Sunday, November 1, 2015

Still Cycling

    Yes, the leaves have turned color and gone, but I'm still cycling.

    As I've repeated in many posts I set a minimum of 1000 km (625 mi) of cycling per summer. When  I meet that minimum, I keep on going.

    I don't know when I reached the 1000 km mark, but I'm still riding. I'm well over 1100 km. I rode Friday. It was 7 C (43 F). I cycled 15 km.(9.3 mi).  If it doesn't snow I will keep on cycling. I can ride as long as it's above freezing.

    Clothing is the hardest decision. It's not throw on all the clothes you have and away you go. I don't have a problem with keeping warm. Cycle a few Km and you will be warmed up. I find the wind whistling through the helmet vents uncomfortable so I wear a cap under my helmet. Oh yes, I wear gloves.

     My biggest challenge is with perspiration. I find most shells do not breathe enough to clear the perspiration. I wear a very light jacket underneath a fleece and find this keeps the perspiration off and I stay warm. I know wearing a shell underneath is backwards but it works for me.

     Now a 1000 Km (625 mi) a summer sounds like a lot but it's not. I probably ride at an average of 20 kph (12.5 mph) . That means it takes me 50 hours to ride 1000 km. That's not much time. I find that other things in life get in the way of riding steadily. This summer we had a long spell of hot weather. It didn't cool off enough in the evening to ride. I had to ride in the morning. Before I figured this out I'd lost riding time.

    Sometimes we have snow at this time of year. Not just wet snow but the dry winter snow. Sometimes we have minus 10 - 15 C for temperatures. It's not smart or pleasant to ride in these conditions.

    So I will hope for more decent weather to keep on riding.


   Now I can't persuade anybody to take my picture on the bike. I have photos with green leaves but that doesn't go with this post. so here's a photo of my bike behind a snowbank. However, make no mistake about it. I don't have snow now.

39 comments:

  1. Let us hope you get a few more weeks in.

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  2. I always thought you were supposed to wear a fleece under the wind breaker not over it so as far as I'm concerned you are not doing things backwards. I once worked with a man who rode his bike to work all winter long. That was in Ottawa.

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    1. I find it keeps me drier if I wear the shell inside and it's not really a shell.

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    2. I understand you now. I didn't read correctly the first time. Whatever works for you is good. You are obviously a very experienced cyclist and so you are doing something right!

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  3. Replies
    1. Keeping in shape gets tougher and tougher but it beats the other options.

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  4. It is nice to continue with activity. I rode my motorcycle to church yesterday.

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    1. Well, I have other things I can do besides ride. Still lots of guys on motorcycles here but it must be cold.

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  5. Very nice looking bike, Red. I would have been glad to take a picture of you on your bike, but I'm not close enough. :-)

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    1. Well, the nice looking bike is pretty well worn out. It has about 8000 km (5000mi) on it.

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  6. Good for you. Healthy and fun. Just be sure you do not bring very cold air into your lungs.

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    1. With very cold air it takes about two puffs and you're okay. Remember , I spent 5 years in the Arctic.

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  7. Six hundred miles per summer is a great achievement. You must be in excellent shape.

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    1. Well, it's not really that great an achievement as it only takes 50- 60 hours and that's not much time.

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  8. That's excellent, Red. I used to bike a lot but now that I'm on the third floor of an apartment, it's not too likely to happen again for a while. And cold weather riding has never appealed to me so I admire your persistence and now feel the strong nudge to go out and do something active!

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    1. I must admit that I really have to suck it up to get out and ride when it's cold or windy.

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  9. I think it's fantastic that you're still riding and I hope you have good weather so you can continue to do so. Our bike riding this year wasn't as much as next year with all the things that have taken up so much of our time. But come spring, we are going to get back to many, many yours of cycling adventures!

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    1. It seems that it's easy for things to get in the way of cycling.

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  10. Hopefully you still have a couple more weeks.

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    1. Yes , I 'd like a few more weeks but weather can turn on a dime here.

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  11. Wish I had your stick-to-itiveness. You must be in good shape!

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    1. When you're 76 you really have to work on it.

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  12. Very impressive Red, we really need to get a bike.

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    1. You know, walking is one of the best activities to do.

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  13. You set a good example, Red. Maybe I'll start keeping track of my miles, although they will be nowhere near the amount of yours in a year. I do love to ride, though, and am looking forward to my first snowless winter to ride year around.

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    1. The odometer helps you to set a goal and then achieve it.

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  14. stay well and healthy and warm!

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  15. It's great that you cycle so much! SO good for the mind and body!

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    1. You must be reading the same books I read. There's lots of research that shows this relationship.

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  16. Hi Red, It's good exercise and good for you so congrats on getting in your summer riding goal. Keep us posted on when you get your first snow, OK? Last night we got the first snow on the tops of the Olympic Mountains over to the west. By the way, do you have some kind of winter exercise that takes the place of riding your bicycle?

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    1. There's been new snow in the Rockies since Sept. I skate once a week , Cross country ski when there's snow and walk. None of these are as intense as cycling.

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    2. Last night's weather on TV showed a blast of cold air moving down into the Rockies. Even here in Seattle it is only 45F (7.2C) this morning at 9:15 as I'm typing this. Seems pretty much on schedule tho. Have a good day!

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  17. I so applaud you Red. Your have great muscles to bike.
    Someone may be taking pictures of you and remember you. The energetic man on the bike. Good Job.
    Beautiful days we have had. I wrote along explanation of self as I am doing good.

    Please when you feel you have time to sit and read with a drink of what ever you have. See my long, long story and pictures what has happened for new on walk in town of a wee town I now live in. . Not only city but they have put in those benches in remembrance of the old boys who have passed on.

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    1. I read your post and it had some good information and advice.

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  18. A new lay-out! I like it, and now the header photo too....:)

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  19. You can't find anyone to take your photo? You are are hero in blogsville!

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  20. Wow! So you skate and bicycle. That's fabulous! We do have to keep trying to exercise. I am sadly out of shape. You might have to get a selfie stick and take a photo of yourself next to your bike (not riding it, of course).

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