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Time To Get Fit - 2024

Gravel bike you say? :)

Trek Checkpoint ALR or Canyon Grizl 7 is the best bang for buck at that price range. Stick with 11 or 12spd drivetrains as they are modern and easily upgradable.

If you are an avg sized male, you shouldn’t have any problem making most gravel bikes (in that price range) fit well. Maybe you need a diff stem, but that should be about it. Get a bike fit if you plan to ride more than 2hrs at a time. And if you ever feel any pain, know that it’s not normal and it can be fixed with a quality fit. Don’t try to ride through it because someone said you just need to get used to it.
 
How we doing gang? I'm recovering from a round of COVID. Nothing much to report except fatigue. I took a week off from everything. I'm trying to get back on it this week but, its a slow grind. I did commit to Bay to Breakers this year. That's a first. Last year I deferred my Rock Cobbler entry so I think I'm registered this year? :laughing I better start riding more :laughing
 
sorry to hear about the covid, that's never fun. i have good memories of bay to breakers with family, that's a good goal!

all good over here, my labs came back after 18 months on carnivore diet and doc says he doesn't see any reason to change unless i want to

before the labs, after the appointment, he asked "you said you don't eat any meat, right? my transcribing app shows you said you only eat meat." "the app is correct, i only eat meat." "okay let's go ahead and order those labs you were asking about."

i'm getting back up to my previous max bench press, but i'm only lifting once per week for 10 minutes. before i was lifting three times per week around three hours total. i feel like i found a cheat code.
 
Well shit, I am down for miles walked but still out there every day doing my thing. Did a personal best mile yesterday at 14:59 and it was mile three of my 3.5 mile walk so yay?
 
I've got one more week of taking care of myself, then I go back to coaching and a reduced schedule.
Have spent the last 4 months with 4 days of riding bike and 3 days of gym with SciFit hand crank (10 x 40 seconds hard as I can go with 1 min rest in between) to finish.
Riding after dark is too dangerous, too many dog walkers with long leashes and careless as hell and mountain bike riders in dark clothes an no light.
 
Climber said:
I've got one more week of taking care of myself, then I go back to coaching and a reduced schedule.
Have spent the last 4 months with 4 days of riding bike and 3 days of gym with SciFit hand crank (10 x 40 seconds hard as I can go with 1 min rest in between) to finish.
Riding after dark is too dangerous, too many dog walkers with long leashes and careless as hell and mountain bike riders in dark clothes an no light.
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Nice work Brett :thumbup The pool is my savior in the dark times :laughing Its almost pool season, I'm trying to squeak out a few more after work rides but the light is failing.

Robert, are you gonna run lights for night rides. I'm considering it.
 
Mike95060 said:
Nice work Brett :thumbup The pool is my savior in the dark times :laughing Its almost pool season, I'm trying to squeak out a few more after work rides but the light is failing.

Robert, are you gonna run lights for night rides. I'm considering it.
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i am on the hunt for a retro reflective jacket.
 
Got a good schedule working too, like all you fellow nutties. I've become fully enamored with working out in full solitaire. I don't miss any of the people at all.

Brett; tell me more about your crank cycle workout? I've got a matrix unit and I use it, but don't have any good exercise/ routine with it. Also, is there a technique to not get slack in the handles, or does that just happen? I run them on opposing sides of the ellipse.
 
I've been running lights all year. Most of my weekday rides start at 6pm and go until 8-9pm. I have a Lezyne Macro 1400+ front light that I run in race mode and a NiteRider Vmax+ 150 tail light that I run on flash. Both are bright enough and last for 2 rides. I need to sort out a helmet light for off-road night rides.

I wear all black on some night rides, on a black bike. I should probably stop doing that. Maybe I'll just get a bright green vest like this one. Vests are great for layering.

Vests Cycling Men SQUADRA STRETCH VEST - Castelli Cycling

The Squadra Stretch Vest is the simple yet elegant solution to keep the wind off your core in cool conditions while providing a close-to-body fit and excellent ventilation.
www.castelli-cycling.com www.castelli-cycling.com

My season just ended last weekend in Arkansas - more on that later. I now have 2 rest weeks. What am I going to do with myself...
 
I have a Castelli vest for wind protection. It was pricy but its been a great value. If you didn't know, they are sized for ballerinas! I'm an XXL in their sizing. You have met me, I'm no where near an American XXL :laughing
 
XXL? :wtf

I have the Castelli Aria vest in Small. I don't like it much cuz it's flappy, lulz. And it doesn't even have pockets!

I have the Pactimo Alpine vest for really cold weather. It has a little fuzzy insulation layer and it fits better than my Castelli. Maybe i'll try this one https://www.pactimo.com/products/me...d-vest-high-viz-yellow?variant=42679039754419

Buying new things is going to keep me motivated for the winter. Ugh, i'm such a consumer.
 
Holeshot said:
Got a good schedule working too, like all you fellow nutties. I've become fully enamored with working out in full solitaire. I don't miss any of the people at all.

Brett; tell me more about your crank cycle workout? I've got a matrix unit and I use it, but don't have any good exercise/ routine with it. Also, is there a technique to not get slack in the handles, or does that just happen? I run them on opposing sides of the ellipse.
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I mostly do 40 seconds as hard as I can go, using full push/pull actions and engaging my whole core, then 1 minute of easy cycling, then 9 more cycles of that. It gets my heart rate up and I get a really good pump through my shoulders, chest and back, my core and legs also know they've been well used. If I was doing it 5 days a week, I'd alternate my cycles, probably 4 shorter at 20 seconds with a 30 second rest in between followed by 2 with a minute each and 1-1/2 minutes in between then repeat the two cycles. It's always good to keep your body off balance.
 
oh! i got a housemate. he has not one but two cycle trainers so i’ll get a bike set up on that. he also said he might have a cassette that’ll work to convert my 3-speed into an 8-speed which would be dope. i have not ridden since march.



:later
 
stangmx13 said:
XXL? :wtf

I have the Castelli Aria vest in Small. I don't like it much cuz it's flappy, lulz. And it doesn't even have pockets!

I have the Pactimo Alpine vest for really cold weather. It has a little fuzzy insulation layer and it fits better than my Castelli. Maybe i'll try this one https://www.pactimo.com/products/me...d-vest-high-viz-yellow?variant=42679039754419

Buying new things is going to keep me motivated for the winter. Ugh, i'm such a consumer.
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Yeah. Check it out. These both fit as snuggly as I can comfortably tolerate, I was wearing both at Rock Cobbler. Giro Medium = castelli 2XL :wtf
IMG_6616.jpeg
 
Mike95060 said:
Yeah. Check it out. These both fit as snuggly as I can comfortably tolerate, I was wearing both at Rock Cobbler. Giro Medium = castelli 2XL :wtfView attachment 568789
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Fat ass.

I tease. All the Italians I have met are quite petite. Their clothing sizes seem to reflect this.

:x
 
My riding during the week has ended due to the shorter day. Our roads have limited to almost no shoulders and I certainly don’t trust people enough to not hit me even with lights. These Sierra foothill roads are great but dangerous. Still running through. Did my first timed mile since high school (fuck it’s been 30+ years). Got a 7:09. Was shooting for under 7:00. At 50 years old and 5 knee surgeries, I’m happy with that, but will be in the 6min range next time. On Saturday I ran the Stevenson trail with one of my wife’s running friends. Her name is Rosie and she is an absolute machine. The trail goes from Colfax down to the American River and back up. 1,400 vertical 7.5 miles round trip. I only walked a quarter mile of the entire trail. It was a super steep section at mile 6.

I was super happy after that run then realized my wife ran the trail with Rosie a little more than a year ago. However they crossed the river and ran up to the town of Iowa Hill, back down to the river and then up to Colfax. I think it was a 20(ish) mile run for them. My wife has been at this longer than I have but someday I would like to do a big run like that with her.

Anyway, training at the track this Tuesday evening and then another run from Auburn down to the American River and back up on Thursday night.
 
Anyone know of any XC MTB Stage races? What i can find NorthAmerica is a rather short list.

- BC Bike Race
- Breck Epic
- Leadville Stage Race
- Trans-Sylvania Epic
- Moab Rocks
 
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Last night was our weekly run from Auburn down to the river and back up to Auburn. Just as we were leaving the canyon near overlook park our group ran into a Mt Lion. That’s my 5th lion sighting. Two were from vehicles, two were face to face (within 10 feet) and then last night, which was about 20 yards away. I did have a 6th encounter but never saw the lion, only heard it…they really do sound like a woman being murdered.
 
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