I'd like to see more activity!

It's a shame as there are quite a few cyclists like me who chime in on the general forums (and bore everyone to tears probably!).

The monthly challenge thread I participate in also goes very quiet in the northern hemisphere winter.

I actually just searched and found this group. I consider myself an enthusiastic cyclist that has experienced (Ahem) periodic lapses of fatness and inactivity. I'm currently back to maintenance weight after a year of weight loss and back in the saddle.

mogginsthemog wrote: »

I shall keep an eye on this page and hope it picks up..🚴🏻‍♂️👍

Best way to get the group to pick up is to post something yourself - ask about the e-bikes... get advice on things... it'll only pick up if people participate rather than lurk - it's the same in any community

Good luck with the e-bike thing - I must be honest, earlier in my rehab after the heart problem I was tempted, but back then there was nothing that was proper bike shaped - they were all either dutch bikes or MTB's but with the new crop of road oriented bikes coming on stream, if I had the money, i'd be half tempted, just for a extra 100w or so for the hills - so I'm still working hard, but climbing at 10mph rather than wobbling up at just above walking pace.

I still trying to get my wife to get an e-bike so we can go out together but hitting the objection of "but it would mess up my hair".
(Not a problem I have as that's the one part of me that's well streamlined....)

Think they are also a great solution for many families to reduce car usage for some local journeys.

Love it - I'm going to have to watch the video of Firestarter by The Prodigy now.


Personally I just have to try to avoid getting tan lines through the vents in my helmet......

I try to keep up with posting on the monthly cycling post but I think there are only about 3 of us who do now with any regularity. My biking at the moment is only on my trainer in the basement. Nothing too exciting to talk about. I have a fat bike but it's either been way too cold or icy to get out on it. I've got a bike trip planned to Moab mid April that I'm trying to stay in shape for though.

I have a couple of trips this year but now training toward cross country tour(southern tier - 58 days/8 rest days - San Diego to St Augustine) beginning March 2020. I also took the organizers at their word and will be doing the shortest distance of the Steamboat Gravel Race in August. They wanted more women and diversity...

Right now, much spin time but next week looks like it will be a great time to head outside. I also volunteer with an organization that work with jr & sr high students and will be biking with them next week as well.

I haven't been on here in a while either. I remember finding the group awhile back but it always seemed kind of dormant. I rode road and mountain. Just signed up for Ragbrai yesterday! Super nervous as it will be my first multi day event but I think I've been lucky enough to link up with a good group through the forum.

@Just_Ceci that's good to hear! I think we have an open spot on my team if you change your mind!

It's been a busier summer for me with cycling this year, and i've been loving the additional kms! Bigger rides: 80km road race in June, 100km road race in July, and this month trying a 20km road race as part of a sprint triathlon, and a 50km gravel grind! Just getting into gravel, and i'm loving it so far!

I also try my hand at MTB every now and then; there are some sweet trails locally.

Unfortunately, I have to stick to the trainer during the winter months, which means there's not usually much to talk about for about 6 months of the year here in Canada

To give you an idea of how long it was since I last rode a road bike, when I was buying my Giant Defy Advanced 1 last October, I pointed to the down tube and asked "where is the gear lever?".

I'm still not much better educated 9 months on, though my emphatic declaration of "I'm not wearing any of that lycra nonsense" lasted all of 1 ride, when I realised regular t-shirts become a sail at 20+ kph

Winter on a Turbo was a bit of a mental test, but I'd signed up for my first triathlon in the spring, so I had a reason to keep heading out to the freezing garage and getting it done. Netflix helped too.

My first 100km ride was at a hilly local velo in February. As cold as it was, I took a lot of confidence out of making it up all 6 climbs without being one of the ones pushing (not that I was going faster than them), and this was followed by the 100mile Birmingham (UK) velo a few months later, where I learned an important lesson about ensuring I ate enough.....the final hour of that ride was spent in a head fugue, praying for the end to come soon.

At least, I thought I learned a lesson. Come my first triathlon (half Iron Man) in June, I had a good bike leg (90kms), hitting my goals and felt really confident going into the 21.1km run, since I'd achieved a 15min PB at London marathon 6 weeks earlier (to which I credit cycling), the run was going to be easy. 5kms in, I learned the hard way that whilst I had eaten more, I hadn't eaten enough.......my energy just dropped off a cliff.

Reflecting on the bike segment, the experience of people go flying past me for the whole of my 3hr 15m bike leg of that triathlon, made me realise how important it is to be good on the bike, so I've just purchased some power meter pedals and hope to use that to build up my ability and shave 30 mins off next year.

Other than that, I'm blessed to be surrounded by some stunning English countryside and lots of quiet roads that have enabled me to explore the area I've lived in for 17 years, but clearly only discovered a fraction of. I love, love, love being out in the countryside on a nice day on the bike. I find the whole experience uplifting and it puts a smile on my face every time.

[edit: I'd love to get some more MfP cycling friends to share motivation with if any of you are willing, do please add me]