Red Ring Tupperware Party, Clown Hunting (21)

gjl711 wrote in post #14399701
I'm using MyTracks. It takes a while to lock in, 1, maybe 2 minutes but seems pretty accurate.

JJ are you on an iphone?

Belmondo wrote in post #14398263
Good morning, everyone.
Howdy, Harm.

My bike rides are typically only about 5 miles, on generally flat ground. The length of the ride is limited to the amount of time Lois takes for her walk, usually 1/2 hour. I consistently manage to maintain about a 12-13 mph average during that time depending on the wind (Mother Nature's---not mine :lol The last couple minutes I cool down, or the ride would be a bit longer. At no point am I breathing hard, and I know I can ride much farther, especially if I cut the pace back just a little.

I actually feel pretty good about that, especially comparing it how I was back in January when I started this. Things I try to keep in mind:
1. I was horribly out of shape when I started this program. I still am in some respects.
2. The real challenge is keeping it interesting. I'm essentially covering the same territory over and over. Concentrating on technique, and monitoring the speedo/odo help pass the time. An occasional ride on the cart path, or some other break in routine makes it a bit more bearable.
3. I can never lose sight of the fact that I'm not a kid, and my expectations have to be moderated a bit, especially when I hear about some of the exploits of you younger whippersnappers. Along with that is the reality that any injury, no matter how insignificant, is going to take a lot longer to heal than it would have just a couple decades back, so carefree abandon on the open road has to be reined in just a little. I tend to be overly cautious around any sort of traffic and road hazards.

Speaking of the cart path, I rode it again last night, but this time on the mountain bike. The granny gear is nice, but it's a lot more of a workout overall. I rode it at dusk, and it was beautiful after a warmish day.

One interesting observation. My knees are shot, at least for walking, but riding the bike doesn't seem to bother them at all. Another bonus. Also, my nightly leg cramps have been improving. I'm not sure that's a function of the exercise, or the change in diet, but it's all good.

Chief averaging 12-13 MPH is very respectable. Cycling seems to do wonders for leg injuries. You see the cycling machines all the time on the sidelines to help in recovery.

Do you have other locations you could maybe drive to and then cycle on to help with changing the scenery?

Very true, Omar. My best friend is a semi-professional rugby player. He had a torn tendon, and the doc told him to play on until it snapped. Well a few months later, it snapped. The top knee specialist was in town to do an operation on a knee to teach others about it... my mate's knee was selected. Tendon reattached and fixed up. Rehab = swimming and cycling.

He roped me into cycling. We would do 40-50km off road cycling north of where I grew up towards the scottish border. We great rehab for him. he still plays today

Harm wrote in post #14399935
Very true, Omar. My best friend is a semi-professional rugby player. He had a torn tendon, and the doc told him to play on until it snapped. Well a few months later, it snapped. The top knee specialist was in town to do an operation on a knee to teach others about it... my mate's knee was selected. Tendon reattached and fixed up. Rehab = swimming and cycling.

He roped me into cycling. We would do 40-50km off road cycling north of where I grew up towards the scottish border. We great rehab for him. he still plays today

Couldn't agree more. I play in a competitive softball team here in the city. For the last month i had been nursing a sore hamstring. Finally started to get better then my first game of the season came up. Went running to catch a foul ball and right away felt my hamstring. Took myself out of the game and told the coach i wont play until after my may 20th Gran Fondo ride. Fast forward two weeks of riding on the bike and my hamstring is back to good as new.

gotta be careful though. cycling uses your hamstring in one direction, you don't have the pressures of twists and turns like field sports...

Harm wrote in post #14399958
gotta be careful though. cycling uses your hamstring in one direction, you don't have the pressures of twists and turns like field sports...

Yup! That is when shifting your position up on the saddle to use your quads more comes into play. Allows me to rest the hamstring as it recovers. If your quads begin to fatigue you can sit back on the saddle to use your hamstring more. Very good to know when you are on very challenging climbs in which quads or hamstring/calf could begin to bother you.

good man!!

my biggest thing is not stretching enough when playing footy. I end up with strained calves or something. Which is really nasty, you feel that knot in the middle of a calf muscle...takes weeks to recover.

I used to get calf cramps all the time. Cycling has seemed to cure that. Can't remember the last time I had one.

it is the over stretching to get a ball towards the end of playing for 90 minutes that kills the calf...

Nothing beats a good Calf Massage...

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I think that calf is from a Jimmy Stewart movie.

Ah yes....had to think hard.... "The Rare Breed"

funny stuff

cramp prevention

1. ton of water hydrate like a plant
2. stretching

best way to get rid of a cramp?

grab your top lip under your nose
pinck the living snit out of it
or have a friend do it
cramp is gone instantly

dont ask how it works
I learned it in '72 playing football
works everytime

I get calf cramps in the middle of the night ALL THE TIME, the lip pinch saves me (almost) every time.

too much wine and not enough water, Crissa...

we have all had that happen at night!!