I Remembered What I Hate About Cycling.

[ssjones]

A big day for me - I'm back on the bike - albeit on my my Zwift Hub, smart trainer. I had total hip replacement (left) on July 14th, went back to work on Monday. I had planned to ride a three mile loop tonight and ended up doing it twice. The new trainer is "smart" and applies resistance going up/downhills. I was sweating like mad and chose a course with very small hills. Standing up is uncomfortable, so I'll need to work that out before venturing back out on my rural roads and nearby C&O Canal. But, it was great to get sweaty again. Excuse my non-cool white t-shirt! I even beat my "ghost pace rider" on the 2nd loop, kicked his ass in fact!

 

[georged]

Geesh, sorry to hear that George, you were pretty competitive it seems!

At higher levels, genetic luck is essential to athletic accomplishment. No 6'8" guy will ever be a noteworthy gymnast, for example.

In my case I discovered more-or-less by accident that the main reason I could climb mountain passes and keep up with experienced club racers after only having ridden for a few WEEKS was because of a freakishly high max VO2 uptake. Something you're either born with or not, and training doesn't affect much. I was also born with optimal skeletal leg proportion and joint angles for energy transfer/efficiency on a bicycle.

None of that means squat if you don't have desire, of course, but people tend to like what they are naturally good at. And I always liked pretty much anything to do with open spaces, highways, and long distances.

The result? Magic. Staying balanced for hours on the knife edge that separated maximum aerobic output and "blowing up", was Nirvana. A mile to warm up, then drop into a tuck and go.

 

[Egg Shen]

I ride a gravel bike, on gravel (and paved roads). Last year, I added this Redshift Stop-Shock stem, it has a small damping system that eliminated the vibration and numbness in my hands. Actually, a member here recommended it as we had the same brand gravel bike. (he lived in the mid-West)

View attachment 243642

A guy on the trail yesterday was telling me about these, for road bikes. I was unaware of such a product. I think I’ll Have one added to my gravel bike in the off-season.

 

[ssjones]

A guy on the trail yesterday was telling me about these, for road bikes. I was unaware of such a product. I think I’ll Have one added to my gravel bike in the off-season.

Member @jttnk told me about the stem two seasons ago, I picked up mine, new-in-box from Ebay.
I also have the Specialized CGR carbon-fiber seatpost with polymer insert, it also soaks up vibration bumps. With the stem, it has been a great combination. My section of the C&O Canal towpath, in rural MD can be a less maintained than the path closer to the end point in DC

Specialized CG-R Carbon Seatpost

Unique looking carbon seatpost provides a smoother ride, though its looks won't be for everyone

road.cc

 

[jttnk]

Member @jttnk told me about the stem two seasons ago, I picked up mine, new-in-box from Ebay.
I also have the Specialized CGR carbon-fiber seatpost with polymer insert, it also soaks up vibration bumps. With the stem, it has been a great combination. My section of the C&O Canal towpath, in rural MD can be a less maintained than the path closer to the end point in DC

Specialized CG-R Carbon Seatpost

Unique looking carbon seatpost provides a smoother ride, though its looks won't be for everyone

road.cc

Sorry, I forgot about that fact. I’m stoked you like it. Nice pick on a good carbon seat post.

 

[bullet08]

Personally, I suck at cycling. Can't never go fast. But enjoy it nevertheless. Never was good at any sports with balls either. As much as I practised martial art, wasn't good at them either. Essentially, I'm only good at drinking and smoking. Only truly important vices x)