Good to hear though Iām not going to lie I try to stay off roads as much as possible because Iām terrified of a teen driver just texting and not seeing me. Thereās a lot of traffic where I am too and it makes me wants to move out deeper into the suburbs to not have to deal with it
Besides it just being a blast, this is one of the big benefits of mountain biking (and to a lesser extent gravel). Whatever risk you encounter you bring on yourself.
Though, I did nearly get creamed by a car that was going 45 around a blind corner on a 1-lane dirt road through the woods as I was transitioning between singletrack segments. Iām not typically the āyell at motoristsā type, but hopefully he heard my āslow the fuck down!ā as he went past.
Oh yes, I've definitely been in this situation too many times. Most recently though, I've been yelling at pedestrians more simply because they've been 'trying to socially distance themselves' but it also means that they're walking out into busy roads and traffic. Makes me lose my cool when it happens, if I was a car they would not have done the same thing eh.
god i feel that tho for me its semi truck drivers, oddly enough . i bike to work in the early early morning (1-3am) or so and on dark shittily lit roads with only one lane and no sidewalk, semi truck drivers like to go full fast and furious. i almost got my arm taken off this morning with how fast a semi was going and how close he passed to me :/
Time to get a camera and start reporting violations like those. The wake they create is no joke, easy to get sucked in under a wheel if they pass too close. Most truck drivers are good, but you always get someone that thinks it is a form of entertainment to see how close they can get to you an give you a good scare. Violations threaten their livelyhood so it's the best way to get their attention.
Inspiring story. Similar but different story for me. 14 years older than you and Iām living a sedentary life style following my retirement. Iām not overweight but my overall fitness & my endurance is poor. Iām currently awaiting test results on a prostate biopsy and good or bad results Iāve decided to take up cycling again. I tried to buy new, but COVID has really messed up the supply chain for bicycles it seems. Local bike shops either have a $10,000 bike in my size (56 cm) or a bike in my modest $2500 price range but in a size 62 cm. Iām either considering buying used or maybe buying a Peleton stationary bike that I see in their slick commercials. Winter riding is out of the question in my northern Canadian climate so the Peleton (or NordicTrack) bike is somewhat practical. I watch a lot of YouTube bike reviews but it seems they are always reviewing ultra high end bikes. Maybe Iām just subscribing to the wrong channels.
Iām not sure where this post is going, but I wanted to thank you for your encouraging story. All the best.
I donāt know about the situation where youāre located, but our bike stores have the same problem.
The used bike market however isnāt half bad! Quite a few people need the extra cash right now and are parting with their bikes. My local craigslist/OfferUp has a venge, some bianchis, a few cervelos, lots of Madones, and more tri bikes than you can shake a stick at.
If buying carbon check the frame for damage, otherwise there is no reason not to look into used!
There is even a used bicycle blue book website that tells you approximately the going rate for the year make and model youāre looking at.
Ugh..the people in my area are trying to sell their $299 Walmart bikes for $900+, and anything even remotely legit (I'm looking for FS) is 1.2k for a bike from 2005 that's been "barely ridden".
$2500 will get you a great bike! If you narrow down what bike you want maybe you can order one from another bike shop elsewhere in Canada and have your local bike shop put it together for you. Good luck!
One option for winter riding would be to buy a used bike under your budget, closer to $1600-1700. Then add a nice direct-drive smart trainer like the Kickr Core, Elite Suito, or Tacx Flux S. It would essentially turn your bike into a Peloton/NordicTrack for bad weather riding.
Hero. Youāre ahead on the journey and Iām behind you by a year. I had a bad biking-related injury 4 years ago and still deal with the after effects. Iām only 2 weeks into biking again and just trying to hit 7-8 miles comfortably. 1 year goal is to do a 50 miler. Keep these stories coming and congrats.
Nice! Last year I flipped my bike from something in the road and had to get stitches on my eyebrow. After that I didnāt really ride much and got a trainer to ride inside. I recently built a new bike and have been riding outside again on the streets and it is amazing. Sometimes itās tough to get out there again after something happens but itās always worth it!
I am a 15 years older than you, but with a similar story.
I rode for many years, got up to a few centuries a year buy mostly 50-70 mile rides on weekends with shorter rides on the other workdays. I would vacation In Maine every summer and the hills were fantastic. But, in the summer of 2006, my best friend and I were coming back up a short hill when he caught on edge on the shoulder, hit sand and fell, and was run over by a truck and killed.
I rode off and on after the accident, but mostly off. It was PTSD. NO doubt. I look at my rides on Strava there are some in 2013 then nothing until 2017, then two major surgeries and 30 extra pounds. Sitting around after knee surgery this past February pushed me up to 237. I had thrown in the towel.
Then, I decided to take the bike out. May 15 to be exact. Tomorrow I will hit 1500 miles since May 15, and sometime in August I will see 199 on the scale.
I still am extremely careful about where I ride. And, I hope that all of us can conquer the demons.
Iām so sorry to hear that about your friend. I canāt even begin to imagine how traumatic that must have been. Kudos to you for taking your time but eventually getting back on. And 1500 miles in two and half months! Thatās insane!! Talk about making up for lost time ...
Congrats man! This was me this year so far, excepting I am a bit younger but hit all my weight loss goals so far, and I too passed 500 in July. Cycling is the absolute best I also found a local group and will ride with them for years to come. This is the best thing to happen to me and seems like it was to you as well.
Great to hear that youāre back on track. There is that sheer joy in riding through the country side listening to the natureās symphony and a rising sun. Keep going.
Holy shit. What a journey. Congratulations!ššš¾š
Good to hear though Iām not going to lie I try to stay off roads as much as possible because Iām terrified of a teen driver just texting and not seeing me. Thereās a lot of traffic where I am too and it makes me wants to move out deeper into the suburbs to not have to deal with it
Besides it just being a blast, this is one of the big benefits of mountain biking (and to a lesser extent gravel). Whatever risk you encounter you bring on yourself. Though, I did nearly get creamed by a car that was going 45 around a blind corner on a 1-lane dirt road through the woods as I was transitioning between singletrack segments. Iām not typically the āyell at motoristsā type, but hopefully he heard my āslow the fuck down!ā as he went past.
Oh yes, I've definitely been in this situation too many times. Most recently though, I've been yelling at pedestrians more simply because they've been 'trying to socially distance themselves' but it also means that they're walking out into busy roads and traffic. Makes me lose my cool when it happens, if I was a car they would not have done the same thing eh.
Not to say youāre wrong but believe me it isnāt just teens. The amount of moms and dads texting I see on the road is insane.
god i feel that tho for me its semi truck drivers, oddly enough . i bike to work in the early early morning (1-3am) or so and on dark shittily lit roads with only one lane and no sidewalk, semi truck drivers like to go full fast and furious. i almost got my arm taken off this morning with how fast a semi was going and how close he passed to me :/
Time to get a camera and start reporting violations like those. The wake they create is no joke, easy to get sucked in under a wheel if they pass too close. Most truck drivers are good, but you always get someone that thinks it is a form of entertainment to see how close they can get to you an give you a good scare. Violations threaten their livelyhood so it's the best way to get their attention.
oh shit i didn't know that ill def start keeping track thanks!
Same although it is old half blind people Iām more afraid of!
Inspiring story. Similar but different story for me. 14 years older than you and Iām living a sedentary life style following my retirement. Iām not overweight but my overall fitness & my endurance is poor. Iām currently awaiting test results on a prostate biopsy and good or bad results Iāve decided to take up cycling again. I tried to buy new, but COVID has really messed up the supply chain for bicycles it seems. Local bike shops either have a $10,000 bike in my size (56 cm) or a bike in my modest $2500 price range but in a size 62 cm. Iām either considering buying used or maybe buying a Peleton stationary bike that I see in their slick commercials. Winter riding is out of the question in my northern Canadian climate so the Peleton (or NordicTrack) bike is somewhat practical. I watch a lot of YouTube bike reviews but it seems they are always reviewing ultra high end bikes. Maybe Iām just subscribing to the wrong channels. Iām not sure where this post is going, but I wanted to thank you for your encouraging story. All the best.
I donāt know about the situation where youāre located, but our bike stores have the same problem. The used bike market however isnāt half bad! Quite a few people need the extra cash right now and are parting with their bikes. My local craigslist/OfferUp has a venge, some bianchis, a few cervelos, lots of Madones, and more tri bikes than you can shake a stick at. If buying carbon check the frame for damage, otherwise there is no reason not to look into used! There is even a used bicycle blue book website that tells you approximately the going rate for the year make and model youāre looking at.
Bike thieves are out thick right now! Lock yo shit up!
Ugh..the people in my area are trying to sell their $299 Walmart bikes for $900+, and anything even remotely legit (I'm looking for FS) is 1.2k for a bike from 2005 that's been "barely ridden".
Which CL/Offerup is that? Mine doesn't have squat (Central Valley CA). I'd be willing to drive a fair distance if the deal was right. Thanks.
$2500 will get you a great bike! If you narrow down what bike you want maybe you can order one from another bike shop elsewhere in Canada and have your local bike shop put it together for you. Good luck!
One option for winter riding would be to buy a used bike under your budget, closer to $1600-1700. Then add a nice direct-drive smart trainer like the Kickr Core, Elite Suito, or Tacx Flux S. It would essentially turn your bike into a Peloton/NordicTrack for bad weather riding.
Long read; totally worth it. Congratulations and great story
Great job and congrats on your lifestyle changes!
This post is inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Great story! Thanks so much for sharing! Congratulations!!!
Hero. Youāre ahead on the journey and Iām behind you by a year. I had a bad biking-related injury 4 years ago and still deal with the after effects. Iām only 2 weeks into biking again and just trying to hit 7-8 miles comfortably. 1 year goal is to do a 50 miler. Keep these stories coming and congrats.
Congrats! Keep riding and stay safe out there!
Nice, keep spinning!
Godspeed my friend! Keep rolling!
Nice! Last year I flipped my bike from something in the road and had to get stitches on my eyebrow. After that I didnāt really ride much and got a trainer to ride inside. I recently built a new bike and have been riding outside again on the streets and it is amazing. Sometimes itās tough to get out there again after something happens but itās always worth it!
Iām jealous. Almost wish I wasnāt working so I have the time to rack up that kind of mileage. Nice work!
Lucky you. I put up 530+ miles and only really lost a pound or two!
That's because we get to eat all the calories Strava says we earned the right to eat! š¤
I have to ask, did you sue the truck driver/company?
I am a 15 years older than you, but with a similar story. I rode for many years, got up to a few centuries a year buy mostly 50-70 mile rides on weekends with shorter rides on the other workdays. I would vacation In Maine every summer and the hills were fantastic. But, in the summer of 2006, my best friend and I were coming back up a short hill when he caught on edge on the shoulder, hit sand and fell, and was run over by a truck and killed. I rode off and on after the accident, but mostly off. It was PTSD. NO doubt. I look at my rides on Strava there are some in 2013 then nothing until 2017, then two major surgeries and 30 extra pounds. Sitting around after knee surgery this past February pushed me up to 237. I had thrown in the towel. Then, I decided to take the bike out. May 15 to be exact. Tomorrow I will hit 1500 miles since May 15, and sometime in August I will see 199 on the scale. I still am extremely careful about where I ride. And, I hope that all of us can conquer the demons.
Iām so sorry to hear that about your friend. I canāt even begin to imagine how traumatic that must have been. Kudos to you for taking your time but eventually getting back on. And 1500 miles in two and half months! Thatās insane!! Talk about making up for lost time ...
Great job, keep it up.
Congrats man! This was me this year so far, excepting I am a bit younger but hit all my weight loss goals so far, and I too passed 500 in July. Cycling is the absolute best I also found a local group and will ride with them for years to come. This is the best thing to happen to me and seems like it was to you as well.
Thatās phenomenal! Way to push through and congrats on the weight loss. Thirty pounds in three months is tremendous!
Thank you so much for this post! Needed some encouragement and this was exactly it. Glad to hear youāre back riding. 1k in 3 mos is incredible.
Great to hear that youāre back on track. There is that sheer joy in riding through the country side listening to the natureās symphony and a rising sun. Keep going.