Hey Prof: two things: 1. With the Huffy you know you'll get a good workout!! and 2. that recumbent is very cool, hadnt seen one like that. I have damaged discs, riding has actually kept me strong, but its getting harder every season. I've been looking at recumbents as an alternative, since I dont want to give up riding. Another alternative, thanks...

Hi,
I just viewed this thread and saw referrence to the Trike from Hostel Shoppe. I ride a Volae recumbent from Hostel. There is a great forum to ask questions about the trikes and other recumbents at http://www.bentrideronline.com/

Bentrider is a recumbent forum. They also have reviews of products on home page/left side.

Get bent......it's a great way to ride.

Cheers,
Mack

Hey GypsyAngel congrats on making the plunge to join TNT. It is a great organization, and you definately have a personal attachment to the cause. I will warn you though, it's a cult. Once you start riding with them you'll never want to stop. I'm doing my 2nd TNT century, Tahoe, and already am planning on doing Tucson next November. 6 months is plenty of time to train. I trained for Tucson last Nov. for only 3 months, and I was weighing about 301 at the time. I finished in 9hrs flat. Goal for Tucson this year is to be 50-75lbs lighter and finish in under 8hrs.
When you get your donation page set up post a link. I'll donate.
Sean

Sean...
Thanks for the support. I admit I'm a little scared of not being able to keep up with the training and also of the fundraising but the people at the meeting and especially the cycling coach were SO supportive. Their enthusiasm is contagious. The coach seems to have no doubt that I'll be able to train for and finish the century.
And one of the past participants said the same thing as you.... once you do one you want to do more.
You're training for the Tahoe ride, right? It looks gorgeous! Maybe I'll do that one year too! If you want to PM your website to me I'd like to donate.
Gypsy

Today was bike day

I took my son's bikes to the service station to get some air for their tires. (Hand pump went kaput today...). I then took my wife's bike to the bike shop and had Adam give it the once over. I originally put it together and wanted to be sure that the brakes are set up correctly and that the shifter/derailer is all A-OK!

You see, if it was my bike I'd take it for a ride and see if I crashed or not, then fixed any problems..... But, my DW does not have my sense of adventure/level of insanity, so off it went for a tune up.

I had some time to browse the bike shop and am about 95% sure the next bike will be a Giant "Yukon." Nice bike, really nice for general use trail and street riding. Here are the specs on this one-
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030...006&model=11390

I am also looking at a bike by Giant that is a street/comfort bike where I'd be riding in a more upright position. I loved it! I may go and buy that one this summer yet and get the Yukon next spring. Here is the specs on the bike...
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030...006&model=11311

Then I came home and rolled out the Huffy, aka, "The Tank." I took a 15 mile ride today, about 7 out and about 7 back. I made sure I went the few blocks out of my way to roll past the bike shop and wave...

If you're from around here, I rode from my house, out to the Chappee Rapids sign on River Road and back. I took a ride around Fairland Island on the way out to the rapids.

I figured out the mileage here-
http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/

And, yes I did stay on the seat today, no plummeting......


Oh, BTW, have you ever tried to walk up a flight of steps immediately after a long ride on a bike??


And another thought, why oh why can't they make a saddle that is comfortable for big guys and long rides??? I think mine was designed by an amatuer sadist....
http://www.mcsports.com/product/ind...rentPage=family

The search for a comfy saddle continues........

Congrats on the riding today. I on the other hand am sitting at a hotel in Kansas City. As for your choices of bikes, both look good. I have a Giant MT Bike; http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/03...003&model=10636
and a Giant OCR1 full carbon road bike. http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/03...005&model=11144
I love them both. I've put over 1500mi on the road bike in the last 9 months.
And yes walking up steps after a long ride sucks. Even worse is riding 85mi, then driving home for 45min then trying to walk up the stairs to the master bedroom and bath to shower. Not easy. Can you say lactic acid buildup.
Lastly, they don't make seats for big guys. I'm on my 4th saddle for my road bike. I had one that I did alot of riding on, including a century, but have started a quest for something lighter/nicer. Here is what I'm trying now. http://www.performancebike.com/shop...tegory_ID=5210#
Luckily I buy all my saddles from my local Performance Bike Shop and they let me return and exhcange after riding for a week or so. We'll see.
sean

Waklee1, sorry to hear your riding a hotel chair instead of a bike......

I personally think it is funny how ones legs seem to be all rubbery....I wonder if there is a way to lessen or combat the lactic acid build up.....

Both your bikes are good ones indeed. I really like your full suspension MB! One of those is in my plans as well. In talking with Adam (bike shop guy) I figure I'll end up with at least 3 bikes, maybe 4 if I get the recumbent trike I want.

A comfort cruiser, the hardtail for all round riding, a full suspension job and the bent bike for cruising paved bike trails. I suspect the comfort cruiser willbecome my number one ride for around town, second to the hardtail (Yukon).

I like this bike shop and the new owner. And more importantly, I trust his advice and recomendations. After hearing my desires, he steered me to the Yukon, over the Schwinn I was looking at. This is a more price friendly bike with more features than the Schwinn. It will save me money, and it's a better bike. How can I not like that??

I tell you what. We ALL need to support our local bike shops as we are going to be in a sad state of affairs if they all go the way of the carrier pigeon and become extinct. Can you imagine your only choices being low end mega mart bikes? I have one now and would not be happy if this was the best there was!

I walk in and he knows me, knows what I have, what I like, how I ride and is able to meet my every need, answer my questios and repair what I tend to do to bikes...

Hear, Hear!!
I have a great mechanic at Performance (had two, one left). He always answers my questions and gives me tips to make my job easier. He's helped me out immensly with the upgrades to my Giant. I hope he can be of the same help when I start looking for a recumbent. In his shop, he's unique. Many of the others, some racers, are a bit uppity when it comes to "what you should already know" if youre going to be a cyclist.
And BTW...rubbery legs are a drag , but its telling you that a worthy effort was made! That said, Im still struggling along with a sore back, trying to make time on the trainer. Up to low 80's this weekend, dont know if I'll be able to stay put \:^)
happy pedaling all

I gotta say I'm loving the weather in Cali right now. I took the kids on a ride, pulled them in the burley 4miles to watch a parade, and the weather couldn't be nicer. It is in the low 80's with no wind and not a cloud in the sky. The only problem is that we didn't really have a spring and they are predicting weather in the 90's by next week. That means the 105 degree days are shortly around the corner. Oh well, will just have to ride in the early am or late pm.

Nice today in Southern California too.
I just got back from my first ride on
the bike in a week. I came down with
a cold last week and just didn't feel
like risking my health to ride my bike,
and frankly I didn't feel like it either.

But it was a nice day in the burbs today
EXCEPT it appeared that there was
SMOG to the max. I couldn't see Mt.
Baldy, a mere 10 miles away and the
close San Gabriel Range wasn't
very clear either.

Never the less, I did my 15 miler with
my MP3 player and finished strong. It
felt good to get back into the swing of
all things EXERCISE.

Food was good today too. I am
once again a happy camper.

Isin't it amazing just how all over good one feels after a nice long bike ride, especially one through the countryside?

When I went to Walker Minnesota a few seasons back ir was mid-September and fall was just setting in up there. The rides I took on the Paul Bunyan Trail was nothing short of spectacular!

http://www.paulbunyantrail.com/

I rode several miles out and then came back. The trails through walker are mostly wooded and along the lakes. The only negative was a lesson I learned. When you ride out, ride into the wind until you are pooped out enough, then turn and come back. Let the wind carry you on the tired leg of your journey.

I did that backwards!

Still, when I got back to the hotel and had showered, the high I felt was unbelieveable. Man, I felt good all over!

I am really envious of people who have regular access to trails like those, and I miss my old favorites along the lakefront in Milwaukee.

Good riding to all!

ProfGumby,

We have a nice bike trail
(paved) that runs through
the San Gabriel Mnts for
6 miles up to a reservoir.
It is covered in oak and
chaparel and higher up
it offers pine trees. It
follows a winding stream
bed the whole way that
is stocked with trout.

Nice ride once in a while. And
on days when I am really feel'n
my oats I can ride the 10 miles
up the mtn. road to get to the
bike trail too. I have done the
total trip a couple of times, but
mostly just take my bike up
on the back of my car once in
a while anymore. For everyday
I ride on streets designated as 'Bike
Routes' alongside the car traffic
which to date has not resulted
in loss of life or limb. I did my
customary 15 miler today in 1 hour
on a balanced course of ups and
downs, so I am gonna hit the
showers and grab a protein
smoothie and some turkey
loaf for dinner.

Weather promises to be good
for the rest of the summer
here east of Los Angeles.

Smog and an occasional mtn.
fire can really play havouc
on the lungs tho.

Happy Trails to all,

Hiya Ned!

That trail sounds awesome, though I'd probably stop a lot to fish....

Today I had to cut the ride short again, thunderstorm rumbled through, complete with just enough hail to pelt me till I got under the bridge to wait it out! And the hail was just big enough to sting a little....

I got about two miles out of it today, before and after the rain.

Attached Images

Run from the rain (1)asmall.jpg (19.4 KB, 9 views)

So I am sitting in a hotel again, this time in Reno, but having a much better time. I knew that I'd be here all week, and that I have a hard ride on Sunday. 71mi with 5000 feet of elevation change. Ok what was I thinking when I signed up for that, oh yeah I couldn't let the wife do it and not me. Anyway, I decided to bring my bike with me as I heard that there was a good cycling community up here. The answer to that is yes. I went to a local shop and they drew me a map of an area to ride from my hotel, Silverlegacy by the way. I was planning on doing 30mi today, but at about mile 8 the thunderstorms started to roll in off the mountains. So I turned around and high tailed it back. Nothing like a storm to make you ride alot faster than normal. Only did about 15mi but still better than sitting at the blackjack tables and losing money.
Sorry for the rambling.
Sean
p.s. Eating lc at a casino is easier than at home. Between the buffet and all the restaurants offering a 1lb steak and 1lb of crab legs for $15 who could ask for anything more.

Steak and Crab Legs! Now that
is some good eating. Add some
brocolli or asparagus and mushrooms
simmered in onions and steak grease
and I'd be a happy camper.