Well, today I got back to it, for the past 4 days I had just decided to take a break, the weather was crappy, raining every day, and I just didn't feel like getting drenched and being wet and cold. I am ready for the snow, have the mountain bike studs on and everything, but I don't want to be drenched. So today the temps were more reasonable, and I hopped on and pedaled in.
It felt good to be back out there, it was a nice day and a nice trip. I do feel so much better in the morning if I ride in, I have to remember that. This will be a short one today, just wanted to drop in and post that I'm back out there.
Joe
Friday, December 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
From snow to rain
Yesterday I got my first ride in the snow. I mounted the Nashbar Studded tires Sunday afternoon thinking that a chance of precip along with temps hovering around 34 degrees meant there was a good chance I'd need them, and like magic Monday morning there was snow. It only amounted to about 1/4 inch, but still it was a covering, and it gave men a chance to run over some nice patches to see how the traction of the tires would hold. The tires held up without a hitch, and much to my surprise I stayed extremely warm the whole way to work, that Columbia with the liner in it makes a 33 degree day feel like summer.
Today I wake up and see it's no longer snow, but rain that greets me for the morning ride. I have come to a decision, I like snow a lot better than rain, at least when the temp is below 40. Rain has a way of making me feel blah by the time I'm halfway to work, whereas the snow kept me cheery all the way in. I can only imagine how the ride will be when I'm greeted with "freezing" rain. Oh joy.
Turkey day is just over the horizon, and that in and of itself is good enough reason to make sure I stay on the pedals as much as possible, this set of holidays will not result in weight gain for me, and this spring I plan to be lighter than I was this summer, that's the goal anyway, and so far I'm doing a pretty good job of getting there, the true test for me is always the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I'm coming into the hard part of the year.
well, short and sweet today, happy pedaling all.
Today I wake up and see it's no longer snow, but rain that greets me for the morning ride. I have come to a decision, I like snow a lot better than rain, at least when the temp is below 40. Rain has a way of making me feel blah by the time I'm halfway to work, whereas the snow kept me cheery all the way in. I can only imagine how the ride will be when I'm greeted with "freezing" rain. Oh joy.
Turkey day is just over the horizon, and that in and of itself is good enough reason to make sure I stay on the pedals as much as possible, this set of holidays will not result in weight gain for me, and this spring I plan to be lighter than I was this summer, that's the goal anyway, and so far I'm doing a pretty good job of getting there, the true test for me is always the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I'm coming into the hard part of the year.
well, short and sweet today, happy pedaling all.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Perfection- In the moment
My life has been filled with some interesting times. I have had some amazing days, and amazing moments. As a matter of fact when I look back at the number of quality moments I've had, I can't help but wonder if others have had as many, because many of the people I see though the course of a day just seem to be not as happy in life as they should be. But, that's not what this post is about, this post is about one of the most perfect moments I have had in a long time. I have to say the most perfect moment to date was the day I first met my wife in person, but this perfection is a little different.
I've had a lot of great time bicycling both with groups, and just with one friend, but also solo it can be quite wonderful to turn any way you like, and know that with enough of those turns you'll end up back home. Much as I love to cycle, I also love to spend time with my family, well, yesterday I went on a short ride with my 8 year old stepdaughter, my wife hasn't been feeling up to riding due to some complications with a surgery so she went along in the car, met us at our destination and brought our two crazy dogs so we could run them around a bit after feeding the ducks, which was the original plan. The ride to this destination was great, and we had a grand time, but the moment this is about happened even before that.
It started with me noticing that we actually had a sunny brisk morning outside, and that indeed my cappucino maker still funcitoned. I fashioned a nice cup of coffee, and ventured outside, I invited my wife to join me, asking if she perhaps wanted some tea, she accepted and we headed out to our little table in the backyard. Upstairs I could hear our daughter playing her trumpet. Now, I want to tell you, when this trumpet thing started, I would pray to the Gods that she be finished by the time I got home from work, as the sounds emanating from this unit were less musical and more of what you might hear from a dying seal. However, in just a few short weeks, the sounds coming from the end of this instrument have turned to music, or to notes at least, which as I understand it are parts of music. We ventured outside, and were enjoying our beverages, then we heard our daughter calling for her mom, and she came outside. She asked what we were drinking, and I told her I had coffee, and her mom had tea, and I asked if she would like something? She responded she'd like to go in and see what we had, so we did.
We came back out with her steaming cup of chai latte, and she was thrilled. I got her a chair, which she opted out of, she sat instead on my knee, talking away with us, and sipping her drink. It occured to me at this moment how vastly different my life was from what it had been just a few years ago, and how much happier I was now. Truly times of frustration and struggle make those moments all the more special later on. I remember dealing with many tantrums, head butting incidents where I was certain that this person living in our house would simply never be on board with the bigger picture, and now, here we all were, drinking warm morning beverages, and discussing whatever came to mind. The slight chill in the air, my wonderful wife and daughter, and the way it is to know that you are a part of something as special as a family, are what combined to make perfection, in the moment, for me.
I don't know if anyone is reading yet, but if you are, take a moment to remember, those around you are the reason for your health, the better you feel, the more you will enjoy every moment, and the more moments you are likely to be around to enjoy. Bicycling is a great thing, and I love every moment I get to do it, but I also remember that this pastime is just that, and that the people that I share my life with come before that 20 mile ride, and we all need to remember them when we plan our next multi hour outing. I'm not saying don't go, but I'm saying make sure you value the time you get to spend with them as well. Balance in all things, after all, is the route to true happiness.
F2PH
I've had a lot of great time bicycling both with groups, and just with one friend, but also solo it can be quite wonderful to turn any way you like, and know that with enough of those turns you'll end up back home. Much as I love to cycle, I also love to spend time with my family, well, yesterday I went on a short ride with my 8 year old stepdaughter, my wife hasn't been feeling up to riding due to some complications with a surgery so she went along in the car, met us at our destination and brought our two crazy dogs so we could run them around a bit after feeding the ducks, which was the original plan. The ride to this destination was great, and we had a grand time, but the moment this is about happened even before that.
It started with me noticing that we actually had a sunny brisk morning outside, and that indeed my cappucino maker still funcitoned. I fashioned a nice cup of coffee, and ventured outside, I invited my wife to join me, asking if she perhaps wanted some tea, she accepted and we headed out to our little table in the backyard. Upstairs I could hear our daughter playing her trumpet. Now, I want to tell you, when this trumpet thing started, I would pray to the Gods that she be finished by the time I got home from work, as the sounds emanating from this unit were less musical and more of what you might hear from a dying seal. However, in just a few short weeks, the sounds coming from the end of this instrument have turned to music, or to notes at least, which as I understand it are parts of music. We ventured outside, and were enjoying our beverages, then we heard our daughter calling for her mom, and she came outside. She asked what we were drinking, and I told her I had coffee, and her mom had tea, and I asked if she would like something? She responded she'd like to go in and see what we had, so we did.
We came back out with her steaming cup of chai latte, and she was thrilled. I got her a chair, which she opted out of, she sat instead on my knee, talking away with us, and sipping her drink. It occured to me at this moment how vastly different my life was from what it had been just a few years ago, and how much happier I was now. Truly times of frustration and struggle make those moments all the more special later on. I remember dealing with many tantrums, head butting incidents where I was certain that this person living in our house would simply never be on board with the bigger picture, and now, here we all were, drinking warm morning beverages, and discussing whatever came to mind. The slight chill in the air, my wonderful wife and daughter, and the way it is to know that you are a part of something as special as a family, are what combined to make perfection, in the moment, for me.
I don't know if anyone is reading yet, but if you are, take a moment to remember, those around you are the reason for your health, the better you feel, the more you will enjoy every moment, and the more moments you are likely to be around to enjoy. Bicycling is a great thing, and I love every moment I get to do it, but I also remember that this pastime is just that, and that the people that I share my life with come before that 20 mile ride, and we all need to remember them when we plan our next multi hour outing. I'm not saying don't go, but I'm saying make sure you value the time you get to spend with them as well. Balance in all things, after all, is the route to true happiness.
F2PH
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Holiday Parties- What NOT to do
Well, I spent part of the weekend at a very nice Halloween party thrown by friends, and it was a wonderful gathering. I've been at this bicycling thing for two years, and a few people who hadn't seen me in that same amount of time commented on my weight loss, and how much different I looked.
I should make it clear here that I don't mind standing out in a crowd, just about any crowd. My costume this year consisted of a vintage Nashbar Skinsuit, rainbow striped on the sides, and bright blue over the chest and back, and then I used an old helmet that had been altered with a claw hammer, and broke a pair of badly scratched sunglasses, then placed a 700 tire between my legs and up over my shoulder. I went as a post crash cyclist, oh, and the best part of that story is that a close freind of mine was at the party, and had been clocked by a car about a month before. So, to save explaining I just told everyone I went as him. He found it immensely amusing (he's got a good sense of humor) and a good laugh was had by all. But I digress...
So, I arrive at the party, with goodies in hand, and see many other goodies there as well, yum, I'm going to have just a little of this and that, but my intentions are to watch a bit so I don't slide back down the slope I did last year and put on 23lbs over the winter. I start with a beer, and a nice sandwich (sloppy joe of some sort, quite good). Then another beer, and I think another, and another, then it's time to sample some more food, and then another beer, and well, some more food, and on and on as the night progressed. My lovely wife was dressed as quite a sexy nurse, and she was there to care for me, but she was indulging as well so we kind of slid down the path of poor eating together (she's sweet that way sometimes :) ) Sometime around 11 or midnight someone said "shots upstairs" and I was just buzzed enough to think "ohhh, shots, they are lower in calories!" :) Well, at least we had a good time, and being up in weight on Sunday morning came as no surprise.
The good part of this story is, I took my car to the friends house who had wrecked the month before, we had to do some furniture moving Saturday before the party, and we borrowed his truck to do so, well, I left the car there, on purpose, so my only mode of transportation this week to and from work was the bike. It's amazing how much easier it is to decide to pedal to work when the other option is not going to work. I'm glad I did it, and I plan to carry that mentality though the rest of the winter. It was 33 degrees two mornings in a row, and I have found that the gear I currently have will handle that without issue, so bring on the cold!
Happy pedaling!
I should make it clear here that I don't mind standing out in a crowd, just about any crowd. My costume this year consisted of a vintage Nashbar Skinsuit, rainbow striped on the sides, and bright blue over the chest and back, and then I used an old helmet that had been altered with a claw hammer, and broke a pair of badly scratched sunglasses, then placed a 700 tire between my legs and up over my shoulder. I went as a post crash cyclist, oh, and the best part of that story is that a close freind of mine was at the party, and had been clocked by a car about a month before. So, to save explaining I just told everyone I went as him. He found it immensely amusing (he's got a good sense of humor) and a good laugh was had by all. But I digress...
So, I arrive at the party, with goodies in hand, and see many other goodies there as well, yum, I'm going to have just a little of this and that, but my intentions are to watch a bit so I don't slide back down the slope I did last year and put on 23lbs over the winter. I start with a beer, and a nice sandwich (sloppy joe of some sort, quite good). Then another beer, and I think another, and another, then it's time to sample some more food, and then another beer, and well, some more food, and on and on as the night progressed. My lovely wife was dressed as quite a sexy nurse, and she was there to care for me, but she was indulging as well so we kind of slid down the path of poor eating together (she's sweet that way sometimes :) ) Sometime around 11 or midnight someone said "shots upstairs" and I was just buzzed enough to think "ohhh, shots, they are lower in calories!" :) Well, at least we had a good time, and being up in weight on Sunday morning came as no surprise.
The good part of this story is, I took my car to the friends house who had wrecked the month before, we had to do some furniture moving Saturday before the party, and we borrowed his truck to do so, well, I left the car there, on purpose, so my only mode of transportation this week to and from work was the bike. It's amazing how much easier it is to decide to pedal to work when the other option is not going to work. I'm glad I did it, and I plan to carry that mentality though the rest of the winter. It was 33 degrees two mornings in a row, and I have found that the gear I currently have will handle that without issue, so bring on the cold!
Happy pedaling!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Proper Rain Gear
Well I had my first rain ride of the fall, and it turns out some of my rain gear that I had thought was going to be waterproof, is not quite waterproof. I have a nice Columbia jacket with the Omni Sheild logo, and it clearly says "waterproof" under it, but oddly enough upon arriving at my destination for my weekly meeting, I removed the coat to find it wet inside. I then found the same was true of my shoes, I have neoprene booties that I had thought would be waterproof, or near waterproof, and they are def water resistant, but not quite waterproof.
All in all it was a nice ride, I was surprised at how much water accumulated on my glasses, and I ended up being a little uncomfortable by the end of the ride due to the wetness. On a positive note, the cage drivers were quite pleasant today, not one of them tried to kill me.
I am now looking for a better solution to the wetness issue. Columbia says if you wash your jacket it may restore the waterproof properties (seems rather counter-intuitive to me, but heck, I'll try anything once).
Well, it's short and sweet today, happy pedaling!
All in all it was a nice ride, I was surprised at how much water accumulated on my glasses, and I ended up being a little uncomfortable by the end of the ride due to the wetness. On a positive note, the cage drivers were quite pleasant today, not one of them tried to kill me.
I am now looking for a better solution to the wetness issue. Columbia says if you wash your jacket it may restore the waterproof properties (seems rather counter-intuitive to me, but heck, I'll try anything once).
Well, it's short and sweet today, happy pedaling!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
When the weather doesn't co-operate
I'll admit it, I've become a bit of a pansy in the aging process. I used to ride my motorcycle all winter, somehow that got old rather quickly, and the same tends to start to happen with the bicycle as winter approaches. This year here in the northeast we've been lucky to have one of the mildest Octobers in history, as a matter of fact I think we are on track to shatter the previous record by about 4 or 5 degrees, so there is no excuse to not be riding all this month. For the most part, I have ridden all month, with a few days off due to some knee pain that just comes with the territory. Today they were calling for rain, and usually I wimp out when it's raining, but this winter I've decided to try to go the distance and bike every day I can, so I got out the mountain bike and headed out.
What a refreshing change. I love my roadie, don't get me wrong, but the feel of that Iron Horse Warrior is just something so different, so solid, compared to the road bike, it's truly a totally different feel. Well, on the way in I also realized I hadn't replaced my Garmin edge mount on the mountain bike, so I had to plop the gps in the trunk bag, and off I went. I thought my speed was ok, but I figured I'd be pretty slow since it was the first trip out on the mountain bike for the daily commute in months. I was surprised to arrive at work within minuets of my normal time, and more surprised that I held 14.4 mph (i'm no speedster on the mountain bike, so this is a nice clip for me) and I wasn't exactly working for it, so that's a good thing too.
I'm sure it's going to rain on my way home (calling for 70% chance) but on the way in, the first raindrop I got was on my walk from the bike rack at work to the door, the ambient temp outside was a balmy 69 degrees, and I was never happier to have made the decision to pedal to work in spite of what the weatherman said. I hope to keep doing it all winter, and I while I don't expect the weather to co-operate in such a pleasant manor all year, I do look forward to the time on the mountain bike and the welcome change of pace and feel it brings.
Happy pedaling everyone!
What a refreshing change. I love my roadie, don't get me wrong, but the feel of that Iron Horse Warrior is just something so different, so solid, compared to the road bike, it's truly a totally different feel. Well, on the way in I also realized I hadn't replaced my Garmin edge mount on the mountain bike, so I had to plop the gps in the trunk bag, and off I went. I thought my speed was ok, but I figured I'd be pretty slow since it was the first trip out on the mountain bike for the daily commute in months. I was surprised to arrive at work within minuets of my normal time, and more surprised that I held 14.4 mph (i'm no speedster on the mountain bike, so this is a nice clip for me) and I wasn't exactly working for it, so that's a good thing too.
I'm sure it's going to rain on my way home (calling for 70% chance) but on the way in, the first raindrop I got was on my walk from the bike rack at work to the door, the ambient temp outside was a balmy 69 degrees, and I was never happier to have made the decision to pedal to work in spite of what the weatherman said. I hope to keep doing it all winter, and I while I don't expect the weather to co-operate in such a pleasant manor all year, I do look forward to the time on the mountain bike and the welcome change of pace and feel it brings.
Happy pedaling everyone!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Introduction post
I'd like to start out by saying that reading a few other cycling blogs gave me this idea, so indeed imitation is the highest form of flattery, take it for what it's worth. I enjoy reading these other tales from day to day, so I thought I'd come here and share a bit as well, if someone enjoys it then that's great. I am doing this because I like what I've done, and I would love it if others were able to reap the same benefits I have from doing something that is as much fun as this is.
But first, a little history, I was a FFG (Former Fat Guy) and am a LFG (Less Fat Guy) now. I weighed in at 299 a little over two years ago, and currently tip the scales at a still beefy 224~229 depending on the day and my current level of hydration. I feel about 1000 times better than I did at 299, and that's the main reason I'm here sharing. It turns out that diet and exorcise are truly the effective methods to losing weight, I know I'd heard that somewhere before, but turns out it's true. My resting heart rate was an abysmal 95~110, and currently likes to hang out between 40 and 50. I've logged over 5000 miles to date on my bike, and commute to and from work approx 8 miles one way every day I can (Ok ok, so I slack sometimes, but no-one is perfect). I have a wonderful family that has supported me every step of the way, often picking me up on those rare monsoon rainstorm days when you come to work in the sun and leave by the Arc. I am 35 years old, and feel better than I did at 21.
Bicycling has been a path for me, it has helped me become more aware of my surroundings, of the everyday pleasures we all miss due to the crazy hustle and bustle we all find ourselves part of, and it's a great way to use your own energy to get yourself from one place to another, without doing a bit of harm to the environment. I have no doubt that I'll be doing this as long as I'm able, and my hope is that someone will stumble upon this little space and take some inspiration from it to hop on and have some fun as well, if it's biking, great, but whatever it is, get out there and do it.
So, enough of the mushy who I am stuff, now on to my opinionated self, and to the meat of this blog. I have to admit I've never been much of a blogger, and I am new to this scene, but I feel that my personality lends itself to this forum, and as such I'm going to try my hand, the fact that you are still reading this is to say the least, encouraging, and perhaps a bit shocking, but I digress.
I am going to start with my BIGGEST pet peeve, and that's people in cars that blow their horns AFTER they have passed you. What possible purpose can this serve? I know the effect it has on me, not being a small man, and with my previous fitness training being in power lifting, it makes me hope I can catch them at the next stop light and ask them what the F*(k they were trying to accomplish, other than scare the living crap out of me. I fail to see what effect they are looking for with the horn blow AFTER the pass. Would you like me perhaps to turn back time, and move out of your way (even though by far and large, I have been to the right of the white line when this has occurred), or perhaps you just want to annoy me? Rest assured, your mission is accomplished, as you drive your gas guzziling hunk of future scrap metal past me, expelling vile fumes from your putrid exhaust as you pass.
I reside in Pennsylvania and have researched the bicycle laws here, it is quite obvious to me that not a singe cage driver has done so, and this is much of their misunderstanding. They assume that since they are driving and you are pedaling that they always have the right to have their path unobstructed, as obviously you don't have anywhere to go, or anything to do. You are simply biking after all, and as such an inconvenience to those in the ever more important cars. It never crosses their minds that perhaps you are heading to work too, and have just chosen to get there by your own means. Which leads me to my next, bigger point, when did we all get in such a big hurry?
Have you ever sat down and figured out the actual amount of time speeding to your destination is going to save you? 2 min? 3? Maybe 5? Exactly what do you have planned for that time? When you get to your destination, will the extra 10 seconds it took you as a result of having to use a bit of caution as you passed me cost you anything? Everyone has themselves convinced they are in a huge hurry, and no-one seems to know why. So next time, ask yourself, as you pass that biker on the road, how much time am I saving by driving in my car, stuffing this fast food in my piehole, and bitching about nothing that matters on my cell phone, while he adds years to his life on his silly little bicycle, feeling better than he has in 20 years, and taking his time getting where he is going. How many seconds am I saving now, and at what cost in health and years down the road?
So blow your horn, if you must, use you time as you choose, and so long as I am fortunate enough to avoid getting run down by one of your hunks of metal, I'll be enjoying every min of my commute years after you've had your open heart surgery, I'll still be here, pedaling and I'm sure there will be more of you to beep.
F2PH
But first, a little history, I was a FFG (Former Fat Guy) and am a LFG (Less Fat Guy) now. I weighed in at 299 a little over two years ago, and currently tip the scales at a still beefy 224~229 depending on the day and my current level of hydration. I feel about 1000 times better than I did at 299, and that's the main reason I'm here sharing. It turns out that diet and exorcise are truly the effective methods to losing weight, I know I'd heard that somewhere before, but turns out it's true. My resting heart rate was an abysmal 95~110, and currently likes to hang out between 40 and 50. I've logged over 5000 miles to date on my bike, and commute to and from work approx 8 miles one way every day I can (Ok ok, so I slack sometimes, but no-one is perfect). I have a wonderful family that has supported me every step of the way, often picking me up on those rare monsoon rainstorm days when you come to work in the sun and leave by the Arc. I am 35 years old, and feel better than I did at 21.
Bicycling has been a path for me, it has helped me become more aware of my surroundings, of the everyday pleasures we all miss due to the crazy hustle and bustle we all find ourselves part of, and it's a great way to use your own energy to get yourself from one place to another, without doing a bit of harm to the environment. I have no doubt that I'll be doing this as long as I'm able, and my hope is that someone will stumble upon this little space and take some inspiration from it to hop on and have some fun as well, if it's biking, great, but whatever it is, get out there and do it.
So, enough of the mushy who I am stuff, now on to my opinionated self, and to the meat of this blog. I have to admit I've never been much of a blogger, and I am new to this scene, but I feel that my personality lends itself to this forum, and as such I'm going to try my hand, the fact that you are still reading this is to say the least, encouraging, and perhaps a bit shocking, but I digress.
I am going to start with my BIGGEST pet peeve, and that's people in cars that blow their horns AFTER they have passed you. What possible purpose can this serve? I know the effect it has on me, not being a small man, and with my previous fitness training being in power lifting, it makes me hope I can catch them at the next stop light and ask them what the F*(k they were trying to accomplish, other than scare the living crap out of me. I fail to see what effect they are looking for with the horn blow AFTER the pass. Would you like me perhaps to turn back time, and move out of your way (even though by far and large, I have been to the right of the white line when this has occurred), or perhaps you just want to annoy me? Rest assured, your mission is accomplished, as you drive your gas guzziling hunk of future scrap metal past me, expelling vile fumes from your putrid exhaust as you pass.
I reside in Pennsylvania and have researched the bicycle laws here, it is quite obvious to me that not a singe cage driver has done so, and this is much of their misunderstanding. They assume that since they are driving and you are pedaling that they always have the right to have their path unobstructed, as obviously you don't have anywhere to go, or anything to do. You are simply biking after all, and as such an inconvenience to those in the ever more important cars. It never crosses their minds that perhaps you are heading to work too, and have just chosen to get there by your own means. Which leads me to my next, bigger point, when did we all get in such a big hurry?
Have you ever sat down and figured out the actual amount of time speeding to your destination is going to save you? 2 min? 3? Maybe 5? Exactly what do you have planned for that time? When you get to your destination, will the extra 10 seconds it took you as a result of having to use a bit of caution as you passed me cost you anything? Everyone has themselves convinced they are in a huge hurry, and no-one seems to know why. So next time, ask yourself, as you pass that biker on the road, how much time am I saving by driving in my car, stuffing this fast food in my piehole, and bitching about nothing that matters on my cell phone, while he adds years to his life on his silly little bicycle, feeling better than he has in 20 years, and taking his time getting where he is going. How many seconds am I saving now, and at what cost in health and years down the road?
So blow your horn, if you must, use you time as you choose, and so long as I am fortunate enough to avoid getting run down by one of your hunks of metal, I'll be enjoying every min of my commute years after you've had your open heart surgery, I'll still be here, pedaling and I'm sure there will be more of you to beep.
F2PH
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