Conference noted::bicycle

    Personally I worked on Nautilus every other day during the winter and
    about 20 min on the lifecycle.  Rode a bit on the weekends, weather
    permiting.  Even though I felt stronger, my aerobic strength decreased
    substantially.  First time I put my heart monitor on for a nice warm
    weather ride, I was surprised  how high my pulse was...and how low the
    pulse was when I became anaerobic.   Oh well, spring is here even
    though it will be a high of 35 degrees tomorrow.
    
    steve

    
    I put my bike away for the winter to - I just cant take the cold
    weather.  I started to bike again in March.  I also just started to do
    4 miles a day at lunch.  But It's getting cold again and raw/rainy -
    and I miss my 4mile ride, but I hate this weather more.
    
    When I know the weather is going to be iffy - I ride the bike at the
    gym at 5:00am (at least it's indoors) :-)
    
    I also dont want my bike sitting on my truck for 8hrs in the rain.
    (that cant be good for it) ??
    
    Louisa

     Ok, I'll fess up. Saturday was my first outing also and ten miles
    felt like 100. The legs were jelly when I got off the bike and the
    were only slightly more useful while I was on it.
     Definately HATE riding in cold, wet weather. Daylight savings should
    inspire more riding along with the change in weather.
     Nice to know I'm not alone. ;^)
    
    Now, On yur Bike!
    Bob

    Me too.  I rode to work on Monday.  My first ride in a very long time. 
    Last year was my worst year, not meeting any goals because of back
    problems.  Anyway after a winter of rest my back is feeling better but
    boy are my legs and lungs showing their age.  It rained this morning so
    I had another break but I hope this year will be a good year and I plan
    on riding into work at least every fair weather day.
    
    
    Here's hoping for a good season!
    
    ...Ed

    From an ex-couch potato... I used to do that. Now I take off the month
    of Dec. and start up on the trainer in January. I empathize with you.
    
    The only thing I fight when I start up again is developing the
    discipline to just do it. After a few weeks the discipline comes back.
    
    I rode my MB right to the end of November. I'll tell you, there's was
    minimal physical adjustment plus I feel great. I don't like the cold,
    but I'll do it. I keep my beater on the trainer for cold and rainy
    days, but once you've been out the cellar is hell! 
    
    Chip

    ...and mountain bikes really make a mess in the cellar...tire treads
    everywhere.

Yup.  I hear ya.  For the past two years I've said that I will get a trainer
for the winter months here in New England, but I keep putting it off.  This
year I stopped in December and basically did nothing for exercise until I
started riding again about 3 weeks ago.  Man, I hate the cold weather when I
ride, but I love riding.  It takes much more discipline to get out there, but
once I get out, I'm fine.  Love that hot shower afterwards!

It's amazing how much conditioning you lose over three or four months.  Now,
when I ride at what my body tells me is a reasonable pace for a good workout,
my pace is off at least 2-3 mph from what I used to ride at last fall.
Or, is it that the colder air slows down the electrons in my cycle-computer?
I think I like that excuse better...

Gotta lose that extra 5-10 lbs. that accumulated over the winter months.

-Buddy

I probably wound down the riding last year in mid-November.  Since
then I've run a little, walked a lot, and used the rower and exercise
bike in the Spit Brook wellness center.  In February and March, I got
out for two or three easy (15-18 miles, slow) rides.  The area in 
contact with the saddle got a bit sore, but everything else was OK.
I've been trying to pick up the running at the same time, so I'm 
hoping the first vigorous rides won't be too bad.

Staying active through the winter can be difficult, but I've come to
understand how important it is.  Since I don't race or put in big
miles during the summer, it isn't that important for me to maintain
biking form per se - but I gotta do -something-!  Wish the X-C skiing
had been better this winter.

Hope to get out on a 25-mile club training ride this weekend.  Then
we'll see.

Andy

    Well, its nice to see that I'm not the only person in the world that
    put the bike away for an extended period - BY THE WAY - YOU GUYS THAT
    PUT IT ON A TRAINER AND WENT RIGHT ON RIDING ALL WINTER - GET OUT OF
    THE COUCH POTATO NOTE!  Chip, Steve, you know who you are!  :^)
    
    It wouldn't be so bad to be out of shape, but I'm signed up for the
    Minnesota AYH "Ironman" on April 30.  That leaves me 25 days to get
    ready to ride a whole lot farther than is comfortable at this point. 
    And this morning there was snow on the ground!  Methinks I best bring
    in the bike and put it on the trainer this evening!

    .9 Re; Minnesoata Ironman... What's that? Two laps around the cow
           pasture?   :-)   Just kiddin'....
    
    
           Chip

    well, i gotta confess, i rode those gruelling miles with dave (.0) last
    weekend. it was OK, but CCCCCOOOOOOOLLLLDDDDDD. 39 degrees is not fun.
    snow on the ground this morning is not a good sign.
    
    i think stopped biking last october. i just don't have fun in the cold
    weather when biking. i meant to set the bike up on the trainer, but
    ended up moving to a new house and just never got around to it. 
    
    i;m also going on this IRONMAN bike ride the end of the month. this
    year there is a 40 mile ride. Before the only rides were 100K and 100
    miles. 
    
    	ann
    

    There was a relevant cartoon in the most recent Velo News.  This was
    the regular cartoon about the "Old Guys Who Get Fat in the Winter"
    cycling team.
    
    The first panel shows two riders with one complaining about how he
    needs to do a lot more training before riding hills.  The second panel
    has the other rider saying "It's just a speed bump".
    
    I saw this and immediately identified.  At the end of last summer I:
    
    	1) Broke my wrist in a wet fall
    	2) Moved
    	3) as a result of #2 - lost my regular ride route
    
    It's amazing how the lack of a good route makes the cold much more
    unpleasant.
    
    Peter Dillard
    

    minnesota ironman?  I heard they do the bike leg with spiked tires
    the swimming leg with ise boats and the running leg with skates.
    
    For the first time in a decade I didn't ride this winter, didn't train.
    But I did put down 1400 sq ft of hardwood floor and do numerous other
    construction and moving related tasks.  Lost weight too, perhaps
    because the table saw was on a different floor :-).  Got out on Monday
    though and had to keep remine\ding myself of the old training maxims
    -- stay on the small ring and seated till I get a base in.  Does anyone
    do that anymore?
    
    Gad the wind is howling today, send it back to International Falls.
    
    ed

    I realised early on that this year was going to be low mileage because
    it was only going to be lunchtime rides from work (commuting's out
    because of taking Brice to the childminder, and weekend rides have
    evaporated as Martin'e pregnancy has advanced), so what I've done is to
    keep the bike in the back of the car, and cycle on every dry day, even
    if it's cold. 
    
    That regime made for zero kilometres in January, but I've been out
    every week since, at least once, and am finding myself fitter and
    easier for April than I've ever been -- although 41km is my longest
    ride to date, given the pressures of working. It looks like I'll make
    this year's (modest) 2000km target, anyway.
    
    Piers
    

    If some of the folks are really serious about riding or just love to
    do it get a mountain bike for the cold. Seriously, when you're in the
    woods hammering there is literally no wind chill factor. You get warm
    really fast.
    
    Other bennies... you develop better handling skills, develop leg
    strength, and you get to extend your season. The last two years
    I've really gotten into it in the fall/early winter and I can tell
    it has helped me a great deal in the weight and strength department.
    
    Chip

    
    
     re.16  Same here.  This winter (New England) was especially mild, so
    	    the riding was pretty easy, compared to last winter.  I am
    	    really looking forward to the next 8 months.  I'm lighter,
    	    stronger, have a better technique, and more courage.....er..
    	    confidence.  Always looking for folks for group rides. 
            Any level of experience. Just expect to a get a "bit" tired
     	    and dirty.
    
    	    Most rides are within 15 miles of Greater Lowel.
    	
    	    Some of the places we ride. 
    
    	    Fletcher/Roma quarries in Tyngsboro/Westford
    	    Great Brook State Park in Carlisle
    	    Lowell/Dracut/Tyngsboro State forest
    	    Groton Town Forest
    	    Oak Hill Chasm in Littleton
            Mudslay (sp) State Park in Newburyport 
    
            Call or write.  dtn 285-2311
    			    508 453-0451
    
    	    Chris
    

    I agree with Chip; the mtn bike is what I ride in the winter.  It
    seems a lot warmer that my road bike; probably because it's going
    slower (less wind) and it's less efficient (more calories). 
    

    Reading about people putting there bikes away makes me realize how
    lucky I am in Vancouver.  With already 4,000 km for the year, I'm well
    on the way to my 16,000 for the year goal.
    We had 2 days of snow and we only had a couple weeks of sub zero(C)
    weather.  I missed only 4 days riding since December. 
    I have to agree with the remark about trail riding.  In January we
    had a real windy day which was all but unnoticable to me and the
    gang I was trail riding with.
    A few winters ago I tried using a trainer but its way too boring.  I've
    always had difficulty exercising inside.

    aww shaddup, jes' go out an ride.  :-)
    
    ed

    -1 Ooooooooo......... :-)

    Alright, you bunch of bike derelicts.  I don't wanna hear any more
    nasty comments about riding in Minnesota....  For YOUR information:
    
    1.  We have PAVED roads - I just saw one the other day.
    
    2.  We do NOT ride around the pastures - it disturbs the cattle, the
    bulls chase the bikes, and the cow patties make the skinny tires on the
    road bikes slip.
    
    3.  By the end of April it will USUALLY be too warm to use the ice
    boats for the swimming legs!  That is why THIS Ironman is ONLY a bike
    ride.  Actually its been around for a LONG time, 29 years, so I think
    we outdate the other Ironman events...
    
    Oh, and for the guy from Vancouver who already has 4000 km - I agree
    with Ed!  :^)

    
    RE: .16
    Chip, your right about MTB in the winter, what about the summer when
    it's very, very, very hot. In the forrest its still cool.
    Overal: MTB is the best way to ride.
    The only problem in the winter is the way to the shower. I'm mostley
    from head to toe in grime and you can see the way I walked to the
    shower. If you hate the cold, wear good clothing and you forget
    the cold after 10 minuts. It's mostley between the ears, you just
    have to do it.
    
    Ray

    Well... I don't agree that the MTB is the only way to ride. I think
    some kind of mix is ideal. 
    
    Being in the woods certainly has the mental advantage of breaking up
    miles and miles of monotonous road.
    
    Disadvantage of the woods in the summer? Blood sucking insects! I was
    riding down the (removed) railroad tracks one summer and this herd
    (yes I'd call it a herd) of horseflies followed me for about 15 miles.
    I tried everything to shake them, slowing down, speeding up, running
    into branches, zig zagging, etc... The only thing that worked was
    getting on some pavement and hammering.
    
    I think it's far easier to regulate an aerobic workout on the road too.
    
    Just my $.02
    
    Chip 

    
    Why are you so cruel to a friendly horseflies, he just liked you
    (or your blood).
    
    I'm basicly a MTB-rider and do ride(not much) in the 
    winter(40km a week), this saves me from a lot of pain in spring.
    I know that the mix is ideal but I can't buy a road-bike.
    I've got some other things like my alcoholic problem......and that
    costs a lot of money.
    So in spring I cycle with my MTB on the road and when I'm feeling
    good I'll jump in the woods.
    
    By the way, insects don't like my blood(maybe to thin, you know
    because of my problem).
    
    Ray

    
    
    
    
    		Those damn mosquitos...certainly something I'm NOT
    	looking forward to.  They seem to really like me.  Probably
    	why my wife keeps close during the summer 8')  
    
    	Of course, you're right about maintaining cadence and heart
    	rate on the road.  I find road riding is much more relaxing
    	overall than the trail and provides a more balanced aerobic
    	benefit.  
    
    	Oh yeah....let me apologize for sounding condescending in my
    	previous reply with the "expect to get tired and dirty".  I
    	guess that was directed towards beginners.  It was bugging
    	me during last evenings ride...
    
    	Chris

     Hey, me too Ray... I just went to generic beer, put the savings
     in a jar, and presto! in two weeks I had enough for a new road
     machine! :-)
    
     Chip

    now that's a sacrifice.  tell us about the new machine!
    
    ed

    One possible solution to the biting bug problem is to take brewer's
    yeast.  Somehow it works to repel them and has a side benefit of
    increased energy.  One can take to much, (like an awful lot!) but it
    will just cause a face rash that passes quickly.  It will also help in
    repair of the liver and do many other wonderful things.
    
    rich

    Sorry Ed, I meant a few years back when I bought the Merlin...
    
    I'm clean and sober now... ;-)
    
    
    Chip

    .30: oh, ok.
    
    .29: I usually leave the brewer's yeast in the bottom of the bottle.
    :-)  But if you want some, I'll save it :-)
    
    ed

    I wonder if the yeast has anything to do with something I noticed a
    few years back -- that Vitamin B12 seems to be an effective insect
    repellent?
    
    Piers

    well, brewer's yeast *IS* high in B vitamins.  I've read that it's good
    for keeping fleas off your pets too, but that cats don't seem to like
    my homebrew.
    
    ed

    
    RE:..
    
    I'm searching for an A.A. cycle club if one exists ?
    
    Ray

    
    Re: the last several...
    
    The most foolproof method for getting rid of the bloodsucking insect 
    problem is to get the hell out of New England.  Worked wonders for me.
    
    Jim
    

    -1 Oh ya, but we're talking at least a 250 mile ride for some of us!
    
                                    :-)
    
    Not to start a ::SOAPBOX-like discussion here, but I believe that New
    has the very best and most diverse riding and training terrain anywhere
    in the world.
    
    Okay pardner, draw!
    
    Chip
    

New what, Chip?

    New Boston, New Hampshire in New England, of course.  :-)
    
    great town.
    
    ed

    Ooops, cockpit error... New England as Ed stated...
    
    Why just yesterday I almost froze my toes off in the glaring sun :-)
    
    Chip

    and today I had an excellent ride on the seacoast.  Not very much
    traffic and it wasn't to hot or cold. And this weekend I
    hope to have another great ride up in the Franconia Notch area.  And
    later this spring when it is to hot around here I'll be going along Rt
    89 coming from the coolness of VT.   And I may even try Acadia national
    park up on the coast of ME later this year when it warms up and if I
    can make it before the tourists do.  Going up Mt. Cadillac would be
    great, (if I can make it that far and get in shape). A very good
    sunrise ride as it is the first place the sun is seen in the US each
    day.
    And what makes the riding very good is that the people along the way
    are great. (Along the way being far from any city, and they are not
    from away).
    
    rich

    You guys ARE ALL SCUMBAGS!  The $&*()^&$ here in Minnesota totally
    SUCKS!  We've been stuck under some kind of ^*&^%*^%$ weather thing
    since SATURDAY, that sits at 32-35 degrees and RAINS/SLEETS/SNOWS ALL
    the time!  I'm not getting any miles in, and I'm IN A FOUL MOOD!!!!!!!
    
    AND, its not supposed to even TRY to get better until at LEAST
    Thursday.  

    Hey, don't blame us, blame the weathermen. Or maybe it's all that cow
    methane being released into the air up there in dairyland. Yeah, that's
    it. Get the local club to chip in some $$$'s and get a ton or two of
    Beano. Then hire a helicopter and spread it over the feeding pastures.
    
    Sounds good on paper, eh?    :-)
    
    BTW, I had a nice easy 55 degree 36 miler yesterday. Really, I'm not 
    tryin' to rub it in... 
    
    Hang in there. A few weeks and you'll be hammerin' regularly like us 
    lucky folk... 
    
    Chip

    
    
    Dave,  Just so you can suffer a bit more ;-) Out here we are still 
        doing some wonderful Spring Skiing in the morning and riding 
        our MTBs in the late afternoon. ;-) No black flies yet ;-) 
    
    Shaw 

re: .41

> I'm IN A FOUL MOOD!!!!!!!

Hey, Dave, I know the solution - hop on a plane to Denver, wander
around in that wonderful new airport, maybe rent a car...?

    .41 and never, ever, ever sweat the small stuff :-)
    
        Chip

I guess I'm just jealous of you New Englanders!  It's pretty tough here 
in the Seattle area: I *forced* myself to ride all winter, even though 
once or twice it dipped below the 50's...b-r-r-r-r-r!  I'm tellin' ya...
I had to wear *tights*!

Glad to hear that New England has gotten to be a much nicer place than 
it was during the seven years I lived there.  I frequently reminisce
about the things I miss: the pleasantly crisp winters, ice dams on the 
roof, shoveling snow, the mild, low-humidity summers with their refreshingly 
cool nights, the black flies in the spring, the mosquitoes and deerflies in 
the summer, having to give heartworm medicine to my dog, deer ticks and lyme 
disease, roadriding over the cracks, potholes and frost heaves, the 
cleanliness and easy accessibility of dear old Boston...sigh.  

In Seattle it rains all day, every day of the year.  You'd hate every
*minute* of it.  I know I do.  You lucky dogs.

;)

Seattle Jim

p.s. I understand Minnesota is the one place in the U.S. where the
mosquitoes are bigger than in New England?  ;)  ;)

    eff-ewe
    
    :-)
    
    ed

    dipped below 5o, eh Jim... 
    
    -1 what he said!  :-)
    
    Gardner Chip

    However, can you take a 15 mile ride at lunch on roads offering nice
    flats, good hills, apple orchards, and only being passed by 5 cars the
    entire ride???
    
    steve

    -1 yes...

    (given that Graham is now sadly departed).
    
    (imagine an improbably Fife accent):
                                                                
    Well of course we had it tough (ken).  We used to have to get up at 
    5 in the horizontal sleet (ken) to cycle 20 miles acroos frozen elk
    tracks (ken) (burble burble)
    
    But speaking for myself I have been on very few miles this year.  I
    probably have about 100 miles solo and 300 tandem.  Bar one, every outing
    I have been out on the tandem I have been snowed upon, normally in the
    face of decent 30 mph winds, just to make you feel good.
    
    Unusually I got out in shorts last week for the first time and picked
    up quite a reasonable suntan.  Of course I was on holiday in
    california..  
    
    Right now non-winter has arrived and so maybe I'll be able to shed a
    layer of clothing tomorrow.  And summer is (as always) scheduled for
    May 10 for 3 weeks (shame that I'll be in New england).
    
    rod (16 lbs overweight from two years of couch potatoing...)

    aye, and we all knew Grahame had such a knack for understating
    the toughness of the Scottish weather.  Noone would believe it
    if he said how bad it really was.
    
    ed

    At last, a note I can relate to.  I have you all beat!!!!!!!!!
    I was pregnant November of 1993 and when the good weather came along,
    I had back problems so the doctor said, NO BICYCLING through the
    pregnancy.
    And I've been so busy  with the baby (she's eight months old now) that
    I barely have time to go to the bathroom, much less fill the bike 
    tires with air and go bicycling!!!!!
    Now  that I have publically decried that I have been a couch potato -
    I will have to get my bicycle out and do some riding this weekend.
    
    Now I just have to remember where I put it.
    
    Nancy
         

    Thank goodness SOMEBODY salvaged this note.  Thanks Nancy!  I've been
    in training this weeks, so I was MERCIFULLY saved from the daily
    onslaught of these *&^%$# cycle wackos, constantly poking fun at us
    poor folks that live in fly-over country.  
    
    And Shaw, I DON'T wanna hear about your morning skiing, and afternoon
    biking.  OR, how the weather in Seattle never gets below 50, but you're
    right, it could be worse - I COULD BE IN THAT ^&%$#@# AIRPORT in
    Denver!
    
    And, just to continue the fun - it isn't SNOWING here any more, but its
    40 and raining again, and predicted to be the same way into next
    week...
    
    Y'all got any jobs out there in Denver where its DRY?