First Century of the Year and some other fond memories

As a cyclist, I feel very lucky to have shared in other people's accomplishments as others have shared in mine!  Today, was no exception.  We rode our first century of the year with 7 other fine cyclists.  Today, I feel honored to share in my friends' first century.  Nilsa and Marti rode their first century with us today!!!  Marti is a bad a**, just so you know, so it felt great to be on his first century.  Nilsa has only been riding a relatively short time so we are all SO proud of her for sticking it out!  What makes this even nicer is that they are married.  It feels great to share in such a great accomplishment. 

This allowed me to reflect on some other fond memories of sharing in other friends' accomplishments.  One I am particularly proud of is sharing Lou's first double century weekend (I think that is correct) a couple of years ago along with my peep, Marvelous Marvin.  Lou is a great friend of mine and has really come such a long way.  He has overcome many things that some people would never be able to get through so to share this was fantastic! Another memory I was able to share with Lou is when he got to his 10,000 mile mark in 2010...okay, now he is a regular bad a**!

Another fond memory come from 2007 CNC when 8 of us started a century and for 4 of them, it was their first.  It was particularly great to share my friends', Allison and Sandy, first century.  I think that has bonded us together for life!  These are some fantastic ladies and I feel honored to have shared in their first century.  Since then Allison has ridden a 4:55 century and Sandy has ridden at least a portion, if not all, of the past four CNCs.  I was also thrilled to have shared this with one of my favorite long distance peeps, Jimmy D.  Jimmy D. is a whole other inspiration: Type 1 Diabetic, ice climber, awesome cyclist and all around Bad A**...but don't tell him I told you!  Jimmy and I have shared many long miles during CNC!!!

Another more recent memory was riding another first century with our friend, Wayne, on Veterans Day 2010.  Wayne, while a handsome devil and good cyclist, is not a particularly young guy and has overcome being a lazy 220 pound man not that long ago.  He is absolutely one of the nicest men I have met.  It was so nice to share it with him because he is a pretty groovy guy and has overcome many obstacles and smiles all the time.  Oh, and Vince, our resident 76 year old cyclist was with us for this century and he basically could have kicked our a**es.  So, when people complain they can't do something because they are old...I want to them to see Vince.

The path to greatness is along with others.  - Baltasar Gracion, Spanish Priest

I was looking for a quote about you never feel better than when you help others.  But this quote is more  appropriate.  Honestly, I feel so lucky to have shared in these moments.  What makes me even more lucky is I got to share some of them with my favorite sista girl, Leo...and that is a whole other blog post!!

B Groupians

Yesterday, I convinced my girlfriend, Leo, to ride our regular club ride in the COLD!  We actually had a ton of fun and got in a 41 mile ride.  In the summer, our club usually divides into 4 groups based on ability level.  In the winter, we have 2 groups most of the time.  Usually we all ride together to the first stop and I love we started really doing that.  There we split up...in the winter, I usually like to ride between 40-50 miles at a reasonable pace.  We also made up a new language along the way.  Geekinese, Autonese, Leofer, Jenona...be glad you weren't riding behind us because we cracked ourselves up.

Yesterday, there was 7 of us in the B Group.  Now, this is nothing against A group cause I love 'em and there are days I wish I was that fast!  So, when Claude and I were chatting about the groups and he said he would be in the A group soon.  I said we were more interesting and besides we would cut a ride short to eat.  So, in our new language, this would make us the B-Groupians.  What is a B-Groupian?  We ride anywhere between 18 to 22 mph (sometimes more and sometimes less) steady. We crack ourselves up when riding.  We cut rides short to eat or talk about food while riding and what we will eat when we are done.  Some of us make these crazy mileage goals and ride LONG several days a week in the summer.  We are quick to go back and pick up a stragler or two and slow the group down.  Sometimes we will ride as slow as the slowest person and don't mind a bit.  It's not always about the speed but the ride.  Do I ever want to be in A Group and want folks to think I am a fast cyclist?  Do I get offended when someone says (when we are riding 17-18 mph on warm up) that's fast for you?  Yes, both of those things are true.  Do I know some people will say you are not trying hard enough or have some other rude comment?  Yes.  Here is the bottom line, I like being a B-Groupian.  I like riding where we can chat sometimes, I like laughing, I like eating, I like riding long at a steady pace, I like helping people love the sport I love, I like staying with folks that fall off because someone helped me and it is only right to pay it forward, I like that sometimes it is about the ride and not the speed, I like not always feeling like it is this big rush to get through with the ride, I like being where people don't make you feel bad about having a bad day because we all have them.  I like getting off my bike and then going to lunch with friends in cycling gear so I don't look crazy in spandex alone.  Luckily, my peeps, although they could easily be A groupers, are B-Groupians too. So, ride on B-Groupians, ride on!

The Ice Ride

So, for the past two days I have been stuck in my house. First, there was between 2 and 4 inches of snow and then it iced over (Okay, northern folks...I live in the South, we don't get that much snow or ice!)  So, this morning I decided that I should venture out on my little commuter with cross tires.  Now, if you know me at all, this is amazing because I hate, hate, HATE the cold.  People! I am from Texas where we can have a month of days over 100 degrees and not bat an eye but if there is a drop of snow or ice, we will close the entire state for a week. Anyway, I bundle up and I am SURE I looked ridiculous.  I have bags on my feet - thanks Pat D. for this tip, a goofy hat on and two pair of gloves.  So, out I go.  I can tell I am not the only one who has not ventured out in two days.  The streets are almost completely quiet and the cars are covered in ice and snow.  The road is fine but when I get to the trail...ICE!  Now, I am not a mountain biker but I like to be in the woods and toodle along.  I do think 5 miles of riding in the woods should sometimes equal 20 on the road.   The woods are actually gorgeous with the snow and ice.  The sun is hitting the ice on the trees and glistening, the trail is pretty with the ice and snow in almost pristine condition.  It was almost peaceful even with my tires crunching the snow as I slowly roll along.  Turns were interesting and if I had to dodge a tree, it could have been a disaster.  I make a short circle in the woods and head for home.  As I exit the trails, I see people out scaping ice off their cars and getting ready to head out.  This actually made me sort of sad.  I guess I don't mind when life is a little slower and things are quiet and peaceful and we are not rushing around like crazy people.  Guess this brought me back to the real world.  So, my total ride was a little over 3 miles but I keep thinking in my quest for 10,000 miles this year, 3 miles could make all the difference.

Snow...

Usually in the South, it is pretty mild through the Winter.  We can usually ride with some regularity...this year, not so much.  Today, it is snowing and although 2 inches is forecasted, it looks like it is way more than that and it's still coming down.  Yesterday the high was 38 degrees and usually it is much colder on the bike.  Now, I know there are some really tough folks out there that ride in this weather.  I am from Texas where if it snows the roads literally roll themselves up.  I can take 100 degree days in the sun but cold, ice and snow - H*** to the NO!  So, luckily today I found this article from http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=685&sc=3040+++++ that helps  the weather sensitive folks like me.

12 Quick Workouts for Work or Home

Article By: Megan Gressor

You don't have to "work out" to benefit from exercise. Any activity will improve health and aid weight loss — as long as you keep moving. The human body was designed to move, yet many of us now scarcely stir, spending all day in sedentary jobs and then driving home for an evening of television, surfing the Web or video games.  Our modern entertainment habits and labor-saving devices — from cars to computers to elevators — are having disastrous effects on the national waistline. A quarter of us never engage in physical activity at all, according to the American Heart Association, while 60 percent of adults don't get enough exercise to keep fit. The result of this, combined with poor eating habits? The epidemic of obesity and associated health problems currently gripping the United States.

The good news is that weight gain can often be avoided or reversed with regular physical activity. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week — the U.S. Surgeon General's recommendation, as well as part of the Good Health Guidelines in Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ Program. Any activity that you enjoy and resolve to stick with is fine. "Exercise" doesn't have to mean working out at the gym or engaging in competitive sports: It can be any physical activity, including gardening or housework, that gets you moving and using energy.  It isn't even necessary to pack that 30 minutes of activity into a single burst; it can be achieved in shorter increments — such as three 10-minute sessions — throughout the day. Try to increase your physical activity in as many ways as you can. Below are some tips for doing just that, whether you're at work or at home.

At work
•Walk to work, or at least get off the bus or train a stop early and finish the journey on foot. If you drive, try to park a distance from your office.
•Program regular breaks into your workday to move around the office.
•Take the stairs, not the elevator.
•Go for a 20-minute walk at lunchtime.
•Visit your colleagues in person, rather than calling or e-mailing them.
•Stand whenever possible (while on the phone, for example).
•Time to kill before an appointment? Try walking up and down the hall or doing some calf raises.

At home
•Walk or ride a bike to the store instead of driving.
•Hide the TV remote, and get up to change the channel. Better still, turn off the TV and play with your kids, or take your dog for a run.
•Wash your car manually.
•Recruit an activity buddy: You're more likely to persevere if you exercise with some company.
•Keep comfortable shoes handy in the car; use them whenever an opportunity to exercise arises.
Be sure to reward yourself when you reach your exercise goals.

Build it up
One half hour of moderate activity a day is usually all that's required to maintain adequate physical health. If you want to boost your cardiovascular fitness, gradually add more vigorous activity, like running, in-line skating or jumping rope, to your regimen until you've built up to 30- to 60-minutes sessions, three to four times a week.

10 reasons to get moving
Need an excuse to get active? There are at least 10 that we can think of! Regular moderate exercise...
1.Makes you feel great
2.Helps boost your metabolism
3.Burns off calories, aiding weight loss
4.Tones muscles and improves shape.
5.Helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels
6.Can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers
7.Improves sleep, promotes relaxation and combats depression
8.Increases strength and flexibility
9.Keeps bones healthy and prevents falls in the elderly
10.Helps you maintain your desired weight for a lifetime

Send some motivation????

Winter makes me unmotivated...so, here is some advice for staying motivated on these yucky days...here's hoping it gives me a kick in the pants...

Increasing cycling motivation with these 13 tips

Sometimes any sport can be difficult to motivate yourself to do, even if it is so beautiful a sport as cycling.

You can increase your motivation in many different ways. The methods that motivates you, often depends on what time of year you are at, and the situation you are in right now.

Here we list 13 tips to increase motivation, so you can continue your progress with constant motivation in your baggage.

1. Use objectives to build up a structured training sessions. The training from both long and short-term goals is motivating in itself.

2. Train varied bicycle training. You should alternate between long, short, soft and hard training days.

3. Vary your training. Do a long hill in heavy gear sitting in the saddle all the way to the top. Or try standing all the way up the hill in heavy gear.

4. Train shorter. Many often train to far in relation to the individual level. Even if you think you train exactly the length that match your level, on a day where you're lacking of motivation try to train shorter. Generally, you will end up being more fresh when you get home, and hopefully fresher the next day.

5. Get into your training clothes a.s.a.p. Once the couch is jumped upon your back when you get home from work, it gets even harder for you to get out the door to train.

6. To watch a video with professionals while training at a hometrainer may also be motivating!

7. Try cycle to and from work. It cost valuable time if you need to get home to change clothes before you can cycle. This time can be utilized for training, and get you into your  bike clothes directly after work.

8. Choose a different route. Take a day out of your calendar where you one day cycle on roads that you have never been before. Eg. turn suddenly to the right where you tend to run left.

9. Combine your workout routes. If you have 2-3 solid training routes it can often be motivating combining the routes so you would create a new route.

10. If you have a day where you lack of energy or motivation for training that is planned, try an hour in the swimming pool instead. Swimming will not involve your muscles as hard as that running can do. Even on hot summer days the swimming pool may seem relaxing, though you might train 30-40 min.

11. Cycle a short day, or drop completely bicycle training. Follow this up by going to bed early so you are rested the next day and hopefully more motivated to practice.

12. You can replace your bicycle training by taking a walk in an exercise center. Remember that you do not have to train hard in training equipment, as your muscles in the season is not ready for this kind of training. Indoor cycling is often good in a gym where there is usually television and others to watch training.

13. You should alternate between training in a group and training alone. To train alone for long periods, can reduce motivation. Find training partners or groups you can train with on a regular basis, like eg. two times a week.

http://improvecycling.com/index.php/articles/improve-cycling/motivation/134-increase-cycling-motivation-with-theese-13-tips