FrenchFit 

"the kind only bicyclists know of" ... I think that's a line out of one of several books. It could be self-flagellation is finding a new outlet.

Not to be a party pooper Raydog, I suspect the ladies finishing spin class are experiencing exactly the same feelings as you. But, I do agree that the 'stuff' part of bicycling is a distraction, bordering on a fetish.

Personally, finishing a long ride, doing a little recovery time, then going for a run or working in the yard..., getting ready to go out for the evening, now that's a rewarding day plan. You can have my pain, consider it all yours.

raydog

I am so impressed with your response! Actual nut n bolts dialog. Actually, last year I did a stress treadmill with a sports Doc, I do a full blood panel twice a year and as I mentioned, always ride with cardiac monitoring. Don't get me wrong, easy days and rest days have been really important in my regimen as well. This last summer I rode the Bike Tour of Colorado and totally shut down for the week prior. Cheers.

raydog

Thanks for your open mind, I fully agree with all you said.

teachme

Still; you don't sound like your having fun.

raydog

Well, I've trekked, swam, done long distance running and a bunch of other stuff, the feeling I refer to after an intense ride only comes from bicycling. Maybe I didn't explain it well but it's there for me and part of my love for this sport. I didn't get it out of any books, I just experience it after each ride and I hope many others do as well. Yes, I enjoy living my live outside of bicycling as you do, but those boat rides and dinner parties are so much more appreciated after a good ride.

teachme

Why didn't you just say that to start with rather than slaming people for not wanting to push the pain threshold?

raydog

But I am! I love being a big old guy riding along for miles and miles. This thread is "50 plus" I often wonder how many 64 year olds do what I do, I can't imagine that there aren't dozens of other "in shape seniors" that think the same stuff, knowing that we are probably in the top 1-2% of our age group in fittness....ahhh but now I will get blamed for bragging and being an elitist and "looking down" at others! This is new for me because I've never been this old and I'm loving it!

DnvrFox

And I am almost 72 and "loving it" also. Isn't that the point? Each of us finds our own way of "loving it?" And, yes, I do resistance exercises, swim, walk, bicycle, stretch - at the pace and rate where I am sure that I will continue "loving it." That does not include "pain" - which may, indeed be a semantical disrupter.

I am still not quite sure why you posted - perhaps you want others to join in your "pain?"

However, I am also in the top 1-2% of fitness for folks in my age range. I just do it for enjoyment - MY enjoyment.

Doohickie

Yeah, it's about you. You're just so much better than the rest of us, aren't you?

raydog

Good question, a couple of years ago I was way back in the Sierras with a group of young bicycle studs and I just about gave up. A guy (whom I really respect) took me by the shoulders and told me (in so many words) to suck it up and ignore the pain. Kind of a wake up call for me, it really changed my approach towards bicycle fittness. A few days ago I was reading the Bike Forums and it occured/seemed to me that some folks (not all) just were pissy and moany about so many things bicycle....and they were kind of beating around the bush instead of just getting on the bike and hammering! Maybe I'm not explaining myself well but that's about as good as I can do on the subject. I suppose I should have just not posted!

raydog

And I honor you and hope I stay as active as you are.

StephenH

Raydog, I don't exactly think like you. However, I would like to point out that for me, part of the enjoyment of an event is the feeling of accomplishment afterwards, and not just the sensations of the moment. So working very hard to achieve a goal may involve some discomfort of the moment, but still be overall a worthwhile and pleasurable thing, and it seems to me, that ties in with your thought up there.

teachme

No. I'm glad you posted. What you are talking about is finding the athlete within. Something that a percent of people may never realize without digging deep into the soul of their cycling abilities. What you are saying is one should wake up the bear... I read you raydog, I read you.

raydog

You don't know me, what is "better than the rest of us" mean? We are all equal and trying to survive on this planet. You can characterize me any way you like but the point remains....we don't improve unless we push ourselves. I'm happy that I'm noticing improvement, not because of Dura Ace parts but because of my effort. I don't think it's a sin or a crime to speak of it on this forum.

raydog

John Cougar Mellancamp "Hurts so Good" !

DnvrFox

FYI - I ride

13 yo Lemond BA with 105
Windsor Leeds with Sora
A recumbent with ???? but the whole thing only cost $350
A Spec Rock Hopper with - well - whatever came on it
A trainer in the basement - Spec HR, 1998.

Just sayin . . .

raydog

Bingo....that is so right on!

Artkansas 

Doohickie

I don't know you, of course. All I know is what you post, and this thread is just one big bragfest by you. You know how you're coming across, thus the thread title. Just stop bragging, huh?

unterhausen

what fun is cycling without bragging? And pain.

Doohickie

Lots of fun, actually.

raydog

Bragfest? I guess when excitment, progress and mild levels of success are achieved and I refer to it....that's a bragfest. The core of my intentions are to make a few folks push it a little more, and improve. Many potential responses come to mind here, but it's best if I just suggest you go to other threads where the OP's are more humble and submissive.

Robert Foster

My experience has ban a lot different from the OPs. This is my third go around with Cycling; Once while I was just out of college, once about 20 years ago and now. In racing I understand pushing through pain but not in normal cycling. I am not a climber because I am not a 145 pound lightweight, but I live in a valley and there is a big beautiful mountain just east of town. So if I want to ride up that mountain I have to climb close to 5000 feet and if I want to climb with friends I have to push myself. And push myself I have been. One of the men that rides with our club and climbs like a pro rides with us every once in a while and several times he has passed me and we have talked. Well he talked I grunted.

At the 4400 foot mark there is a water stop and I pulled up one day close to exhausted. He asked me how I was doing and I gave him to old cliché, no pain no gain. He laughed hard and said, with as many miles as I ride every year and with as many times as I have climbed that mountain the better answer would be if it hurts that bad I am not doing it right. When we got home he told me to get an 11x32 cassette and a longer reach derailleur and learn to spin when my legs started to complain and mash if my lungs were having trouble. The next time up the hill I cut my time by 30 minutes and wonder of wonders, it didn’t hurt. I still sweat like a champ but I was up for a metric the next day and learned the wonders of Vitamin I.

Just ask DNVR how many times I have said, I hate hills. But I have learned they don’t need to hurt to do them right.

Camilo

Uh, so it's not OK to just enjoy the ride, the road, the air and the machine? It's not OK to just ride for transportation? The only point is "conditioning improvement"?

****, 58 years old and I've been clueless the whole time! Thanks boss!

vuduchyld5

My dad is 62...His bike has no saddle, and he wraps his hands in barbed wire and rubs finely ground shards of glass into his eyes before each ride.