Monday, September 17, 2012

Summer Cycling Goal Met

    Regular followers have seen a post like this before. They know that I set out to ride 1000km (625 mi)  each summer. Today I turned the 1000km for this summer!
And here he comes down the trail!

    Each summer is different. This year until early July we had cold, cool and wet weather.  AS a result I had not done much riding by mid July. What got my butt moving was  when a fried accused me of being a "fair weather cycler." That did it . I go out when it was windy and cool. As a result the kms quickly built up. 
 Photos from 2008 when I was speedier

    What was different this summer is that I felt I was always pushing. It was hard to ride. I felt like I was weak. I oiled my bike. I tuned my bike. I checked the break adjustment. Something wasn't just right. Was it me or the bike. Was age catching up to me? I didn't feel that it was age or my physical condition. I gradually began to suspicion something. It took me a while to get around to testing out my theory. 

    Finally , one day I got around to changing the seat. That did it. Immediately I could feel that the legs were different and that there was lots of power left in my legs. So it was  both me and the bike that were at fault. I was using a big wide seat and it was putting pressure on the inner thighs and somehow a nerve must have been pinched so that leg power was reduced.

    I felt much relieved when I made that discovery. there's still lots of time left to ride. I'll keep going as hard as ever and see how much I can do for the summer.

33 comments:

  1. wow, you must have really packed in the miles in the last couple of months! awesome!

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    1. It doesn't take that long to cover this distance. In my prime it was fifty hours. Now about the same number as my age!

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  2. Congratulations, Red! That's a fair bit of riding... :-)

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  3. Extremely impressive. I hope you make your goal, and I wouldn't bet against it.

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    1. It's not really that much...about 75 hours!

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  4. First of all, congratulations on your achievement. Now that is what we need more of here, being slowly developed - out in the wide open spaces away from cars.
    However, aren't you on the wrong side of the line? Here you would be on the other side.
    Looks like virgin countryside, no bears or wolves I hope to pop out in front of you??
    It actually rained here last night! Very little but at least we know that water does drop from the sky! ha ha.
    Now get back on that bike and pedal, pedal and faster pedalling. You'll end up the oldest bike rider in the whole of Canada.
    Cheers
    Colin (Brisbane.Australia)
    PS: You would have been horrified as would have your readers, if I hadn't checked my spelling before sending - I wrote piddle, piddle and faster piddling.

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    1. Thanks! Oh ya , wrong side eh! We had the sense to change here from the Mother land!!!LOL

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  5. Way to go Red!
    You are lucky to have the bike path. Your goals are impressive. I have to agree with Stephen - I wouldn't bet against you.

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    1. Thanks. I usually do more than that. One year I did 2000km.

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  6. Congratulations, Red, for accomplishing your goal, 1000 kilometres sound awesome to me!

    The trail looks perfect for bike riding - flat and hard surface, trees around and no cars...

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    1. Yes it is pleasant. We are lucky to have these trails. We do have hills though.

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  7. Oh, so it's a bike path! I was going to say "My, your roads are narrow!" I have never seen a bike path with a line in the middle. (But then I don't use bike paths much. In fact, I don't use them at all, I'm ashamed to say.) But that's an impressive feat. If you lived here in Oz, since we don't really have a winter, you'd have to do 2000 km each year.

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    1. Thanks!
      Also notice that I am on the wrong side of the line?

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  8. I would love to bicycle a lot more, however; we have cowpath roads, barely enough room for cars, so you get to almost ride in the ditch and this is actually in town. You take your life in your hands when bicycling aboot town and its like you are infringing on the rights of people who drive. Only safe place is the sidewalk in some cases, but do not get caught else you'll be fined. How fortunate for you that you have a bike path - I can only dream of something so nice. Congratulations Red, on accomplishing your 1000km - I think that is just great!

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    1. Thanks.
      We are not supposed to ride on side walks here but everybody does. No worries about fines here.

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  9. What an impressive accomplishment! I am glad you were able to figure out what was slowing you down. Had to laugh out loud at Colin though...too funny!

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    1. Thanks.
      Some of the Australian slang is pretty funny if you get it.

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  10. wow! good for you!! The woman at the bike store told me well padded riding shorts are more valuable than bike seats....just passing along what she told me, I don't have either.

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    1. Thanks.
      The seat I had would have been comfortable for somebody who rides very little but for more challenging riding it didn't work.

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  11. I shall readjust my seat immediately and see if I feel better for it.

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    1. Now which seat are we talking about? I have another seat that needs major adjustment and I can't do that with a wrench!

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  12. Bravo! I have been on my bike twice all summer! You put me to shame!

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    1. Thank you.
      I find an odometer really helps.

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  13. Congrats, that is good to cover the challenge.The seat and seat height can make a big change in comfort. I rode across Iowa last year in a week on a annual ride.

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    1. Thanks.
      Great achievement to go on a ride such as across Iowa.

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  14. WOW! Good for you!



    Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey
    by Alison Weir

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  15. Way to go Red! I'm glad you sorted out your issue with your bike and I'm sure you've got thousands of miles left in you.

    Wow, 1000+ kms, that's impressive!

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    1. Thank you.
      Things just seem to keep rolling along. I'm fortunate.

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  16. 1000 km a summer, that's fabulous! You look great on your bike. Glad you found a comfy saddle!

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  17. Ooops! Gremlins I suspect!!! This comment on "pedals,piddles and slang" somehow managed to appear on your SNOW blog of April 5th.
    ------------
    "ColinTuesday, September 18, 2012
    Whatdoyoumean? Aussie slang? That, my dear mate, is straight out normal lingo here.
    It was simply a minor spelling mistake - pedal and piddle! Thank God I did CAREFULLY read what was about to be sent!
    We aim to confuse - ha ha!
    Some of our so-called 'slang' expressions, would not pass the Political Correctness mob in overseas countries, especially the USA!
    So far we have got away with our "slang", God help anyone who tries to take it away from us.
    Now if it is a fine, sunny day for tomorrow (your time), get back on the bike and pedal, or is that piddle?? - ha ha!
    Now what happened to the lettuce etc. munching leverets? A most industrious plan that has gone up the sprout!
    Great comments and are you sure with your responses that you are not an Aussie in Alberta in disguise????
    Today a long range summer weather forecast was given for summer (Dec-Feb) - it will be HOT,HOT, HOT! With cyclones. This delightful news was NOT what I wanted to hear.
    Cheers
    Now back on your bike.
    Colin"
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    Now who shall I blame? Leverets, bikes or the thought of a long hot summer???
    A thousand "mea culpas".
    Today here is absolute beach day, very strange weather indeed.
    Colin (Brisbane.Australia)

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  18. Good for you. Cycling is wonderful exercise. I tend to walk my distances. Maybe I should start keeping track of them.

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