The word of the day is “Legs”…

[ornoth]

Had a very encouraging exchange today. I was out on a 60-mile ride with Bobby Mac, the distance training guru from Quad Cycles in Arlington. He reported that my form was very good, and I’m already well aware of my own strength and stamina beyond most of the other cyclists on the road. But beyond that, he told me twice, once individually and once again in front of the whole training group, that if I traded my klunky hybrid for a real road bike, I’d be “a monster”.

It’s nice to get feedback like that, particularly as I’m just a few months away from that ominous four decade mark. It also gives me some reinforcement that my asthma (now in recession) and its rather remarkable complications (have I mentioned yet that my heart is sideways?) haven’t overly limited my aerobic conditioning. And it’s particularly welcome feedback now, just eleven weeks before my 200-mile Pan-Mass Challenge ride to benefit the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

It also, of course, reinforces my interest in getting a road bike, which must wait until I’ve found my next job. But trust me, I have every intention of becoming a full-fledged “monster” in the very near future.

Comments

[ornoth.livejournal.com]

Nah, the TdF is for sideshow freaks. It's just ludicrously, insanely difficult. I did think about racing locally for a while, but I'm pretty old, and really I don't think my aerobic capacity is up to it. If it happens, it happens, but I'm not horribly motivated to turn cycling into something I really need to work hard at.

When I was first diagnosed with asthma, I had gone to the emergency room, where I had chest X-rays done. Apparently my lungs had expanded to compensate for their limited ability to process oxygen. My ribs also have a convex deformity, which further limits the size of my chest cavity. The doc showed me my frontal chest X-ray, which showed no heart at all; then he showed me the side view, which showed the perfect, normal heart shape. Apparently the lack of space in my chest caused my heart to turn sideways when my lungs expanded, and presumably it's no big deal.

I dunno, I just report it. But it sure is a unique conversation starter!

[f-l-i-r-t.livejournal.com]

Indeed it is.... the human body is truly a fascinating thing. The whole adaptation bit always amazes me.

So cycling is for pure enjoyment, as it should be. My thinking in the Tour de France things was more to see the French countryside, not to be serious about winning, but as you say, when you bike, you don't actually see much. Did you bike around Scotland? I really must find your LJ post regarding your trip.

[ornoth.livejournal.com]

Didn't bike Scotland, although it's a future possibility.

Not a big fan of traveling France, although there are any travel companies that run French cycling tours, some of which include some of the classic TdF routes.

I did bike on a trip to Barbados a few years back, though. That was thoroughly enjoyable. I think there's a pic of two from that trip here (http://users.rcn.com/ornoth/bicycling/photos.html).

[f-l-i-r-t.livejournal.com]

I hope to head up to Aberdeen, Scotland in the Autumn, my friend is an avid cyclist and hope to go out and do a bit while there. *fingers crossed*

Great page, with the cycling photos, you are like a cameleon, you look like a completly different person in each photo, itis a bit unnerving actually!

[ornoth.livejournal.com]

Hahaha! Yeah, well, I've changed my looks quite often in the past ten years. Short hair, long hair, different colored streaks in it, blonde long hair, no hair, with beard, without beard...

Amusingly, my three user icons were all taken on my Scotland trip, and the one I use most often ("contemplative") was taken in an Aberdeen chippie.

[f-l-i-r-t.livejournal.com]

ahh, too funny... *L* You have quite a 'Scottish Look' to you in your default icon...*s*