Seeking Peer Support & Motivation!

thanks for the post missliz! I just had to chuckle!! :p

as for the flat saddle, I was also thinking about my sister - she does have trouble with her lower back in general (been actually laid up a few times...but then she's been much more athletic than I - rock climbing, canoing, kayaking, hiking, etc!) After I got mine, she went saddle (re)shopping and I think she now has a butterfly saddle also....

I am assuming the flat saddle thing can also apply to men? Her DH sometimes has trouble, and was actually using her old bontrager saddle - definitely not the right one for him - about 60 miles in, he ended up turning the saddle around and using it backwards!!!!:p

I think I've seen the bike you've got, with the matte black finish...are the "stickers/words" in glossy black?

It's an ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS bike! I am so happy for you!

Good luck with continuing to ride...although I am not coming back from an injury, I do remember how triumphant I felt last year finishing my first 18 mile ride! (In fact, I must have been downright jubilant - when I returned from my first century ride this past weekend, my DH was reminding me about the 18 mile mark!!!!)

Yes, glossy stickers -- very elegant bike! Of course, like I said, I put a neon orange 'kill your television' type sticker over one of them. She actually stands in my living room where most people I imagine have televsions!

I have to pipe in on the SI stuff and concur with missliz: i have misaligned knees (trouble since I was a teen with every impact type exercise I ever tried) and my legs are slightly uneven. Of course, none of this is noticeable from casual observation. I too was hit, but by a minivan, from behind, so I was thrown and landed on my tailbone... pelvis actually 'lifted' and landed again. Ever since, I manage to sprain my SI joint at least once a year, and it was always after a few months of biking. The last time was so bad it triggered the whole cycle of si inflammation --> back spasm --> si locks up --> back spasm.... and I quit riding all together for over a year and a half. I absolutely believe the saddle isn't causing the injury but exascerbating it by pushing those bones apart and am switching to a flat saddle this weekend!! It makes perfect sense to me... I can't do crunches but I am doing pilates which is quickly (remarkably quickly) rebuilding muscle strength in and around my entire pelvic core (the pilates 'clock')... Anyway, I think women are more prone to chronic SI trouble, but I think it begins with a real impact injury. Of course, as missliz knows, it's tough to find health practitioners who really understand it well. At least I've had a hard time finding them.

Took my bike out for a spin again yesterday and am feeling more and more confident with each pedal stroke... finally remembering good technique and gradually laying off the pedal-mashing!!! happy riding to all of you this weekend... even if it's just a little jaunt!!! how lucky are we to be riding? imagine all those people who haven't found this love (yet!)!

i had to chime in on the whole lower back thing. hey missliz, it never occurred to me that lower back problems could be due to uneven leg strength. i have had chronic lower back problems for a while. but lately it has been a different kind. i go to a chiropracter every 4 weeks to get an adjustment(he doesn't pop or crack my joints, just slow nerve and muscle stimulation). but still, lately, my left hip/lower back/I.T. band has been getting quite tight. also, when i turn quickly and bump into something, my back goes through a sort of spasm. it is short and acute. hurts like hell. my chiropractor says it is a defense mechanism. i am not so sure. i am trying to remember back, when i was in school, and there wasn't a lot of concentration on people with lower back problems. i too am taking pilates, helps a lot. what i have also found is my back muscles are just really weak too. my spin instructor gave me some really gentle back strengthening exercises to do. i am amazed at how weak i am back there. i sweat my brains out when i do them.
Hey NWMeg, with the way you were describing your symptoms, it makes me think i am having the same type of problem. a cycling guru i know told me to go get a deep tissue sports massage and have them at least get the knots released so it can be stretched out properly.

so Liz, what do you think? does this sound like an SI related problem?

OK, guys, I am not an expert. I just came up with a theory- after I lucked into a super excellent physical therapist with special training in SI joint rehab who loves to chat away about her work and by chance mentioned some of this stuff. The bike seat thing is working well for me so far, but I don't have too many miles on the theory yet. I just want you all to understand that I'm no expert. I went to art school not allied health.
That said, Yeah, goddess, it could well be SI joint OR a general alignment problem pulling muscles out of place and so pulling you out of whack. I had somthing very similar sounding a few years back and think SI was a factor, and that orthotics would have fixed up a lot. (Whole nother subject that.) This can get to be various kinds of joint problems over time. Go to Amazon or wherever and look at the books by Pete Egoscue, he's a functional anatomist who realigns people with stretching programs and simple exercises. I have the first book, (cheap! love Amazon) the one with a white cover with big green letters. His ideas are simple, but very interesting. Most people don't stretch enough, get all balled up and carry a loy of stress in their muscles, then the fascia gets stuck like glue and stuff doesn't move back where it should be. Good stretching work done regularly fixes a whole lot. I don't beleive in chiropracters, a good physical therapist will do you more good. Takes longer, but they educate you to look after yourself in the long term. But whatever works for you, OK?
SI joint injuries are easily determined- Know where it is? Look it up. The joint isn't actually mobile, it exists as a kind of shock absorber to protect the spine from the shock of your feet hitting the ground. It's held together by ligaments, and when those ligaments stretch they and the joint get all inflamed. The joint can go into subluxion(pop out of place) and throw you out of whack 'cause the ilia rotates a little bit. Your legs are suddenly different lengths. The ligament running over the joint will light up like a Christmas tree. Your whole butt and back can go into spasm, orthopods and runners literally call it "pain in the butt syndrome". (Runners get this a lot too.)
I bet more general lower back pain could be the beginnings of this. But again I'm no expert. See somebody about it if there's a big problem.
Warning- A lot of orthopedists don't really understand sacroiliac joint problems. Physical therapists usually do. You may just need to weasel a RX for lower back pain to get to a pt and get treatment- Which is essentially Pilates type stuff. Ole Joseph was on to a lot.Back exercises are good, but you need ab work too, make sure it gets the pelvic floor muscles. These pull the SI stuff back together, and really spices up sex, too :p ,weren't expecting that were you?

Miss Liz

no, i wasn't expecting that. but a fitting end to a wonderful post. thank you for your advice. i got the health and fitness degree quite a while ago, and many things have changed. i am trying my best to re-educate myself slowly. thank you. i will check those books out. i think you are right about a pt being better than a chiropractor. they tend to be more up to date on current problem solving.

have a great day!!!

goddess1222

Hey NW Meg and all on here...wow! - this is such an energizing thread...thanks for starting it and keeping it going.
I'm in Seattle area and have been riding for a few years and many of the posts I've read here brought back great memories and lots of laughs from my initial clipless pedal rides along with dealing with injuries, etc. I've nodded to myself while reading what Miss Liz offered...not meaning to 'dis' chiropractic but it is NOT for me...learned so much from my PT about how to work with my body instead of against it...how to train, prevent injuries and the infusion of confidence in setting goals and working to accomplish them has been an amazing journey off the bike as well. I also credit her with helping me recover, and rehab quickly from knee surgery; back on my trainer 3 days post-op and on the road in 5 weeks...absolutely zero knee issues since...after pain since I was a teenager!
So, Meg if you'd like some local ride info and encouragement, I've heard from numerous folks over the last few years that they've received that from me and it's helped; I'm glad to offer a hand up to you too. I am enjoying 'slacking' a bit in the off-season, but we have so many beautiful riding routes in our area, that when you're ready to get out and ride a bit let me know...I'll tell you where the great ride routes/bakery or pub combos are!
Tailwinds!

OK girls, I had my first spill! (And, lived to tell about it!). I am riding every other day... tonight as I was pedaling up to my house, I sort of unclipped the right foot first, and for some reason leaned left anyway and did the classic, slow-motion kerplunk! right in the street looking at my front door oh-so-close! I'm sore -- and I expect a healthy bruise on my hip and shoulder in the am, but otherwise unscathed. I knew it was inevitable -- and so I'm grateful it happened at the END of a great ride, and well... that I didn't get run over while I was down. >PHEW!< Oh, and I am confident my neighbors got quite a chuckle at this, but they're too kind to tell me they witnessed my embarrassing moment. I am happy to report that other than still being embarrassed, I am undeterred and have a good, long ride planned tomorrow!!

I'd love to hear if you all are riding -- or having good riding weather!

Note to MM_QFC: I would LOVE to ride! I commute to Seattle four days a week (2x by bike/ferry, 2x drive) and am open to coming over for a weekend ride. Do you want to email me? Please note: I am back on my bike and going forward, but very, very slowly!!:)

i met with my physical therapist a few days ago. i was tired of screwing around with the chiropractic. she asked a lot of questions, then did a flexibility test on my back, etc. i told her about the back strengthening exercises i was doing and here is what she said: my back is strong, but the joints in my lower lumbar are the problem. they are just really tight. she asked me why my chiropractor wasn't prescribing any back joint stretching for me. i told her i don't think he really knows what it is or what to do. she then put me through a treatment: wet heat for 10 min, then she bent me like a pretzel. it hurt like hell, but in a sadistic way it felt great. then she checked my flexibility again, and my range of motion increased by an easy 30%. she told me she would only have to see me 5 or 6 times to get my joints completely stretched out. i have homework to do: 2 main joint stretches 3 times a day. i will be going in for treatments once a week for 6 weeks.

after i walked out of the office, my back was loose, fluid and felt like someone had replaced it with a new back. i have never had it feel so loose and NORMAL ever!! incidentally, i cancelled my appt. with the chiropractor. now i will only see him once a month for maintenance. or who knows, maybe this "pretzel" therapy will negate my need to get an adjustment ever again. as long as i can do stretching at home to remedy the situation, i am happy.

here is her philosophy: stretch the joint first and then strengthen the joint later.

i feel such a sense of content that i now know WHAT it is. thank you all, especially missliz for encouraging me to reschedule my appt. with pt.

a bit long winded, but i wanted to share the good news with you all.

"It hurt like hell, but in a sadistic way it felt great"... :D Isn't that the way of PT, though. I'm sitting here snickering and can't wait to tell my PT that on Tuesday- she'll just howl.
I'm glad you feel better. We all forget to stretch and then get tight tight. It doesn't structure into cycling the way it does in some other sports. Well, actually I'm totally ecstatic for you- I wouldn't wish SI stuff on my worst enemy.

missliz

:( Bummed out with a cold, and the weather is exquisite here.

NW Meg, where are you on the Kitsap Penisula? I just moved to Silverdale from Austin, TX (a long story) and I'm looking for a riding partner who is my pace, which is newbie slow and the hills are killing me. I was doing up to 20 miles 3 times a week back home, but have been off the bike for awhile. If you are interested in getting together, let me know. I need some motivation!

Wren

I sent you a personal message -- did you not get it? I live in Bremerton, right next to Silverdale (bought my new bike at Silverdale Cyclery in fact!). Hills are killing me too, and I would LOVE a local riding partner who wants to practice hills. I've met a few riding buddies here at TE, but so far my schedule has made it tough to coordinate. I'm in Florida now on holiday, but I think once the new year starts I'll have Saturday and/or Sunday mornings for local, hilly rides. Do you have an email address I can send contact info to?

This is a first post for me. I live in the southeast, but we've had miserable weather here for several weeks, and I'm trying to get into better shape for a long spring ride. I'm planning to do a cross-country tour in early March (59 days on the bike, with an average of about 62 miles per day.) It will be the longest I've ever attempted, and even though it is supported, I want to be in pretty good shape for it. I've taken several spinning classes, am walking several miles a day, and am doing some stretch/aerobic classes when I can. Has anyone out there done this kind of ride, and do you have some advice for me about winter training?

NW-Meg,

Didn't get your reply for some reason. I'll have weekends available for rides as well, and then some evenings once we have more daylight. Let's try to get together soon. You can email me at work at: creativeguru@earthlink.net.

Jenn

Welcome, Since. Great screen name. Nothing trains a rider like riding- you need to be in the saddle every day, well six days a week. Spinning is good, but you need a lot of base miles, or now it's time at a certain intensity. Low intensity. Use a heart rate moniter. The pro's train on rollers in the winter, in front of the TV. You could go out in the dark and cold for a few hours a night, but are you really gonna do that?
Spin class is short and intense, that's good for some aspects, but you need rides of a minimum of two and a half hours several times a week. Rent movies, work up to it. That 2 1/2 hour mark is the training adaptation point. It's a freaky feeling, down the line you'll really feel the change in your body as you go through that time. I got this off some headcase old race mechanic and he was right- just keep the intensity low and the speed will come up over time. Your endurance will increase at the same time. It's real grunt work but it pays off. You'll need some much longer all day rides, too. Weekends in the country. 60 divided by your cruising speed, at 20 mph thats at least three hours a day in the saddle.
You are gonna look so great in short skirts! :p Well worth it.
You can start this on the trainer, but rollers are almost a perfect simulation of the road. They work everything and demand the same coordination and proprioception that outside does. Put them in a doorway to start, (catch yourself on) and you might want to use platform pedals.
Unless you have time to ride during the day- then get the heck outside. Bad weather builds character :D .

missliz

Welcome Since!
We in the great gorgeous Pacific Northwest can say plenty about "miserable weather"...it's true that we don't get much snow and our winters are fairly mild in temperature, it is our rainy season, so we get used to about 11 shades of gray on many days!
The info and recommendations from missliz are on the money...and it's totally true that the best training is to get out and ride...if you're training for a long duration (59 days right?) and high daily mileage then, get on your bike and start pedaling!...the 2.5 hr mark is true also, but I find it much easier to be when you're outside and the scenery changes, rather than in spinning, on rollers or a trainer; just my preference as I get bored easily I guess!
Are there bike clubs near you that you can tag along with? When I first started riding, I used to go to the low mileage, social level rides, then gradually worked to longer rides at a faster pace as I grew more experienced and stronger. It's also a great way to learn the good local bike routes in your area. Nothing replaces time in the saddle...and working up to being in the saddle for most of the day, then day after day...it all takes time, so plan it out, don't rush it and keep your goals in mind. If you focus on correct bike mechanics, smooth steady cadence on the pedals, and methodical buildup of miles and time in the saddle, you'll feel yourself get stronger before you know it. Not sure if you can get help from a local mechanic or someone knowledgeable in bike fit, but that's super important...if your butt hurts, it'll be discouraging and you don't want that...A friend of mine is a LBS owner and she tells women right away to pay attention to their saddle and positioning so that they don't "bruise the oh so important girly parts"...her shop mechanics always blush and grin when she starts talking about those sensitive topics, but all us girls appreciate it and learn fast how important it is to our enjoyment of this amazing sport.
Keep making it fun and brisk walking, other sports are fine for cross training, but you'll want to put a good training plan in place to follow, so you can enjoy your 'goal' ride experience successfully and safely. Good luck!

Hey Wren - welcome to the Northwest and you've just come from the Land of Lance - wow!
I'm up in Edmonds, just north of Seattle, but have done a few rides in the Bremerton area. Yeah, anytime you're out on the peninsula or on 1 of the islands, you should expect hills...there are a couple of hills on a ride out of Silverdale I did in 2001...that were killer...I heard plenty of moaning, cursing ( along with my own!) and more from even the gnarliest riders as we climbed up out of DeWatto and then Tahuya (think I got the spelling right)...anyway, they're both south of you, before we headed back along the nice flat scenic shore road...it was part of a century route of the well-supported ride called the Triple Trident ride in June. Each route had an 11 mile loop thru the Bangor submarine base to make it a very unique ride for sure.
There are plenty of gorgeous routes all over the Puget Sound/Western WA area, so let me know if you're interested in riding sometime and it'll be fun to encourage you on!

Hello all! My thanks to MissLiz and MM for the good advice. It certainly reinforces what my own limited experience has taught me, that those miles outside are invaluable. Several years I rode throughout the winter, then had a terrific cycling spring and summer. The years I put the bike away I never quite got the cadence and pleasure back - it all seemed like an uphill struggle for most of the riding season. So, sold - I'm out'a here, into the crud. Anyway, I decided some years ago that if I'd been born a race horse, I'd be a "mudder", one who likes the sloppy weather. I do appreciate the good gear that is available to keep one warm and dry, as I find that it helps considerably.

I also am a believer in good frame fit. I'm about 5'3" with short legs. When I bought a road bike 12 years ago, I was in between the frame sizes that Terry made, and decided I'd rather have the larger bike. (I actually thought that 2 wheels the same size might be important, easier to fix flats, etc.) While I loved the bike and it served me well, I should have gotten the smaller frame. The new Terry that I bought several months ago (correct small size) has almost eliminated the wrist and hand pain that has plagued me for most of my riding hours. I do think that rollers will help my balance, if I can find some to work with.

I appreciate the encouragement you offer. Again, thanks!

Hey Since, didn't want you to think that I was urging you to get out there and ride in muck and pouring rain, cold temps every day or push it at this point at all...it's gotta be part of your program so that you can set yourself up for success and always, ALWAYS have fun!
I'm enjoying the holiday off-season from training and my PT/coach usually starts nudging me in January. So, I suggest (only suggest, but it's worked for me): make a plan and keep your goal in sight: use your target ride start date, total mileage and endurance (how many consistent days you've got to get in that saddle and ride 'x' number of miles), then make a reverse timeline to build up in all areas: start off easy and do as missliz recommends...just focusing on time on the road, in the saddle, pedaling with a nice, smooth steady cadence adding time and mileage each week...use the 10% rule: don't increase your weekly mileage or miles per ride by more than 10% each week...that way you build endurance, strength, and keep concentrating your riding form. I assume you want to enjoy the heck out of the whole ride experience, and get through both training and the ride itself, safely and without any injuries at all. Strength training/weights in the off-season make a big difference when you get out there on your bike in the Spring months and start tackling longer rides with tougher hills too.
When it rains, use a skull cap that you can wear under your helmet (you always use a brain bucket, right?!) that covers your ears, a waterproof, breathable jacket (Lemond has one with good reflector stripes as does Burley), layers, tights that have a good front of the leg wind/rain protection and even booties...it's really icky when your feet are cold AND wet...full finger gloves should complete this trendy ensemble...happy trails!

I'm totally intrigued, welcome MM_QFC!, so what does it mean? Are you the rider formerly known as Hey, Girlie? :p But training all year is important, and I suggested the rollers because commitment vs misery is often a lose lose struggle. I've been eyeing rollers from PerformanceBike or Nashbar for years, but must confess I never bought them 'cause on the Gulf coast we can find lovely days all "winter" (term means fewer mosquitoes here). I use a mountain bike with slicks at night on the street, but I know people who do mindless TV time on the rollers instead of the couch and my god are they fit! You can really work on spin technique and keep up with ER. I'm coming back from three years of severe injury and totally envy you Since, I want to make the Great Adventure Ride and have a ways to go before I ride 60 miles again.
So where are you riding Since? Sounds like a ride across a continent, how fabulous!
For years, all my training, weights and various sports, then a lot of rehab, was written down and put in a binder from the drugstore. I knew where I'd been, and the days work was there waiting to be checked off. Use paper in festive colors, it helps, and those gridded charts from the weight room are good. This way, you set up a program and then don't have to think about it on a daily basis, just show up and do it. So much easier! Also, you can write in exchanges, for days when you just can't deal with whatever. If another spin class is going to make you implode, go to a skating rink and be aerobic for that 50 minutes but get a good laugh out of it. Hike or ski or whatever sometimes, just get that basic aerobic goal met but avoid the boredom. Crosstrain. Going dancing counts as long as you don't get plastered and you do break a sweat.
One last thing- this is creepy. You need weight lifting or weight bearing work. The anti boredom crosstraining will probably do. All riding and nothing else can give you "bird bones" and it's a really freaky feeling. I got it, and I'm built like a cement bunker. The body can adapt to cycling by ditching bone mass to lighten the load and not only will this screw you up in old age, if you fall you break those weaker bones easily. You can tell if you ever get there, like I said it's creepy. Those really scrawny guys you see who only go to work and ride- not racers with lots of muscle mass- they have this. Some people are more prone than others. Do some basic weights after spin class, you'll be fine. I just mention it because you will be in hard training down the line (a state of grace!) and you need to know this stuff. Once you get in shape for this tour you'll be doing more events, right?:D

Merry Christmas, girls!

missliz

miss liz, your inspiration is phenomenal.

Uh, no, my ability to kick but at Trivial Pursuit is phenominal. This is all trivia, mostly learned from a really first class bike shop staff and reading cycling magazines. (Or, bike porn as it's called :p) But thank you anyway sweetie:D . I appreciate a compliment.
So how is your back? Did all the stretching make you a happier rider/person? I've been a total PT slug, had a sinus thing lately and I'm trying to hit the floor every morning again. A hundred crunchies with coffee isn't really that hard but makes me feel so accomplished. It's hard to keep up though, and that's the difference between us and the Olympic team. Compulsive crunchies and back stretches every morning.

Merry Christmas

missliz

Hello all! I'm riding the WomanTours Cross Country (lower tier, San Diego - St. Augustine) ride. It'll be a trip of about 59 days, and I'm psyched! I have done a lot of things for the wrong reason, but I think this is for the right one - I just want to do it. Two years ago I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Life as I knew it seemed to stop so abruptly, and the boring part of serving the illness set in. I had 9 surgeries within a 12 month period, some huge, some small, but I do think that the body paid a price each time. Chemo for 6 months, which I had a particularly hard time with, was the worst of the experience. When I finally felt like moving my body through space again, either walking or on a bike, I was a rank beginner, with dreadful balance and almost no stamina. I'm getting better each day, and I do see real gains as I work on my "new" body. I plan to have a small "2-year anniversary" party somewhere in Texas! For so many reasons, this trip is like the mountain; it's there, and I need to do the ride. I know that there will not be a better time to do it, and it is giving me a purpose to stretch for. I just learned to ride a bike about 14 years ago, and found that despite the falls, it was the most fun I'd had since I was 8 years old! I appreciate all the tips, and I can hear the guidance better from you sisters. (When my sons wanted to take charge of my training, they got very analytical and laid out a logical training program. I promptly got very resistant and turned off. They are alarmed, thinking I plan to just go out and "wing" it). So I want you to know that I'm writing down all your tips in a brightly covered journal, and I'll be putting tick marks beside them. And yes, I plan to enjoy the hell out of this ride. I've made a number of changes in my life these last 2 years. Along with letting go most of the small stuff, I 'm having more fun. I'm saying "No" to a lot of things, and "Yes, yes" to a few others. And I sure do appreciate all the other women who make a difference in my life!

Hello again! I may not have mentioned that I'm riding this ride as an awareness and fundraiser for breast cancer research through the National Breast Cancer Coalition Research Fund. There is a great ad that runs on TV every so often, showing a little girl, with the tag line, "Breast cancer is one thing she won't have to worry about. It will be conquered in her lifetime." I feel pretty motivated to be part of the solution to the problem, which affects us all, with the numbers really working against us as we get older.

I was sick for 4 years, and saw my death coming. Then I saw Leigh Donovan on a MT bike at Moab on TV and she was having more fun than me so I fired those doctors and got a bike. Then I got well. Medication dependent but well.
My new docs are all jocks, we all get along better.
Are we whaling on you with too much info too soon? Feel free to ask for clarification. There's a book at Amazon on training for long distance and endurance touring that might be better organized and usefull. I'll have to go fetch the name and post later, it's in my wishlist. I totally understand about guys and having them tell you what to do, but you don't need a super rigid program, you just need to understand basic conditioning principles and know you need to work out most days, then later almost every day. Anybody can ride 60 miles; it's riding 60 miles day after day that demands hard training. Recovery. You can train your self to make faster better recovery. And after what you've been through pushing the body may be the best thing. Be as alive as possible. Look at Lance, his fitness is what pulled him through his illness.
Covert Bailey wrote a series of books called "Fit or Fat", and he did TV shows for PBS. His explanations of metabolism and training adaptation are excellent and reletively easy to understand. He actually did the research too, he's a PhD in biochemistry who wondered one day why he suddenly had a roll around his middle and went into the lab to find out. Your public library may have the shows on tape, look for the latest editions of the books. He kept revising as the research roared ahead. Easy read, super usefull info. for any training program.

missliz

hello missliz. hello ladies. the PT is going good. i had my second appt. last thursday and have another this friday. it is a little better. each appt. she is giving me more homework to do. now, every hour i have to do a sort of back bend in addition to my regular back stretches 3 times a day. she does a little deep tissue massage first to get the joints and muscles flooded so they respond to the "pretzel bending". my right butt was soooo tight i couldn't believe it. she had to get her elbow into it to get deeper. it almost brought tears to my eyes. but it felt great. and i told her so. i haven't had the acute pain since i have been doing the "every hour" stretches. i am amazed at how tight i get and how fast it happens. i just wish i could learn how to do the "pretzel" thing at home so i could feel that deep stretch every day. she is one strong lady. and a jock like the rest of us. she has a real affinity for athletes all shapes and sizes.

all is good. but i am sad because i haven't been out on the bike in two weeks. but spin class is a great alternative. i always believe, even if the weather is bad, staying in shape is most important.

my birthday is sunday the 22nd. i WILL be on the bike that day for sure. the "princess" gets to do whatever i want that day. well, it's always that way every other day too. heee, heeee

:p Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you!
All prance around and worship the Goddess with the sore butt-
Happy birthday to you!

Hope you get impressive jewelry:D !

missliz

thank you fellow goddess!

early Happy Birthday greetings from sunny Seattle too, Goddess!

thank you MM QFC. i trust you have had a reprieve from the rain as we have had down here in portland.

you bet, goddess and, while it's a chillier ride, it's nice and dry...enjoy!

Total couch slug lately- Xmas food and drink, and feet ache from high heels. I can wear real shoes again! and of course totally overindulged in the evening sandal strut. Must ride. Must drag self to gym. Must purge self of red and green M&M toxins.
Bleah.

Happy New Year, Ladies. Mardi Gras is coming...

missliz

Just wanted to touch base with you all and say that I'm riding more than ever! Despite a few failed attempts at riding with others (I'm working on it!), I have been riding pretty consistently and am feeling better than ever. I'm keeping up with pilates, and it's having an amazing impact. Two months on a bike now totally injury-free!!!!! My goal w/ pilates was to strengthen my core, and a really nice side effect seems to be a firmer figure there in the middle. Wihoo!
And I am learning (the hard way) all the ins and outs of wet weather riding....
I hope you are all finding winter biking opportunities... I'd love to hear about your adventures in the wind, water, snow and cold! And if you have a recommendation for really waterproof gloves that fit small hands (I usually have to wear kid's gloves), please toss it my way.

Happy New Year!!!

HI ladies. I am sitting here tonight while my little boy catches up on homework, making the most of my time reading your posts filled with humor, support, and inspiration. I love it. This is where I want to be.

I started a thread today (very first one) about "your first commute". Don't know how it will go over, but it's of interest to me to know who does try to get to work this way.

I started cycling for fun with my son about 2 yrs ago when he was 8. His routine was to ask me if I wanted to go for a ride - to which I would grudgingly agree. By the end of summer though, I was hooked. Jeezle Peets, I didn't get how or when to even shift gears properly that first summer. My first goal was to get up Laker Hill - probably the shortest but steepest little hill in my area. Took me another year, but I did it! Then I set my sights on getting to work under my own power. My first flight I was soooo scared I almost talked myself out of it. But my husband and son pushed me out the door and that was it. I can't recall right now the woman on this thread who rode to work and was just so exhilerated - I just thought "that's me, too!"

Thanks ladies for being such great support to one another. I know I am the only fish in the pond where I live-anybody who knows I ride thinks I'm more than a bit crazy to be out on a bike on the road. It's good to be in your company.

Night all.
Hillnelly

I'm laughing my tail off- Hillnelly may be the best bike screen name I've seen in a long time. I totally understand the hillnelly state of being too, I'm there as well. It gets better, you'll attain full hill warrior princess status quicker than you think.
It's Mardi Gras here in New Orleans, where I was raised on "Dum vivamus vivamus" (Knights of Momus, God of night and satire. Or over the hill drunken frat boys, depending on how your husband is behaving). Is the -os ending a gender thing? I always wanted to take Latin. If that's the female gender spelling I need to fix it on Miss Bike.
If you need technique help, like struggling up those little hills, just ask, we're here for you. Cycling is one of the nice little enclaves where girls can get ancient and still look normal in day-glo spandex. Treasure it.

missliz

Dear Meg,

Congradulations and welcome to the best sport in the world!!! After a 17-year lapse, I, too, am starting to ride again. I bought a new mountain bike at the end of last summer and started weight training in December, looking forward to riding a lot this year. I'm in NYC, which has challenges all it's own, but I share your enthusasim and would enjoy having an "e-ride-buddy" to yak with!


What are you doing to train? I, as mentioned, have been weight training and working on a treadmill to get stronger and into better shape (am overweight). I know this is working well because on a warm day here a few weeks ago I got on my bike and ZOOOMMMED. 7.2 miles flew by. My first few rides on my new mt. bike I noticed the road drag difference from my old road bike; after a weeks of training, on this day it just didn't seem to be there at all - I felt like a kid - "glee" is a new addition to my vocab. both verbal and emotional!

Tell me about your plans.

looking forward to it all,
'calla
Iron Horse warrior

Dear Missliz,

thanks for the welcome. That Latin verse - better keep what's on your bike as it is, cuz I don't know about the gender thing.....Didn't realize it tied in to Mardi Gras. By the way, if I knew any French I'd tell you "let the good times roll" for the big day tomorrow.

Today it hit the 40s. I can feel Spring a'comin- my first commute of the year will be soon!

Hillnelly

Dear Ironhorse,

Did you mean to send this one to me ? Since it says Meg, I didn't want to get in the way of someone else, but I got it in my email, so hope it's right!
I've been training this Fall/Winter with Pilates videos and strength training with free weights here at home. Got my bike on an indoor trainer and I do the CTS training video (60min)4-5 days a week and the Spinervals "Mental Toughness" (90min)once a week (have to say, I'm not consistently doing the 90 min every week). If you could see where all this takes place, you'd laugh.
I have a tiny extra bedroom where my bike is and my weights are tight against the wall. I have to take my little tv out into the living room to have enough room to stretch with the Pilates. The Pilates has been the greatest addition . The focus on breathing and deliberate movement is great. I don't work up a sweat with this, but I know I'm toning and increasing flexibility. I got my videos for this from collagevideo.com.

Yep, this is the best sport in the world. Glad to be sharing and encouraging along with you.

Stay in the ol' saddle as often as you can, because Spring will be here and you'll want to be able to charge right out of the gate.

hillnelly



:)

Dum vivimos, vivamos!

The ending should be mus. Latin is conjugated and mus is the first person plural ending (we.) For verbs in Latin it doesn't matter what the gender is, but it does for nouns.

Guess what I majored in? Latin! I get to use it a lot in my fifth grade class. ;)

It's a great tag line.

Have a good day.

Veronica

Whew, it is spelled right on the bike. The guys who make Carnival happen here were all classics majors, they read in the original Greek and Latin so I should have known to trust what's written on the tacky plastic beads. I just thought that if there was a female gender version that's what should be written on my seat stays. And the French is "Laissez les bon temps roulez", wich is the name of an excellent fun bar here if you ever make it down.
It's 1:14 AM, so Mardi Gras has begun :D ! I should sleep. Long day cruising the streets as a glittering Dragonfly ahead.

missliz