Comments on: Comfort Rides

By: DJW

DJW — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:34:30 +0000

You struggled up Hog’s once upon a time? And balked at Jacob’s Ladder?

I find that hard to believe. But, honestly, it gives me a lot of hope, a lot. While you may be *the* fat cyclist, I am *a* fat cyclist (T.G. Twin Six makes XXL) trying to become the guy who can talk all the way up a steep climb.

Enjoy your time in Cali!

By: Zac

Zac — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:42:12 +0000

so i remember the fact you were going to be in a fashion show and said something like — “So this should be a lot of fun for me. I’ll report on my experience Monday. Probably with photos.”
i haven’t heard about it :)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:58:05 +0000

@Daisy (9:20 pm) – I had the exact same response the first time I rode Slickrock. God, it was scary! But 10 years later, I’m happy to say it’s one of my favorite rides.

All it takes to change a new ride into a comfort ride is repetition. And maybe guts. But I’m a wuss, so I don’t think so.

By: MattC

MattC — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:58:45 +0000

@ Mongo…EXACTLY! It’s all about the time. The only way to find NEW favorite trails is to actually ride NEW trails! Surely the first time won’t typically be epic (especially if you ride alone)…partly cuz you need to sandbag due to the unknown nature of what lies ahead…and because of that it lacks the training stamp of an well-known trail…but the adventure factor alone is worth it! When I do a new trail, I like to re-do it again fairly soon while it’s fresh in my mind… so I can now enjoy it knowing what’s in store.

And I have to admit that I USED to abhor the IPOD when riding (both rd and Mt)…however Fatty got me hooked on the shuffle/Arriva headphone rig…and I now use it on both bikes…but only when climbing (well…mostly)…and on flats occasionally…but downhills are OUT (mostly cuz you can’t her the music over the wind noise). But when Mt biking I do kind of like the sounds of my tires on the trail, and the sounds of nature. That is just a diff kind of music.

By: Mongo

Mongo — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:06:05 +0000

I’m in both heads on the new vs. old debate. If I have the time, there is nothing finer than a new trail even if it means the trail I’m following ends and I end up climbing up a 400 ft cliff with my bike thrown over my shoulder and a crotchedy buddy chirping away. If I don’t have the time (probably 99.9% of the time), the local trails that I have down to the minute are still a little slice of heaven.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:04:45 +0000

I just laughed like a crazy person as I read that. That’s me alright, although with a more road bike bent, I was chattering to my daughter on our family ride this weekend, much the same way “watch this hill, you want some speed coming up it, but look how nice it flats out, oh yeah, I remember how that used to suck, it only gets easier, look how pretty that field is, you know I see a red tailed hawk up on that wire quite a bit, lets look for him today” blah blah blah for the whole ride. I didn’t really think about it till I read this, and I was like yeah, I guess I do that sometimes too. :)

Good post Fatty!

By: Greg @ Greg Rides Trails

Greg @ Greg Rides Trails — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:57:57 +0000

Ha yeah the old guys do tend to do that: relate all of the epic crashes that they’ve witnessed on different sections of trail, etc etc. Looking back is only good every now and then. It’s more important to focus on the here-and-now, the ride of today, and enjoying the moment that you’re currently in instead of being caught up in the days of yester-year.

I know at times I am too focused on what I have done instead of what I am currently doing or am going to do, but mostly, I try to keep my eyes up, looking down the trail!

By: skippy

skippy — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:43:11 +0000

@buckythedonkey the ride around Richmond Park London is amazingly beautiful and an ideal circuit for 100MoN, perhaps better than Centennial Park Sydney!
Past days as i recover i have enjoyed reading “Fatty’s selection of postings”!
Didn’t make it to Amsterdam for 8thmay as was there in April to sort facilities but both the “Tax Shower & IPC ” would not cooperate in setting up the necessary infrastructure to collect donations!
Over the years i have had to be careful about collecting monies as each country has it’s own laws & unless you keep “the books correctly” a swift kick in the derriere is the result.
here in austria i am taxed on interest & divis received elsewhere already taxed that never makes it into austria.Taxed again even though the Taxed money is received elsewhere!Bears repeating as it is an example of the screwy system that exists in europe where the “Rich” pay no tax and the poor charities are penalized!
My 100MoN was Ziller to Brennero to Seefeld to home, lots more than required but a grey day visiting into 3 countries passed the time and improved the fitness

By: Ian Thomson

Ian Thomson — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:23:33 +0000

I am kinda wary of new trails that are easy and fun. Broke my foot last year on one of these new trails that my buddies wanted me to see. You will love it, fast and and not too technical. I tell you gravel, speed, and hard left and right turns, could spell disaster.

I hate talking when I ride, mostly because I can’t breathe. Susie, those pictures are great!!!

I also await your experiences with the AToC!!

By: buckythedonkey

buckythedonkey — Tue, 18 May 2010 07:29:43 +0000

Short-sleeved jersey season: w00t!

I was abroad for 100MoN Day but did it a week late – all alone not long after dawn in Richmond Park near my home in London. Just me and the deer to start with, which was nice. However, I don’t think I will never attempt a solo, short-lap century ever again…

I see that Noodle has started her journey: http://nodirectionknown.com/blog/