road reminds us that victories and milestones oftentimes come without trumpets:"It happened at work on Sunday. No banners. No cheering crowds. No tape to cross. The milestone occurred as I was investigating a gooey trail of nastiness that emerged from the rear theater exit doors and snaked its way to the trash enclosure in the parking lot.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-4753921756929856182008-01-01T22:13:00.000-05:002008-01-01T22:18:09.144-05:00

For my first time on a bike in 2008, I rode 20 miles on the Schuylkill River Trail, from Betzwood to Spring Mill and back, with BSLeVan, a poster to the 50+ Forum. The original plans were to ride further, but my companion had taken a bad spill on a patch of ice on Sunday, and he was clearly suffering during the ride. And I was fatigued from working till midnight, and still not fully recovered

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-75391231737426500012008-01-01T22:05:00.000-05:002008-01-01T22:06:18.733-05:00

Total Miles for 2007 - 3005December 31- 135December 23 - 51December 16 - 16December 9 -22.50December 2 - 20November 25 - 53.5November 18 -88November 11 -72November 4 - 46October 28 - 20October 21 - 17October 14 - 73.5October 7 - 108.5September 30 - 123.40September 23 - 98September 16 - 113September 9 - 84September 2 - 35August 25 - 45August 19 - 32August 12 - 101August 5 - 122.59July 29 - 79July

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Neil Fein, in a post to Bike Forums, wrote "There is no cycling off-season!" After the past week, I'm inclined to agree. For those of us in a temperate climate, riding doesn't need to stop in the winter. You only have to become more determined and more creative about riding.As proof of the above proposition, I submit the recent Neils on Wheels Christmas tour, my commute to work, and my ride

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-28794097550791911612007-12-31T08:05:00.003-05:002007-12-31T08:06:42.990-05:00

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-15626842597071984912007-12-31T00:19:00.000-05:002007-12-31T00:48:39.994-05:00

My final ride of 2007 consisted of getting the miles I needed to get to 3000 for the year. Since my legs are still tired from the Bethlehem tour, and commuting on Thursday, I went for a ride on the Perkiomen, Schuylkill River, and Cross County Trails. I rode from Audubon into Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, and all the way down the SRT to Spring Mill. The weather was cold and damp, the sky was

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-15988614989100500192007-12-28T12:43:00.000-05:002007-12-28T12:45:41.508-05:00

Rather than repeat my Crazy Guy on a Bike journal here, you may read it athttp://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/3184

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-48893901203046035612007-12-28T11:25:00.000-05:002007-12-28T11:40:49.014-05:00

For a day I became a bike commuter again. While I was on tour with Neil F. - details forthcoming - my car battery developed a short. When I went to start it Wednesday morning, it wouldn't turn over. A friend's battery charger registered the battery as"fully charged" when we tested it, so I suspected a greater problem and made an appointment with my mechanic for Friday. I was unable to get a

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-80175458072076388782007-12-27T08:43:00.000-05:002007-12-27T08:45:33.466-05:00

For those folks who just stumbled upon this blog, here are the highlights of my first year as a cyclist:- first bike accident (I knocked my future MS team captain over) - January 6- first ten mile ride - March- first twenty mile ride - March- first organized club ride - April- first, and only, clipless fall - April- first 40 mile ride - May- first 50 mile ride - June- first metric century,

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-19790748839228070092007-12-26T00:38:00.001-05:002007-12-26T00:38:20.596-05:00

100_6589.JPG Originally uploaded by neilfein Season's Greetings.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-68782131189919723502007-12-17T08:08:00.000-05:002007-12-17T08:12:07.835-05:00

Just a ride to my gym and back. I was going to ride further, but the sun was quickly blocked by the snow-laden clouds rolling in from the west. I decided to cut my ride short at 16 miles rather than risk having to ride in rain and snow. As it turned out, I could have continued and completed my planned 25 miles, since the snow held off to late that night.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-64538721488751929932007-12-14T10:36:00.001-05:002007-12-14T10:38:35.600-05:00

From the posters to the Bike Forums Clydesdale/Athena Forum.

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4709008069773329096.post-27107590312606894902007-12-09T19:31:00.000-05:002007-12-09T20:46:50.805-05:00

Man proposes, and God disposes. I planned on riding to church this morning. I woke up too late to ride to church, so I drove instead. The morning was cold and damp anyway, so nothing much was missed. Afterwards I went home, changed, did nothing in particular, and finally motivated myself to go riding.As I rode towards the big climb in the first two miles of my route I noticed what appeared to be

The Historianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152771061213643548noreply@blogger.com1