IT IS 2010.... LET'S RIDE!

WEATHER

2010-02-06T06:32:00.002-05:00

A big part of riding... being able to... enjoying the ride... has to do with WEATHER. This winter has been a very cold, wet, and downright brutal offering of cold temps. Not conducive to cycling at all.

It's cold days like this that I kick myself for not riding more in August and July. Crazy how "PERFECT" weather is during those months. I'm anxious to get on my bike, but I know deep down that it's going to be a while before the weather is back on my side.

For now, I'll just sift through my memories (and blog entries) of my summer rides. I need to ride more in the summer. :)

READY TO RIDE...

2010-02-02T14:58:00.001-05:00

But the weather has other things in mind. Ice. Sleet. Snow. Freezing Rain. Rain. Wind.

Won't be riding today or tomorrow, for sure.

The knee is a bit better. I got a cortisone shot in it. Seems to be doing the temporary trick.

Surgery is most likely off in the distance. Not this week though.

I just want to go bike riding.

ITCHING TO RIDE

2010-01-26T08:08:00.000-05:00

I'm itching to ride. Can't. The knee is keeping me off my bike. It sucks. I'm hoping tomorrow to find out the course of treatment I'm going to have to go through to get this fixed. Surgery? Maybe. Hopefully not.

We'll see. The weather was warm enough yesterday for a nice ride. Too windy for it, but the temps were great.

Stay tuned.

MRI

2010-01-24T07:27:00.002-05:00

I had my MRI yesterday on my knee. LOUD machine. I had headphones on and it was still deafeningly loud.

I will find out this coming Wednesday what the deal is with it. Surgery? Cortisone shots? Rehab? All the above? Not sure.

I'm hoping it's quick, whatever it is.

Stay tuned

X-RAY SHOWED THAT I NEED AN MRI

2010-01-19T12:44:00.002-05:00

Great. The knee saga continues. Bummer. I'm hoping to get this darn thing done so I can get back on my bike. The weather today is KILLER warm for our part of the US this time of year. Go figure.

Those of you that know me know I don't do "immobile" very well. I'm restless. I get bored "sitting down." I can't do it. I have to be going 100mph at all times. If I sit down, it's to eat or fall asleep. I'm not a "crasher."

The options presented to me all include a bit of that "immobile" word. I'm not happy.

This Saturday I have an MRI scheduled. I hear you have to be pretty still during those? Anyone out here ever had one? What can I expect?

Immobile. I get the heeby-jeebies just thinking about it.

MONDAY CAN'T COME QUICK ENOUGH....

2010-01-16T05:03:00.001-05:00

I've always prided myself (almost to the point of bragging) that I have a good, strong back and 2 good knees.

Scratch that. Make it 1 strong back, and only 1 good knee. My right knee is KILLING me. I've torn something on the inside portion of my knee. I have Dr. appt coming up on Monday. I actually can't wait. Hope they diagnose it and fix it quick! I'm limping around here like I'm in my mid 90's. Sad. (It hurts...)

Needless to say, my cycling has been curtailed to the point of non-existence. It sucks. I'm ready to ride. I want to ride. My knee has other plans for me right now.

Monday can't come quick enough, for once....

HEAT WAVE

2010-01-12T08:05:00.003-05:00

I rode in this morning. Nothing new this year. The temp though was a BALMY 28 degrees. More than TWICE yesterday's morning temps.

Almost had to break out the shorts.

SO FAR, SO GOOD

2010-01-11T07:42:00.002-05:00

I've hopped on my bike 8 of the 11 days this year. No major mileage, but the count is impressive. Hope to keep it up.

I rode in toward work this morning for my 4 mile ride. 12 stinking degrees outside. My feet froze. Need to put on another pair of socks in weather like this. Great ride in though.

Yesterday, Bill and I headed out to the US National Whitewater Center here in Charlotte, NC to do some nice mountain biking. What a great time! Nice trails. I forgot how much of a TOTAL body workout mountain bike riding is. My legs were toast by the time we were done.

So far this year, I have ridden into work EVERY day. FREE parking. :) Can't wait to jump on my bike this afternoon. At least it will be in the 40's. Not 12 degrees like this morning.

I was talking with Bill yesterday, as we rode in 19 degree weather and we both agreed that in August, we could kick ourselves for not riding in the WARMTH.... After freezing some body parts you didn't know you owned, riding in the warmth is all you can think of. Sweating your ass off. Not worrying about layers. What a thought!

It took me 20 minutes to get dressed yesterday. Long underwear, then my long riding pants, followed by sweat pants. 2 pairs of socks, 1 T-Shirt, 1 Long Sleeved Shirt, 1 Sweat Shirt, 1 riding jacket, and then 1 colorful short sleeve riding shirt. Not done yet. 2 pairs of gloves, followed by my Balaclava (a face mask) and skull cap, topped with my helmet.

It was quite the look. I was warm for the most part. My fingers were a little cold in the beginning. I warmed up though.

Still, one of the coldest rides I've done.

C'mon August!

5

2010-01-08T07:47:00.002-05:00

I have ridden into work 5 days in a row here. I think that is a first for me. Cold weather and all. Yeah.

I'm hoping the momentum here keeps up. I love the downtime on my bike each morning. The afternoon ride back to the car is therapeutic.

I parked a tad bit further out today that I want to make permanent. 20 miles a week simply riding into work. The miles there will add up before too long.

That, and I'm saving $5 a day on parking. That's $1,000 a year, just to ride my bike. I'll take it.

4 DOWN, 1 TO GO

2010-01-07T07:48:00.001-05:00

Days of the week that is. I have ridden into work each morning this week. In temps in the teens. Nice. This morning's ride was so invigorating. Truly. Had the heart going and the blood pumping. I enjoyed it.

Gonna be even colder next week. Brrr!

ONCE YOU'RE NUMB

2010-01-06T06:55:00.002-05:00

Charlotte NC is having one of the coldest winters in over 33 years. How do I celebrate that? I decide to ride my bike into work (short distance) each day during this cold snap. We're talking temps in the teens. Dry, super dry air. Air that hurts your lungs it's so cold. Air that stings your skin after a few minutes out in it. Air that has every Tom, Dick, and Harry scurrying for a hat, gloves, and the heaviest coat a Southerner owns.

I've racked up close to 23 miles in the 6 days of 2010 so far. Nothing monumental, I know, but I'm loving the cold weather. As I'm out riding, I can mentally picture all the commuters in their warm, cozy, heated cars saying, "That guy is NUTS!" Yes, I am. I'll take it. :)

I have always been a bit jealous (and mad at myself) when I see early morning cyclists, or joggers out and about regardless of the weather. "If they can do it, surely I can to," I would always say to myself. Temperature, schmemperature! It's only a number.

This week though, it's a very SMALL number.

So, I'm on a goal this month to ride in EVERY day to the office. If I can ride in 16 degree weather and make it in, I have NO excuses when it's "ONLY" in the 30's or 40's.

I have set the bar high and have left myself little "wiggle" room for excuses as to why I can't ride in.

Mileage for 2010 should be pretty good.

Besides, once you're numb, the cold air doesn't really bother ya.... :)

5 DAYS IN AND I'M RIDING

2010-01-05T09:20:00.004-05:00

2010 is starting off well. I'm 20 miles in with the new year only 5 days old. Not record numbers for mileage, I know, but hey! I'm ON my bike. With temps in the teens here, I am quite proud that I'm putting miles on my bike. The cold temps "build character," as I like to tell my 2 kids. :)

I'm not gonna lie. It's cold. Ear ripping, skin tightening cold. I feel like an icicle out there. If I still lived in Maryland, I wouldn't be bitching so much, but I live in the SOUTH damnit! :) Bring on the 50 degree weather, not this 20 degree weather crap. If it's gonna be in the 20's, can we at least get some snow out of it? C'mon! Cut us a break.

There's a chance of snow late Thursday into Friday here. I'll believe it when I see it.

Til then, it's back on the bike.

COLD OUT? DARN TOOTIN'!

2010-01-04T07:12:00.004-05:00

Ask most cyclists what they hate most when heading out for a ride, and the answer most likely will be "wind," followed closely by "cold."

Today, I rode in the 2nd. Cold. Bitter cold. 18 degrees cold.

2010 is the year I will ride more. More than the 875 miles I rode in 2009. That's why I rode into work today for my 3 mile tally.

Was it cold? Darn tootin' it was! I layered myself pretty well though. The only part of my body that was truly cold was my face. I had my balaclava (face mask) on, with my skull cap and my helmet, but it was still cold.

11.77 miles for the year. Only 863 more to beat last year's record.

Brrrr! Hope this cold snap breaks soon, or else I just might.

DAY 1 of 2010

2010-01-01T09:11:00.004-05:00

It's the time of year I love and hate at the same time. The time of year to wipe the slate (and odometer) clean from the previous year. 2009 is done. Over. Kaput. No more miles can be added to the amount I rode that year.

It's a new year. 2010 holds so much promise. I'm ready to tackle miles on my bike. I really do. I'm hoping it dries out enough today for me to do a 10 mile ride, at least.

It will require my winter riding gear. That's ok. I want to put more than 863 miles on my bike this year. 2009 was a decent year, but it paled in comparison to 2008 when I put over 1,700 on my bike.

I'm hoping for anywhere between 900 and 1,700 for 2010.

Stay tuned.

HERE'S to 2010

2009-12-22T10:01:00.003-05:00

'09 wasn't my best year on a bike. It wasn't my worst, but after having such a great year in 2008, it's a bit disappointing to see my yearly total miles for 09.

Here's to 2010. More rides, more outings, more miles.

Not gonna make a "crazy" prediction of "xxx" miles this year. I just hope/want to ride more than I did this year. Solo, or with Bill, that's fine. Sundays in the am need to be my riding day. Gotta get back into the AM routine of riding before work.

20 miles a week to start. That's 20 more than I'm doing right now.

Here's to 2010.....

ONE GRAND?

2009-11-26T06:44:00.003-05:00

Thousand miles for the year? I'm hoping. I need to refocus and get some gumption going here to get some miles under me.

Bill and I haven't ridden much at all since the summer. His work schedule is much crazier than mine. I have honestly "forgotten" about my bike. I do ride into work daily when the weather permits. That's a nice 3 mile addition of miles. The highlight of my work day at the end of the day when I can ride back to my car.

Other than that, I'm not riding. Maybe for 2010 I can get some rides in that count.

RAIN

2009-11-23T10:18:00.003-05:00

The bane of any cyclist's day. Cold, dreary and wet. Not a good combination. I haven't been riding because of it.

I got 1/2 the miles in I wanted to last week. Better than nothing, but not my goal.

This week's mileage will be PITIFUL. I have my nose surgery coming up tomorrow morning. I'll be out of commission for a week or so.

SHOOTING FOR 30

2009-11-16T06:53:00.003-05:00

Miles this week. The mornings are now cold. Not chilly. Downright cold. Autumn is here in full force. The afternoons are nice and warm. Very enjoyable to be outdoors in the afternoon. Once the sun goes down though, brrrrrrr! The temps drop quickly.

Here's my goal this week: Ride into work each day this week and then during my lunch break, ride back to where I parked so I can, in essence, double my mileage this week.

My waistline would appreciate the exercise.

Turkey day is coming up, and I look like the turkey.

12 MILES TO MY NAME

2009-10-22T13:55:00.000-04:00

I'm hoping to clear 1,000 miles this year. I have 825 to my name here. 12 this month. Nothing stellar. Might take some doing on my part to get to 1K.

Stay tuned.

AT LEAST I'M RIDING A "LITTLE"

2009-09-24T07:45:00.003-04:00

My cycling friend, (Bill) and I have been commiserating on how little we've been riding lately. Work, family, and life in general all seem to be on the FRONT burner these days. Finding a needle in a haystack seems easier nowadays than trying to find time to ride.

My monthly mileage totals are abysmal. The only "bright" note here is t hat I have been riding about 3 miles each day to and from work, where I park my car away from the office.

I enjoy the ride in. It clears my mind. I can "tune out" the day ahead. At the end of the day, I can "veg out" and ride back to the car and crank out to let off some steam. It's the best part of my work day. Truly.

So, I've got 53 miles to my name this month. 33 of those miles have been "work" related.

In September of 2007, the first month I got "back" on my bike after an 8 year absence, I rode 229 miles.

May November bring more miles to me and my bike....

31 MILES

2009-08-25T08:04:00.002-04:00

For the 1st time in my life, I have run more miles in a month than I have biked... This craziness is two-fold. One, I have never run this much in my life, and two, I have never cycled a smaller amount. Put the 2 together and you have the end result.

I'm enjoying the running though. I'm learning alot about my strengths and weaknesses and have been tweaking this and that to make the runs better. I'm learning.

I have a long way to go, but my interest is still high, and my ability to run is greater than I thought.

STILL RUNNING

2009-08-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

I'm taking an unplanned break from cycling right now to focus on some running. I'm actually not hating it. Notice, I didn't say I liked it. I just don't hate it. The results are hard to dispute the benefits of running. My clothes are fitting better and the pounds are melting off of me. I'm down 18 pounds from my heaviest and I have have dropped 12 pounds in 4 months. Not too shabby.

I'm under 200 pounds for the 1st time in a LONG time. It feels good.

I know the running will help my biking as well. Mentally and physically.

I'm really getting into running. I'm hoping this weekend to get a new pair of running shoes. The ones I have are shot, and I can't find my other pair. Not sure what happened to them.

WAS THAT RAY YOU SAW RUNNING???

2009-08-06T07:11:00.001-04:00

Why yes, it was... Out at 4:45am today for a 1.8 mile run with Bill. No land-speed records were set, but I didn't stop the WHOLE TIME. Not too bad.

I feel "thin" today. I haven't felt this light in a LONG time. I have about 28 pounds to lose, but I feel like the running is going to work.

I think tonight I'll get back out and use headphones, since I'll be jogging solo.

I feel good. It's good to feel good.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR

2009-07-23T07:30:00.001-04:00

Wow. It's been a year since I did the "24 Hours of Booty" ride. 201.92 miles in one day. The most I've ever ridden at one time. Hard to believe it's been a year. Time has flown.

I'm still riding this summer. Got out on Sunday for a 28 mile ride with Bill. Got out this morning for a nice 13.4 mile ride. Rode into work from my parking spot down the road, so that's another 3 miles. 44 for the week.

Pales in comparison to what I did last year, but I'm happy. I'm riding stronger and faster. Not as often, but I'm enjoying the rides a bit more these days. No goal, no focus, but plenty of dedication.

NOW WE'RE TALKING

2009-07-17T09:43:00.001-04:00

I've been riding bikes for about 36 years now. Thousands of miles have been racked up over the years. I'm getting older, but I still enjoy being out riding. I'm thankful for that. It's still therapeutic for me to get out and tackle 10,20, or 30 miles, depending on the mood I'm in.

Ever since getting back on the bike about 2 years ago, I have been struggling to ride "like I used to." What I mean by that is, being able to ride easily, freely, and most importantly: QUICKLY!

Getting old is a shot to anyone's ego. For me, when it comes to cycling, it's been difficult to realize I won't ride like I did when I was a teenager. I could easily ride with an average of 18mph back then. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy to still be riding. Really.

I'm riding more now than I ever have. But for the longest time, I've been in a rut. Same routes, same times, same (low) averages.

Back on March 21, 2008 I got my Cannondale road bike. I was thrilled to be back on a "real" bike. No more riding my GT Mountain bike as a "road" bike.

Instantly, I noticed an uptick in my daily average. I went from struggling to ride at 15mph to easily riding 16.5mph. Nice.

Then, I got stuck. No improvement. I would ride for a good year in the 16 - 16.5 mph "zone." Couldn't bread free from it.

Fast forward to this year. I'm sleeping better. I'm riding less, but as it turns out, those 2 factors have helped me get FASTER. I'm back and I feel stronger on the bike than ever before. I'm getting in rides with averages in the high 17's and even pulling some 18.4 and 18.5 mph ride averages.

I feel like a teenager again (minus the tired legs the next day...), but I'm back to riding FAST! REALLY fast.

To be 41 and pulling rides out like I was 20 is AWESOME! Will they last? I doubt it, but for now, I feel like Lance Armstrong. I feel like I'm defying the aging process.

While I have plenty of great (fantastic) rides behind me, I truly know that my best rides are still in front of me.