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Last Post 07/03/2015 03:39 PM by smokey 52. 35 Replies.
Author Messages
smokey52

Posts:493

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05/27/2015 07:11 PM
The forum is not what it used to be. It hasn't been for a while. I respect VeloNation for keeping it afloat, but there really is little participation (except of course for Nick). Thanks to all. I'll check in occasionally. Keep the rubber side down. smokey
SideBySide

Posts:444

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05/27/2015 07:21 PM
Sorry to see you go. This is still one of the few forums I visit every day, even though I don't post often.
smokey52

Posts:493

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05/27/2015 08:09 PM
Oh, I'm not gone. I'm just sad. This is not one of those dramatic "good bye" posts a la fuzzball (the woose).
Dale

Posts:1767

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05/27/2015 10:48 PM
NoooooOOOooo! There's been a slow attrition that's thinned the pack to a few hardy souls.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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05/27/2015 10:50 PM
I'll turn out the lights when I leave.....I ain't goin' nowhere.

Although that may hasten some others departures, dunno....LOL.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Master50

Posts:340

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05/27/2015 11:10 PM
I try to use the CN forum but the number of posts often just results in the same point being made over and over. There are so many uninformed opinions which if fair but the subject material seems to be presented in such a random way. for example the possible use of motors to cheat is presented in the clinic. the call it bike doping?
I like the civility of discussion here.
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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05/28/2015 07:39 AM
our local bike club forum is petering out also. a lot of people are still riding but i guess they are not talking about it as much. is there a way to recruit people to be on the forum?
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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05/28/2015 09:12 AM
Posted By Mike Shea on 05/27/2015 11:10 PM
I like the civility of discussion here.


Fook off.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
thinline

Posts:323

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05/28/2015 09:14 AM
It seems to me that people don't post as much about their own rides as they used to when the VN forum was active (pre-spear etc. days).

So, in that spirit I'll say I am trying to get ready for a 175-mile day in the Adirondacks on June 27. I did it last year and it is a crunch. About 12,000 vertical over the course of the ride with a big climb 5 miles from the end. We stay at a friend's place on a tiny island in Lake George, yup a tiny island, just big enough for the house and a decent sized yard with towering pines. Friday night, the long route riders are in charge of dinner for the whole group attending, but Saturday, the shorter route riders are in charge. The goal, finish, get on the boat for a chocolate milk toast on the ride back to the island all tired and sore, massive dinner, snooze, and a lazy day in the sun on Sunday before heading home.

What's your next big ride?
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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05/28/2015 10:17 AM
i would like to do some touring up in the adirondacks. we are heading to southeast tennessee and i'm taking my mtb. it's been years since i've been up that way and i hope to hit a couple of places in alabama as well. still trying to get over a certain infection that affects my sitting in the saddle for very long.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
huckleberry

Posts:824

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05/28/2015 10:23 AM
Okay, thinline, good idea.

My next big ride will be a ride of any distance, outside, not on my trainer.

Once I get past my ankle surgery healing, my lymphoma treatments, and my hormonal readjustments(now that I am on a new lymphoma treatment and off the corticosteroids)...

Not complaining, or whining - we all have our sh!t to deal with at some point in our lives, if not many points. So many people have it worse than I - most likely the majority of the world does.

Just so excited that the day will return that I can get out there. I lost my main identity 15 years ago when I had to give up running for my ankle OCD, and now without cycling, it feels so weird to stare at all my beautiful bikes and not ride them - I feel like such a poseur now ; )

Hopefully by late Summer - my goal.

Now, somebody give us a real ride to talk about!!!
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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05/28/2015 11:15 AM
Whoa...what did I miss? Didn't know you were battling lymphoma, huck. Sorry to hear that, but your attitude sounds great and it seems the battle is being well-fought.

No major rides planned for me this year....in the beginning phase of my Chicago Marathon training and just logging miles. Spent a crap load of time training last year and need to repay the family.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
huckleberry

Posts:824

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05/28/2015 12:41 PM
CK - my lymphoma is not as scary as it sounds - it's a t-cell lymphoma. The worst part is what the previous therapy did to my hormones.

I still look as gorgeous as ever ; )
79pmooney

Posts:3180

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05/28/2015 12:45 PM
I've been quiet about my riding because this year has been about doing PT, addressing issues that have been caused by (or at least not addressed because of) more than 4 decades of riding.

Last fall I partially tore both Achilles. Didn't go to a doctor but backed off riding some and watched. Then over the holidays, I took on a new (old) bike build; a ~1974 Raleigh Carleton International to be a super snow/ice and gravel bike. (It is!) But to dothat I had to break down a previous bike. Couldn't get the stem out. Pulled harder. And harder. Finally put both feet on the rim and really pulled. Oops! A few weeks of semii-hobbling later, I went the the Cycle Oregon Kickoff party. The usual vendors were there and I made the rounds seeing them. Stopped at Bodywise, Megan Mosley, the PT for CO who I have known for years as she was seeing the builder of my bike soon after I got it. SHe asked how I was. I simple honesty, I said I was good but I had partially torn Achilles. Her comeback? "Well I can do something about that!" and handed me a card for a free consultation. Obviously I was supposed to be at that kickoff!

That first free visit: She had me put on shorts and walk the room away from her and back. And said "Your left leg is longer than your right leg." By 1/2". Gave me 12mm lifts for all my shoes. Next I learned that everything on the backside of my legs is really tight. Achilles, hamstrings, glutes. And my quads. Sent me home with floor exercises to do.

These expanded to stretches I do from a strap hung over a door, stretches with a foam roll or two tennis balls taped together to open my ribcage and vertebra. Started feeling like I never remember feeling, but ran into allergies form my 25yo carpet I was doing my floor exercises on. After taxes were in, I ripped out the carpet and put in hard flooring, painting and wiring the ceiling for an overhead light in the process. As soon as that was done, I flew to DC for a convention, getting back yesterday after 21 hours in planes and airports. (Spent Tuesday evening at "Motel D6", sleeping on the gate seats.)

So, exercises this morning for the first time in a while. I'll do a few miles fixed on a 42-19 later, lift a few weights and go to bed feeling it. (Cycle Oregon in September is my goal. I'll ride with gears; it's only 25,000' of climbing with one hard day but this year is all about re-building, my Achilles and doing it right. I want to enjoy my bikes for a long time, especially now that I am down to 5 bikes but they are all super rides.

'79 Mooney - my super all-'rounder, now mostly a farmer's market bike but may go touring again.

'07 TiCycles good bike - 9-speed triple. Best bike I have ever owned.

'11 TiCycles fix gear - most fun bike I've owned. Race quick. Can handle 12-23 teeth on one chain

'83 Trek 420 fix gear - fenders, Lowriders, lock. Great rain/city. Not light but a good ride.

~'74 Raleigh Carleton International - fenders, 531, 7-speed triple (26-28 low!), 32c tires (can handle far bigger easily). The ride is completely old school; very laid back front end, lots of fork rake and wheel flop, but at speed, sweet! Frame is light! What fun on gravel roads! I am going to have Dave Levy at TiCycles get it painted (probably with RAD Finishes; his painter) so he can see it before and after stripping to both look for cracks and other issues and get dimensions and wall thickness so this frame can be duplicated. My plan is to powdercoat it and keep it plain (in part to not advertise) but order up the Reynolds stickers to document that it is the real thing. (It is fully stickered now.)

All of these bikes fit like true customs. All ride really well. Steering and transitions are easy from one bike to the next except the Carlton is VERY different! (bikes go from TiCycles fix gear, Carleton, TiCycles geared and Mooney to Trek - quickest to slowest steering. I think putting 700c on the obviously 27" Carlton adds real quickness to the steering.)

Gotta go. Got a bike to ride! And to get on topic; you will see more of me now that the forum has allowed me back and I am riding again.

Huck - my intro to lymphoma was as a platelet donor in the '70s when I spent some time as a matching donor for a patient. I never visited him, but I was told of him, even his name, hospital and room number. The nurses who poked me visited him periodically. I got updates on him every two weeks. That was soon before my head injury and sadly I have no memory of his outcome. I know I helped a bone marrow transplant patient once but do not know know if that was the same patient. Edit: lymphoma, leukemia - I was talking of leukemia; there platelet replacement can be lifesaving.  I am glad to be wrong about you, Huck.  Best of luck.  We want you around!

Ben
huckleberry

Posts:824

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05/28/2015 01:19 PM
Thanks, Ben.

I look forward to finding an excuse to get to Portland and ride once I finish my house up in Washington.

Hopefully we can meet up!
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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05/28/2015 02:28 PM
Posted By christopher behrens on 05/28/2015 12:41 PM
I still look as gorgeous as ever ; )


Schitt...sorry to hear that. My condolences.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
SideBySide

Posts:444

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05/28/2015 02:35 PM
No big rides planned for me. This summer is too busy. We purchased a property near Allyn, Wa about 18 months ago. The modular home went in at the end of January. We finally got occupancy and had final grading last week. If I remember to take some pics this weekend, I'll post them. We will be spending every weekend either there, or autocrossing.

The only rides I'll get are after work, so nothing more than 40-50 miles, and ~300 per month, probably until September. I am looking forward to a good fall of riding.

This place does need more meet-ups!
6ix

Posts:485

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05/28/2015 03:20 PM
How about we all plan to meet up at Worlds in Richmond?

Wow, some of you guys are putting in some major miles. Thinline's epic 175-miles in ONE DAY sounds absolutely insane.

Although it's only been 10 weeks since my popliteal artery was hanging out of my leg during surgery, I'm riding as well, if perhaps a smidge better, than before the procedure! Did a tough 35 mile ride on the Parkway a couple days ago with over 5,000 ft of climbing. No pain, no tingling, no numbness. It's the way it should be.

So, yeah, I'm absolutely flying right now but have no events planned whatsoever.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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05/28/2015 06:29 PM
Excellent idea 6ix; I've thought about going to Richmond many times. Too bad its the wrong year as I am already sinking major dough into Haute Route Alps trip August and then I have another trip planned April to ride (cyclos) and watch RVV and P-R. Can't sell Richmond over and above that on the home front

Once that 50th madness is done I wil be hanging up the cleats for a number of years and focusing on family bucket list. A lot of mountain hiking and camping trips to be done with kids who are now in prime age. Ton of places we still need to go ski in BC too.

For those in striking distance of Vancouver, BC, free beer/wine and food June 6 in my backyard for the big turning 50 event.

Lot of vertical riding these days, currently double Seymour ascent and 7500' of vertical. Within a few weeks the training rides will be 11,000' of vertical and 90 miles. Combined with a heavy workload pretty much feeling like I've been slammed into a wall continuously, no recovery. Also signed up for RAMROD which will be 150 miles and 10,000' of vertical end of July. Then of course Haute Route, 7 stages, total 750 km and some 21,000 m of climbing (63,000 feet ish over a week). 500 suckers for punishment from 50 countries lining up for that one. I am still slightly scared that its way over my head although the vibes from today's ride were very good.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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05/28/2015 07:31 PM
This is some serious catching up! Thanks to you all!
thinline

Posts:323

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05/28/2015 07:52 PM
For those of you recovering, take it as it comes.  Some of you may recall from the VN forum that I was lucky to survive, and having survived was lucky to have the use of my legs, a nasty car accident where a tanker truck flipped over sideways and landed on my car on a hairpin turn on a mountain road, pinning me under the truck inside my car for 2 hours. I posted some crazy pictures the VT motor vehicles inspector took during the extraction.   TBI and PTSD in addition to the physical trauma.  After that, every ride, including my first 20 minutes on a trainer with zero resistance, was an epic ride just because I COULD DO IT!  Took it slow, got it back, and I won't be concerned if I don't finish that Adirondack ride, as long as I give it my best.

Recover and do what you love, my friends.  To whatever point that you still love it.
Dale

Posts:1767

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05/28/2015 08:42 PM
Yeah, Thinline, I remember that episode. Dayum!
79pmooney

Posts:3180

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05/28/2015 11:12 PM
And I'm back from that ride. Jessica J, the fun fixie sporting 19 and 18 tooth cogs. Perfect first ride. 38 miles, near flat, light headwind out, tailwind home, beautiful day and warm! (My knees and the rest of my body love warm weather, especially when I am getting back on the bike. At the halfway point, I stopped and flipped to the 18. Felt great!

I might be in love!

Ben
Gonzo Cyclist

Posts:568

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05/29/2015 12:23 PM
looking at a couple of 50 mile gravel grinders, did the 1/2 century a couple of weeks ago in Santa Fe, but we mixed it up, and did the ride on SS Cross bikes, 58 miles total, and the best part was, we broke off the route and took the rail trail 15 miles back into SF, that was the best part of the ride. funny part was, we did this just as fast, or maybe faster than on road bikes.
Looking at a couple Enduro races, 3 days, about 80 miles a day, building up a long travel squish bike for those, should be a hoot.
some good 35 mile cross bike rides, one up here in the Mtns, 50/50, paved and dirt 4K elevation gain, stuff like that for me, only good for about three, maybe 4 hours on a bike
vtguy

Posts:298

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05/30/2015 04:32 PM
I still check in every day or so. Decided to take the summer off from running and just cycle so I'm riding around 15-hours a week. Doing a 62-mile gravel grinder next weekend with 6700 ft of climbing and signed up for a 72-mile race on gravel at the end of the summer. It will be the first time in 20-years that I've pinned on a number for a bike race. I think the reason is my impending 70th birthday.

Thinline, I'm impressed that you're doing the Adirondack ride for a second year. I really enjoyed last year's ride report and am looking forward to this year's.

Cosmic, I did the first installment of the Chicago Marathon right after I got out of grad school at Northwestern. Lovely course along the lake. Pretty flat as I recall.

Huck-- bummer! Hope you're able to get back outside on your bike soon.
Inferno7

Posts:344

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06/03/2015 08:44 PM
Smoke, and I apologize if this has been mentioned as I did not read all the posts. Remember this is kind of like track 9 3/4. No one know's it's here, as the web site is not active. I like this place more than the crazy days at VN where if you disagreed with a certain person you had to endure the idiot insisting you listed to or watched Fox....lol.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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06/05/2015 07:05 PM
vtguy, good luck on your upcoming events. Would you mind naming the events? I'm always on the lookout for rides like this. I tend to bring up the rear at this point, but I'm smiling at the finish.
Red Tornado

Posts:159

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06/10/2015 08:49 AM
Posted By carl x on 05/28/2015 07:39 AM
our local bike club forum is petering out also. a lot of people are still riding but i guess they are not talking about it as much. is there a way to recruit people to be on the forum?


Noticed the same thing about the bike club I used to be a member of when we lived in Indiana. The forum section used to be pretty healthy with write-ups of the previous days' rides (especially the race pace rides); informative posts about road construction/closures, or places where troublesome dogs were; local race reports; weather info pertaining to rides (in the colder months); etc. Now its pretty much the latest club meeting minutes. Even the club I'm in now hasn't had an update to the blog section for a few months, and I don't think the ride info is 100% up to date either. In addition to this place, I also am on The Paceline and Bike Forums.
huckleberry

Posts:824

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06/10/2015 09:37 AM
I think that the "forum" type of communication is going the way of the Dodo - most forums I frequent have been dwindling, with remaining stalwarts making the same statements as here.

Communication, despite the cries to the contrary, IMO, is disappearing, as far as real TWO-WAY communication is concerned. The technology has allowed and encouraged ONE-WAY transfers of information. And being naturally narcissistic, we humans love this.

Forums are now too much work. They often require you to read other peoples opinions and follow others trains of thought. Why would we do that? We have our opinions, we support them with our specific "news" sources, what's the point of taking the chance that we might poke a hole in our comfortable bubbles.

THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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06/10/2015 09:38 AM
even though ours is pretty much dead, someone posted the other day about a hornet's nest at the top of one of the climbs. that is good information. also the pancake ride on the 4th of july is getting some interest. yum.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
thinline

Posts:323

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06/11/2015 09:45 AM
Vtguy, I was over in the ADKs last weekend for an "appetizer" ride. Did about 80 miles with a little over 5,200 vertical. One big climb and then hilly sections on and off. The roads are so much better maintained over there! Of course, state police were in evidence quite a bit given the two escapees from Clinton Correctional.

Just a couple more weeks to get ready for the biggie on the 27th.

Good luck with your races.

As an aside, I promised a friend who just turned 65 that if she lined up for the citizens race on stage three of the Green Mountain Stage Race, I would be there next to her. She'll probably hold me to it! At least I have until Labor Day weekend to get ready.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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06/30/2015 08:47 AM
Hmmmm....was getting a bit worried after not finding the site for 2 days.

*whew*
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
79pmooney

Posts:3180

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07/01/2015 11:34 AM
I thought the site had died and was feeling some real sadness.

CK, would it be worthwhile for us to pool emails and phone numbers somehow (obviously not just pasting them here for all to see) so if this site does die, those of us who have been here for may years and consider each other friends can stay in touch if this forum does die?

Ben
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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07/01/2015 03:45 PM
Yeah, I think there is some merit to that idea, Ben. I know a bunch of folks are already connected on Facebook....I've been tempted to actually use my FB account to join the group.

Not certain I am THAT desperate yet, though....I'm pretty proud of my non-FB status / activity.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Nick A

Posts:625

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07/02/2015 09:01 AM
I think I might have too much pride to re-join Facebook. I already gave in to TV after a seven year hiatus in the '80's, long before, "Oh, I don't watch TV, I just have Netflix, Hulu, etc., etc." Maybe I should re-activate my Twitter account? Not much for real conversation, but there is always the PM function.

N
smokey52

Posts:493

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07/03/2015 03:39 PM
Nick,
FB has lots of pictures and connectivity, including PMs. People like me join it to take advantage of those aspects. Mark Z keeps changing the rules and makes privacy difficult, but not impossible.
smokey


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