boomana

Thanks, Mike. Damn, that pic confirms I really need to drop 25 more pounds, and helmet hair isn't my best look. At least I have motivation now!

I'm seriously in love with this bike. I rode it around for a short bit and didn't want to get off. In order to make it fit, the seat's a little lower than I would like, and had to go with an 80 stem, but the fit is perfect. Vince also changed my shim on my short leg, and I feel like I have real contact with the pedal for the first time.

Thanks, Greg. I ordered one for my devil nano, and one for the devil phone I'm hoping to get my mother when she comes here in two weeks.

^ Sounds really nice, Chris. I rode my bike, read books, listened to music, made kale chips (my new addiction), and plan on doing nothing at all the remainder of the day.

^ oops. making corrections now.

Just got back from a 23-mile ride (for the FL folk- from my house to Palmetto and back), which is really only my second ride (I'm not counting the 7-mile starter one), since I got my cast off. There was an unpleasant wind, with 16-20 mph gusts going south, and I was just about to turn around when my trainer pulled up next to me and made me do seven more miles Going south, I was doing about 11-14 mph and, again, my heart rate was in the 150s, even got up to the 160, which freaked me out a bit, but headed back home, I was going 14-16 mph, and my heart rate was mostly in the low 130s. My cadence sucked both directions, though I was in very easy gears. I feel like I did the first months of having a bike. So, if I'm going to use Sunday as my starting day, my goal for this week is 60 miles. I'm going to ride to my two workout sessions (3 miles each way), and get another 25 in, hopefully on Saturday. If I can get up to doing 30-40 miles in 18/19-ish mph mile zone, I'll be ready to ride with you guys again. I'm hoping for a month from now. Getting the Calfee tomorrow! Excited, though it's so damn light, I'd be afraid to ride in the wind I was in today with it. I'd be blown away.

Happy birthday!

Happiest of birthdays to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday!

Nate, they sometimes have great deals, but not usually stuff I'm interested in, though that might not be true for you. Lots of outdoorsie stuff. I've gotten some really cute Columbia blouses for something 80% off. The gels are under a buck apiece, and that's a pretty good deal. I'm not big on gels, and prefer Accel 2nd Surge if I gotta. Since I'm on my new diet kick, and am looking into different foods for on the bike, one of my Crossfit friends, who is a marathon runner, recommended these for training. http://www.peterrabbitorganics.com/ It's organic baby food, but in pouches. Seems you can get them even at Walmart. I might try. Didn't get on the bike this weekend. The cold froze my ankle up, and I was feeling lazy. Bad combo. It probably would have done my ankle a bit of good to get it moving, even if doing only 10 miles.

If you like the gu gels, here's a good price: http://www.theclymb.com/brand-event/1941/Cycle365

Yard is looking good, Mike!

I suggest getting a government grant to study the issue.

You'd have to lose the beard, I imagine.

Well, damn. As long as we're throwing our fattage numbers around, 135 is my goal end goal. I'm currently 161.2 with my 1st short goal of being in the 150s by New Years, even if thats 159.99999999. As far as training goes, I've mapped out January already. I'm currently weight training four days a week (1/2 hour) and getting back on the bike on the weekends, cautiously increasing distance until I feel confident my ankle can handle things. If all goes well, I'm going to cut the weights back to two or three times a week, and add in the two weekday interval trainings I'd been doing and actually love in February. Jan goals: Fat reduction:150 by end of the month Weights: Three to four times weekly Riding: Getting back on the bike and feeling things out as my body allows. I just don't know how fast I can improve without risk of doing something stupid by pushing things. Main Focus: Build me some more muscles and lose my poof. High priority. Cycling Focus: As long as I'm back to the beginning all over again, I'm going to take this time to really focus on my pedaling technique. Also, as Jacob said, I want to learn to stand and pedal. I can, like when I'm starting out after a light or similar, but I clunkity clunk clunk clunk things. It's embarrassing. I'm 90% sure it's because my legs are weak, but I'm also sure my technique sucks. That might be a good February goal. Jeff, HC cycling meet! Yes!

I'm starting a new thread so it doesn't get lost in the main one. If others think this should be more appropriately placed in the off-topic forum, I'll move it, but I was just thinking to keep the two threads somewhat together. Anyway, I like goals. Without them, I do nothing but talk about doing things. I'm going to keep mine simple and, barring more injuries, do-able. 1. 4000 miles. That's about 83 mile a week. Highly do-able. 2. I want to increase my speed to be able to hang with a paceline for more than 10 miles at 20+ mph. 3. I want to learn how to ride hills. I still can't stand and pedal, and descending, however much I like it, scares me. 4. I want to complete the Smart Ride I trained for this year and missed.

^ Ouch, Justin. And also glad you have heat acidbasement. That sounds horrid otherwise. Hope your power comes back soon.

Kirk is a 9-month wait to start the build. I'm guessing more like 10-11 for paint and/or full build. Parris would have more direct experience info. I'm looking at March, hopefully, to get mine started. Jeff, are you getting a Firefly or not wanting the wait? I'm guessing wait periods will only get longer as they get more popular.

So you're planning on coming to Florida to ride with us. I understand and approve.

I just had a preliminary fit with the Calfee. As suspected, it's a bit too large, but it's workable. Though the seat will be a tad lower than I would like, it's still above the bars. I actually like the Vitesse seat, but we'll see once I get it off the trainer. Right now, I'm getting new compact bars, and switching the stem out from 100m to 90m. He put an 80 on to test drive what it may feel like once I have new bars, and it was a comfy reach. I also picked up the Shimano Ultegra pedals, and will be switching out to same on my Gunnar. I've worn through two sets of cleats in four months, and the Shimanos have that extra plastic that don't affect the clipping in mechanism like the Looks I was using do. I also, per my request, and Vince is the first guy who actually said I was dead on, rather than I was wrong, I'm switching out my handlebars from 40 to 38s, and putting my original stem back on. Three fitters kept saying I was holding my hands back because I needed a shorter reach, but I knew the reach was more than fine, but I was puttting my hands back because the handlebars were too wide. I'm going to keep the Bontager wheels on for now, but may put the Enves on it if I end up liking the bike. Depending on holiday shipping, etc. I'm going to have basically two new bikes by New Years. Jeff, why would you get a Calfee if you have the Cervelo? Not that I would discourage you, but wouldn't you at least want to try a nice steel or ti ride? JMHO.

^ Yes. Those also.

Jeff, I'm one who believes the best value can be usually be found in getting exactly what pleases you. I've technically made some stupid, money-wise, purchases. Funny that they're the ones I've never regretted, and are also the ones that still make me happy. If I were looking into a ti bike, Firefly would be on or very close to the top of my list. Check out Spectrum Cycles in PA. http://www.spectrum-cycles.com/ Would also be on my very short list.