Any cyclists on the forum?

[pguy2981 936]

What do you ride? Tell me, how your training is coming along. Do you prefer the pain of the climb or the relaxation of the descent? What brands do you prefer, and what are the specs on your bike. Do you race or just ride for fun and relaxation?

[Bacardi 9,181]

Almost all the peefans men I talk to on here cycle. Lol. I hope you get a lot of responses.

Is oysterman about to get even thiccer thighs by cycling 🥹

[WantonLee 823]

I am not quite sure if I can help you, but I do ride a bike, if that's what you mean.
I'll try to answer your questions as bast as I can - but most of them don't even make sense to me. ^^

What do you ride?
A bike. 😉

Tell me, how your training is coming along.
What training? o_0

Do you prefer the pain of the climb or the relaxation of the descent?
Descent! 😄

What brands do you prefer, and what are the specs on your bike.
I don't care
and
I don't know.
It's grey and got two wheels, if this helps. ^^

Do you race or just ride for fun and relaxation?
My bike is my car, so I ride to to and from work, shopping and really anything I need to get to that is not to far away.
And I cruising around on weekends for fun, if I feel like it. 🙂

I hope this helps 😉

[gldenwetgoose 20,270]

I sort of feel a bit of a fraud if I describe myself as a cyclist now...   I sort of was, but then a medical diagnosis gave me a very compelling reason to not exert myself too much - to maintain a low heart rate and not to elevate blood pressure.

It's sort of under control and I could cycle, but when I do my focus is on those two things and it feels a bit limiting, which has taken the edge off it a bit.  Still, as I say it is a very compelling reason to follow the advice.

 

Cycling started maybe 6-7 years ago when my wife decided she wanted to get fitter and I decided to help by joining in.

We have a cycle2work scheme, basically a tax avoidance way of getting a loan to buy a bike and gear pre-tax and then pay it back from monthly salary.

So bike #1 was a Specialised Diverge, described as a gravel bike - so essentially a slightly chunkier road bike with slightly wider tyres.

Bike #2 came on the next cycle2work scheme probably two years later and is my favourite still - a Ribble (local UK brand) full carbon road bike.  105 gearset, it was just before electronic changers became popular.  It's still my bike of choice when I get out.

And with the idea of something more casual, I've also more recently got a Boardman MTX hybrid.  For those leisure trips without clipping in.

 

I've never raced, but in the peak before my diagnosis did quite a lot of weekend rides and the occasional sportive, so maybe a 60 mile ride (with coffee and cake) which was about my limit.  I was regularly commuting 15 miles each way to work in about 50 minutes.  A couple of years ago I did a charity 100km ride overnight around a UK city and raised £1000 for my preferred charity.

These days when I've been out I've done a few 5 mile loops from home.  Felt like I can do more, and if I was with friends probably at a suitable pace I would.

[pguy2981 936]

On 9/21/2023 at 4:50 PM, Bacardi said:

Almost all the peefans men I talk to on here cycle. Lol. I hope you get a lot of responses.

Is oysterman about to get even thiccer thighs by cycling 🥹

I wonder what the relationship between cycling and pee is. How many women are into cycling and aspects of water-sports at the same time? Maybe you're into one but not the other. I'm so curious now lol

[pguy2981 936]

On 9/22/2023 at 11:18 AM, gldenwetgoose said:

I sort of feel a bit of a fraud if I describe myself as a cyclist now...   I sort of was, but then a medical diagnosis gave me a very compelling reason to not exert myself too much - to maintain a low heart rate and not to elevate blood pressure.

It's sort of under control and I could cycle, but when I do my focus is on those two things and it feels a bit limiting, which has taken the edge off it a bit.  Still, as I say it is a very compelling reason to follow the advice.

 

Cycling started maybe 6-7 years ago when my wife decided she wanted to get fitter and I decided to help by joining in.

We have a cycle2work scheme, basically a tax avoidance way of getting a loan to buy a bike and gear pre-tax and then pay it back from monthly salary.

So bike #1 was a Specialised Diverge, described as a gravel bike - so essentially a slightly chunkier road bike with slightly wider tyres.

Bike #2 came on the next cycle2work scheme probably two years later and is my favourite still - a Ribble (local UK brand) full carbon road bike.  105 gearset, it was just before electronic changers became popular.  It's still my bike of choice when I get out.

And with the idea of something more casual, I've also more recently got a Boardman MTX hybrid.  For those leisure trips without clipping in.

 

I've never raced, but in the peak before my diagnosis did quite a lot of weekend rides and the occasional sportive, so maybe a 60 mile ride (with coffee and cake) which was about my limit.  I was regularly commuting 15 miles each way to work in about 50 minutes.  A couple of years ago I did a charity 100km ride overnight around a UK city and raised £1000 for my preferred charity.

These days when I've been out I've done a few 5 mile loops from home.  Felt like I can do more, and if I was with friends probably at a suitable pace I would.

I mean I don't race anymore since I can't afford the bikes I want, but I would love to again. I don't think that me cycling on a single speed commuter makes me any less of a cyclist than someone riding at a 22mph pace (35 km/h for you Europeans). The fact is I can still keep up at that pace, regularly bike to and from work, and take long weekends rides of up to 40 miles. The fact that I want to do more and make active strides toward doing so I feel makes me a cyclist. Also a lot of people don't use proper hand signals and don't respect cars or traffic signs. Plenty of serious riders that I know actually respect the laws (most of the time).

 

I'm gonna need that cycle2work scheme in the US, like right now. I would very much like to buy a full carbon road bike that I can use for really long endurance rides. I'm gonna look that up actually...

Specialized Diverge I've heard is a good bike. Specialized is all around a great company to buy from. What percent of your salary did you have to pay back the bike?

[pguy2981 936]

On 9/21/2023 at 4:50 PM, Bacardi said:

Is oysterman about to get even thiccer thighs by cycling 🥹

With the single speed nah, but if I ever get a road bike I'm definitely practicing my sprinting, so in that case yeah. I've changed up my cycling habits to bend my arms and put my torso closer to the frame to engage my glutes, but so far I really don't feel a difference in butt strength. Certainly keeps my heart rate low though

[AWN_84 1,382]

Motorcycle counts? Lol, jokes aside, the only bike i ride nowdays is on the gym, been ages since i rode on a real bike

[Alfresco 11,008]

I ride a bike but I'm not competitive in any way.  I often go out for about an hour or so at a time, maybe before work or at lunch time.

I have a Specialized bike, couldn't tell you what model, but it is a hardtail mountain bike with front suspension.  Doesn't even have disc brakes, but I've had it years and it serves me well.

I used to do a lot of road cycling when I was younger including a cycle camping tour round Scotland and many trips round the Lake District.   When I moved down South, I was put off riding as the roads were too busy, although I did still do quite a lot of my commute to work on the bike at that time.

These days I tend to ride locally and avoid roads where possible, so go to the nearby woods and lake.

[Justasailor 185]

I'm also a cyclist, i always use my bike on short distances. I also do sometimes longer trips for fun. It helps me to stay fit! 

I also always dreamt of getting a velomobile to replace my car, but were i live i can't store it anywhere. The public parking is only for cars

[steve25805 121,335]

I think the last time I rode a bicycle I was 18. That was 40 years ago. 

[gldenwetgoose 20,270]

On 9/22/2023 at 5:18 PM, gldenwetgoose said:

I sort of feel a bit of a fraud if I describe myself as a cyclist now...   I sort of was, but then a medical diagnosis gave me a very compelling reason to not exert myself too much - to maintain a low heart rate and not to elevate blood pressure.

It's sort of under control and I could cycle, but when I do my focus is on those two things and it feels a bit limiting, which has taken the edge off it a bit.  Still, as I say it is a very compelling reason to follow the advice.

 

Cycling started maybe 6-7 years ago when my wife decided she wanted to get fitter and I decided to help by joining in.

We have a cycle2work scheme, basically a tax avoidance way of getting a loan to buy a bike and gear pre-tax and then pay it back from monthly salary.

So bike #1 was a Specialised Diverge, described as a gravel bike - so essentially a slightly chunkier road bike with slightly wider tyres.

Bike #2 came on the next cycle2work scheme probably two years later and is my favourite still - a Ribble (local UK brand) full carbon road bike.  105 gearset, it was just before electronic changers became popular.  It's still my bike of choice when I get out.

And with the idea of something more casual, I've also more recently got a Boardman MTX hybrid.  For those leisure trips without clipping in.

 

I've never raced, but in the peak before my diagnosis did quite a lot of weekend rides and the occasional sportive, so maybe a 60 mile ride (with coffee and cake) which was about my limit.  I was regularly commuting 15 miles each way to work in about 50 minutes.  A couple of years ago I did a charity 100km ride overnight around a UK city and raised £1000 for my preferred charity.

These days when I've been out I've done a few 5 mile loops from home.  Felt like I can do more, and if I was with friends probably at a suitable pace I would.

Just to bring my tale up to date -

A bit of background first, that during lockdown I'd bought myself a smart turbo trainer (basically to turn a normal bike into a stationary exercise bike).  The smart bit is that it interfaces with a computer, so it can vary the resistance felt and allow you to feel like you're cycling up and down hills.  And a subscription to a 'game' called Zwift lets the trainer and me cycle through various video game worlds including some real cities, whilst using it to train.  When I suddenly stopped cycling it had been put in a cupboard.

After a few unenthusiastic recent thoughts that I should be getting out and about, and with the motivation of seeing others @Sophie, @Kupar, @LovesToWet and others doing so, I've just got the trainer out of the cupboard and dusted it off.

My fitness is nowhere near where it was, and as I discussed previously I need to train very carefully from a cardio perspective - so synthetic training seems a good solution.   Now I'm on the initial stages (two rides in) on a back-to-fitness schedule with the aim of two to three rides a week.

(More info on Zwift and smart trainers here for anyone not yet bored https://www.bikeradar.com/features/zwift-your-complete-guide/)

[Kupar 12,485]

8 minutes ago, gldenwetgoose said:

Now I'm on the initial stages (two rides in) on a back-to-fitness schedule with the aim of two to three rides a week.

Go Goose! I hope you're already feeling better for getting back on the saddle.

[LovesToWet 3,438]

24 minutes ago, gldenwetgoose said:

Just to bring my tale up to date -

A bit of background first, that during lockdown I'd bought myself a smart turbo trainer (basically to turn a normal bike into a stationary exercise bike).  The smart bit is that it interfaces with a computer, so it can vary the resistance felt and allow you to feel like you're cycling up and down hills.  And a subscription to a 'game' called Zwift lets the trainer and me cycle through various video game worlds including some real cities, whilst using it to train.  When I suddenly stopped cycling it had been put in a cupboard.

After a few unenthusiastic recent thoughts that I should be getting out and about, and with the motivation of seeing others @Sophie, @Kupar, @LovesToWet and others doing so, I've just got the trainer out of the cupboard and dusted it off.

My fitness is nowhere near where it was, and as I discussed previously I need to train very carefully from a cardio perspective - so synthetic training seems a good solution.   Now I'm on the initial stages (two rides in) on a back-to-fitness schedule with the aim of two to three rides a week.

(More info on Zwift and smart trainers here for anyone not yet bored https://www.bikeradar.com/features/zwift-your-complete-guide/)

This is worth watching, and it applies to all sports not just running.

https://youtu.be/LhBBREzcUbM?si=ORQqJHaSjPG8KwtO

Edited November 29, 2023 by LovesToWet

[gldenwetgoose 20,270]

14 minutes ago, Kupar said:

Go Goose! I hope you're already feeling better for getting back on the saddle.

Not sure my 'sit bones' are yet.   One downside of a stationary bike.

[Kupar 12,485]

10 minutes ago, LovesToWet said:

This is worth watching, and it applies to all sports not just running.

https://youtu.be/LhBBREzcUbM?si=ORQqJHaSjPG8KwtO

Ooh - I do like that phrase "Comparison is the thief of joy". That is one for me as I get older and find myself thinking back to previous PBs. Very helpful to hear those fit people talking about this sort of thing. Thank you.

[islandpilot182 53]

Bike:  Kestrel RT1000

Cant say training exactly, but do it for fun.   150 miles a week on a Road Bike  (Still Working so time limited)  I am a member of a local bike club and ride with friends in that manner.

We dont race but some of those miles will certainly get your heart going!     Florida is basically flat so most of my 'Hills' are bridges  🙂

 

 

[pguy2981 936]

On 10/2/2023 at 9:16 PM, pguy2981 said:

With the single speed nah, but if I ever get a road bike I'm definitely practicing my sprinting, so in that case yeah. I've changed up my cycling habits to bend my arms and put my torso closer to the frame to engage my glutes, but so far I really don't feel a difference in butt strength. Certainly keeps my heart rate low though

You know what, starting to realize that I might actually have a heart condition because my heart rate is low regardless.