On the road

As you know having to get off and walk the crest of the hill is very
humiliating, even though in this case it wasn't due to conditioning or
ability. Plus, at the crest the road continues to go uphill but at a
gentle
grade, and that's where I like to think I get my best training effect,
trying to continue to crank when I'm breathing hard and keeping up the
effort and discipline. Of course walking 50 yards breathing returned to
normal and I lost all that good stress! ;-

Those who know me know I love to climb big, nasty hills. Those who know me
really well know that I've also been seen having to take a break now & then
and even (gasp!) walk for a bit. Heavens! It's kind of strange; seems like
there's more stigma against walking up a hill for a bit than there is to
simply stop and take a rest. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense when you
think about it.

Of course, such revelations didn't come to me at a younger age. Rather, it
was on Mont Ventoux, during the l'etape du tour (2001), when I found myself
not only running out of gas but had my legs cramp up severely. So I had to
stop for a bit, but realized that my legs felt better (the cramps lessened)
if I continued to walk up the hill. So, that's exactly what I did... and at
a speed not much different from those who were riding.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Badger_South wrote in message

[...]
I actually hate it when cars stay well back and
refuse to pass. I can never tell what they're thinking,
[...]



Sometimes they are just checking out your gear and apparel.

On 25 Sep 2004 08:14:51 -0700, (H) wrote:

Badger_South wrote in message

[...]
I actually hate it when cars stay well back and
refuse to pass. I can never tell what they're thinking,
[...]



Sometimes they are just checking out your gear and apparel.

Yeah, reall funny.

-B

On 24 Sep 2004 16:14:04 -0700, (gds) wrote:

This was not a
matter of technical information seeking -which is a good thing- but
rather an egotistical exersize of defining a situation in which you
could assert your rights as a cyclist. I'd argue it is the self
absorbed trait that has you accusing motorists of being morons in this
thread. You need to assert your superiority.

My suggestion- use all this anger energy to ride more. You'll feel
better as a result and will become more inner directed and you will
not have to worry so much about what everyone else is doing.

That's a tip from Dr. Phil :-)

OK, I don't really understand what you're saying, but I'm willing to
listen.

I don't really have 'anger' as such against motorists, and I am using the
'take the road as needed' strategy to assert myself. The few times I've
confronted motorists, maybe once or twice, I've been calm and have ended
the convo with 'have a nice day' and I have -not- tried to use physical
violence.

I've even counseled others on the ng to 'have no reaction' and quoted from
Chris Carmichael's book about how even yelling back or flipping off the
motorists enables that behavior.

The only reason I asked about using a follow car was b/c I'm trying very
hard to expand my route and find some more beginner's routes, and I
recalled suddenly how the RAAM guys do it, but had doubts, so I asked. I'm
sorry I had that thought and sorry I posted the question.

In addition, I'm trying to work up to joining the local triathlon club on
their rides and have worked hard at getting my climbing legs back. Further
I go to Va Beach and ride there on the flats at speed and have improved my
ability further. It's really an attempt just to get to the 'beginner's
level' so I can ride the hills without fear, and I'm just about there. I do
ride 100-120 miles per week, and I'm trying to increase the quality and
quantity of that, and I ride -every- day, rain or shine. So I guess I'm
what I can, and trying to be consistent, not skipping workouts, and I'm
enjoying the bike.

I don't know if I have 'religious zeal', but I'll introspect on that, and I
don't wish to impose that on others - if I have, apologies. Be aware that
just posting things can make them seem like they have more importance than
they do in one's life. Perhaps I shouldn't be so open and keep more stuff
to myself, as a random thought.

Thanks for the insights and comments.

-B

On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 06:48:03 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:

As you know having to get off and walk the crest of the hill is very
humiliating, even though in this case it wasn't due to conditioning or
ability. Plus, at the crest the road continues to go uphill but at a
gentle
grade, and that's where I like to think I get my best training effect,
trying to continue to crank when I'm breathing hard and keeping up the
effort and discipline. Of course walking 50 yards breathing returned to
normal and I lost all that good stress! ;-

Those who know me know I love to climb big, nasty hills. Those who know me
really well know that I've also been seen having to take a break now & then
and even (gasp!) walk for a bit. Heavens! It's kind of strange; seems like
there's more stigma against walking up a hill for a bit than there is to
simply stop and take a rest. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense when you
think about it.

Yeah, I agree it's almost pathological to feel embarrassed by walking the
hill, and I believe that once I get some minimal climbing legs that feeling
will diminish. I've always been a good middle-of-the pack athlete, running,
swimming and in my youth, biking. So it's just that I'm trying to be 'hard'
on myself, to acquire discipline and to yell at myself 'don't quit'. I'm
just not used to not being -able- to do even minimal riding and it's
frustrating.

Some of it is a rail against old age, and I'm very happy to have found an
activity where you can continue to improve after age 50, even if you start
at a low level. I used to dream about being able to ride the small hills in
my neighborhood and never thought I'd be doing it in less than a year.

Of course, such revelations didn't come to me at a younger age. Rather, it
was on Mont Ventoux, during the l'etape du tour (2001), when I found myself
not only running out of gas but had my legs cramp up severely. So I had to
stop for a bit, but realized that my legs felt better (the cramps lessened)
if I continued to walk up the hill. So, that's exactly what I did... and at
a speed not much different from those who were riding.

Well, just being 'in the alps' means you're good-enough, and a worthy
biker, so anyone seeing you wouldn't say 'oh he must be recoving from heart
surgery, that's why he's walking', heh. (not to belabor that example).
Again, it's not so much what others think, but fighting my own inner demons
and the urge to quit.

Best,

-B


--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 21:44:50 GMT, wrote:

Tom Keats writes:

As you know having to get off and walk the crest of the hill is
very humiliating

No, it isn't. It's an option open to any rider who feels like
getting off and walking. If any newbie who is still developing
their bike legs-&-lungs takes on a hill and finds they've bitten off
a little more than they could chew, I'd like for them to know
there's no shame in doing as much as they could and then deciding
they don't have to kill themselves. Next time will be better, and
the time after that, better still.

I guess it all depends on how big an airfoil and number of exhaust
pipes the rider has on his car, on whether such bicycling strictures
apply. It may not be apparent, but appearance isn't everything and in
recreation it rates at the bottom of the list. I hope not all new
bicyclists are peacocks.

Yeah, I have some vanity, but not sure why you'd say peacocks? It's not a
'I'm better than you' feeling, but a 'trying to measure up' feeling.

Sometimes, as in the situation you describe, having to get off and
walk because of circumstances beyond our control can be an annoying
inconvenience, but I wouldn't call it 'humiliating', any time.

I agree, and who cares? Some folks have less than cigarette paper
thin skin.

It's an inner embarrassment, but I guess I am sensitive to criticism. Wish
it weren't so. It's not something that I'm happy about. I'm working on it.

Best,

-B

Jobst Brandt

Subject: On the road
From: Badger_South

As you know having to get off and walk the crest of the hill is very
humiliating, even though in this case it wasn't due to conditioning or
ability.

Sure it was.

On 25 Sep 2004 16:21:19 GMT, (Fx199) wrote:

Subject: On the road
From: Badger_South

As you know having to get off and walk the crest of the hill is very
humiliating, even though in this case it wasn't due to conditioning or
ability.

Sure it was.

Uh, did you read the message. The road was completely blocked by trucks.
I've ridden this hill many times in 38x22 and never had a problem. I got
off and walked for safety reasons, and b/c there was no clear road to ride.

Maybe you're just trying to be sarcastic, though, or saying I should have
jumped the curb and ridden in the grass. I just didn't think about that as
an option.

-B

"Badger_South" wrote

Guess I should have said 'I felt humiliated', which is what I felt, right
or wrong, and was hoping nobody saw me doing that. Uh, imagine that
someone
did see me and not the truck problem, then started jeering. I would feel
embarassed and feel the need to explain. I'm from the 'no pain, no gain'
school, so, yeah, YMMV. ;-)

Us ROGs are sensitive about such things, as we battle father time, and
vanity, haha.

Dude, you so need to get over yourself. Life is more than a workout, and
nobody finds anybody else's workout even slightly interesting. The worst
thing is that if you feel inferior for having to walk a hill, the flip side
is feeling superior when you don't & somebody else does. The world doesn't
need any more superior-feeling cyclists, trust me. As Jobst (& many others)
says: just ride the bike.

Again, it's not so much what others think, but fighting my own inner
demons and the urge to quit.

You have the right attitude.

You are coming along just fine, I admire you.

--

_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________
------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------
in.edu__________