Getting into shape

[Freed Roger]

If I had an interest in triathalons, the investment in a bike and techie [expletive] would squelch it. Simpler is better for me. Hit the trail and go.

This sprint tri had a photo on their page of a fat dude teched out in expensive gear and bike. That is the last thing i want to do -i think they have a glimpse of the anti-freed on here.http://ultramaxsports.com/races/trizou/
That said, a few buddies that did the swim bike run got in amazing shape. Good training. But if you are a competitive sort, as it is hard not to be, it would be tough to not plunk ass loads of money into the bike.

[jim]

No way do you need a bike that expensive unless you really want to go off the deep end. I paid about 2.7k for my bike, which is already ridiculous given my level. I could (any most likely should) have gotten a bike for around 1k. Even hybrids and touring bikes make excellent first-time cyclocross bikes if you really want to save money.

All that said, I decided to get a true cyclocross because I figure it'll be a bit safer to ride with hydraulic disc brakes, etc.

You don't need a gun either, but sometimes you gots to go hunting. (that was a joke) For 2.7k I'm sure you can get a helluva bike, and for 1k I'm sure you get a solid bike.

I go overboard on lots of stuff, I would naturally want the most expensive thing. I have $800 fishing rods. Multiple $800 fishing rods.

[M1IRONMIKE]

Might be right but I know my buddy messed himself up pretty bad in either a cyclocross event or a mountain bike race - can't remember which. I really don't know what those bikes cost. The road bikes are outrageous. I know my buddy buys used to keep cost down but he was telling me the rims are $1000 or ONE. One rim. He said guys can wrap up $3k or so just in the wheels. I went to a race of his this past year by me and he was showing me his buddies bike that he said was over $10k. I think he manages to keep his under 2-3K per bike (he has several of course of each kind). You open his front door of this house and the hallway and dining room are nothing but bikes and bike parts and bike equipment.

$10k for a bicycle.

I can get reasonable fishing boat with electronics, motor, and trolling motor for that cost.

he gets his bikes used and is still state champion.....i guess its not the bike

[jim]

Might be right but I know my buddy messed himself up pretty bad in either a cyclocross event or a mountain bike race - can't remember which. I really don't know what those bikes cost. The road bikes are outrageous. I know my buddy buys used to keep cost down but he was telling me the rims are $1000 or ONE. One rim. He said guys can wrap up $3k or so just in the wheels. I went to a race of his this past year by me and he was showing me his buddies bike that he said was over $10k. I think he manages to keep his under 2-3K per bike (he has several of course of each kind). You open his front door of this house and the hallway and dining room are nothing but bikes and bike parts and bike equipment.

$10k for a bicycle.

I can get reasonable fishing boat with electronics, motor, and trolling motor for that cost.

he gets his bikes used and is still state champion.....i guess its not the bike

Most important piece of equipment on a bike is the rider. But ... even though he buys used and last years models, when I saw him he was sporting a pair of wheels that cost $1500. Not the entire bike - just the wheels. That's not exactly winning races with a Schwin 10 speed.

[lukethedrifter]

My shoulder hurts. My dilemma is always whether or not it's just old man pain that I can learn to live with or if it's I'm screwing up my shoulder pain

Can a brother get a diagnosis or what?

[Radbird]

I was convinced the pain and limited range of motion that I had a few years ago was a frozen shoulder or rotator cuff injury, but it turned out to be just some old man pain that resolved on its own.

[jim]

My shoulder hurts. My dilemma is always whether or not it's just old man pain that I can learn to live with or if it's I'm screwing up my shoulder pain

Can a brother get a diagnosis or what?

My shoulder is kind of a mess. It hit it's peak in Sep. 2011, I wanted to give it time to heal while doing therapy type exercises regularly and by the time April came around it was no better. I mean it was bad, if I just leaned over and let my right arm dangle I could feel it slipping out of the socket. Couldn't lift my arm without sharp pain, couldn't sleep etc...

So back to the doctor and he said surgery to fix a torn labrum - either reconstructive or just clean it out. I was going to just clean it out, but even that meant some time in a sling. So I figured I would just wait it out until the next fall, didn't want to spend any summer time in a sling.

Funny thing happened - after all that time, it started getting better. Slowly but surely, until eventually I'm at a pretty good point. I have to be careful, take plenty of time to stretch and warmup, and I continue to do my rubber band exercises etc... But I'm back to doing everything weight lifting wise, I'm doing sets with 235 once per week and doing a bunch of dumbell work 2x per week. I even throw the ball around a little bit, but there I start to feel it pretty quick and have to throttle back.

I guess I'm just saying give it time, if it hurts then don't do that, otherwise try doing stuff.

[Freed Roger]

non-joking, i do enjoy the break from booze although to be fair, the last 10 days or so can be a little irritating (depending on all those various life issues/scenarios/stressers etc) and sometimes i want to continue to push it further into february (as to date i haven't, after...at least 4 years of doing this). i also always find that the first sip of whatever tastes "foreign" (almost poisonous) to my system after all that time (but im a lightweight). but it's a tradition between me and my father at this point so i'm used to it and look forward to it (to a degree, hah).

and, full disclosure, i don't stop my herbal fondness during janurary so i am a hypocrite. but i do have a heart of gold.

and, hah, im drinking booze like water these last few days of the year (though i probably won't have anything on the 31st; dont want the hangover to start the year)

do it freed!

Mulled it over, and am going to do this for Jan-minus the 1st. I kknow this goes contra to my prior ramble about beer being a healthy part of balance etc. I am not hungover or anything. Though have been a little seasonably whipped lately. Just think it might not be bad to try.

[Freed Roger]

Oi. Day 1 -early test of will is drinking water oceanside on flight day (first world problem).

Welp, from.what I hear-handle it one day at a time- I won't take a drink just for today. Tomorrow I am thinking of going to the city with your mother for 12 pints of Victory and an arm-wrestle, but that is tomorrow and today will bring enough troubles of it's own.*

*stolen from the angry jogger's website
Nsfw language http://angryjogger.com/

[Jocephus]

I've already lost 20 lbs, it's amazing