Recent Posts

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by BikePacker on Today at 05:44:55 pm »

One of the most discouraging things to deal with is that I'm not  going to get more fit regardless of what I do.
At our age if you can just maintain or even just significantly slow down the degeneration * you're dong pretty darn well.

Thanks.
You have helped me 'visualize' my needed to be visualized objective:
* "....just significantly slow down the degeneration..."
I have been wondering a little, to more than a little,
about this cause last year I noted a couple of times for the first time
that even tho I was in OK shape that peeps that were not at all in said shape,
but much younger, could easily out ride me.
Left me thinking .... "huh."
Memo to myself: You have found your new objective ~ thereby adapt/adjust accordingly.

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by hikerjer on Today at 12:55:57 pm »

"I hate that as I am getting to the age where I realize that my years of doing some things are getting shorter pretty quickly and I already can't/won't do some stuff I might have a few years ago."

I'm in pretty much the same situation as you only I've actually got a few years on you.  One of the most discouraging things to deal with is that I'm not  going to get more fit regardless of what I do. At our age if you can just maintain or even just significantly slow down the degeneration you're dong pretty darn well. What's most disappointing to me is that at our age, one cannot indefinitely keep saying "next year". There comes a point that you just won't be able to physically do it next year. I don't think I'm quite there yet and I'm cautiously optimistic that I have a few years left. But one never knows, especially in these times.  In the meantime, I'll keep riding locally as much as I can and hope for the best.  These are strange and troubling times for us all.

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General Discussion / Re: TransAmerica Trail Bike Tour, The Dreaded Middle Third

« Last post by BikeliciousBabe on Today at 10:30:41 am »

You pass right through the middle of most of the towns in Kansas on the TransAm. For many of the towns in Montana on the Northern Tier, they are to your left or right, so you don’t see much of them unless you make a point to go off route a bit. I liked Kansas better.

True. U.S. 2 appears to have been rerouted so that it no longer takes trough traffic into the center of some towns. Harlem, Malta and Glasgow come to mind. Harlem is off to the left. The latter two are reached by making a right and crossing under the railroad.

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by BikeliciousBabe on Today at 10:23:52 am »

I am a member of a large touring group on Facebook. There have been a couple of recent reports of several people abandoning the Southern Tier due to virus-related things like closures of campgrounds and food sources.

In many places it's tough to get medical attention even if you are on your own turf. Imagine getting sick out on the road right now. Another thing to be consider is the possibility of being seen by local as a "spreader." That was happening in Viet Nam not too long ago. Touring cyclists reported being denied service in restaurants and shops. Some were even verbally abused.

I had to cancel my Easter long weekend tour due to campground closures and a ferry not accepting walk-on passengers. I am scheduled for MTR and ID starting in mid-June. I am pretty much convinced that it's not going to happen, if only due to a lack of training. Hoping I can get my airfare back or at least get a voucher that I can use far down the road.

Maybe the fall will be better. If Amtrak starts up the Pennsylvanian services by then I could take that to Pittsburgh and ride home, starting on the GAP.

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by staehpj1 on Today at 09:11:33 am »

I hate that as I am getting to the age where I realize that my years of doing some things are getting shorter pretty quickly and I already can't/won't do some stuff I might have a few years ago. 

You are a mere youth.
Or as Vinny Gambini said, "Yute".

Well mom and dad rode well into their late 70s, still did long day rides late in life, mom lived to 97 and was pretty spry up to the last, so I guess I could have quite a few good years left ...and yet I feel pretty old these days.  It seems like my realistic expectations of what peaks I might bag, what rivers I might run, and so on gets smaller each year.  So losing a year or more of more ambitious trips really sucks.

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by jamawani on Today at 08:58:52 am »

I hate that as I am getting to the age where I realize that my years of doing some things are getting shorter pretty quickly and I already can't/won't do some stuff I might have a few years ago. 

You are a mere youth.
Or as Vinny Gambini said, "Yute".

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by staehpj1 on Today at 06:34:39 am »

I am still seriously considering an X-USA ride from Washington state to Maryland.
Starting early July, ending late September.

I anticipate a coronavirus peak in late April, decline in May.
June may be the tail - unless there is a second bump.
Much depends on how things are managed in the next 30 days.

Also, it depends on whether or not I'm stilll around.

I hope that works out for you.  I fear that is an optimistic prediction of the pandemic timatable, but maybe it will play out that way.

I had some touring and backpacking plans in the works and they are all on hold indefinitely.  Also some vacation plans with the wife, also on hold.  I hate that as I am getting to the age where I realize that my years of doing some things are getting shorter pretty quickly and I already can't/won't do some stuff I might have a few years ago.  Also I realize that some of us won't make it through this.  I am not in a super high risk category but at almost 69 I am at elevated enough risk to make me a little more aware of my mortality.

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by jamawani on March 28, 2020, 07:49:42 pm »

I am still seriously considering an X-USA ride from Washington state to Maryland.
Starting early July, ending late September.

I anticipate a coronavirus peak in late April, decline in May.
June may be the tail - unless there is a second bump.
Much depends on how things are managed in the next 30 days.

Also, it depends on whether or not I'm stilll around.

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by hikerjer on March 28, 2020, 06:33:07 pm »

Same here.  It's still riding so I'm OK with it.

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General Discussion / Re: XC Cycling and the Coronavirus .... is anyone riding XC ?

« Last post by BikePacker on March 28, 2020, 08:25:01 am »

Single day loops is where i am, for now.