The Retirement Thread

[Mo1959]

Good morning. First!! @Mo1959 must be on a long walk! Still very dark but just enough light to see a clear sky.

I was on a short bimble

23 miles at a very modest pace that I would have been extremely disappointed in just a few years ago, but just accepted the legs are fecked and not going to improve. This year has seen a real decline. I've started to enjoy it again a bit more just by accepting that and not pushing myself now. Dry and chilly out but quite pleasant. Only met one other cyclist plus a couple of runners.

Saw a pure white pheasant at the side of the road this morning. Presume it's an albino gene that causes it. I wonder if it's fertile and would pass it on?

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Ive been musing on how the term 'road bike' has apparently been commandeered...surely it should be 'road racing bike' for that sector and 'road bike' for everything else that uses the road.....dont think i'll start a thread on it though could start WW3

Yep, I still think in terms of racing bikes, training bikes (usually an old racing bike), and touring bikes. Racing bikes had tubs, training bikes had mudguards, touring bikes had mudguards and racks.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Good morning all, very grey here.

 

[Dave7]

A belated good morning to all.
Slept very heavy last night and woke at 0820. When I say woke I mean forced one eyelid open.......I am still wakening.
This afternoon we are due at the Irish Club for a charity do. Some tribute acts, food etc. TBH its not my scene but MrsD wanted to go.
We will probably get a taxi as I will likely have a couple of Irish whiskies.

 

[numbnuts]

I'm up

 

[Tenkaykev]

I was on a short bimble

23 miles at a very modest pace that I would have been extremely disappointed in just a few years ago, but just accepted the legs are fecked and not going to improve. This year has seen a real decline. I've started to enjoy it again a bit more just by accepting that and not pushing myself now. Dry and chilly out but quite pleasant. Only met one other cyclist plus a couple of runners.

Saw a pure white pheasant at the side of the road this morning. Presume it's an albino gene that causes it. I wonder if it's fertile and would pass it on?

If it had pink legs it was an Albino, if the legs were darker then it was " Leucistic " ( according to the RSPB web site )

 

[Chief Broom]

I was on a short bimble

23 miles at a very modest pace that I would have been extremely disappointed in just a few years ago, but just accepted the legs are fecked and not going to improve. This year has seen a real decline. I've started to enjoy it again a bit more just by accepting that and not pushing myself now. Dry and chilly out but quite pleasant. Only met one other cyclist plus a couple of runners.

Saw a pure white pheasant at the side of the road this morning. Presume it's an albino gene that causes it. I wonder if it's fertile and would pass it on?

I dont know you 'short' bimblers are making this newbie feel entirely inadequate! 23m is along way! i may need councelling soon!
Re- white pheasants, quite a few up here,i find them a bit spooky as they run across the road. Perhaps theyre bred by shoots for brandy soaked old colonels who cant see straight and couldnt hit a barn door.

 

[PaulSB]

I was on a short bimble

23 miles at a very modest pace that I would have been extremely disappointed in just a few years ago, but just accepted the legs are fecked and not going to improve. This year has seen a real decline. I've started to enjoy it again a bit more just by accepting that and not pushing myself now. Dry and chilly out but quite pleasant. Only met one other cyclist plus a couple of runners.

Saw a pure white pheasant at the side of the road this morning. Presume it's an albino gene that causes it. I wonder if it's fertile and would pass it on?

I doubt your legs are fecked but perhaps need some miles before they feel good again. Don't forget you lost your mojo for a while and it takes time to get back. That aside doing what you enjoy is far more important than doing it fast. We had just this conversation on yesterday's ride. Out of seven, we started with seven and finished with six, at least four and possibly five are all capable of stepping up to a faster group. That though would be eyeballs out, chewing the bars, holding a wheel and seeing nothing but the wheel and the road. We all agreed we have more fun at a lower pace. The chat was non-stop for 72 miles.

I well remember a summer route which I did with the club's fastest group. Came in with an average of 18.7. All I did was hold a wheel and glance at the road ahead for 80 miles. Did the exact same route three weeks later with the next group down and spent most of the ride thinking "How did I miss that?" "Did we come along here?"

Fun is better than fast!

 

[Mo1959]

I doubt your legs are fecked but perhaps need some miles before they feel good again. Don't forget you lost your mojo for a while and it takes time to get back. That aside doing what you enjoy is far more important than doing it fast. We had just this conversation on yesterday's ride. Out of seven, we started with seven and finished with six, at least four and possibly five are all capable of stepping up to a faster group. That though would be eyeballs out, chewing the bars, holding a wheel and seeing nothing but the wheel and the road. We all agreed we have more fun at a lower pace. The chat was non-stop for 72 miles.

I well remember a summer route which I did with the club's fastest group. Came in with an average of 18.7. All I did was hold a wheel and glance at the road ahead for 80 miles. Did the exact same route three weeks later with the next group down and spent most of the ride thinking "How did I miss that?" "Did we come along here?"

Fun is better than fast!

Nope. Fed up of people telling me this. I strongly suspect my leg nerves are being squeezed with the herniated discs in my back and it's now causing loss of leg strength. Not sure I would fancy spinal surgery and it's not even always a success so I just have to put up with it I think. There is just no real power in the legs now. Even standing on my tip toes is difficult.

 

[PaulSB]

It's a beautiful day, I've even hung the washing out. Bike cleaning next but let me share this with you. Chatting with two of the women on our ride one is very broad Lancashire. I was absolutely certain the younger lady said:

"I find soy sauce is bad for my IVF"
The other lady replied "Yes, I get the same but not with curry"
By now I'm . I'm good friends with one of the women who I know is 58 and single!
I carry on listening:
"I blame my mother for it. I've had terrible IBS since I was a child"

Are well, hearing aids next week! 😄

 

[PaulSB]

Nope. Fed up of people telling me this. I strongly suspect my leg nerves are being squeezed with the herniated discs in my back and it's now causing loss of leg strength. Not sure I would fancy spinal surgery and it's not even always a success so I just have to put up with it I think. There is just no real power in the legs now. Even standing on my tip toes is difficult.

Sorry Mo. I was trying to be encouraging.

 

[Mo1959]

Sorry Mo. I was trying to be encouraging.

I know, thanks. It gets me down a bit. Pretty demoralising looking back at what you used to be able to do no problem. It's not just age. I could cope with that as it is more of a very gradual slow down. My own fault no doubt for falling off horses and bikes and lifting stuff I shouldn't have over the years.

 

[Dave7]

I know, thanks. It gets me down a bit. Pretty demoralising looking back at what you used to be able to do no problem. It's not just age. I could cope with that as it is more of a very gradual slow down. My own fault no doubt for falling off horses and bikes and lifting stuff I shouldn't have over the years.

Mo.....this may be no use to you BUT YOUR 23 miles is 23 more than I can do.
As you know, some days I struggle to walk. Lots of people hate this phrase but I accept that it is what it is.
Every day is a challenge to be enjoyed Mo.
Enjoy.
All the best Mo with lots of love.

 

[Paulus]

Morning all... Second! Out early for The Friday's Ghost Ride which was cancelled a couple of weeks ago, Swains Lane here we come!

Mornin John. Swains lane is a really good climb, especially the bit where it narrows by Highgate cemetery. Not too long but a good hill to get the heart rate up. I've not been up there for a few years, I must give it another go.

 

[welsh dragon]

I put a load of washing in the machine as it is relatively calm and dry here. I put some in the dryer and the rest outside. Will do the bedding if I get the rest dry.

My arm is ouchy. Sore to the touch and when moving it. If that is the worst of it then I consider it a win win situation.