mbsbike2002

wudnt me... I am digging the cooler weather - was 53 when i left the house to go ride on Saturday morning. At 15 to 20mph, that becomes damn cold. I hope we're still here, so we can ride together on the MS150. On the other hand, part of me is desperate to get back to Boston. I do worry, though, that moving back to Boston will be a big disappointment - that the magic that I remember from there was due more to events than to the place itself. The bike riding has been slow-going of late. The boys get very sore after a few miles. I checked with my snip-doc, and he said that it could take several months for them not to get sore when they're under pressure.... Might have to get the recumbent bike I want sooner rather than later. Again, though, that depends on whether we move or stay. Anyway, hope everybody's monday is going well. Anyone heard from JC lately? B

TX - Wow - congratulations on deciding to do the MS150. If we're still in Texas, I'll be doing it as well. B

I'm with HP on this one - independently wealthy looks like a good option to me. Now, if i could just get there B

Go big blue!

That's just shocking

JC - Dude, that's just wrong. On. So. Many. Levels....

Stef - i'm a little extremist too - my goal is to ride paris-brest-paris in 2011 - 1200km on a bike in 90 hours. Felt a little strange to say that when I weighed 320 and hadn't been on a bike in 15 years. It'll take some effort and sacrifice, but i'll be there. B

damn, you're fast. No - won't bid against you - i'm on bike toy probation right now... B

Suzzzie - Juli, I, and others have written before about what to look for in a bike. The short version, though, is to go to your local bike store, tell them as much as you know about what you are interested in - cost, where you'll likely ride, etc. Ride a few bikes. You may not be able to tell everything about it by riding around the parking lot, but you will know quickly which bikes won't work. Go to as many bike shops as you can - they'll likely carry different brands. Eventually, you'll find the bike that whispers (or screams) "ride me" - that's the one you should buy. Most major bike brands (trek, cannondale, giant, specialized, etc) will have some bikes that start as low as 250-300. Please, please, please stay away from the big box stores. Bicycle fit is one of the greatest determinants of whether the big will be fun to ride, or a pain. Also, for bigger folks, fit is crucial to keep from getting hurt - the forces you exert on your ankes, hips, and knees require a good fit to avoid doing lasting damage (or at the very least, short-term pain). There are two pieces of gear you should consider along with the bike. First, a helmet is critical. A $20 helmet will do just as good protecting your head as a $100 - it may not look as nice, but for want of a $20 piece of plastic, do you want to take a chance on suffering permanent brain damage? The second critical piece of gear is proper bike shorts. Won't go into detail about the problems associated with not wearing them, but let's just say you'll walk funny for a while.... Hope this helps. B

Stef - I want speedplays!! I have SPDs that came with the bike. They make my knees hurt a little by forcing my feet too straight. I have a friend who recommended the speedplays. They're supposed to be easier on the knees since there's more "float". Also a little easier to clip in and out of. Aww J hates me. I feel special B

D - Yes, it was soooo nice to get back out on the bike. The 40 pounds makes a world of difference, can't quite imagine what it will be like to ride at or near goal weight. There are some hills at the park that used to require every thing I had to get up in the granny gears, and I was able to ride right up them in the middle gears. I am feeling a little beat up, though - wanted to ride the first few times at the park, so if something went wrong, i wouldn't be too far from the car. Unfortunately, the concrete paths at the park have some washboard ruts in them. They aren't visible to the eye, but you can feel them on the bike. Will be riding on the road again tonight (if the rain stops) or tomorrow. I have to be honest - I was really feeling kind of blah about the biking thing after having been off-bike for so long (last ride was 3 weeks before surgery). All that changed as soon as I pedalled a few turns on Saturday morning. I'm hooked again! B

TX - did the full 100 miles. I don't recall how long it took to get through the gate - I was 21/22 years old, weighed 60 pounds less than i do now. I had, however, only started riding seriously in March, with a 6 mile ride in Wylie, so nine months is more than long enough to train, if it's a priority. If i recall, it was a fairly mild summer that year, not as mild as this summer, but not too bad, etiher. At some point, after you've ridden 50-60 miles a few times, going longer distances becomes a matter of equilibrium - getting enough hydration and nutrition to fuel your muscles, but it's not necessarily harder. We are fortunate in Texas to be able to cycle outside year-round if we want (one of the big negatives when considering a move back to bean town). In addition to using the next nine months getting used to riding longer distances, start trying out nutrition / hydration options. In the summer here electrolyte balance is key, and many people who bonk during a ride do so becuase they've only had water. There are some sugar-free tablets that you can add to your water to ensure adequate electrolytes - I use NUUN. Also helps with the cramps. Nutrition can be a little tougher for us banded folks. I'd also recommend riding some of the other rides around here between now and then - most start with a 10-12 mile route, a 20-mile, a 40-mile, a metric century, and a 100-mile. They're a lot of fun and can get you used to riding in big groups. I also recommend checking out the Ft. Worth Bicycling Association (:: FWBA :: Home Page ::). Second ride in the park today - 8.4 @11. I'll start riding on the road tomorrow. That should allow me to go farther (only so many times can I go around the pond), and faster - don't have to dodge the pedestrians, their dogs, their strollers, the park services people, etc. Hope everybody is having a great weekend - great toe, BG :eek: ... B

TX - as luck would have it, I rode the HHH back in the early '90s. I was young and in shape, and the girl I was dating at the time talked me into it. It is my goal, if we're still in texas, to do it in 2008 - My whopping 7.7 mile ride today not-withstanding. This year would have been great to do it - mid 80's in late august... Will have to get back to schedule a ride - next few weekends are booked with a trip to the zoo, a trip to boston, and a trip to DC. How does the weekend before Thanksgiving look? J - glad you got your paper done and that the workout was good! Hope you enjoy your Saturday night date! B

Stefanie, I do remember cruising back behind the bell plant. I also used to go that way to Arlington, but I got the heeby-jeebies about driving down Greenbelt at night. All those rumors of the cults hanging out in the river bottoms.... Damn, we were gullible... I still don't like driving through there at night, though . I know some people from Bell at that time, I wish I would have graduated from there - but our part of Hurst was in Birdville, and I had no desire to go to Richland... I'll send you a PM with some names that i remember, so we can see how many degrees of Kevin Bacon there are between us. As for leaving Texas, it's hard. I met my wife in college in Boston, and we're both going to school there now. We can do some of the lectures via video, but we'll have to commute some to finish our degrees. It would be more fun, and we'd have more courses to choose from, if we lived there. I also miss seasons. We have "Summer" and "Not-summer". I'd like to have some fall and maybe even a little winter. I've moved away quite a few times before, and I imagine that we'll move back to Texas again, but for now, Boston is where we need to be. We probably won't be leaving for a while, though. There's the whole job thing, and the need to sell the house. PK is beautiful. If we lived in, or west of, Tarrant county, it'd be much harder to leave. We drove out to Abiline a couple of times last year to get a car (the last diesel in Texas of what we wanted was there), and as soon as you cross into Parker county, it's like a whole 'nother country (as the specialty license plates say). If you're up for it some weekend, we can meet at the park for a ride. My ride today we great - 7.37 miles at about 11mph - not gonna win any races with that, but it's been about two and a half months since I last rode. Could have gone longer, but my ass was sore. That 40 pounds makes a huge difference. I haven't lost much strength in my legs. A few hills that used to require the granny gears seemed like small bumps in the path. There were too many people at the park to get much momentum, so I couldn't go very fast. I'll probably ride at the park again tomorrow & then start riding out on the county roads by the house. One non-scale victory today as well - i had ordered a Borah jersey earlier in the summer, and it arrived while i was off-bike. I tried it on once and it was too small to wear, but it fit well today - maybe even a little loose. Go Me!!! D - it's a deal, would be happy to cut you in on the millions from self-completing homework. I just need to get all of my goddamned homework finished so I can start working tha idea J - Hope you have a good workout at the Gym. Hope everybody else is having a great day! B

It is a small world, indeed!!! I think I know the area you where you live - I used to go that way to arlington when I went to UTA - drove through there a few years ago when i moved back to Texas and was in for a shock - sleeply little Precinct / Randoll Mill had turned into big roads (no more driving through the country at 100mph )... I live in Lavon, now. It's at the north east corner of lake ray hubbard and south east corner of lake lavon. Our land is adjacent to the Corps of Engineers land around lake ray hubbard, which is nice. I'm in Hurst quite a bit to see my parents and grandparents (they live about half-way between you and the surgical center off precinct). We're starting to look into moving back to Boston soon, though. I just need to find a job that pays well enough to cover increased cost of living and Mass state income tax. Did you grow up in the area? I went to Ft. Worth Christian and graduated in 1986. Hey Gang - I'm off to ride the real bike on the road!!! Haven't been able to ride since a few weeks before surgery! I'm so excited! Will report back in this afternoon - I'm 40 pounds lighter than the last time I rode. B

Hey Gang - Sorry it's been more than a week since i've posted, though it's not for a lack of trying. Been having some issues with the Internet here at casa swain... (fugly slut internet...) TX - welcome - glad to see another "bycyler" from the Great State of Texas. I grew up in Hurst about 2-3 miles up Precinct from the surical center that Dr. Marsden uses. HP - sounds like you've had some fun during your trip in florida. Driving around florida in a convertible with the tunes blasting is one of the great pleasures in life. I'm sure you're ready to get back home to your husband, kids, and doggies, though. J - We should develop and patent self-completing homework - we'd make a fortune. D - my laptop recommendation is a macbook - followed by toshiba. Had a toshiba that lasted from April 2001 until about a year ago. It was finally too slow even for my wife, but it was still running like a champ. they're just about bullet-proof. BG - getting a half-pound of fudgie love :cool: I'm sure it tasted good, but oofah, that had to be uncomfortable. Still no riding the real bike. School and work have both been kicking my ass this week. Hopefully, tomorrow. B

Ya, will take it slow to get back into it. Will probably ride on the multi-use path at the park for a few days - hate that, but it's a little better if i bust my ass instead of being out in the boonies on a county road. It's getting dark earlier now, so I'll have to get a blinky ass-light Hope everybody has a good day! B

JC - Come hell or high water, i will be on the bike this coming weekend. can't wait - i haven't ridden the real bike since i was 40 pounds heavier. Should be fun! Sorry you have to deal with crap from folks with one of those northeastern educations. I got me one of those, and most of the people I met just weren't that impresive. Well, I started the process for getting a new job tonight. Not sure if it will pan out, but it is as close to my dream job (for now) as it gets. Wish me luck! Good night J. Good night BG Good night HP Good night D Good night JC Good night jon boy... B

sorry J.... D - no kids, just one spoiled-ass dog.

D - Hope to keep making the donations, just don't so much want the sperm B

J - I definitely wish that I could outsource the homework, but then what would be the point?? Enjoy the ride! B

J - Congratulations on the new weight chica! Average of 10 pounds a month for 9 months is awesome!! HP - Congratulations on the new size clothes! It feels so wonderful to be able to buy smaller clothes that look better, are higher quality, and cost less, all at the same time. I can't wait to walk into a regular dept. store and buy off the rack. I haven't been able to go anywhere other than the big man store since 1990. JC - Hope you had fun on your date. Will there be a second date? BG - Mmmmm cheesecake. Fill seems to have helped some - the scale was lower today than it has been since 9/14. The twins are still a little sore, but not as bad as I thought. I've spent most of the weekend working on homework. Enjoy your Sunday! B

Hey gang! School started up last week and I have been in overachiever mode since then. No time for bike, no time for talking about bike, blech... Went in for first fill today - got 2ccs, that should help with the restriction, and hopefully, the resumption of the weight loss... Was supposed to be able to get on the bike this weekend, but following my fill, I got snipped, so the wife doesn't end up pregnant. So, it looks like I'm off-bike for another week... Hopefully, that will be the last delay... Hope everyone's having a good weekend! I'll be sitting on my bags of frozen peas.... B

Hey gang! Glad to see that everybody made it to the ride safe and sound (well, except for ODB). It looks and sounds like you guys had a complete blast. You guys really are my heroes, too! JC - Sorry you got the cramps - reminds me of "Raising Arizona" "Why do you say you feel trapped?" "Somtimes I get the menstrual cramps real hard..." BG - Don't worry, sometimes I get the clothing thing wrong, too - backwards, inside out. For a long time, i had to check which side the little polo man was on - if it's in the right - the shirt is inside out... And I was in my mid-thirties :car: I wish they'd bring back Garanimals... HP, J, BG - Congratulations on finishing the full 40 miles! I wish i was there - was thinking about you as I read my lovely "Principles of Financial Management" text all weekend. B

Hi D - was out having lunch and a movie with my wife. I hear ya on the weight loss priority. It's one of the topics that I brought up with my shrink the other day. Work, school, etc., all seem to take priority after some intial "honeymoon" period. Hope you're feeling better. BG, HP, J, CP - hope you had a fun and safe trip. Can't wait to hear about it when you get back home. B