| Author | Message | ||
     Fltwistygirl |
Because of the frequent snows and colder temps, this winter in Northern Colorado has not been conducive for many two wheeled adventures. After last years mild January and February, my expectations were that maybe it would be a week or two between rides, not several weeks. After watching the ice S-L-O-W-L-Y melt off the street the past couple days, it finally has cleared to the point of being passable on two wheels. So, after getting our weekend chores out of the way, we rolled the sad and dusty Ulys out of the garage, did T-CLOCS and fired them up. After topping off the tanks with fresh fuel, we took a less spirited and shorter ride than usual. I felt flat out rusty and it took a lot more concentration than usual. Despite being on a bike which I have logged almost 38K miles, my muscle memory was just not there. I always stress the value of taking a BRC 2 or similar when its been a matter of months since you've ridden to re-acclimate to riding. It was amazing that just being off the bikes for a few weeks made such a difference. My questions: when riding two wheels is just flat out not an option for weeks or months, what other activities help to keep your skills and muscle memory sharp? Maybe it's time to just say "if you can't beat 'em, might as well join 'em" and get a fat-tired bicycle to tool around on in the snow? Thanks in advance. B. | ||
| General_ulysses |
I stick to my personal trainer's advice...  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Very nice, General. And with the 9 or so local breweries here in town, convenient advice, too! | ||
| General_ulysses |
Haha, just kidding. If you live in CO, IMO I'd get into X-country skiing and snowshoeing during the long winters. A fat tired bike would be cool too, I'm thinking about getting a Salsa MukLuk or a Surly Pugsley. Plus riding on two wheels would keep your reflexes honed somewhat. For me though, I tend to get too "seasonally disaffected" during the winters and short days to keep up with a workout program. Spring is when I spring into action when it comes to mountain bike riding. I live in Maryland and our winters are usually mild enough where I can sneak a few Uly rides in during the winter to keep everything clicking on a basic level. But also just taking it easy in the beginning of the season is a good way to get started. Don't get too ambitious right out of the gate. My advice anyway, have fun in god's country. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I think the best thing you can do to "stay in shape" is remember on that first ride that you ARE rusty, and don't go 10/10ths right out of the box. That's my plan, anyway - all this snow in MD this year has me re-learning how to artistically drift a Jeep through a 40mph left-hander, just "because it's there"  Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, make sure you pre-flight your Buell extra carefully...and it'll come back to you. In the meantime...enjoy the season, whatever it is | ||
| Callawegian |
A inexpensive dirt bike helps me keep in cycle shape. A Sunday afternoon ride down the gravel roads keep me up on my skills. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"I'd get into X-country skiing and snowshoeing" One of the first things we did when we got settled here was get set up to XC ski. We went out on the lake (well...reservoir)last weekend. It is thawing now so hope winter is not quite done yet. Great trails in Wyoming or near the continental divide so a solid plan "B". "Plus riding on two wheels would keep your reflexes honed somewhat." My thoughts exactly. "I tend to get too "seasonally disaffected" during the winters and short days to keep up with a workout program." I hear ya. We used to ski every weekend in MN if we weren't on snowmobiles or chopping wood or shooting or whatever else we did. But as youth, we weren't battling our lame metabolism. You lived life and stayed fit. "have fun in god's country." We try to. Every...single...day. We try to never take for granted where we live. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Don't take any day for granted, no matter where you are/live. I died in '08. Too stubborn to let it stick (or they threw me back to earth!), and I'm thrilled with every creak, crack, snap, ache, and pain every single day. If it hurts...it must still be attached and working. therefore...I win | ||
| Motorfish |
You are definitely in a beautiful place. I know this is not cheap but I would just HAVE to have one of these if I lived out there. http://www.2moto.com/www.2moto.com/index.html But if that`s not an option, I would just enjoy the outdoors, by snowshoeing, snowboarding, and ice fishing. Like Rat said, just take it easy when you do finally get out on the bike. | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
I walk my dog at least 2 miles everyday, sun, rain, snow or ice a lab don't care.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyujusUR4CM&list=UU kFuiO8F0WPhvCEuBQWm0ZQ&feature=c4-overview then we come home and watch music videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fx_6-RM9Fg&list=UU kFuiO8F0WPhvCEuBQWm0ZQ | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Don't take any day for granted, no matter where you are". Rat-we really try not to. Though I've not had any experiences quite like yours, I've lost people in my life too early and currently have two friends my age battling cancer. Those experiences are game changers. p.s. Glad you are still with us! Motorfish-those are very cool! We'd need a bigger garage LOL. Fotoguzzi-Pink has good taste in music and a very nice life! (Message edited by fltwistygirl on February 17, 2014) | ||
| Tootal |
I have always considered dirt bikes and skiing very similar. Not X-country but down hill skiing. Leaning into corners and throwing rooster tails of snow feels just like crossing up a dirt bike and throwing a rooster tail of mud! I think balance at speed is the common denominator, clipping the apexes on a down hill run is the same as a twisty road on the Uly's! Oh, and when your done for the day I highly recommend the General's advise!!  | ||
| Ourdee |
Ride year round. That keep in shape stuff hurts. | ||
| Etennuly |
I have been laid off from riding a lot more than usual the past couple of years. I know what you are talking about when getting back on the first time or three. You feel timid.....even intimidated a bit. Don't forget the Uly is not a beginners bike. It is a high performance corner carving machine. For me, even when I am riding at my peak of ability, am not near the Uly's peak of capability. When I shut down for a few months my riding alertness and muscle skills relax, but the bike always stands at the ready, always at it's peak as long as it is properly maintained. I ride where it feels good. If the first time out feels uncomfortable, I know it's me not being fully engaged and I ride as if that is my limit. I work back into it a day at a time. Sometimes I ride the Blast for a re-tune a couple of times out. | ||
| Teeps |
A cross fit training regiment would probably do the trick. Took the Uly out yesterday for a 150 mile ride, 71F. and sunny. Many folks were out cycling and moto riding. Roads were dry and clean (for a change); even went to checkout a MV 800 Brutale... Sorry, but we have so little to brag about in SoCal, I couldn't resist. | ||
| Brighton |
I jog (not run) for 45 minutes 3 times a week and do stretching and some light weight training exercises 2 or 3 other days. I do this right after I wake up, and am set up with equipment to do this while watching the morning news. So rain or shine. I doubt this keeps me in _top_ condition, but I know it makes me feel better. And at my age without exercising you go downhill FAST. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"I think balance at speed is the common denominator, clipping the apexes on a down hill run is the same as a twisty road on the Uly's!" I would tend to agree. Both activities give you that adrenaline rush that so many of us motorcyclists enjoy. "Ride year round. That keep in shape stuff hurts." I try my best to do that but Mother Nature has put the ki-bosh on it this year. "I know what you are talking about when getting back on the first time or three. You feel timid.....even intimidated a bit." That was exactly it! The Uly is definitely not for beginners. I think you are onto something by blasting around after being away from riding. Next time I am away from riding for such a stretch, maybe the beemer would be a better place to start. "Took the Uly out yesterday for a 150 mile ride, 71F. and sunny." Nice! Unless we stay on the plains, we won't be doing that for a couple months or longer. Some of our favorite mountain roads are still being repaired after the floods. "And at my age without exercising you go downhill FAST." Heard! | ||
| Kag |
Fig Newtons  | ||
| Uly_man |
"we took a less spirited and shorter ride than usual. I felt flat out rusty and it took a lot more concentration than usual". This is the way to do it if you have not been on a bike for a while. People who ride well will be putting in a lot of mental effort. This can be tiring and it is easy to forget you are doing this normally. Remember your basic bike training and take as much time as you need to get back into the ride. You should not, unless you feel the need, a BRC-2 or other. My opinion is that you need a sharp mind on a bike more than a sharp body. "Despite being on a bike which I have logged almost 38K miles, my muscle memory was just not there". Body size and weight is not the issue on a road bike. It is the position you are put into while on a bike. It is not like many other things. Try a Duke 999 if you want pain and makes a Uly feel like powered arm chair. Try some "body moves" to warm up the muscles before getting on the bike if needed. Keep warm, eat before you go out and keep, a big one, hydrated as well. | ||
| General_ulysses |
One thing I find good to be wary of after laying off riding a long time, is to be careful about rear ending someone. Last season I caught myself in slow stop and go traffic and I was gazing about to the side and when my attention was momentarily diverted, I came pretty close to rear-ending the guy in front of me. And I never have that problem in a car (never rear ended anyone in my entire life). I was telling another rider friend about it and he said same thing almost happened to him. So I kinda wondered if it might be a common pitfall for some riders who are a bit rusty and perhaps a little more inattentive/spaced out than they should be. | ||
| Ourdee |
One thing I find good to be wary of after laying off riding a long time, is to be careful about rear ending someone. +1 | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Fig Newtons" If you have to have cookies, that is as good as any! "My opinion is that you need a sharp mind on a bike more than a sharp body." I totally agree! But, I could take a play from the US skier who danced to Beyonce before hitting the slopes. Not a huge Beyonce fan, but if the cat and the dog dont mind the living room booty shaking, and warming up, and I ride better, it is all good. Seriously, my chiropractor was a huge proponent of stretching, and I would have seen him less if I would have listened more sooner. "is to be careful about rear ending someone." Never had that happen personally, but all it takes is a moment of non-focus. Multi tasking, even in your mind, can be the enemy. Be where you are. Done. | ||
| Uly_man |
"is to be careful about rear ending someone." I always ride with an escape route in mind in traffic IE Not directly behind a car. One side or the other and so that they can see you in there mirrors. Good lights like the HID type make a world of diff as well. Worked for me over 15 years of London traffic. | ||
| Etennuly |
BeLinda, I went out on my second short ride of this year today. 69F with sunshine was awesome here in East Tennessee! On stopping I was a bit wobbly, more than usual, in part due to new boots that are thin soled compared to my one inch thick old boots. Coming up on a bad street light in traffic, I laid back because I could see the light was changing and the five cars in front of me just didn't look like they were about to make a smooth stop. I checked my mirror, Beemer guy, on his phone, coming closer and closer behind, idiots in front starting to jamb up hard. I left some room in front and backed to the Beemer to get his attention with a face full of brake light. I braked as hard as I could without backing into Mr Beemer, when he finally got hard on his brakes. I had to jamb my brakes hard at the last five mph and aimed out to the right so that I wasn't directly in line with the front idiot. Beemer stopped inches from my rear tire and the idiot behind him, in one of those new Nissan SUV things, popped out on to the right berm nearly up beside him. Well.....the mind was still sharp enough to set myself up to control my situation enough not be eaten by my first close encounter of the year. That, even though stopping felt a bit wobbly. I'm glad you started this thread, it has made me think about my preparedness for the last several days.  | ||
| Tootal |
Holy crap Vern, you mean that Bimmer driver couldn't see that barricade orange monstrosity in front of him? Was the dude blind?!!  | ||
| Etennuly |
I doubt he was blind, but his smart phone had all of his attention at the moment. Not the first time I have seen this situation. Probably won't be the last. No shortage of idiots out there yet!  | ||
| Teeps |
Etennuly, Glad you escaped unmarked... Which the story reminds me that, there are only 2 things that are right with living in SoCal. The weather and lane splitting, sharing or filtering. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"I'm glad you started this thread, it has made me think about my preparedness for the last several days." Glad you are ok, Vern. Funny you mentioned the wobbly stopping thing. That is one of things I notice first about my own riding when I am feeling rusty, fatigued or otherwise "off". I usually either call it a day, if I am close to home, or plan a re-hydrating pit stop. "I doubt he was blind, but his smart phone had all of his attention at the moment."  | ||
| Tootal |
Hmmm, smart phones making people do stupid things. Go figure! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Hmmm, smart phones making people do stupid things. Go figure!" When you see a cager on their smart phone, it is an immediate indicator that they are an idiot. It then falls on you to do everything to avoid them. /Rant on We were getting groceries the other day at our least favorite big box store and saw some hands free cell-phone device that proclaimed to make it safe to use your cell phone while driving. Wrong. What some people don't get is that most peoples brains are not capable of safely operating a motor vehicle and carrying on a phone conversation at once. Pull over and make the call OR focus 100% of your attention on the road so the rest of us on the road are just a little bit safer. Don't try to do both. /rant off. |
