View Full Version : What makes a real difference to your cycling life this year?
weisan
11-22-2017, 08:40 AM
These are the things I did that made a real difference to my cycling life this year.
1) meaningful weight loss
I used the word "meaningful" because I wasn't looking to do anything drastic and I am not grossly over weight to begin with. I set up to lose some weight to see how it might impact my overall health and my performance on the bike. I am 5'8" and I stay around 170 pounds the whole year round. In October, I decided to try cutting back on my daily food intake and consume according to my activity levels for the day. I applied a few very simple principles. If I am sitting down all day long in the office, then I should eat less. Also, I tried to eat bigger meals during the day and taper off the amount past 4-5 pm. Basically, have a much lighter meal towards the end of the day, sometimes even forgo it all together if I don't feel hungry. I realized that I have been over eating even when I was putting in a lot of miles riding. My excuse in the past had been I ride to eat....that's not a good practice and that's why I was not losing weight.
Now I weigh 158 pounds. I no longer have the occasional back pain while riding because I got rid of the gut in the middle. I have never felt better and stronger on the bike than I do now in 30 years of riding. In short, my riding has been transformed, I am a totally different rider now than I was a month or two ago. And I love it!
2) PSA galore!
Because of this helpful community posting PSA, I was able to make some very important bike acquisitions the year at an affordable price. By keeping an open mind, I expanded my palette to include other genres of bikes and that has been an eye opener and has greatly extended my enjoyment in cycling and kept my enthusiasm and motivation high throughout the year. In short, diversity is good.
Just to mention a few of these acquisitions :
- rivendell road standard - gives me a taste of what old school classic European style steel bike rides like and I can tell you, it's phenomenal. You are missing out on something if you don't give yourself the opportunity to try it.
- merlin cyclocross ti - the very essence of a versatile, go anywhere, do anything bike with the extra bonus of the unique spring-iness of titanium.
- Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra - this bike came in at an amazing condition and it allows me to go deeper and be able to relate to the past history of cycling. That's important to me.
3) 650b conversions
I converted a number of my bikes over to 650b wheel size and it has been a very positive experience. It allows me to use a really nice tire like Compass SwitchBack Hills. But overall, just the bigger volume, lower center of gravity - transforms the way the bike rides. I am more confident riding my 650b bikes on gravel roads than I am on the regular 700cc bikes. It's more fun and versatile.
(4) - a very fruitful relationship with my local bike co-op
Yellow Bike Project.
Because of this relationship, I was able to have access to a huge amount of bicycle parts, they are mostly used and older models but they worked and saved me thousands...yes, thousands of dollars. Because of them, I was able to feed my passion for cycling and also practice wheel building, which brings me to the last bullet point.
(5) getting into wheel building
This is a very satisfying experience, to learn how to build my own wheels. It enriches my overall cycling experience and saves me money.
Alright, those are my "life-changing" cycling experience this year, what's yours? Thanks for sharing.
Lewis Moon
11-22-2017, 08:48 AM
Time In The Saddle (you do the acronym)
No matter what type of training plan I do, I always see better maintenance and improvement from just riding more. I go hard when I feel like hurting and I spin when it's appropriate.
It's also mentally better for me.
...and the 'cross bike. Ya gotta love 'cross bikes.
R3awak3n
11-22-2017, 08:55 AM
I lost a decent amount of weight, that was awesome. Ridding 15lbs lighter is amazing, its like not having a weight weenie bike under you. You are just floating lol. In all seriousness, it really is great and I need to keep it up.
Nooch
11-22-2017, 09:03 AM
Went and spectated at the New Haven Grand Prix, and suddenly the fire to get into racing shape again was lit. I've covered 1095 miles since that day, 1836 ytd, after a 263 mile 2016, a 422 mile 2015, and a 1278 mile 2014. So i'm like 100 miles out from beating my combined last three years worth of mileage.
I also lost upwards of 70 lbs, so while my power was zapped from the three years of non-riding, I'm faster than I was previously. Helps with the psyche, if nothing else. Now to get the power back up and I'll be very happy.
Black Dog
11-22-2017, 09:06 AM
This year I dialled back the intensity and focused more on just enjoyment. Fun before fitness. Just as many miles just not as many hard rides for building fitness. I must say that, even though, fun is always 1st for me, I have found that taking a break from worrying about being really fit has been a great mental break. After 30 years of riding it felt sooo good. Still fast and fit enough to do the types of rides I like. Lacking a bit of punch has been a great trade off for the low pressure mental space it has given me.
Seramount
11-22-2017, 09:29 AM
no longer having a job has made a distinct difference in my riding.
being retired gives me the luxury of riding when and as far as I like...no longer have the time constraints of having to squeeze rides in after work.
really like being able to pick the best part of the day to venture out...can choose the temp, wind speed, traffic density...the flexibility in scheduling is sweet...in the worst of the summer heat, some days I did both morning and late afternoon rides with a swim session in between.
as a result, my annual mileage has increased pretty dramatically...it's up from 6K and edging towards 9K...
Lack of pain thanks to Dr. Norton. :banana:
The surgical repair of my neck solved a number of issues for me which enormously improved my enjoyment of riding. Combine that with my son starting to ride with me and it's been a great year.
Friends. I hooked up with a meetup group in Auburn and been all over CA riding awesome trails this year. Several are very skillful technical downhillers that are always sharing and schooling me, have improved much in this area this year. Also, a couple strong riders in this group motivated me to step up my training on the road.
Tires. Mainly a E Thirteen TRS+ up front. Really boosted my confidence in the loose stuff, great tire!
This Forum. Awesome place, with a wealth of information and motivation.
FlashUNC
11-22-2017, 10:07 AM
Bonts.
Ridiculously comfortable shoes.
bocobiking
11-22-2017, 10:18 AM
Since 2006 I have tracked and recorded my average speed on every ride. Of course with my getting older, it has slowly gone down. I've recently realized that average speed has become an albatross on my rides, reducing my riding experience to a number. So I've stopped even looking at my average speed at the end of rides, most of the time even forgetting about it. I'm amazed at the difference in what rides feel like.
notsew
11-22-2017, 12:50 PM
Group rides.
I've mostly ridden alone since I started riding, and with little kids taking up social time I was feeling pretty detached from any sort of community. I started making the time to get out on group rides, and its been great. Made a ton of acquaintances that are fun to chat with, made some friends, joined a team. All in all, it really brought me into the cycling fold and gave me more of a sense of the community I was missing. Plus, stronger, faster, etc.
Turns our riding with people is fun! Who knew.
rousseau
11-22-2017, 01:10 PM
Since 2006 I have tracked and recorded my average speed on every ride. Of course with my getting older, it has slowly gone down. I've recently realized that average speed has become an albatross on my rides, reducing my riding experience to a number. So I've stopped even looking at my average speed at the end of rides, most of the time even forgetting about it. I'm amazed at the difference in what rides feel like.
I kept meticulous records of average speeds for a couple of years and ended up feeling exactly the same way. Albatross. I ended up burning out/overtraining because I was trying to beat my average speed on every single ride.
Which is stupid, and not how you're supposed to train anyway. Especially when you're a middle-aged guy trying to ride for exercise and enjoyment. I don't even race.
Nowadays I just keep track of distance. I look at my average speed as I get back into town, and sometimes I'm pleased with it, but it goes down with all the stops and slower riding characteristic of being in an urban area anyway, so I'm Zen about it.
As to the topic at hand, what's made a difference for me, as fall gradually turns to winter, has been really fine-tuning my cold-weather kit to the point where I'm perfectly happy to ride down to a few degrees below zero. My normal cut-off point is about -3, but it will be interesting to see in January and February whether the gear I'm wearing will take me down to -5 or even colder on those evenings where the mercury drops that low.
wasfast
11-22-2017, 01:27 PM
Average speed, while a simple calculation, rarely tells the story of the ride. You can have portions that are flat out and others that are soft pedaling yet get the same "average speed" as a simple steady state effort.
After quite a while, all the numbers are just that and are not a reflection of our merit or capabilities in any real sense.
Jeff N.
11-22-2017, 01:34 PM
Laying off beer.
Likes2ridefar
11-22-2017, 01:42 PM
Moving from the east coast to AZ. I can commute to work every day and no longer be concerned about rain, and today I took a ride at 10am and it was in the low 70s!
earlfoss
11-22-2017, 03:33 PM
Doing my outdoor aerobic rides based on NP, not average watts. That was a game changer, and a "duh" moment for me as the light bulb went on.
bigbill
11-22-2017, 03:43 PM
1. Tubeless tires. The majority of road flats around here are due to small pieces of wire from shredded tires. Tubeless means I don't get those flats anymore.
2. Gravel riding. I even got a new bike dedicated to gravel riding. Very few cars, quiet routes, and the people I encounter on organized rides are self sufficient good riders.
3. Year round riding. I have a spin bike gathering dust. I put lights on the gravel bike and ride through the winter, even if it's just 15-20 miles after work. My neighborhood backs up the a really nice trail system.
johngmartin
11-22-2017, 03:45 PM
Went and spectated at the New Haven Grand Prix, and suddenly the fire to get into racing shape again was lit. I've covered 1095 miles since that day, 1836 ytd, after a 263 mile 2016, a 422 mile 2015, and a 1278 mile 2014. So i'm like 100 miles out from beating my combined last three years worth of mileage.
I also lost upwards of 70 lbs, so while my power was zapped from the three years of non-riding, I'm faster than I was previously. Helps with the psyche, if nothing else. Now to get the power back up and I'll be very happy.
The New Haven Grand Prix was great this year! (spoiler: its great every year!) Also, kudos! That's amazing!
velotel
11-22-2017, 03:59 PM
Still being alive and in decent form.
Clean39T
11-22-2017, 04:00 PM
The good:
- Staying dedicating to riding over other forms of endurance sport has meant lots of miles and steadily improving form over the year. When I'm on and feeling good, I'm riding better than I ever have. And that has me pretty hopeful for a solid year of doing some races and events in 2018.
- This place. 2,652 posts since January - yikes! It's kept my interest rolling and allowed me to tour through bunch of bikes I never would have sampled or explored if it weren't for being here with the huddled and enabling masses. It's been nice to become a part of the community and virtually meet a lot of really good people.
and the not so good:
- I've been struggling a bit with my health recently due to some mixture of sleep apnea and I don't know what. My recovery has been total ****e and I feel like my brain has been working less and less better the past few months to the point where I'm having a hard time keeping focused at work, feel constantly tired, etc. I don't know what's going on, but I'm going to see a nutrionist next week, and will hopefully have the results of an overnight sleep-study soon. My judgement has been off and I generally feel like I have the stupids...just not seeing things I usually would, missing stuff, lacking motivation, etc. It's weird.
Anyway, I have a lot to be thankful for - and am looking forward to a few days off, riding when I can, and sleeping when I can't...
Gummee
11-22-2017, 04:19 PM
Average speed, while a simple calculation, rarely tells the story of the ride. You can have portions that are flat out and others that are soft pedaling yet get the same "average speed" as a simple steady state effort.
After quite a while, all the numbers are just that and are not a reflection of our merit or capabilities in any real sense.
I wish you could explain that to the people around here.
IME 'average' anythings are worthless metrics.
M
Bradford
11-22-2017, 04:50 PM
After five or six years of wanting an IF Club Racer, I finally bought one after finding a great deal on my size (and the perfect color) in the classifieds. It is two pounds heavier than my race bike, but the combination of geometry, getting the front end up a bit, and wide rims with wide tires is remarkable.
The road use to beat me up, especially when I'm in bad shape and don't stretch as well, but not anymore. This bike feels like it is floating over the ground, and is super stable at 50 mph to boot. I can't believe I didn't just buy one new 5 years ago.
Now, I wonder how it would feel in Ti? hmm.
cnighbor1
11-22-2017, 05:11 PM
What makes a real difference to your cycling life this year?
Recovering from yet another car and me on a bicycle meeting at 12 mph
Two things:
Losing 30 lbs. I wasn't all that heavy (6'3 and 192) but life is better in the low 160's.
Finally admitting that I'm on the "core strengthening" train for life. Used to be I'd get periodic back pain, do core strengthening until it went away then quit. Now it's just something I do. I feel better for it.
rousseau
11-22-2017, 06:46 PM
Two things:
Losing 30 lbs. I wasn't all that heavy (6'3 and 192) but life is better in the low 160's.
Finally admitting that I'm on the "core strengthening" train for life. Used to be I'd get periodic back pain, do core strengthening until it went away then quit. Now it's just something I do. I feel better for it.
What's your routine?
bicycletricycle
11-22-2017, 06:47 PM
riding more has made the biggest difference, sound like a smart ass remark but it is true, riding more made all the riding more fun.
MesiJezi
11-22-2017, 07:12 PM
1. Moving out of Seattle back in to the country, which means miles and miles of uncrowded tarmac.
2. Not riding... As in, allowing myself to enjoy other hobbies and time with people, which also makes the times I do ride more enjoyable.
Clean39T
11-22-2017, 07:19 PM
What's your routine?
Two things:
Losing 30 lbs. I wasn't all that heavy (6'3 and 192) but life is better in the low 160's.
Finally admitting that I'm on the "core strengthening" train for life. Used to be I'd get periodic back pain, do core strengthening until it went away then quit. Now it's just something I do. I feel better for it.
Also interested...
6'3" here also - currently have snuck back up into the upper 170s, and life was was better in the low 170s - have only seen upper 160s once in the last decade, but want to see that again in 2018 if I can get there or under healthily.
What's your routine?
Don't know if you're asking about weight loss or core strengthening so I'll answer both.
The weight loss was sort of the usual stuff: no alcohol, smaller portions, etc., until I got to my target weight and now I try to adjust my intake to correspond with my activity level. This sounds simple but I found it to be pretty hard to do in practice. Simplistically, on days that I don't ride I try to eat less and/or no alcohol. My weight generally fluctuates +- 2 lbs. If it goes up more than 2 lbs I eat less until it's back where I want it. Like the core strengthening I've finally realized it's something I have to pay constant attention to.
Core strengthening routine is also short and simple:
2 x (25 bicycles, 90 secs bridge, 30 seconds hamstring stretch, 30 seconds foam roller on hamstrings and calves, 2 minutes plank)
I do that 3 times a week, usually just after riding. Takes 10 minutes or so.
To add to my previous reply. My weight and activity level is such that if I pay no attention to it at all it'll remain exactly the same until I'm off the bike for more than a week then boom: +5 lbs. That becomes the new "normal" and I'll stay there indefinitely until another period of time off the bike then boom: +5 lbs. This process repeated itself over a period of 3-4 years and my weight went from 165 to 195 lbs when I finally called a halt and got back to my current weight.
As I said previously, I finally realized it's something I have to pay constant attention to. If I'm off the bike for more than a few days I have to adjust my intake.
I expect I'm not unique in this.
rousseau
11-22-2017, 07:31 PM
Don't know if you're asking about weight loss or core strengthening so I'll answer both.
The weight loss was sort of the usual stuff: no alcohol, smaller portions, etc., until I got to my target weight and now I try to adjust my intake to correspond with my activity level. This sounds simple but I found it to be pretty hard to do in practice. Simplistically, on days that I don't ride I try to eat less and/or no alcohol. My weight generally fluctuates +- 2 lbs. If it goes up more than 2 lbs I eat less until it's back where I want it. Like the core strengthening I've finally realized it's something I have to pay constant attention to.
Core strengthening routine is also short and simple:
2 x (25 bicycles, 90 secs bridge, 30 seconds hamstring stretch, 30 seconds foam roller on hamstrings and calves, 2 minutes plank)
I do that 3 times a week, usually just after riding. Takes 10 minutes or so.
Thanks, it's good to know what core work cycling people do. I tend to neglect it.
Clean39T
11-22-2017, 07:40 PM
To add to my previous reply. My weight and activity level is such that if I pay no attention to it at all it'll remain exactly the same until I'm off the bike for more than a week then boom: +5 lbs. That becomes the new "normal" and I'll stay there indefinitely until another period of time off the bike then boom: +5 lbs. This process repeated itself over a period of 3-4 years and my weight went from 165 to 195 lbs when I finally called a halt and got back to my current weight.
As I said previously, I finally realized it's something I have to pay constant attention to. If I'm off the bike for more than a few days I have to adjust my intake.
I expect I'm not unique in this.
I am exactly the same way. I attribute it to growing a large number of fat cells in my early 20s and reinflating them a few times in the last decade - I've been as high as 235, and was 225 around this time 2 years ago. If I drink beer or eat meat/cheese, I start ballooning quickly. Really the only thing that has kept me healthy/fit over the years is a vegan diet and not drinking, combined with large amounts of endurance exercise. Were you ever significantly bigger? Just curious if that's the link...
Were you ever significantly bigger? Just curious if that's the link...
Not really, the only time my weight has been really high was when I was in my 40's and doing a huge amount of business travel with the associated breakfast/lunch/dinner meetings, sitting in conference rooms, airports, etc. My all time high was 230 at age 46.
I've always eaten a fairly nutritious and balanced diet. I did go through periods where I'd binge on different things but they were also reasonably well correlated with higher activity levels so I didn't put on a lot of weight. I've been somewhere between 162-182 for most of my adult life.
Edited to add: I'm 63 now.
d_douglas
11-22-2017, 09:29 PM
Time to ride.
As my kids get older, I can afford 4hrs away from them. This also corresponded with a weight gain of 25lb, but it’s part of life . Now I need to lose it.
I rode my first competitive bike ride (a’Crossfondo’ so loosely competitive) in 20yrs about 6 weeks ago. It was such a great experience and it reminded me of how fun a CX bike can be when used off-road.
I love the nerdy bike tech stuff, but I always need to remember that riding is the priority, not the acquisition of stuff.
I am pining for a new road bike and have been offered a few, but each time I think of having to sell my Speedvagen, I balk at the chance because it is such a great bike - more Proof that riding is more important getting shiny new things...
rousseau
11-22-2017, 09:49 PM
...but each time I think of having to sell my Speedvagen, I balk at the chance because it is such a great bike...
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Speedvagen&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=MBv9gA2DVP2V5M%253A%252Cxx11mx36hicoWM%252C_&usg=__V80YHQa9Pw9gIuSdaz9HM4Vb_Bc%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiq05Ck49PXAhVp0YMKHaSmBcsQ9QEIOzAE#imgr c=MBv9gA2DVP2V5M:
Blimey.
Kontact
11-22-2017, 09:53 PM
Molded insoles.
Finding more reasons to run errands on a bike, and good backpacks.
pavel
11-22-2017, 11:35 PM
Tandem!!!
marciero
11-23-2017, 06:03 AM
Am encouraged and inspired by the weight loss stories. Thanks gone and others for sharing. Want to lose 10-15. 160 is my ideal. Am about 170-175 right now.
I did some yoga this year and was surprising how much of an effect just a little of it had. It took care of back and an insidious incipient knee pain. Unfortunately I did not keep it up. Not presently feeling pain but I want to get back into it as a preventive thing. I have come to believe that a major cause of back and knee pain is lack of engaging other muscles that are better suited to bearing the load.
I would also say tubeless has been sort of a "game changer", to use a tired cliche. Lots of gravel this year on these tires both single bike and tandem and has been fantastic. I've finally reached the "fat enough" point with 48mm 650b. And I actually prefer 42mm on the road as the handling can get mushy with too low a pressure.
moonhoo
11-24-2017, 08:06 PM
Hate to make mine about material possessions but buying a Brompton definitely opened up possibilities that hadn’t existed before with my other bikes.
weisan
11-25-2017, 04:23 AM
Hate to make mine about material possessions but buying a Brompton definitely opened up possibilities that hadn’t existed before with my other bikes.
moon pal, not at all...I keep my foldable bike in the back of my car all the time, precisely for that reason, to be ready to seize the moment and take advantage of any possibilities that might come up...and they do!
daker13
11-25-2017, 06:20 AM
Now I weigh 158 pounds. I no longer have the occasional back pain while riding because I got rid of the gut in the middle. I have never felt better and stronger on the bike than I do now in 30 years of riding. In short, my riding has been transformed, I am a totally different rider now than I was a month or two ago. And I love it!
Just wanted to say, very cool.
NHAero
11-25-2017, 08:58 AM
Earlier this year I picked up a CAAD 10 which has been the first race-type bike I've owned, and the first with integrated shift/brake levers. It's been a fun ride, and was part of the motivation for converting my Litespeed Unicoi MTB to a 1x10 drop bar with STI. I got lighter wheels for the Unicoi, some NOS American Classics, and Conti 26x2.2 tires with minimal tread. Put some flat pedals on it. Now it's the bike I take many days when I'm riding to work, or an errand, or into town, because it's the best bike I have for any trip that has pavement and trail.
Also put hydro discs on the Anderson, a real step up from the cable discs. That's still the bike for the all day rides!
bob heinatz
11-25-2017, 12:13 PM
I dropped 20 lbs in the last 3 months and feel great. Lighter on the bike. Also not worried about average speed. My major focus is having fun on the bike and increasing my weekly mileage.
Ti Designs
11-25-2017, 06:03 PM
I'm learning how to pedal...
weisan
11-25-2017, 06:54 PM
I'm learning how to pedal...
http://www.whodoyourespect.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/waxon.jpg
Shoeman
11-25-2017, 07:20 PM
I lost 20 lbs. due to the removal of my Bladder in late August. I've had some issues with UTI's & a blocked Kidney which has slowed the bike time some what. I was off the bike the past 5 weeks with a catheter hanging out of my back (blocked Kidney). I was able to ride the past 2 days about 15 miles (catheter removed finally) which felt great. I'm no where near what I was before the surgery but I'm working on it. At least I'm still alive.
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