Help me with an article

[Melalvai]

What bicycling-related New Year's Resolutions are you making?

I just finished an article about Christmas gifts for bicyclists (not a 'what to buy your bicyclist' article, but a 'here's what me & my bicycle friends got for Christmas that was bicycle-related'). Figured I'd do a New Year's article next.

It helps if you give a bit of background. For example, instead of simply saying "I want to lose 15 pounds", here's why:

I don't typically do New Year's Resolutions, but I want to take an inflatable raft on our bicycle tour. That's 25 pounds and I balked at the weight. Then I thought, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and then it would only be 10 pounds extra weight. And I may as well start Jan 1 because there are too many cookies in the house right now!

[GLC1968]

I'll bite. I don't typically make New Year's resolutions (except for the one in my head EVERY year about losing weight) but you have inspired me...

My 2014 New Year's resolution is to build up the gorgeous mixte frame that has been sitting in a box in our garage since last March. It wouldn't really be a 'rain' bike for me, so I've still got a few months before I'll ride it regularly anyway...so this is as good a time as any to make a commitment to build it up. Plus, I was just reflecting on the happy fact that we passed through the gift-giving season without acquiring any debts to pay off in January, so I should be able to fund it as well.

The follow on to the above is to build it and then ride it as much as humanly possible (as my commuter) in 2014 as well. But let's focus on getting it built up first....

[Veronica]

I want to lose 8 pounds so I'll have a better power to weight ratio. There are a couple of extended 16%+ average grades that we ride that make me want to hurl and I'd like to move beyond that. We're planning road and mountain bike tours in Colorado this summer. I know the altitude will bother me some, so being lighter and more fit than I was last summer would make the riding even better. I also need to commit to more trainer time, both for the fitness and the weight loss.

Veronica

[shootingstar]

I don't make New Year's resolutions --partially because I don't want to be discouraged for not meeting them.

Not sure if these are 2014 resolutions in the traditional sense:

Discipline myself to bike as often as I can in the winter. I have done it other winters, but I do have to occasionally steel myself for winter days when it's awfully frigid cold.
Get a pair of cycling glasses that properly wrap around and have rims all the way around the lenses...but I don't want to pay $250.00 for a pair. (yea, I'm cheap.)
Hmmm turning 55 : will I bike my age on that day? We'll see about the weather.
Just cycle no matter what distance as often as I can each week.
Write blog posts on: what it means to be a cycling partner with one's SO (which a lot of people can't relate if they don't cycle), bicycle pasta...I'm running out of ideas temporarily Melavi.

[Crankin]

I want to rededicate myself to cycling. Ride more. Commute to work at my new job. Maybe get a new bike to do that (I already have my eye on one).
Mostly adjust my mental attitude. I always want to ride, but I tend to complain a lot when I am riding.

[Catrin]

My New Year's Resolution is get back on the bike and, if possible, do what I need to in order to encourage my neck to allow rides > 40 minutes without causing multiple-day consequences. This may be a hard limit because of the nature of my injury but I am not ready to give up riding entirely. It gets harder to ride because getting ready for trail running is much more simple and no cars can target me on the trails. And it doesn't cause neck problems.

I might need to alter my bike a bit to allow me to ride longer (a different hydration system). It is possible I need to be even MORE upright than I am - and I am pretty darn upright as it is, but I won't go to that expense unless it becomes apparent that it will work. Thankfully my fitter/mechanic is as good as they come, and better than most.

I must be contrary - I know lots of broken runners who are now cycling, so I've got to do it backwards...broken mountain biker taking up trail running. No pavement for me!

As far as riding is concerned, my current goals are modest. As the weather warms/daylight permits I want to ride at least twice a week - I might have to combine both riding and running in the same park to get in a decent amount of exercise time. It may be that I will be limited to short casual rides from this point on - but I am not yet ready to accept that and if that IS the case, short and casual > none! I've plenty of other ways to exercise, and there are more reasons to ride than exercise!

[malkin]

This is shallowest and most vain goal I've ever identified for myself, but my daughter is getting married this spring and I don't want to look flabby and old.
Old, I really can't change, but I'm on the warpath against flabby upper arms.

[Catrin]

This is shallowest and most vain goal I've ever identified for myself, but my daughter is getting married this spring and I don't want to look flabby and old.
Old, I really can't change, but I'm on the warpath against flabby upper arms.

Let us know how this goes! I have this myself, and because my shoulder/neck problem prevents me from doing anything at shoulder height/higher my upper-body work is very limited. Sadly, deadlifts, front squats, lat pulls (etc) doesn't seem to target that area. Interested in hearing other ways of attacking that area! I can't do vertical presses and even pushups can be a problem/painful.

[Blueberry]

I'm still working on my goals/plan for next year. It will be a busy year for me, so I need to be realistic. But - my goals need to scare me a little to motivate me to meet them (I'm odd like that!).

Catrin - have you considered a recumbent? Normally I'm the last one to suggest that as an alternative, but I wonder with your neck/shoulder issues if one might not be a good answer for you. At least worth exploring?

[Catrin]

Interesting thought Blueberry! It might be worth exploring, though I would probably only consider the 3-wheeled option. It looks, at least to me, that a recumbent would have a very different balance - though if you DO fall over you are closer to the ground I am not giving up on my Gunnar yet, but this might worth considering in the future if it does turn out that my limitation is permanent.

[malkin]

Let us know how this goes! I have this myself, and because my shoulder/neck problem prevents me from doing anything at shoulder height/higher my upper-body work is very limited. Sadly, deadlifts, front squats, lat pulls (etc) doesn't seem to target that area. Interested in hearing other ways of attacking that area! I can't do vertical presses and even pushups can be a problem/painful.

We have a Total Gym at home, which I got 2nd hand after using one successfully as part of back rehab. I never saw the Chuck Norris/Christy Brinkley infomercials until years after I already loved the thing. Because the incline is wildly adjustable, it can be set up so it requires hardly any strength.

The problem with it is that setting it up and breaking it down threatens to crush my toes and amputate my fingers. Part of this week's activity is clearing out space in the 'mud room' so the TG can stay set up in its inviting business position so I can jump on anytime and never have to plan what to say in the post-finger-amputation conversation with my piano teacher.

[Veronica]

How about these for your triceps?

http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercise...ceps-extension


Veronica

[ny biker]

There are plenty of bicep and tricep exercises out there to tone your arms.

Shooting Star, I've never warn Tifosi sunglasses but I've heard good things about them, and they are not crazy expensive. TE sells them.

My goal for this year was to lead a club ride for the first time. Then I set the goal of earning a ride leader's jersey by leading six rides. My goal for next year is to earn another jersey, the long sleeved one, or maybe the wind vest.

[shootingstar]

Interesting thought Blueberry! It might be worth exploring, though I would probably only consider the 3-wheeled option. It looks, at least to me, that a recumbent would have a very different balance - though if you DO fall over you are closer to the ground I am not giving up on my Gunnar yet, but this might worth considering in the future if it does turn out that my limitation is permanent.

I returned to cycling nearly 23 years ago and have 5 bikes. None of my bikes have had drop down handlebars. So I've always cycled somewhat upright....meaning something similar to mountain bike position..slightly upright (well maybe I maybe more upright but not like the Dutch uprights that we stereotypically may know) but leaning a tad forward on handlebars.

I also have bike toured with panniers in this position for long, multi-wk. bike trips.

NY bike, thanks for suggestion on sunglasses. I don't see this brand at all in bike stores in the major Canadian cities where I visit . I do drop by bike stores whenever I go out of town. I nearly bought a pair in Seattle but somehow I got distracted by another cycling gear purchase.

[Veronica]

There are plenty of bicep and tricep exercises out there to tone your arms.

That's true. I was looking for some that isolate the shoulder. I'm a big fan of skull crushers, dips and overhead cable tricep extensions, but I don't think Catrin can do those.

Veronica