What's your end goal as a cyclist? Are you doing it just for fun or
#76
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I started for exercise,evolved into pleasure,then obsession and now i aim to do solo bikepacking.I’m 63 and started riding in January. I like this new me.
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I find this question funny. Why should cycling have an “end goal”? I ride my bike because I enjoy it. I ride because it’s the best way to get from A to B (sometimes). I ride for exercise, for fun, for transport, as part of living. If I have an “end goal,” it’s to get up and ride again tomorrow.
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#80
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Ride a bike on every continent, ride a brevet in every state, ride every 1200k on the planet, ride the Transcontinental route, ride the Northern route, ride the Southern route, bikepack everywhere, ride Land's End to John o' Groats, break the hour record for a 100yo in 38 years, ride in Spain, ride in Italy, ride around India, ride up the biggest climb in Hawaii, ride around Mt St Helens, ride around Lake Tahoe, learn to idle on my unicycle, earn both La Société Charly Miller and Adrian Hands Society. But mostly just go for a ride.
I have been planning this adventure for months and just need a week free from work and family obligations to fit it in. Spring and Fall are the best and safest times to go.
It's a 300 mile route on generally flat terrain. For about a 100 mile stretch I'll be in desert wilderness with little chance of finding any drinkable water, probably no phone signal, and perhaps little to no contact with other humans. The 200-ish miles along the south, east, and north sides of the lake will be on paved roads, in civilized communities. I will camp each night and try to ride 50 miles per day to complete the trip in six days.
I should mention this desert is heavily populated with rattlesnakes, so it's wise to go with appropriate protection. I'll probably ride in boots.
Last edited by Broctoon; 09-01-22 at 10:22 AM.
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#81
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^ I'd go but I'd be afraid you might be a 4$$**** on your bike {edit:} Sorry ... *****bag .....
(Sadly, 50 would be too much for me right now .... but it is a nice, relaxed number for anyone close to fit. I assume you will have a great time.)
(Sadly, 50 would be too much for me right now .... but it is a nice, relaxed number for anyone close to fit. I assume you will have a great time.)
Last edited by Maelochs; 09-01-22 at 02:18 PM.
#82
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If you want to start out with something a bit less ambitious, you can come to Utah and join me for an unsupported ride around the perimeter of Great Salt Lake. I'm going to do it on my single speed All City Nature Boy. I'll pull a cargo trailer, but it could just as well be done with bikepacking.
I have been planning this adventure for months and just need a week free from work and family obligations to fit it in. Spring and Fall are the best and safest times to go.
It's a 300 mile route on generally flat terrain. For about a 100 mile stretch I'll be in desert wilderness with little chance of finding any drinkable water, probably no phone signal, and perhaps little to no contact with other humans. The 200-ish miles along the south, east, and north sides of the lake will be on paved roads, in civilized communities. I will camp each night and try to ride 50 miles per day to complete the trip in six days.
I should mention this desert is heavily populated with rattlesnakes, so it's wise to go with appropriate protection. I'll probably ride in boots.
I have been planning this adventure for months and just need a week free from work and family obligations to fit it in. Spring and Fall are the best and safest times to go.
It's a 300 mile route on generally flat terrain. For about a 100 mile stretch I'll be in desert wilderness with little chance of finding any drinkable water, probably no phone signal, and perhaps little to no contact with other humans. The 200-ish miles along the south, east, and north sides of the lake will be on paved roads, in civilized communities. I will camp each night and try to ride 50 miles per day to complete the trip in six days.
I should mention this desert is heavily populated with rattlesnakes, so it's wise to go with appropriate protection. I'll probably ride in boots.
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#83
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I feel you. I don't go out into west Utah desert often, but I've explored there a little by motorcycle and truck. This will be my longest foray by bicycle off paved roads. Actually, my longest bike trip of any kind. I do enjoy adventure.
#84
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Also not sure I would want to take a single-speed on questionable terrain if I was hauling everything I needed to live.
That will certainly be an adventure.
That will certainly be an adventure.
#85
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Hehe. I don't think I'll encounter anyone to pass on my intended route, nor have the ability to do so with my heavily loaded rig. This one will be all about patience and endurance. I can ride upwards of 50 miles a day on my road bike, over hilly terrain. On my single speed pulling a trailer, I might average only 12 MPH. At that speed, the length of time on bike might be more of a limiting factor than exertion. What I mean by that is I think I'd get more tired coasting down hills for six hours than putting out a continuous 250 Watts for 20 minutes.
#86
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The terrain provides no major challenges--not much elevation gain anywhere. The surface is another story, with lots of hazards out there to threaten tire life. (I'll take a Plan A and a Plan B for flat repairs, plus another backup in case both of those fail.)
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My end goal happened by accident. After a year of riding my ass off my doctor took me off blood pressure pills. I road myself back to normalcy and still going.
So my end goal now is to stay off blood pressure pills.
So my end goal now is to stay off blood pressure pills.
Last edited by jazzzione; 09-01-22 at 03:01 PM.
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#88
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I run a lot, but I also lift and at times have nagging injuries. Pulled tendon in my foot, knee pain. So it's nice to do a low impact cardio workout. Also, I see very few overweight cyclists...must be something to that. I like the ability to get a bit deeper into the woods than I would just walking in a much quicker manner. Scouting game, fishing etc. I hike a ton, I bet trail riding would be a blast. So no end goals, lots of ideas.
#89
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All I can say is that it was a much tougher test than I expected. I’m 90kg, and the altitude means you’re down 20% on watts. With a sea level FTP of 285, I wasn’t nearly as strong as I needed to be for my size (though I don’t have any fat on me, former footballer). Train hard, and get as light as you can. I think even 5 lbs would help.
#90
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I used to have self-improvement 'goals' but advancing age kind of nixed the 'improvement' part. Now I find myself (DOB 1949) with spinal stenosis, severe osteo-arthritis in both knees, in both shoulders, and my wrists - plus years of persistent ankle sprains preclude running even if the other issues did not. Cycling is the only real exercise arrow left in my quiver.
dave
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I used to have self-improvement 'goals' but advancing age kind of nixed the 'improvement' part. Now I find myself (DOB 1949) with spinal stenosis, severe osteo-arthritis in both knees, in both shoulders, and my wrists - plus years of persistent ankle sprains preclude running even if the other issues did not. Cycling is the only real exercise arrow left in my quiver.
dave
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#92
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rsbob , mother nature and genetics seem to be doing their best to fight this. I wear a $1K+ brace on one knee and get periodic hyaluronic acid injections in both knees. The arthritis in my left shoulder has become a real riding issue 'solved' by extra padding around the handlebars and periodic steroid injections. So far it appears that my shoulder issue is purely arthritic which is good news because, believe it or not, recovery from a full shoulder replacement (vs reverse shoulder replacement) is quicker than rotator cuff repair in the typical cases. My spinal stenosis was getting periodic guided steroid injections and it has been mysteriously in remission for the past 5 months (no explanation here unless it is the 100+ crunches that I started to do daily). So far I have just put up with my carpal tunnel issues (I sleep with a wrist brace). I am a one-man full employment plan for orthopedic specialists.
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#93
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rsbob , mother nature and genetics seem to be doing their best to fight this. I wear a $1K+ brace on one knee and get periodic hyaluronic acid injections in both knees. The arthritis in my left shoulder has become a real riding issue 'solved' by extra padding around the handlebars and periodic steroid injections. So far it appears that my shoulder issue is purely arthritic which is good news because, believe it or not, recovery from a full shoulder replacement (vs reverse shoulder replacement) is quicker than rotator cuff repair in the typical cases. My spinal stenosis was getting periodic guided steroid injections and it has been mysteriously in remission for the past 5 months (no explanation here unless it is the 100+ crunches that I started to do daily). So far I have just put up with my carpal tunnel issues (I sleep with a wrist brace). I am a one-man full employment plan for orthopedic specialists.
dave
dave
It's injury that takes most of us out of the game, eventually. If you can make accommodations and keep exercising, you'll stay healthy longer.
A common topic of conversation on our "old guy" rides: what to do when we get injured or somehow disabled? I always say I'll adapt to the injury and keep going. Just don't quit, because quitting is the killer.
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Simply to delay my end.
Tim
Tim
#95
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terrymorse , thanks for the kind words. But lots of folks are fighting problems like mine. What real 'dedication to your sport is' would be my good friend back home in Missouri. He is an avid tennis player (my age) who ran into a shoulder issue and he did not like risks and outlook presented WRT shoulder surgery. He undertook a long term rehab program and learned to play competitive tennis left handed! After about 2.5 years he was able to get back to (mostly) playing right handed. Now that is dedication.
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#96
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You're an inspiration, DaveLeeNC !
I always say I'll adapt to the injury and keep going. Just don't quit, because quitting is the killer.
I always say I'll adapt to the injury and keep going. Just don't quit, because quitting is the killer.
dave
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#98
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The other benefit I noticed is that before cycling, I couldn't hardly run at all without immediately getting winded. After I got into shape through cycling, I was amazed the day I was teaching my son how to hit baseballs, and I could actually run after the balls he hit.
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Not to live longer but to live better. To clear my mind. To see the countryside. For cardio exercise, just for fun, to be with my bike buddy. For the beer after.
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