RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (Full Version)

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bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/4/2007 4:42:49 PM)

OK dumb question are you getting up to 30 mph on a flat road or is that downhill? If you can hit 30 on the flats then you probably should buy yourself a road bike. You are ready to graduate!!! Not certain I can hit 30 on a flat!



joy2give2u -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/4/2007 4:46:17 PM)

quote:

30 mph on a flat road
not mph.......kph but yes on flat road...........on downhills I have to coast most the way because the speed is too high for pedeling.



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/4/2007 4:47:14 PM)

Back to Montana - we aren't going into Glacier. We start in Whitefish and skirt along the Park but do not go into it. My understanding its going to be a fairly flat ride.

As to sag stops - I have a friend like you who also likes to socialize in the sags so unfortunately we can't ride together anymore on centuries. The waiting around kills my legs. Just so hard to get going again. The older I get the harder to start and stop and start again. When i was young, it was no problem.

Lastly mountain biking: So sorry you had a bad experience. Sounds like you were taking on trail not for newbies. I tach newbies and I alway take them on safe, flat fire roads and maybe some easy single track. Nothing hairy. Personally I don't like hairy myself. Not into getting hurt again. Takes too long to heal anymore.



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/4/2007 4:51:19 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: joy2give2u

quote:

30 mph on a flat road
not mph.......kph but yes on flat road...........on downhills I have to coast most the way because the speed is too high for pedeling.


Well that's still only 18 - 19 mph (I think) so your gearing does sound really low. You may have cheked into this but is it possible to change out the front chain ring for higher gearing like a 2/53 toothed ring? Wouldn't cost all that much. Do you have 2 rings up front? You can also get a smaller rear cassette like a 23 or 25 tp push up the gearing.



joy2give2u -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/7/2007 11:17:17 AM)

How was everyone's weekend? Did you all get any riding time in?

I rode to the ball games on sat. First to my nephews, then to my nieces but was unable to ride home.........the sky was really black with rolling thunder so I decided to send the bike home in my dad's truck while I stayed and watched the second game.

It never did rain so I could have ridden home so I was a little bummed but still got in 20 miles........

Sunday afternoon I tried to ride a longer ride but had to turn back after only 8 miles.........The winds out of the east were so strong I was really struggling pushing into it..........I tried to take a north/south road but was struggling keeping the bike from being blown around.........even heading back west the wind at my back was making the riding difficult..........or maybe I was just not in the mood to ride so it seemed harder.........

For those who ride to work what motivated you the very first time? I keep saying I am going to ride to work then when my alarm goes off at 5am I change my mind...........I know I just need to do it once and then it will be easier.

Yesterday I was explaining to God that I wasn't doing it because I was afraid of riding through a certain area and God asked me "How can you doubt my protection when I have protected you, even from death, in the past?" His words kind of took away my excuse.........



42servehymn -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/8/2007 10:44:39 PM)

I did a little riding this weekend. We were supposed to get rain on Saturday and Sunday but it didn't happen until a little later in the day so I was able to get a short ride in before the rain hit. All together I rode 15 miles over the weekend. Yesterday it was supposed to rain in the afternoon so I drove to work but it ended up not raining after all so I could have biked. Today I rode to work and then dh and I went for a ride this afternoon to watch my son play a frisbee match. Todays total was 17 miles! What motivated me to ride to work was that I gave my car to my son so biking was pretty much my only option. Winters here are usually fairly mild here so I figured I would be able to bike most days. Well we had a very severe winter with lots of snow this last Winter so I wasn't able to bike nearly as often as I would have liked. My husband was able to drop me off and pick me up if I really needed him so I wasn't totally up a creek.



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/10/2007 4:13:20 PM)

I did 35 miles on Saturday and Sunday did 15 miles on my mountain bike. It was really windy so the ride was tough.

Tuesday I have a hill climbing class after work. We generally ride 2 hours, maybe more, time permitting, and in that time can only go 17 - 18 the hills are that tough. Last Tuesday we did 17.9 miles and just under 1800' of climbing. One hill was a doozer. For the first time during class I had to stop and rest. Last night my legs were so tired I did a fairly easy 12 miles (my plan was to do 20 but I had no mojo). Tonight I am suppose to go mountain biking... but we'll see! I might just stay in and watch a movie!



42servehymn -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/11/2007 6:46:20 PM)

You go Pam! I still hate hills but I am less afraid of them than I used to be. Hubby and I were planning to ride to the pet store yesterday because the dog chewed through his leash the other day leaving us with two dogs to walk and one leash to walk them with. I got off work at 3:00 and we started to head for the pet store. I felt too tired and thought maybe I hadn't had enough water so we decided to head home and bike later after it cooled down a little. The temps were in the 80's. So we headed out about 7 pm. The pet store is 7 miles from our house and we had not tried that trip in over a year. It was a tough ride for both of us with some pretty good hills but we did it! Hubby kept asking me all along the way if I wanted to finish the ride or head back home. I was surprised a few times to hear myself say "press on!" We sat and relaxed at Starbucks before heading home. It was getting pretty dark on the way home. Our return ride was mostly downhill. We both thoroughly enjoyed the return ride. It was so different riding on the bike path and not being able to see anything other than the path in front of me. I experienced the ride with other senses that I don't use when it is light out. I felt the temperature fluctuate as I went on the lowest points in the path and went to the higher points. As we traveled near water you could really feel the chill. Bats were diving above our heads. The bike path is lined with lilac trees that are in full bloom right now and the fragrance was wonderful. We could also smell tree blossoms and wild flowers. I came home so happy that we had done the ride!



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/13/2007 9:28:13 AM)

You ride sounds lovely!!! I like my local rides as well, but scenary can't compare to yours.

I didn't get to ride yesterday. Spent the day in a first aid/CPR class in order to recertify as a mountain bike docent so today I get out and do a 50 miler to make up. Probably a foolish decision. Going to do "The Loop" ; a ride up into the hills, through the Canyons. usually a beautiful ride this time of year but with our lack of rain, the hills are all still brown. So sad.

And as to hills, HATE THEM!!! Just hate them but the best advice I ever got was if you hate them them go ride them. I'll probably never love them but my confidence and ability has greatly improve. Hasn't hurt my mountain biking either.



joy2give2u -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/14/2007 1:14:03 PM)

Reading of your bikes rides is both enjoyable and discouraging at the same time LOL

My father had some medical problems last tuesday which required surgery on weds.....since then it has be crazy between the hospital and taking care of him at home......I have needed to be with him so for the exception of a short ride sat night (5 miles only) I have not been able to get away to ride........

I am a little discouraged because I was enjoying riding to the little league games on week nights and sat but my father can't drive himself right now so I will be driving him.........which means no riding.

Sorry I am complaining, please don't think I don't love my father or don't want to help, I do and I am very glad I am free to be there for him and help him, but it is frustrating because I love riding....it is my one way to escape life's complications and be free........without riding, walking in the woods or some other means for being outside and exercising I am more tired and worn out.......I need the time alone to revive myself..........right now I am so exhausted I really need to ride if that makes sense.

I am also frustrated because I need to lose this weight and every time I am doing really well and the future seems bright for losing the weight something happens which demands my time and attention putting working out on a back burner.........It is just so frustrating.

A little over a year a half ago I was jogging in the woods everyday and training for a 5k.........things were going well and then my life flipped upside down with my sister and her children moving into my house..........I love them being there but my life changed.

How do you do it? How do you balance a full life........responsibilities, obligations, work, people's demands on your time and still find time to spend an hour or two walking or riding while enjoying the outdoors?



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/14/2007 7:53:04 PM)

I have a good friend who just recently was hospitalized as she (and the paramedics) thought she was having a heart attack. She's 49, in relatively good health but has a demanding job and works 70 hours a week, has a demanding husband that expects her to cook and clean and be his company every day, her step-father is dying of lung cancer, her mother is very needy, her brother is a substance abusive and very co-dependent, she just found out her father in law has colon cancer and her uncle is dying of lung cancer. And oh yeah she tries to fit in a bike ride here and there.

I recently had a long conversation with her especially since I was worried she will have a real heart attack some day. We really need to make wise choices in our lives - what is really important and what is not and what can wait for some other time. If something is really important then you make time for that thing if something is not, it's forgotten and you move on and not give it a second thought and if something can wait, then it waits.

In addition, sometimes we need to think of the message God is sending us. I've had a really bad 5 years with injuries, cancer, surgeries, financial problems, a lawsuit, lots of stuff. I try to be a good person and live life right but how come how the bad stuff (yeah God how come!?!?!) happened to me. Anyway I figure what he is trying to tell me is we aren't always in control of our lives. When we think we are, He throws a wrench into the works to remind us we aren't. What we need to learn to do, is give it up to Him, appreciate those things that are truly important to us and stop worrying about those that aren't.

Being with your dad is important. Losing weight is as well, but it can wait. Just don't give up. Keep at it. Be grateful you still have family and that you can be there for them to help out. Learn to relax and when you get the time, ride. It will help sort things out.

It' OK to vent, that's why we are here!!!



42servehymn -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/16/2007 12:21:36 PM)

I have been frustrated lately because we have had a lot of rain and when it isn't raining it is threatening to rain. There was a chance of rain yesterday so I drove to work. After work it didn't rain so I could have gotten some riding in. So after I got home I decided to go for a ride. I ended up riding to a neighboring city. It was definitely a climb in elevation and I rode 26 miles total. It was a very tough ride for me and I am still sore from it this morning but I am glad that I did it. I saw some spectacular scenery. That is one benefit to climbing tough hills. The view is way better up there! The heavy rain clouds surrounding the mountains were breathtaking! I told my husband I wish someone would start a nature church where you do some sort of hike or bike trip to a remote location and hold a service there. Nothing puts you in touch with Gods awesomeness like being out in nature.



joy2give2u -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/16/2007 12:33:30 PM)

What a great idea for the nature church LOL

I want to get started organizing group rides for my church.......I did one for the singles group at another church quite a few years ago and everyone had a blast.......even people who had never done a big ride before........we rode to lake michigan, had a cook out and then rode back..........I would love to do more with other churches in the area like that......

I know what you mean about the rain........it has been raining here quite a bit.........last night I talked one of my other sisters into picking dad up and taking him to the little league game so I could ride but then a huge massive storm came in with tornados so our plans changed........

Hey did you all know it is ride to work week?



42servehymn -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/17/2007 7:30:37 PM)

Every week is ride to work week! I took it easy yesterday since I was pretty sore from my big ride. I took the short way to and from work so I only did 5 miles total. I was planning on going for a ride after work today but it is dark and very windy and there is lightening to the west so I just came home. So again today only 6 miles of riding (I swung by the bank on my way home). We'll see what tomorrow brings. Congratulations on working something out with your dad so you could ride to the game. Too bad it didn't work out for you. Maybe you will be able to work that out again.



42servehymn -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/30/2007 10:56:18 AM)

Yesterday was definitely an adventure in biking for me. I always listen to the weather forcast to see if it is ok to ride to work. Yesterdays forcast was the standard "chance of rain" forcast that we have been having for the last month. That usually means if it does rain it won't start until late afternoon and I was off at 2 so I figured I was safe to bike and I am not afraid to get a little wet so I went for it. I had a great ride to work. All day long I kept watching the sky get darker and darker and about 1:00 it started raining. My husband came up to have a coffee with me before he headed into work and I headed home. He drove and offered to let me have the car but I would have had to put the bike rack on the car, load the bike, drive him to work, drive home and get the bike and rack off the car. I didn't want to go through all that and it wasn't raining very hard yet so I sent hubby on his way with the car. I sat for a bit finishing my coffee and waiting to see if it would quit raining. It didn't quit but I decided to take my chances. It is only about a 15 minute ride. Well right after I took off it started POURING rain complete with thunder and lightening. Between the splash off the front tire soaking my front and the back tire soaking my back I was completely drenched when I got home. I forgot to reset my speedometer but I am pretty sure I set a record since I rode hard to get home. I was actually sweating and freezing at the same time. Today there is a "chance of rain" and I will be driving!



joy2give2u -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/30/2007 12:07:21 PM)

I don't mind riding in the rain but lightening and thunder is scary........glad you made it home safely.

Sunday I went for my first ride since my father passed away. It was raining lightly and I just wanted to get out of the house. As I got ready to ride my seven year old neice asked if she could ride with me. I didn't have the heart to say no so I said okay and asked where she wanted to ride. She wanted to ride down to pappa's grave.
Taking the back country roads we rode to the cementary in the rain. I was suprised how quiet and reflective she was as we rode. I think the ride was healing for her as well as me. She commented on how quiet and still everything seemed with the only noise the sound of the rain and water off our tires. She said it was peaceful.

At the cementary we walked around and looked at the head stones. Talking a little, crying a little, and just allowing the peace to speak to us.

The ride home was just as peaceful. I think the rain added to the healing.......it was as though God was crying tears with us and comforting our hearts.

Monday I went for a short half hour ride by myself then my sister and I took all three girls to the local state park to ride on the paved trail. The middle one, age 5, has been a little hestitate on her bike in the past but on this day she found courage and determination which suprised both her mother and I. On the ride out she stopped each time another passed, walked up hills, and had me hold onto her as she went down. I mainly coasted behind her, with one or two pedels to keep the bike upright.

I kept encouraging her and telling her how well she was doing. I told her how proud I was of her for riding so far. We stopped at the end of the path to have a soda and snack. I asked her if she wanted to ride back or for me to go get the truck. She said she would ride.

On the way back we approached the biggest hill on the trail and she said she was going to walk.....I told her to pedel as long as she could and to push her legs as hard as she could. She made it up the hill and after that did not stop once. She rode up and down the hills, her fear gone as she pedeled so fast I had to actually pedel my bike.

No matter how I encouraged her and told her she could do it until she actually made it up that hill she still doubted. Once she reached the top, she knew she could face and over come the greatest obstacle, it gave her confidence to finish the ride.

As I rode behind her God reminded me that is what I need to do. Face each hill, each obstacle given me with courage and keep pushing myself up the hill........each hill top will build courage and faith that everything will be okay and we will all make it to the end of this path.



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/30/2007 7:10:28 PM)

Awesome advice.

I have been trying to help my sister out with the terrrible loss of her too young husband (46). She is a very emotional person and everything is so overwhelming but I'm helping her break down each task. It's a matter of taking one little step and completing it before moving on to the next task. After several months it's starting to work. She is finally starting to get the fact that big problems, when broken into little ones, can be solved this way. Better to take little steps then no steps at all.

Young children get so frustrated now a days. We need to be patience with them and help them learn how to tackle big problems. Many give up all too soon. You see where this leads once they grow up and get into jobs or relationships. All too easy to quit and run back home to mama. I wouldn't think of going back home no matter the mess I was in!

Cycling has always been that way for me. I take one hill at a time and before long the ride is over. It's amazing how it works that way! [:D]



joy2give2u -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/31/2007 11:33:09 AM)

quote:

Young children get so frustrated now a days. We need to be patience with them and help them learn how to tackle big problems. Many give up all too soon.
I think often because the parents are too busy to be patient and it is easier for them to just do it for the child..........

I am so sorry to hear about your sister. I can't even imagine her pain. I will keep her in my prayers and you also as you help her.

Last night I rode to church for class and back home. It was getting dark by the time I was nearing home and I took a road with deep forests on each side forming a dark tree tunnel. It was dark and almost eery with all the sounds from the woods on either side of the road.........after about two miles of the dark tree tunnel road the trees opened up and there on my right was a grassy field, the sun was just at the horizon and casting a redish glow on the feild as two deer paused like statues when they saw me.........it was breath taking........so peaceful, still, calm even while it radiated with color and life..........I know that is where God is taking me.........I will fear not in the tunnel of dark trees, I will keep moving forward for I know soon the trees will break and I will be amazed at where I am.....



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/31/2007 3:29:12 PM)

Oh my goodness that bought tears to my eyes!

I love being outside. I am always so amazed at the beauty that is around us that so many people ignore and never see.

Last night I did a "full moon" hike with some friends. As we rounded a tree lined trail and walked out from under the branches, the Moon's beams rained down on us like sunshine. We all stopped and just stared out across the field and like you, were blessed to catch a glimpse of a doe and her calf walking out from under the tree cover.

I was in a blissful dream state until one of my friends yelled "ticks!!!" and fantasy over! That really harsed my mellow!!! [8D]

Doing another hike ronight - tonight I will be slathered in tick spray!



joy2give2u -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/31/2007 3:38:08 PM)

quote:

Last night I did a "full moon" hike with some friends. As we rounded a tree lined trail and walked out from under the branches, the Moon's beams rained down on us like sunshine. We all stopped and just stared out across the field and like you, were blessed to catch a glimpse of a doe and her calf walking out from under the tree cover.

I was in a blissful dream state until one of my friends yelled "ticks!!!" and fantasy over! That really harsed my mellow!!!

Doing another hike ronight - tonight I will be slathered in tick spray!
Wow how neat. I sometimes go for walks on my own at night but never with a group of friends........I think I am envious. You live in california right? I have wonderful friends here but few hike and I can just imagine the dropped jaws if I suggested doing a night hike under the moon.......LOL

I do have one friend who loves to hike, kayak and other outdoors things but she works her winters in antartica and then travels on the off season so we rarely get to do things together.

Maybe now I have more time on my hand I will be more proactive in trying to find friends who enjoy the same things I do.



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/31/2007 6:53:18 PM)

I am very fortunate all my friends are active - they like biking, hiking etc. Living in Southern California it's easy to be an "outside" person. Since I really like to be active it would be hard for me to not have active friends. I was in a long term relationship with a gentleman who although everything else clicked, this one thing, activity (or lack of in his case) with a deal breaker.

Tonight we are hiking out to a place called "Dripping Springs" Its a beautiful natural spring all covered with ferns and stuff. I think we have about 30 people going. With such a big group it will be hard to see or heard any animals. But the weather is lovely right now and the sky clear. It will be a nice night to be out and watch the moon dance across the sky.



joy2give2u -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (5/31/2007 9:22:44 PM)

How much fun that sounds. Let us know after the trip all the details.



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (6/1/2007 4:49:01 PM)

Well the hike last night was nice although t e group was too big and too noisy for my tastes and one couple, well kept making out in front of me (geez stay home people if you cant control yourselves!).

But it was a beautiful night. We hiked up to Dripping Springs and at the trail cutoff saw a large horned owl take flight. On the hike back, we saw a skunk, bats, woodpeckers and 2 glow worms. Gow worms?!?!? I thought that was a kid thing made up. They actually exist! Very very tiny, but bright little lights in the dirt. Very cool! We stopped about a mile before the end of the trail to celebrate the rising of the moon. The rest of the way we were bathed in moonlight. Anyway, look forward to doing a hike next month.

This weekend I'm leadng a family montain bike ride. Talk about the patience of Job. Takes tons to get those little ones up the steep hills and out 4 miles but coming back (which is downhill) they have a blast!



42servehymn -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (6/4/2007 10:56:46 PM)

I didn't know glow worms were real either. Now I need to see one myself. I'll have to do some research to find out where I can see them. Saturday hubby and I biked just a few miles to an outdoor concert that was actually scheduled for Sunday but we had a great ride anyhow. On the way home we got hit with rain and some hail and ended up taking refuge under a bridge for about 10 minutes while the storm passed over. So on Sunday we chickened out and drove to the real concert because the skies were dark but it didn't rain after all. My MIL is in town so we haven't been able to go for rides like I would like to. She is leaving tomorrow morning so tomorrow afternoon I will go for a nice ride to make up for lost time.



bcipam -> RE: Bicycling....adventures, experiences, favorite rides etc (6/5/2007 1:45:15 PM)

I'm starting back tonight with my hill climbing class. Can't wait! NOT!!! Actually I sort of missed the challenge each week. Will be interesting to see how I do after a 2 week layoff.

Saturday I led a family mountain bike ride. A father brought out two young sons. Actually too young. The youngest, age 5, he pulled in a trailer. The older boy, age 9, just didn't want to be there. Some kids are althetic an some are not. This one was not. He basically started whining right off the git go. Another docent and I stayed with him and tried to push him along but he was having none of that. Thankfully Dad came back as the son had started crying. We had to turn around just a mile short of the goal.

I sortof felt sorry for the Dad. He was obviously a strong rider but his boys, well maybe they just spend too much time indoors with the GameBoys. Neither liked being outdoors much at all. So sad!



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