MFP Spitfires Cycling Club Week 10!!!

dlestermfp

Funny you mention the delicate fuel balance. I have plateaud for the past almost four weeks now. What did I change? I started riding MORE miles. Of course, I also got sluggish, so I had to start eating more food. When your commute clocks in at over 18 miles, and four of those are up a serious hill, you can't be running a high calorie deficit or you just don't survive the week.

I will get it figured out again. Luckily though, I have lost enough already that it really doesn't matter a whole lot. I have to admit that I would love to be weighing in under 200 pounds though. That is less than 10 pounds away, but the way things have been going it feels like an impossible goal. I am not about to stop or cut back on the riding just to lose weight, though I know I could drop all the extra weight I want in less than two weeks now if I really made a concerted effort.

dlestermfp

Well, actual miles last week was 76.62. I did some miles on the exercise bike since I was stuck a bit due to the wife's surgery, but I am not sure how to count those so I am just leaving them out of the whole thing.

Back to the grind this week, and my commute is going to be 24 miles round trip this week due to some bridge construction forcing me to take a longer route. I should easily hit my 100 miles for this week.

skywalker

We're in week 14!!!
I was sick for part of the week , so I didn't make my goal of 65. Actual 39m
Pledge this week 65.
Happy pedaling, everyone!! :drinker:

prayerfulmom

pleade- changed from 75 to 100
actual- 160.47 mi :noway:

Those flat tires didn't derail me today. Went to those darn hills and I really need to be doing a lot more hill work. They kicked my behind.

dlestermfp-I eat higher on my weekend long rides. then I still have a bit left in my take for speed work my first day back to work. then the rest of the week i figure i can get in slow miles and keep the calories low. Its amazing that it can have a 5mph difference in my commute. I can do it though because I have a flat route.

skywalker-hope your 100%

I'm gonna pledge 100 miles this week. It is suppose to be cooling down. Its been 100.

prayerfulmom

Oh high winds and sprinkles today made for a more challenging ride to work.

dlestermfp

My 'normal' commute is about 6 miles each way.

That hasn't been what I have been riding lately though. In anticipation of a bridge closure (a bridge I use daily), I have been riding the long way home, which doubles the distance. So, I have been doing an 18 mile daily commute where I used to be doing 12 miles.

But, today was the first day the bridge was closed. That puts me at a 24 mile commute each day, with today being the first day. I am hoping I hold out ok since I was ramping up the past few weeks. It does take quite a bit longer to commute now though. Whenever they finish painting the bridge and it reopens, which is some five months from now, the commute to work will feel like a short jaunt.

prayerfulmom

dlestermfp- nice commute miles. way to take advantage of the closure.

My shortest commute is 24 miles. I changed my route for safety reasons so it is now either 28 or 32 depending on which route I take. I only work 4 days a week so my goal is to ride at least 3 of those days. We'll see how I do as the weather changes. I rode yesterday in high winds and sprinkles.

dlestermfp

I have been commuting on my bike every day for around 18 months now. I don't take te car unless I really have no choice, and that is less than once a month.

I have to confess though, my legs are feeling the extra miles. My speed to/from work today was 1mph less than it was on Monday and Tuesday. They just don't have it in them to crank harder. My big hill on the way home is really making them burn.

Only two days left this week, so I am going for it.

dlestermfp

Well, 117.76 for the week. Would have been more, but they opened the bridge early this week so I didn't have the longer commute.

Still only going for 100 per week though.

skywalker

Last week's pledge 65miles
Actual 68m

Still battling a nasty cold last week and hoping for more miles this week. My weight loss has slowed a lot since I dropped my mileage down to do more strength training.

We're starting Week 15!!!
I'm pledging 100m this week!

dlester & prayerfulmom,
Sounds like you guys have been doing great! It seems our club is getting smaller and smaller. :frown: Hopefully, some of the others will be back again. I plan on sticking around. :happy:

Happy pedaling!!! :drinker:

Jax67

I'm still here :happy:

I took your advice Skywalker and got out on the bike today, 13 miles (in the rain!) I really must get some mudguards!

You were right i do feel better

I plan on doing 35 miles this week.

dlestermfp

I did an 18 mile ride just for fun today. We had a big wind storm last night, and it was still pretty windy today, but not so much that I didn't feel like riding. It was kind of funny because all along the route, which is a standard route for me, my path is constantly being blocked by all manner of tree branches and sticks and such that were blown down the night before.

I was really on the wrong bike, but I still had a good time. I bet when I go out later and check I will have at least one flat on my road bike. It has standard racing slicks on it, which aren't very practical, but definitely don't protect against road debris.

Jax67

Did a 20 mile ride tonight with my cycling buddy, he really pushes me and it kills me, but i feel great now!!

I'm very lucky, i live in an area where i can ride to the sea or i can ride up onto the moors, today it was the sea route, beautiful views which really make it well worth the effort :happy:

I think i've found my mojo again :happy:

skywalker

YAY, JAX!!!!
Welcome back!!! Glad you found your mojo! :laugh:
:drinker:

prayerfulmom

jax good to see ya back.

dlester & sky- awesome mileage.

my pledge last week 100
actual- 56

I forgot I was out of town for 4 days but thought since I was in the mountains I'd get some hill rides in for the century. Nope, it snowed.

New pleadge-100

dlestermfp

Week is over. 104.8 miles. They have a path opened up so I don't have to do as long a commute, so I may not hit my 100 next week, but it is still going to be my goal.

skywalker

Week 16!!!

Checking in..
Pledge 100m
Actual 83.2m
Very hectic week and this week will probably be the same, so this week's pledge will be 80m and I'll be lucky if I make that.

Good luck, everyone :drinker:

prayerfulmom

Pleadge 100
actual 54
I had the flu.

I'm not going to pledge this week. I'll just see what I can get. Very bad storms and then taper for the century. If its storming I'll be skipping the century. Wet mountain roads don't sound so safe.

skywalker

Week 17!!

I guess I shouldn't have pledged any miles last week. I only got out for one 16m ride this week. :grumble:

Oh well, here's to a better week...
Pledge 75miles...

Good luck, everyone!!! :drinker:

skywalker

I hear crickets......

:laugh:

dlestermfp

Lots of crickets. Fall creeping up on us. Cycling isn't so popular unless you are more of a die-hard.

That being said, I didn't hit my 100 this week, but I did get 87. Considering the nasty weather this week that is pretty good.

I scored a set of studded tires for my mountain bike. I rode with normal knobbies last year. I should do better with teeth on the tires this year.

The icy cold is upon us here in the north. Even if I don't have snow, mornings are getting frosty. It is only a matter of time before I have black ice in places along my route.

prayerfulmom

64 last week. Only managed 1 ride: metric century.

I'm saying no official pledge. I'll be ridding as often as possible. Had a huge storm last week with 40 mile an hour winds. Not ridding in that. Rain...I think so....High winds like that....NO WAY. Ok truth be told it rained yesterday and I did a spin class. But I'm really going to try the rain out. Just put on different tires for the weather. Oh yes, have to take my bike in to see if the frame is cracked. May have to settle for spin or else use the mountain bike to commute. We'll see.

Enjoy the ride.

prayerfulmom

I didn't make a pledge last week. I wasn't sure of the weather.

160 miles + 1 spin class.

High winds this week so I may opt for some spin classes.

dlestermfp

I had 87 miles for the week. Likely will have about the same this week. Weather is getting nastier all the time so there isn't much recreational riding beyond the commuting miles.

skywalker

Hi all!!! I've been so busy this month! I got in 52.6 miles this week. I'm just not making my goals, but at least I'm still getting in a few rides and doing strength training. Great job prayerfulmom & dlester. I'm shooting for 60 miles this week. :happy:

dlestermfp

Well, what to say?

Weather is not as good as it was. I am not riding recreationally on weekends so much now. I still have my commute, and I will do that all winter pretty much regardless of the weather (barring horrific hail or something like that).

So, I will be hovering in the 70ish mile per week range for the most part throughout winter. We have lost all but three people here. It is strange that cycling isn't more popular among people who are trying to lose weight. It sure has worked wonders for me.

Anyway, I joined the YMCA with my son last week. He is going to be taking swimming lessons and I am going to try my hand at the Nautilus equipment while he is splashing around. Cycling has done great things for my legs, but above the waist is still flabby. Two nights a week of weight training should start to make a dent in that.

skywalker

Only got in 30 miles last week. I'm on to trainer miles now. It's getting cold in Scranton, Pa. I plan on riding all week. My work schedule will lighten up in mid November and I plan on getting in a lot more miles after that. :happy:

I agree dlester, about cycling working wonders for weight loss. It helped me drop 20 lbs this summer and I'll be using it to hopefully drop an additional 25. I have been doing some circuit training lately though to get more work above the waist as well.:happy:

Happy Pedaling :drinker:

RunRideRay

I've been MIA so sorry about that. I've had a rough October with business trips and a nice H1N1 treat for a week. Ready to ride big time. I am looking for some good bike lights for the winter riding season, any recommendations in the $100 range?

Raymond

dlestermfp

I use lights from dealextreme.com. I picked them up last year. I have a small one mounted to my helmet and a beefier one mounted to the handlebars. They were about $50 combined and use rechargeable 18650 batteries, which are also sold on that site with the charger.

For the rear I just use the Planet Bike Superflash (two of them). I use two because I don't want to risk having only one and it burns out or the battery goes dead.

For the sides I use NiteIze SpokeLit, one on each wheel.

I also keep all the dorky reflectors. Front, back, and each wheel for the sides.

In the dark I get a wider berth from cars than I do in broad daylight.

skywalker

I'm still here!!! Sorry about going MIA!!
No miles last week.
Pledging 80 this week!!!