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Hibiscus09:
I will let you know how the book is. I should get it this afternoon. What is the book called by Lance Armstrong? I saw one at Amazon that was written by him and his trainer and I considered buying it but thought I would read the women's guide to cycling first. Gene, my husband, said he didn't think Lance's training regime would be suitable for me because he thought it would be to intense for my purpose. But although I have no aspirations to be a racer or to pass up other cyclists that are ahead of me, a common competitive thing here, I do want to return to being as good as I was as a kid. Maybe thats not possible but I do want to be good. I think cycling is one of the best exercises out there. Its much more strenuous then most people realize. Guess thats why all the good cyclists, including Gene, are skinny. I was thinking that the training regime that Lance and his trainer put together would be good just as training no matter what your goals were because its a training routine. Did you enjoy Lance's book, aside from learning stuff?
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Yes, I like it! I pick it up & read it on and off (even though I've read through it once). It's called "The Lance Armstrong Performance Program -- 7 Weeks to the Perfect Ride" by Lance Armstrong and Chris Charmichael (his coach). It is more technical and suggests a heart rate monitor for training. It definitely is for the more serious cyclist. I certainly haven't progressed to that point yet (LOL) but am going to get a heart rate monitor for training after I finish this MS150.
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yeah, I get in the little gears and I feel like at any minute I'm going to start rolling backwards while I'm pedaling forwards!!!
My first bike was way too big too and I didn't know how to ride it. I was a horrible learner and I guess it bugged my dad because after the tires went flat from lack of use in the garage he convinced me that I broke my bike and we didn't have money to fix it! so wrong!
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Hibiscus09:
Hmm sounds like I should read it after this book. People talk about straps, clipless pedals, and heart monitors but I think I will probably wait until I get more proficient at riding before trying the complicated things. You know a step at a time.
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Grasshopper:
That is exactly how I feel and I thought I was the only one. Sometimes I'm pedaling so hard and moving so slow up those hills and I'm so tired and I get scared I'm going to roll right down the hill backwards. Of course, should that happen, I would never be able to control the bike or anything. I'm sure I would crash. Its nice to know someone else feels like I do. Are there many hills where you live/ride?
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LOL guys! Put on the brakes if you start going backwards!! :D If you can think of it, of course! I was trying to get my left shoe unclipped out of the pedal today & it wouldn't budge -- it never dawned on me to try the right! :D
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Hibiscus09:
I haven't actually rolled backwards but the possibility seems to be quite prevalent when your pedaling as fast as you can and your going sooooo slow that you could walk quicker up the hill.
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rolling backwards...
is it possible? I hope that's not as dumb a question as it sounds and please tell me it's not possible or my fears become real. :)
Bianche Babe - I'd like to say there are huge hills her, but not compared to the ones you see. We do have hills and we do have some good size ones, but I'm not riding them just yet. I live at the top of a hill though so if I do roll backwards all my neighbors will see!!! :)
Travel west of Raleigh at all and you're in the foot hills. Probably the same "hillwise" as you deal with, but without the altitude/lack of air issues. I am hoping to ride the blue ridge parkway next fall. It runs the ridge line of the NC and VA mountains. I have a lot of riding to do between now and then!
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Grasshopper:
I admire you for setting such a goal. The Blue Ridge Mountains are pretty steep. I used to live in Arlington, Virginia. I thought Raleigh was in South Carolina.
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Nah, right smack in the middle of NC. :)
I use to laugh at cyclist tryingt climb the mntns - now I have a goal to be one of them!!! Funny how life can change isn't it!
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Grasshopper:
You probably guessed my geography isn't to good. I have a good friend who lives in Columbia but I think that is in South Carolina. I've forgotten as we email more than we write anymore.
Yes, it is amazing how things change. I have always been a sedentary person yet here I am trying to gain skill in riding a bike and working out at the gym every day. Sometimes twice a day as I have two friends who want to work out with me. I may never lose those extra 20 lbs. but they will probably be the most in shape or physically fit 20 lbs. ever with all this exercise. Have a good weekend and enjoy your riding.
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No, you can't roll backwards. You may fall over, but you won't roll backwards.
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Double Lori - I didn't think so, but had to check! :) I asked BF the same question and he calmly looked at me and said that I should take up hiking instead or cycling. :D
B-babe - there's a lot to be said for a healthy 20 lbs!! I'm trying to drop about 20 myself. So far I'm 2 1/2 down and I'd already dropped the water weight. Clothes fit just a little differently. My problem is that I LOVE to cook and people LOVE to eat at my house. It's a slow conversion from chicken parm to grill chicken and veggies - but I'm getting them there (and me too).
Happy cycling!! OH!!!!!! I went on the ride with the two big hills I have to walk up - I didn't have to walk at all!!!! AND my over all time was up 1/2 mph. I went 5 less miles because of the heat but they were flat miles anyway, so I was shocked when I saw my time!!!
Have a great weekend!!
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That's great Grasshopper!!! Good job getting up the hills -- you have an great weekend too!
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Grasshopper:
Thats great. Congradulations. I got injured last weekend so I haven't been able to ride for a week now. But the injuries seem healed up enough now so that this week, barring any unforseen circumstances I will be able to start over and try again. That is good news about your clothes fitting better too. I haven't lost any weight and my clothes don't seem to fit any better but one of my friends said she thought I looked thinner. Guess that is what fat in shape looks like.
