the guy factor

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08-21-2006, 07:07 AM
mimitabby

the guy factor

Yesterday we planned a ride in the earlly afternoon, despite the fact that it was getting warm fast. (temperature reached 85 degrees that afternoon)

When discussing the ride, i suggested the ride be shorter, up to 20 miles I said because we had just done a really fast paced (for me) ride the day before.

dh came up with 25 miles, including a bunch of hills. normally hills don't scare me too much but i was stiff and sore from the day before and did i say it was getting warm out?
we left the house at 130pm, when it was already quite warm and the rays of the sun rather piercing. He changed the itinerary with choices for me to make,
i made the one on the nicest roads and also sort of flattish.
We went along at a great clip right off the bat, we did almost 2 miles at 19mph on a road where cars go really fast (above 60, speedlimit i think is 50)
but on weekends, it is almost abandoned. I still wanted off there fast. by the time we got off the highway onto the bike trail (about 5 miles) i was feeling a bit peaked, so when dh said, hey your blinking light isn't on i stopped in the shade and turned it on. (got off bike)
at mile 11 I took advantage of a bathroom, I was so hot. all of me was wet, and I put my wrists under the faucet and ran cold(ish) water on them
and washed my face. While i did this, dh was doing laps around the park we were in. (he ended up with 1.5 more miles than me!)
We ended up riding 24 miles, and I took a cople more mini breaks in the shade.
He was rather uptight about all my stops, but when my face looks like a beet
and it's not sunburn, it seems like a signal for me to slow down!
(we did slow down, but probably not enough)
well,after all that fussing, when we got to my mother's house, who do you suppose it was that reclined and was half asleep for the next two hours?
ME? no.. HIM.
So here i was feeling guilty because i was not fast enough; and taking breaks, ( "holding him back" ) and he's the one horizontal and wasted.
When we got there, i suggested that he COULD go on and ride another 20 miles... he didn't want to for some reason!
08-21-2006, 07:30 AM
DebW

Well, there are always solo rides...
08-21-2006, 07:33 AM
mimitabby

I didn't mean to say his company wasn't welcomed, (heck, he has a map in his head!)
I just meant, they act like it's never too hot, too high, too fast or too hard.
Why can't they just be honest with themselves?
(on the other hand, if it's cold and rainy; he wimps out faster than i do!)
08-21-2006, 07:44 AM
Geonz

Right, it's that perception thing.

I do believe it's embedded pretty deeply in the wiring and has nothing to do with logic, reasoning and maybe even experience.

So they need us to keep 'em from going too
far... and we need them to push when we need to :-)
08-21-2006, 07:57 AM
mimitabby

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geonz

Right, it's that perception thing.

I do believe it's embedded pretty deeply in the wiring and has nothing to do with logic, reasoning and maybe even experience.

So they need us to keep 'em from going too
far... and we need them to push when we need to :-)

Geonz, i think you're right. although a part of me wanted to ride yesterday (and i knew i needed to) left to my own devices, i would have just wasted time until it was too late to ride and i could just drive instead..because wahhhhhhhh i was too hot.
08-21-2006, 08:06 AM
caligurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimitabby

. (temperature reached 85 degrees that afternoon)

reached? our mornings start at 85 and go up from there! :eek:
08-21-2006, 08:13 AM
Cassandra_Cain

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimitabby

I didn't mean to say his company wasn't welcomed, (heck, he has a map in his head!)
I just meant, they act like it's never too hot, too high, too fast or too hard.
Why can't they just be honest with themselves?
(on the other hand, if it's cold and rainy; he wimps out faster than i do!)

It must be the testosterone....you know, never lost, never hot, never slow, er, well until they get sick. Then it is pure waaaahhhh :D
08-21-2006, 08:14 AM
mimitabby

Quote:

Originally Posted by caligurl

reached? our mornings start at 85 and go up from there! :eek:

oh, i'm sorry i forgot to put in the disclaimer about how here in Seattle most of us say it is a hot day if the temperature climbs above 75!

so for us, 85 is BROILING.:o :o :o :p :p :p
:cool:
08-21-2006, 08:22 AM
caligurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimitabby

oh, i'm sorry i forgot to put in the disclaimer about how here in Seattle most of us say it is a hot day if the temperature climbs above 75!

so for us, 85 is BROILING.:o :o :o :p :p :p
:cool:

lol! ok! disclaimer noted! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/217.gif
08-21-2006, 08:23 AM
caligurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassandra_Cain

..........well until they get sick. Then it is pure waaaahhhh :D

http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/113.gif
08-21-2006, 08:56 AM
Crankin

Well, my husband does his fair share of complaining and we often say we have been married so long, we both wimp out and/or complain about the same conditions before we know the other one feels the same way. But, he can deal with riding in the heat better than me. I've really acclimated myself to it much more this year, but it does take more out of you. We both don't like riding in very cold weather and sometimes make big plans to go out in the late fall or early season and scrap them for less mileage or doing another outdoor activity where wind chill isn't so much of a factor. His limit used to be 28 and now it's about the same as mine, around 40. We do mountain bike in temps down to the 30s, since I, at least am not going very fast!
08-21-2006, 09:05 AM
mimitabby

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robyn Maislin

. His limit used to be 28 and now it's about the same as mine, around 40. We do mountain bike in temps down to the 30s, since I, at least am not going very fast!

do you mean, a wind chill of 28???????
08-21-2006, 09:12 AM
chickwhorips

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassandra_Cain

It must be the testosterone....you know, never lost, never hot, never slow, er, well until they get sick. Then it is pure waaaahhhh :D

maybe he had a little extra in his breakfast.
08-21-2006, 10:38 AM
bikerbarb

My situation is very different. I've worked on turning my husband into a biker.

Last year we were biking in Vermont and after climbing a rather long hill, I was waiting at the top for him and saw another woman crest the hill from the other side and stop as well. Then, after a while a man caught up to join her...and then my husband caught up to join me. We never spoke, but it occurred to me that it really ran against stereotype.

He got a new bike this year, a nice, lightweight road bike. He's done pretty well so far, though he did end up in the hospital on one ride at mile 57 of a metric century. It was hot and the rest stops were pathetic. Kept him overnight, rehydrated him by i.v. and then get this--gave him a stress test the next day!

Last week we climbed to Independence Pass at 12,026 feet out of Aspen Colorado. He has to show everyone the pictures, he's so amazed with himself. I just smile.
08-21-2006, 10:46 AM
KSH

HA! HA! He wore himself out!

Yea, around here... Dallas, TX, I have been riding in 100F degree weather for about 2 months now... I know what heat does to a person! Gotta take a nap after my rides (I typically do 30-50 miles a ride).
08-21-2006, 10:54 AM
DDH

I think here in central TX we are going on our 3rd straight week of 100 and up in the afternoons. It's crazy. I try to ride early in the morning when it is only 85 or so if I am going to ride. Although if DH wants to ride we have to go in the evenings, last night I watched the temp so we could go ride. The last time I checked at 7:30 pm it was still 98 degrees. I told DH forget it. We had ridden the day before at like 5 while it was still over 100. I wasn't doing that 2 days in a row. LOL
08-21-2006, 11:47 AM
mimitabby

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDH

I think here in central TX we are going on our 3rd straight week of 100 and up in the afternoons. It's crazy. I try to ride early in the morning when it is only 85 or so if I am going to ride. Although if DH wants to ride we have to go in the evenings, last night I watched the temp so we could go ride. The last time I checked at 7:30 pm it was still 98 degrees. I told DH forget it. We had ridden the day before at like 5 while it was still over 100. I wasn't doing that 2 days in a row. LOL

that kind of heat has GOT to take it's toll on you!
08-21-2006, 11:58 AM
Crankin

I was talking about regular temps, not factoring in the wind chill. It usually isn't that windy here in the fall, but early spring is. What I meant was that it can be 45 degrees out and not really windy, but when you are cycling at 15-25 mph (or at any speed), it feels a lot colder than when you are snow shoeing, hiking, running, x country skiing at a much slower speed.
08-21-2006, 02:40 PM
KSH

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDH

I think here in central TX we are going on our 3rd straight week of 100 and up in the afternoons. It's crazy. I try to ride early in the morning when it is only 85 or so if I am going to ride. Although if DH wants to ride we have to go in the evenings, last night I watched the temp so we could go ride. The last time I checked at 7:30 pm it was still 98 degrees. I told DH forget it. We had ridden the day before at like 5 while it was still over 100. I wasn't doing that 2 days in a row. LOL

I hear ya lady!

I have been riding in the 100F degree heat though, to get ready for Hotter Than Hell this coming weekend! It has been great training!

What is really miserable is RUNNING in this stuff! I wait until 8:00 PM, but it's still 98 (like you said). So, I just have to go do it, and suffer for about 40 minutes.
08-21-2006, 03:15 PM
Kathi

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerbarb

My situation is very different. I've worked on turning my husband into a biker.

Last year we were biking in Vermont and after climbing a rather long hill, I was waiting at the top for him and saw another woman crest the hill from the other side and stop as well. Then, after a while a man caught up to join her...and then my husband caught up to join me. We never spoke, but it occurred to me that it really ran against stereotype.

He got a new bike this year, a nice, lightweight road bike. He's done pretty well so far, though he did end up in the hospital on one ride at mile 57 of a metric century. It was hot and the rest stops were pathetic. Kept him overnight, rehydrated him by i.v. and then get this--gave him a stress test the next day!

Last week we climbed to Independence Pass at 12,026 feet out of Aspen Colorado. He has to show everyone the pictures, he's so amazed with himself. I just smile.

Independence Pass! Wow! How was it to ride? we drove up it a couple of weeks ago and was wondering what it's like on a bike.

I've done Vail Pass a few times but that's an easy one.
08-22-2006, 08:45 AM
HappyAnika

I just wanted to add that my DH is also out there flying up hills saying how great he feels on the road, then the last two weekends he's ended up on the couch napping and doing nothing the rest of the day because he is too tired. Then I get stuck with laundry and shopping and cooking, if it weren't for me and my pokey riding he'd be starving and naked! :rolleyes:

Bikerbarb: Independence Pass!!! My car struggles up that, my legs are screaming at me just thinking about riding up it. Beautiful area though, I'm sure you were able to appreciate the scenery even more being outside.
08-22-2006, 08:58 AM
7rider

Holy Smokes!!!!!!
When did you ladies start riding with my DH?????? :eek:
While I'm not a "crack o' dawn" rider like a friend of mine, I prefer to do my weekend rides starting at aruond 7 or 8 a.m. to avoid the heat. DH would leave at 10 a.m. if he had his way, spending the earlier part of the a.m. drinking coffee, looking out the window and doing who-knows-what else.
Then, after we finish our ride, he's out like a light on the couch and I'm doing laundry, going grocery shopping, cleaning the house, doing yardwork, whatever.
Geez!
08-22-2006, 09:17 AM
mimitabby

Well, my husband is the one who thinks we ought to leave the house when it's still dark and cold. I am the one more likely to want to stay in bed until sunrise.
When he starts lounging, reading the paper, having a 3rd coffee, i know we're not going anywhere unless I am proactive.
and yes, if it wasn't for me, the plants would die (that he planted) the dishes, the laundry, etc, etc.. all those all day rides he likes to do; he's finding that including me means that LESS gets done at home. hmmm.
08-22-2006, 09:43 AM
chickwhorips

what would these men do without us in their lives?

mine would be eating off dirty dishes, wearing dirty clothes and starving. at least he eats my cooking, so i can't complain there. though i think i'm getting better.
08-22-2006, 09:44 AM
BleeckerSt_Girl

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyAnika

if it weren't for me and my pokey riding he'd be starving and naked!

Sometimes I think every single one of us would be better human beings if we spent a little time starving and naked.
08-22-2006, 09:56 AM
Bad JuJu

In 2004, after Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf Coast, my DH was home alone for about three weeks, while I cared for my elderly father elsewhere. When I finally came home, it looked like bears had been living there--well, one big, sloppy bear anyway. In his defense, he'd had no water for a week and no power for two weeks, but still....:rolleyes:
08-22-2006, 11:14 AM
bikerbarb

Independence pass wasn't as hard as you might think. Back home here in Pittsburgh, I was biking up a long hill--the same 6 miles/hr and thinking, yes, just this road ten times! There are steeper grades here. The important thing was to pace myself and not use up my reserves. It was surprising the thin air didn't bother me. I remember as a young 21 year old--more than half my life ago--I biked up Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National park on my cross the country ride with full gear and that seemed to get to me more. I was giddy and light headed. This time I wasn't. Lighter bike, less gear? who knows. But it is really doable though I recommend early in the day. The traffic started to build as we were descending.

I would be so annoyed by the crashed out behavior you all are describing. I would not put up with it. I'd hire someone to come in and clean and order in food. Are you kidding?
08-22-2006, 11:45 AM
HappyAnika

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerbarb

Independence pass wasn't as hard as you might think.

I would be so annoyed by the crashed out behavior you all are describing. I would not put up with it. I'd hire someone to come in and clean and order in food. Are you kidding?

LOL! I keep threatening my husband with hiring someone to clean the house. I swear it is not far off, once our bank account has recovered from grad school.

I still think that is so awesome about you riding Ind. Pass. I always worry about my father in law from AZ when he comes up here to hike in the summer. The altitude always bothers him more than he thinks it will. So far the highest I've ridden is 7,000 ft. Next summer I think we will venture more into the high country.