Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Weight training and cycling

« on: November 23, 2022, 07:32:48 pm »

I've tried it all, and now at age 74 and having survived (uh, for now) a gnarly nonmetastatic endocrine tumor disease, I do what I like, which is exercising daily, either hiking, biking, or gym bouldering.  I got sick of the boring aspects of weight training, and find I'm doing great with my present routine.  I'm still, after 2.5 years, recovering and getting stronger and improving aerobically.  There are setbacks now and then, but I just ease up for a while and then get back to it.  I feel at this age, I'm not interested in doing things that bore me (i.e. lifting weights) and that didn't seem to to get the results I wanted anyway. Of course, I was never looking for "big and strong", just for staying in shape.  I also have been unable to tour the past several years, because a hard day of exercise would require a couple of days of rest afterwards.  I am planning a multiday tour with maybe about 40-50 mpd for next summer and a backpack trip, but we will see how things go.......   

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General Discussion / Re: Where does the wind blow?

« on: August 19, 2022, 09:25:24 pm »

The wind blows to every direction on the compass, and from every direction on God's green earth. The one place where there is definitely a prevailing wind on which you can rely is the Pacific coast bicycle route. Sure you may get some side winds now and again. The prevailing goes from north to south and it can be a stiff prevailing wind.

Except in the early summer of 2005 when I rode it.  The famous prevailing north winds that year came mid`July, right after we had finished.  Grrrrr

3

General Discussion / Re: Average Weight Loss/Gain on Cross Country Tour

« on: May 23, 2022, 08:10:32 pm »

Fom June 21, 2005 to July 10, 2005, at age 56, I rode just under 1400 miles on the Pacific coast from Olympia, WA to Santa Monica, CA. We averaged 72 mpd.  I gained 15 pounds and my thighs gained 1 inch in circumference.  I started eating like I do at home, and on about day7-8 completely hit the wall, with low energy all day and it took about 4 days of eating everthing in sight to get back to strength and enjoyment of the ride.  The gained weight never came off, in fact, I just kept gaining for the next 15 years.  Then i had a seizure, and it turned out I had two endocrine tumors, a pancreatic and pituitary one.  They came out with surgeries, and in the couple of years since, I have lost 27 pounds, and now at 73 feel better than I have in decades.  So my experience about weight gain cannot be counted as just a biking one.  There were major medical complications all mixed up in it. Anyuway, it's good to be back to biking, hiking, and climbing as an old man (as my granddaughter calls me now).   

4

General Discussion / Re: Free Air

« on: March 22, 2022, 01:56:32 am »

I always carry a mini-pump.  One advantage is that you get a great upper body workout using them, which helps to balance out all the legwork of cycling.  JK. I bring them but hate using them because I'm at the age (73) where I don't really want that extra workout in a crunched over position. Instant backache!

A great workout? Do you get a flat every day?  That's the only way it would be a "good" workout.  I average one flat every 6 months, so not much of a workout there going on.

Did you not see th JK part?  I get flats several times a year.  I don't seem to get them on days I don't ride, and there are months where I live when you can't ride due to snow and ice.  Then I hike, snowshoe, ski, etc.  I don't get flats on any of those, so I don't carry a pump and have to lift weights or go to a bouldering ym for the upper body workout

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General Discussion / Re: Free Air

« on: March 03, 2022, 08:53:09 pm »

I always carry a mini-pump.  One advantage is that you get a great upper body workout using them, which helps to balance out all the legwork of cycling.  JK. I bring them but hate using them because I'm at the age (73) where I don't really want that extra workout in a crunched over position. Instant backache!

6

Routes / Re: Neah Bay to Port Angeles

« on: March 03, 2022, 08:40:47 pm »

I rode the whole loop around the Olympic Peninsula and was warned about the Lake Crescent part.  We went on a weekday in mid-July and it was totally fine.  Drivers were courteous, especially the truck drivers, which was supposed to be the problem.  We were not on the 112 road, but on the main highway most of the way except for some of the southern part.  As always, I wouldn't ride this or any road with cars on it without a mirror.  I just want to know what's coming and what kind of drivers they are.  After some experience, you can tell.   

7

General Discussion / Re: Hillbilly dogs

« on: February 19, 2022, 10:08:11 pm »

I live in hillbilly dog country on the eastern slopes of the Cascades in WA.  For some reason, dogs seem to be much less of an issue in the past 10 years.  I rarely get challenged, and it used to be a regular part of most rides, even short day rides.  Our area has had a huge population boom in the past 5-10 years, woth a master planned resort in, literally, my back yard, and houses all over the woods and near all my classic old routes.  I think the huge increase in traffic has either killed off all the nasty dogs or discouraged owners from letting them out of the house. They also have dog catchers now that patrol the local towns more.  We have become a second home and bedroom community for the massive population centers of Seattle-Tacoma, etc, which are about 100 miles away or a little more.  These people are much more likely to have controlled dogs, often with shock colors.  Anyway, the problem is not so much of a problem here any more. In the old days, I could discourage most dogs just by yelling and kicking a leg out in their direction.  You have to be experienced to do this, because it can throw you off balance.  I took a 3 week trip down the Pacific Coast route in 2005.  I don't remember any negative dog encounters then. 

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General Discussion / Re: Absolute necessities?

« on: November 06, 2017, 11:16:48 pm »

37 years and never used a GPS.  Road maps and locals work fine. Necessities?  Spare tubes, some tools, book, headlamp, camping stuff......

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Gear Talk / Re: Should have learnt the easy way.. some advice guys

« on: August 25, 2017, 12:22:13 pm »

My slightly convex bar end bike mirror has no blind spot.  I do not have to do a head turn to check the rear. I have been using a bike mirror for at least 40 of the 60 years I've been riding. 

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Routes / Re: Suggestions for four day loop leaving from Bellingham, WA (Sept. 21-25)

« on: August 17, 2017, 10:48:00 pm »

Chuckanut Drive south of B'ham to the Mt Vernon area, then Hwy 20 east to Rockport (check out the great Howard Miller
Steelhead Park there--it's a Skagit Co park) then east into the N Cascades on Hwy 20 to Colonial Ck Campground.  From there, you can leave your stuff at camp and day ride up to or towards Rainy and Washington Pass.  Then back to Rockport, now south to Darrington then west to Arlington and then back roads back to B'ham.  Most of this is on great country roads.  Get a good map and check it out. Check the forecast; lots of chance for rain then, and cold weather in the passes on Hwy 20.

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Pacific Northwest / Re: looking for a place to ship a bike to the seattle area

« on: August 13, 2017, 12:28:23 pm »

Angle Lake Cycle  is very close to Seatac.  You could contact them and ask if they'd do that.

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General Discussion / Re: Water Water Everywhere: My Tour Around Northwest Montana

« on: July 21, 2017, 11:56:46 am »

On a combo of two different Montana tours, I have ridden many of these roads.  Hwy 56 is a favorite, although we were forced to hit the shoulder due to an aggressive pick up truck flying the confederate flag on the north end of that road.  We had dangerous and horrible traffic around Whitefish, but our worst part was on Hwy 2 just west of the town. I really got worn out trying to get from Whitefish to West Shores State Park on Flathead Lk.  It was the end of the day, we'd had little to no sleep the night before, and there were big hills.
Thanks for the report.  I know this site has no trip report forum, but I think it should.  One of the best parts of touring is reading about others' rides.   

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General Discussion / Re: On Pacific Coast.. to stay in San Fan or keep moving?

« on: July 21, 2017, 11:43:08 am »

I chose to ride through SF from Samuel Taylor State Park to Half Moon Bay, for the reasons you stated. I didn't want to pay SF prices. There's a nice campground at Half Moon Bay, but watch out for the raccoons there.

Same here. Exactly, except we had our raccoon experience on the Oregon coast instead.

14

General Discussion / Re: Touring on carbon

« on: July 13, 2017, 02:06:58 pm »

Just completed a relaxed five day "geriatric" (two 57 year olds and a 68 year old) self supported tour around the North Cascades in Wa on a carbon fiber Specialized Roubaix hauling a Burley Nomad trailer.  My two companions used panniers. 
I got the alternate hitch from Burley so as not to load the frame or put any undue pressure on it. This hitch replaces the axle so the load is on the new axle and just pulls to the rear--no weight on the bike itself.  It worked great, and allowed me to use a very lightweight bike and save the pannier weight.  My setup was actually lighter than the others.  However, for a long tour, I think I'd want a sturdy touring bike with frame and components designed to take much more of a beating. I will continue with my setup for relaxed touring. though.  We averaged only 43 mpd and had lots of time to just enjoy.  A lot different from 30 years ago where we averaged 70-90 mpd. Our route, which was a fantastic good time, was Arlington-Darrington-Rockport-Marblemount-Newhalem-Colonial Ck Campground-almost Rainy Pass (although one of us made it there), and then back in reverse to Arlington.  We had lots of quiet country roads with little traffic, perfect weather, and spectacular scenery.

15

Routes / Re: Does anyone still use paper maps?

« on: June 13, 2017, 10:02:45 pm »

I just have a road atlas for the US and run copies of the state I'm riding in.  For more detail, I prefer the Benchmark maps to the Delorme.  Personal preference, I guess.