Out Of Shape and Lost

[ThorSonic]

I hoping to find one of you kind and experienced souls who would be willing to take an out of shape (trying to quit smoking) newbie out on your easy days/restoration rides to give me a little insight in how I can ride better, get in better shape and not drive you crazy by how slow I can be.

I know it is a tall order. Hi, my name is Richard and I'm an couch potato holic. I am hoping that I may be able to ply you with an after ride beer.

Thanks

[Trevize1138]

Hey, Richard!

I think you'd find more than enough people willing to take a n00b out on the trails and, in particular, for a chance to ride it a bit slower and take in the scenery for once :). One thing some of us actually need to do more of is ride slower rather than faster because there is such a thing as base building.

Especially this time of year and with the spring riding season nigh what a lot of us really are going to try to do is long, slow distance. Burn fat, not muscle. I'd also keep your eyes peeled on this site for group rides. The good group rides have the full range of riders, from very leasurely n00bs who are stuck in granny gear to full-on racers and everyone inbetween.

Believe it or not, you'll actually get in amazing shape riding slow. The catch is you need to do it at least 4 times a week and 5 or 6 times a week if you can manage the time. Do that for a month or two and you'll be amazed at how much healthier you feel.

I also think riders like you are the ones we really need to court to this sport. The more beginner-friendly mountain biking is the better, I say. Strength in numbers is what it's all about and if it can be like skiing where any couch potato can ride a lift and blast down a hill on rentals but still say they had the time of their lives, then we've arrived. :)

[timmy]

Richard,

If you need someone slow to ride with let me know. I'm always the last one in the group. :mad:

[el gueche]

i'm up for a long slow ride down the greenway tomorrow am - meet? lee's liguor lounge? i'm open to ideas - we can ride out to hopkins and back - we can talk about motorcycles if your into that sort of thing, or even bicycles, ha - 9am?

[el gueche]

maybe next sunday?

[Jeff Lewis]

Damn, he must be lost again.:crazy: I think some serious intervention will be needed once this weather clears up.

[TML]

I know it is a tall order. Hi, my name is Richard and I'm an couch potato holic. I am hoping that I may be able to ply you with an after ride beer.

Thanks

. . . what the doctor ordered. . .

Keep your eyes on the Group rides section of the site. The Tuggs rides have begun. Usually a weeknight road/path stroll starting and finishing at Tuggs bar in the St. Anthony area of Mpls. It's a good slow ride/base builder with a fun bunch of folks. Post ride refreshments at Tuggs.

--Troy

[el gueche]

wha' happene' - the window licker

[goatgirl]

You need to quit smoking. There's nothing like an off road climb to re introduce yourself to your lungs. I quit smoking and started serious biking at the age of 40. After smoking for 20+ years I'll never have the lung capacity that the people I compete with do, however, it's amazing the things I've accomplished in the last 5 years in terms of being competitive on a bike.
Group rides and casual riding is fun, but set a goal for yourself like one of the MNSCS races this season. Also,:banana: If you start training now, you'll be in shape for the beginner class at the thursday night series at Buck hill in June. It's a blast and a great way to experience racing. Take it for what it is and what you put into it and you'll have a great time. Remember it's always about the beer!

[ThorSonic]

Hey all, I'm back. Yes, Richard I would be up for a slow ride on Sunday(and motorcycle talk is always welcomed.) I was gone because I was admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit on Saturday. I did ride Saturday, but not for very long, nor very hard. But I still had the problem of not being able to get my heart rate up - it would just hit a brick wall and I couldn't go any faster. It had been like this for a couple months, hence my request for riding partners.

A couple hours after the ride I was sitting at my computer and my heart rate was at 120 plus and wouldn't slow down, and I was also experiencing chest pains. A few phone calls to nurses and off to the emergency room I go. Very long and interesting story short: My heart is perfectly fine. No blockage, no eschemia; nothing bad. Minerals, vitamins, electrolytes, enzymes all good. No infections, etc... They won't really say anything about what caused it, but after 28 hours of a nitroglycerin drip (which gives you one hell of a headache), a few shots of heperin, and a mistake in medication that dropped my blood pressure to about 90/35 and my pulse braiding down to the 30's (I don't remember that part, go figure) I got stabilized and went to a regular medicine bed. Another night of making sure all was stable and off to a stress test. I suprised the technicians and myself when I was able to exceed what was supposed to be my top heart rate, and would have gone for more, but treadmills going very fast are sort of scary things without a helmet.

Having never been admitted to a hospital before, I am very glad to be home and look forward to sleeping without a blood pressure cuff automatically squeezing my arm every 30 minutes and the between times being punctuated by nurses and doctors giving me a shot, drawing blood, and generally making sure that I do not get a moment of sleep.

And, of course, the discharge papers say there are no limits to the physical activity I can do. I'm looking forward to getting out and seeing how the engine runs after this odd and unexplanable tune up.:banana:

Richard

P.S. I can't wait for the bill:crazy2:

[TML]

Hey all, I'm back.

Dang, Richard. Interesting story. Glad to hear you're back on your feet. Hope the recovery goes smooth and quickly. Keep on rollin'. . .

--TML

[el gueche]

great, googely moogely!

[Trevize1138]

Ah, walk it off! Take a salt tablet! [/sarcasm]

Jeez, man! That's frightening stuff. Best of luck in getting yourself in shape with riding. I bet you'll be feeling like a new man in no time. :)

[KleinCrazy]

I am going to say right now I am not responsible for your incident!!!!


Did you go for a ride after we hung it up at Salem on Saturday? I know you showed up late and didn;t get a chcne to get more than about 1/2 a mile of riding in while we wre there so I am curious.

Maybe your heart was telling you to ride more!!!!

Since your clear to go, keep an eye on the boards, for more riding announcements.

L8er
James

[manual63]

I hoping to find one of you kind and experienced souls who would be willing to take an out of shape (trying to quit smoking) newbie out on your easy days/restoration rides to give me a little insight in how I can ride better, get in better shape and not drive you crazy by how slow I can be.

I know it is a tall order. Hi, my name is Richard and I'm an couch potato holic. I am hoping that I may be able to ply you with an after ride beer.

Thanks

I suggest that you commit yourself to quitting smoking. That is more damaging to your health than being a couch potato. The reason most people can't quit smoking in my opinion.......they don't really want to quit. If they really wanted to quit, they would be determined enough to do it.

Keep a watch here on MORC. I have done a few beginner ride sessions and they would be good for someone like yourself who wants to learn more.

[Little D]

Unless you've quit smoking you'll never know how hard it is to leave it behind.

The cold turkey never worked for me. First thing to do is stop smoking before noon. Then nothing until after five. Once you get past that; five days a week, then the really hard part starts. But if you can quit, it makes everything in your life much, much better including your scent.

[el gueche]

richard, what about sunday?

[ThorSonic]

I'm going to be watching cars turn left for hours on end in Daytona :)

[J2]

After a hard ride at 'the farm' I thought I was going to die. I could barely catch my breath after every climb (of course I was on a 40 lb. bike) reguardless, i decided that day to quit smoking and haven't smoked since. That was almost 2 years ago. So I guess I can say mountain biking helped me quit smoking.

I must admit I have picked up a new habit which I feel has substitued smoking and that is espresso. I get a large americano and the local caribou coffee every morning and sometimes one after work for a 'second wind'. It is far healthier than smoking and gives you something to do when you drive which is probably one of the harder times for people to not think about smoking. Of course in the evening I suggest that you drive home first and bike to the coffee shop ;)