Baseline Questions for "The Big Ride"

[Benny]

copied from the old forum

Benny
Posted - May 28 2008 : 21:07:30

We talked earlier about establishing a program to help people prepare for a goal of riding a milestone ride next Fall. The main target event will be the Claxton Cruisin' In The Country Century in November. Some will have the goal of riding 100 miles at that ride. Others may choose a shorter distance. Others may choose a different goal. We at BCM will do our best to work with anyone who wants our help to prepare for a big ride. To help us understand where you are starting and how we can help you prepare to get to your goal, please answer a few questions about your current situation and your goals.

Please only reply to these questions within this thread. You can ask all the questions you like, but please start a new topic to ask them. The next post will be the questions. Reply to that post with your answers. Then we will start figuring out what needs to be done to get you from where you are now to where you want to be.

Benny

RobtheAggie
Posted - May 29 2008 : 08:28:15

1) How long have you been riding bicycles? Just getting started? A few months? Been riding for years? Other? (describe)
For a few years now. I started riding back as an undergrad to and from classes. When I went to grad school I increased my riding. Now I commute each day 4.77 miles each way.

2) How often do you ride? Where? What distance? What speed?
I try to ride to school every day. I also try and get some longer rides in on the weekends when time permits. Usually aroudn 15-18 mph.

3) How often and how well do you climb hills? (describe)
I climb pretty well, at least by mine own idea. But in our heads we are all able of climbing Brasstown Bald!

4) What is the longest distance you have ever ridden? (describe)
The longest is a 68 mile with Benny on his Birthday about two years ago. We went on some very interesting roads, saw a ugly green chair, ate Mexican food in Gray and saw me really hurting. I experienced what is often refered to as a "Bonk"!

5) What are your cycling goals for 2008? Riding 16, 32, 62 or 100 miles at Claxton in November? Other? (describe)
I want to ride over 2000 miles during the year. That may not sound like much, but that is my goal. If I am able to go to Claxton, 100 miles works for me.

6) Are you in good health? Does your doctor know and approve of your goals?
Yes, I am in good health except for a brused rib.

7) What type of bike are you riding (road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, comfort/cruiser)? Planning to get a new bike?
Road bike. I have finally convinced my wife that I need a new one. But with a baby on the way it may have to wait.

8) How well does your bike fit you? Does it hurt to ride it? Has anyone helped you set your bike up for optimum fit?

Every once in a while my fingers go numb on long rides. I need to adjust my seat hight.

hthrlngstn
Posted - Jun 01 2008 : 19:13:22
1) How long have you been riding bicycles? A few years but very little in the last year. Also having a difficult time getting "back in the saddle"

2) How often do you ride? Where? What distance? What speed? Lately, I have not been riding at all but I have been walking and swimming.

3) How often and how well do you climb hills? Used to be able to climb most hills slowly.

4) What is the longest distance you have ever ridden? 64 miles on the Silver Comet in Atlanta!

5) What are your cycling goals for 2008? 100 miles in Claxton.

6) Are you in good health? Does your doctor know and approve of your goals?
Getting better exponentially and I am sure he does since he is such as avid cyclist himself!

7) What type of bike are you riding (road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, comfort/cruiser)?
road and mountain

8) How well does your bike fit you? Does it hurt to ride it? Has anyone helped you set your bike up for optimum fit? My bike fits like a glove! Lots of great people in the BCM have helped make it so!

JimT
Posted - Jun 15 2008 : 22:16:52
1) How long have you been riding bicycles? 1 year on the road and about 4 months on a mountain bike before that. Ate some dirt really bad and switched to the asphalt.

2) How often do you ride? Where? What distance? What speed? Trying to ride every other day building my base around the airport, I am only up to 5 laps now at 15.7 mph avg. Need a lot of work...

3) How often and how well do you climb hills? (describe) I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with hills, I am not so great now but am determined to get much better. I handled some really hard climbs going to Macon to Forsyth in the past

4) What is the longest distance you have ever ridden? 46 miles, Macon to Forsyth 1960' total ascent, 14.5 MPH. Last time was 9/10/07

5) What are your cycling goals for 2008? Riding 16, 32, 62 or 100 miles at Claxton in November? Other? I want to ride the Century...

6) Are you in good health? Does your doctor know and approve of your goals? I am in good health but am a S@%#$! (means smoker)

7) What type of bike are you riding? Road bike='07 Trek Madone 5.2 SL, Mtn Bike='07 Ibex Asta Expert X-9. I'll be hanging on to these for a while.

8) How well does your bike fit you? Does it hurt to ride it? Has anyone helped you set your bike up for optimum fit? I had it "professionally" fit twice and it's pretty comfortable.

Thanks Benny,
Jim

C.U. Allezter

Posted - Jun 16 2008 : 15:47:05
1) How long have you been riding bicycles? Just getting started? A few months? Been riding for years? Other? (describe)
I've been riding for around 3 years now, thanks to the BCM.

2) How often do you ride? Where? What distance? What speed?
I ride as often as possible, all over the place (road & MTB), as far as I can, and as fast as I can (or want to)

3) How often and how well do you climb hills? (describe)
Pretty regularly, and I don't like to toot my own horn...but I climb like a lemur that just got into Rick James's personal stash.

4) What is the longest distance you have ever ridden? (describe)
I've ridden several metrics...not back to back, of course.

5) What are your cycling goals for 2008? Riding 16, 32, 62 or 100 miles at Claxton in November? Other? (describe)
My goal is to ride as much as I can (especially to work). Looking to complete a century at Claxton, if not before then.

6) Are you in good health? Does your doctor know and approve of your goals?
I'd say I'm pretty healthy, and since I don't have doctor I don't need his/her approval.

7) What type of bike are you riding (road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, comfort/cruiser)? Planning to get a new bike?
A couple of road bikes and an old f/s mtb. Yes, N+1

8) How well does your bike fit you? Does it hurt to ride it? Has anyone helped you set your bike up for optimum fit?
I'd say all of my bikes fit me pretty well. Sometimes it hurts to ride, but it's got nothing to do with bike fit

[Benny]

Benny

Posted - Jun 26 2008 : 23:12:49
I'll start evaluating these responses and making suggestions soon. Let's hear from some more of you who want to prepare to achieve a new cycling milestone in the coming months. Remember, it does not have to be a century ride. It may be more or it may be less. I'm sure we all have something we want to accomplish on our bikes.

Benny

lizhavey


Posted - Jun 27 2008 : 09:13:44 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I dont know about doing a century, but we'll see

1) How long have you been riding bicycles? Just getting started? A few months? Been riding for years? Other? (describe) i rode a lot with my dad when I was a kid, but then didn't for many years. I've been riding since I moved to Milledgeville 3 years ago.


2) How often do you ride? Where? What distance? What speed? This summer I've been good about riding to and from work almost every day; it's 2.5 miles one way. I also ride out at Bartram on Thursdays, in town on Mondays and the occassional longer ride on the weekend (very occassional). Never riden more than 35 miles, and I have a hard time staying on the bike that long. I think I usually pace around 12 mph? I'm hoping to keep up the riding even after school's back in session in the fall, but my work makes that complicated.


3) How often and how well do you climb hills? (describe) Well, there's a pretty big hill right out my neighborhood and another one just before campus. I do allright with them as long as i keep peddaling and throw it into low gear.


4) What is the longest distance you have ever ridden? (describe) 32 -35 miles at the April Fool's Ride and preparations for it. The last 10 or so miles always kills me.


5) What are your cycling goals for 2008? Riding 16, 32, 62 or 100 miles at Claxton in November? Other? (describe) My original goal was 400 miles for 2008, but I'm almost at 300 and it's only the end of June (and I hardly got on my bike for the first quarter!) Maybe if I get a different bike I could shoot for 62, but I don't know if I can make it to Claxton...it'll depend on my class and work schedule.


6) Are you in good health? Does your doctor know and approve of your goals? Pretty decent health. I don't eat meat and try to stick with healthy snacks. I don't go to the doctor.


7) What type of bike are you riding (road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, comfort/cruiser)? Planning to get a new bike? I ride a Cannondale no suspension mountain bike. I'm thinking seriously of getting a road bike, but I have issues about buying brand new and it's hard to find a used women's bike.


8) How well does your bike fit you? Does it hurt to ride it? Has anyone helped you set your bike up for optimum fit? I think the bike is a little big for me, but not much. Occassionally, I get some numbness in my hands and feet and my shoulders are usually pretty sore when I ride for a longer distance, I've tried making some adjustments, but it hasn't really helped, therefore I think it's a little big.

renee
Posted - Jun 29 2008 : 04:01:43

Please answer the following questions. You don't have to use one word answers (but don't write an essay ).

1) How long have you been riding bicycles? Just getting started? A few months? Been riding for years? Other? (describe) Road riding on and off 5 years. Started Mtn binking last year and did great. This past year not so great due to health issues. Just getting started back but the addiction has kicked in again !! Yea!!


2) How often do you ride? Where? What distance? What speed? Before I the health issues had built up to 12-14 mph depending on the amount of hills. Longest ride 35 miles in Grand Junction , CO. I rode twice this week


3) How often and how well do you climb hills? (describe) Had trouble early on but the Mtn Biking really helped just keep those legs moving!


4) What is the longest distance you have ever ridden? (describe)35


5) What are your cycling goals for 2008? Riding 16, 32, 62 or 100 miles at Claxton in November? Other? (describe) Really hope to make the Century in CLaxton since that was the plan last year before the health issues.


6) Are you in good health? Does your doctor know and approve of your goals? Mostly now just have a few bad days. Yes they both say exercise exercise. Wait I do believe Rick did say on the days you are having "issues" road ride it doesn't have as much "jaring" for lack of a better word to describe what he ment!


7) What type of bike are you riding (road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, comfort/cruiser)? Planning to get a new bike? Mtn Bike Specilezed Womens Specific. Road Specilized Dolce also WS the new yellow one on the homepage a few days ago. No new bikes for awhile I think Cydny is next in line at our house for a bike when you have 6 people to buy for you must take turns


8) How well does your bike fit you? Does it hurt to ride it? Has anyone helped you set your bike up for optimum fit? Both are great now. I did have the numb hand and hurting back and shoulders with my old road bike even after makeing adjustments and getting a new stem but I am like Liz I think it was just a little big for me or the WS design really makes a difference which is what I keep telling myself to justify buying it! Richard and I both read a lot of stuff and helped me fit it before we bought the new Dolce.

Ready to Ride and Train for Claxton
Renee Jordan

Lori
Posted - Jun 30 2008 : 00:27:00
1) How long have you been riding bicycles? Just getting started? A few months? Been riding for years? Other?
I got back into biking in March with my mtn bike. I got a road bike about a month or so ago.

2) How often do you ride? Where? What distance? What speed?
I've been riding around 24-34 miles once a week with a bike club in Savannah for about 3 wks. I try to do a couple of one hour rides the rest of the week. I'm averaging about 14 mph.

3) How often and how well do you climb hills?
Hills or even inclines are my weakness

4) What is the longest distance you have ever ridden?
33 miles


5) What are your cycling goals for 2008? Riding 16, 32, 62 or 100 miles at Claxton in November? Other?
I hope to ride 62 miles in Claxton. I would really like to ride 100 miles, but I'm trying to be realistic. Definitely 100 miles sometime in '09.

6) Are you in good health? Does your doctor know and approve of your goals?
Good health. I have problems with a disc in my neck from time to time.

7) What type of bike are you riding (road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, comfort/cruiser)? Planning to get a new bike?
I ride a Giant OCR road bike. I have a mountain bike that I use when I do trails, but haven't used it as much since I've gotten my road bike.

8) How well does your bike fit you? Does it hurt to ride it? Has anyone helped you set your bike up for optimum fit?
I was fit for the bike at the shop. However with being a newbie, I've been trying to get adjusted to the bike. I think I need a new saddle. My neck/shoulders hurt when I ride over 25 miles, so I may need to get the handlebars adjusted.