REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

A confession

1040 Views 16 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Flying Wombat, Jul 13, 2004

Paul B

Discussion Starter · Jul 11, 2004

Maybe I'm getting old, maybe it's residual stress of the past year's dramas, maybe the road bike is spoiling me, but I just can't hack the heat this summer.

Pathetic, I know. I wake up at 5, look at the bike, sometimes even shimmy into the baggies but, dear lord, I just can't make myself get on the thing.

I haven't ridden a mountain bike in 3 weeks.

The road bike is getting a bit more love, a couple rides every week. I'm actually running more than I'm biking these days. Hell, I'm rock climbing more than I'm mountain biking.

Oh, and I get to take a client up to Prescott for a ride on Tuesday. Good times. Haven't touched my bikes, haven't ridden at altitude, and now I get to play trained monkey for four hours or so. Ouch.

Go ahead and quote my previous posts about the heat wimps, 'cuz I know I'm one now.

p.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

AZtortoise

· #2 · Jul 11, 2004

i look at this time of year as an 'off season.' yeah, i ride the mtb once a week but my HT 'road bike' gets a lot more attention. riding road means i can sleep an extra hour and ride at a speed that is a bit cooler than going up a technical climb at 4mph. and by this time of year i am getting a bit tired of offroading(heresy, i know). burn out can and does happen in every sport and this time of year allows me a break without the guilt. Paul, dont 'should' on yourself. you have had a tough year, cut yourself some slack.

Rita
p.s. what a wimp!

Noelg

· #3 · Jul 11, 2004

Sorry Paul....

It's always a shame to see the last bastion of denial lose it's grip but we all must tumble into the abyss eventually. It's freaking H-O-T!!!

Yesterday morning, as I rode home from a class in the car, waiting for the A/C to stop my perspiration...and waiting...and waiting...

I thought to myself "Man, I wonder if Durtgurl and her crack-o-dawn crew are still on the mountain" as if they had been trapped on Everest in the middle of a blizzard. No, it was worse. I pictured them frying on Desert Classic without water and dreaming of her pool - as oasis in the distance....

Then I see no one has posted an "update" on their ride...and I worry...did they survive?? I must watch the news...

Paul, we all must face our demons and for us in AZ, that demon is called JULY/AUGUST. The first step to victory however, it accepting the demon for what it is - HELL. Only then, can you learn to live with it.

PaulB, welcome to our hell...

(support group meets after dark or in the high country up north - preferably Flagstaff)

See less See more

Jm.

· #4 · Jul 11, 2004

NO COMPLAINING!

sometimes it breaks 90 degrees here, although in the late afternoon and morning (the real morning, not that 4am crap) it's downright beautiful....

BTW, I haven't met very many people who actually can "hack" the heat....that being people that live without air conditioning, there are a few...but not many that post on this board for sure!

Dirdir

· #5 · Jul 11, 2004

We Survived

Noelg said:
It's always a shame to see the last bastion of denial lose it's grip but we all must tumble into the abyss eventually. It's freaking H-O-T!!!

Yesterday morning, as I rode home from a class in the car, waiting for the A/C to stop my perspiration...and waiting...and waiting...

I thought to myself "Man, I wonder if Durtgurl and her crack-o-dawn crew are still on the mountain" as if they had been trapped on Everest in the middle of a blizzard. No, it was worse. I pictured them frying on Desert Classic without water and dreaming of her pool - as oasis in the distance....

Then I see no one has posted an "update" on their ride...and I worry...did they survive?? I must watch the news...

Paul, we all must face our demons and for us in AZ, that demon is called JULY/AUGUST. The first step to victory however, it accepting the demon for what it is - HELL. Only then, can you learn to live with it.

PaulB, welcome to our hell...

(support group meets after dark or in the high country up north - preferably Flagstaff)

We survived, but did not complete the planned ride. It was simply too muggy hot so we turned around just before the decent into Buena Vista and then went swimming.

pedalAZ

· #6 · Jul 11, 2004

Ditto that

I think my MTB is plotting to kill me next time I ride it. I haven't been on it since I rode SoMo with Srexy and CrashTest many weeks ago. The thought of all that heat radiating off the rocks on a slow climb, compared to whizzing along at 20 something mph with a breeze has been wooing me to the road lately. Many of the roadies I've been riding with are also MTBrs doing the same thing. 65 miles this morning.

Paul B

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 11, 2004

pedalAZ said:
I think my MTB is plotting to kill me next time I ride it. I haven't been on it since I rode SoMo with Srexy and CrashTest many weeks ago. The thought of all that heat radiating off the rocks on a slow climb, compared to whizzing along at 20 something mph with a breeze has been wooing me to the road lately. Many of the roadies I've been riding with are also MTBrs doing the same thing. 65 miles this morning.

Were you on the Tommy O ride? I was supposed to be there but events conspired to keep me from attending. Liked the idea of doing Rio Verde again; great route.

p.

DurtGurl

· #8 · Jul 11, 2004

Noelg said:
II thought to myself "Man, I wonder if Durtgurl and her crack-o-dawn crew are still on the mountain" as if they had been trapped on Everest in the middle of a blizzard. No, it was worse. I pictured them frying on Desert Classic without water and dreaming of her pool - as oasis in the distance....

Then I see no one has posted an "update" on their ride...and I worry...did they survive?? I must watch the news...

(support group meets after dark or in the high country up north - preferably Flagstaff)

It was freekin HOT yesterday morning. Holy moly - the humidity was in the double digits! My sister back in Ohio (95 degrees, 95% humidity) had a good chuckle yesterday afternoon when I told her of my suffering. But I WAS suffering in the back of the pack (a bunch of much faster guys). As I struggled up to the Waterfall, I was dreaming up my excuse to bail and head back home. "They all know the way back to my house.. yea, they'll get back ok." But then I was relieved to hear that they too were suffering. We all agreed to go to Buena Vista and then return - still a decent ride at 17 miles. And I guess when one is used to 4-7% humidity, 27% is a steam bath.

But back to your topic, Paul....... it's OKAY to take time off the bike. Don't beat yourself up about it!! It's better to do things you enjoy, and if biking isn't giving you that buzz right now, then hang her up till fall. Now about that guiding job - well, that's another situation entirely. If your work depends on you being in shape to lead the tour, then you need to get your rear on your bike! Or - supply the group with a ride to the trailhead, a packable lunch, and a map. Or - hire Jm to do the job... good luck!

See less See more

Srexy

· #9 · Jul 11, 2004

Hmm - I was wondering why the 2hr ride I did yesterday and again today on T100 and environs left me w/palpable heat stress (mild headache and lethargy for a few hrs after).

I still can't bring myself to do the darkside ride when I have a 3 week old Turner to play with

Don't beat yourself up Paul - you went a whole 3 months without whining!

dgangi

· #10 · Jul 12, 2004

Same here

pedalAZ said:
I think my MTB is plotting to kill me next time I ride it. I haven't been on it since I rode SoMo with Srexy and CrashTest many weeks ago. The thought of all that heat radiating off the rocks on a slow climb, compared to whizzing along at 20 something mph with a breeze has been wooing me to the road lately. Many of the roadies I've been riding with are also MTBrs doing the same thing. 65 miles this morning.

My road bike has also seen a lot more use than the MTB since summer started. In seasons past, I quit riding altogether in late June and would pick it up again in September. But this past fall I purchased a road bike and I have discovered that road riding is *much* cooler than the MTB so I don't have to quit riding when the weather turns to crap. It's still no walk in the park, but cruising along at 20+ MPH makes for a much cooler situation than crawling along at 8MPH in the desert.

But I do have to pick and choose my road rides carefully. I slugged it up to Seven Springs yesterday morning and it nearly killed me (almost 70 miles). Some of those hills are slow grinders and the <10MPH pace on the hot asphalt was nearly as dreadful as the MTB in the hot desert.

Thx...Doug

YuriB

· #11 · Jul 12, 2004

4 words

Brookstone Hydro Neck Wrap
I went in search of a battery operated fan (main lights are off and 82 in the office due to conservation measures and no plug in fans allowed - makes for a real productive enviro) and came across this little gem. Sure it looks funny but it works nicely.

funboarder1971

· #12 · Jul 12, 2004

I did the GABA ride from Pinetop to Eager. It was actually really nice. We got rain dumped on us on the second half of the ride into Eager, and I was freezing by the time I got off the bike.

Anyhow, I had a *great* dinner provided by GABA... there was a prize drawing for several cool prizes. Nice people, great ride.... anytime I do a GABA ride, I get my positive reinforcement for buying a road bike.

No rain on the way back, however we had to climb back up the 8% followed by a longer 6% grade to a SAG stop (did I mention their SAG stops rule!!!!!!), followed by a nice somewhat downhill run back into town.

Sometimes its nice to get off the MTB and see how the 'other half' lives.

dgangi said:
My road bike has also seen a lot more use than the MTB since summer started. In seasons past, I quit riding altogether in late June and would pick it up again in September. But this past fall I purchased a road bike and I have discovered that road riding is *much* cooler than the MTB so I don't have to quit riding when the weather turns to crap. It's still no walk in the park, but cruising along at 20+ MPH makes for a much cooler situation than crawling along at 8MPH in the desert.

But I do have to pick and choose my road rides carefully. I slugged it up to Seven Springs yesterday morning and it nearly killed me (almost 70 miles). Some of those hills are slow grinders and the <10MPH pace on the hot asphalt was nearly as dreadful as the MTB in the hot desert.

Thx...Doug

SunDog

· #13 · Jul 12, 2004

Boy Howdy!

Was this weekend HOT! Sandy and I camped at the Gila River (dry as a desiccated bone) this weekend and it was Sinai hot. Even after a sweaty night of restless "sleep" the heat did not stop me from riding as I did some rewarding recon riding for several hours Sunday morning. I rode conservatively partly due to the heat which can affect one's judgment on demanding terrain. By 11:30 AM every thing was muey caliente, including all our water and what was once ice. With the ambient temperature at 106 degrees even the tarp that was under the tent was hot to the touch.

I personally think it's a little more than the heat keeping you off your bike. Perhaps your jaunt to Prescott will break the log jam. Also you should get back on the MTB so that you will be ready for the Chiracahuas some time soon. No road riding there buddy and as we know there exists ample opportunity to test your rock climbing skills trailside.

Louis

MFC

· #14 · Jul 12, 2004

Paul B said:
Maybe I'm getting old, maybe it's residual stress of the past year's dramas, maybe the road bike is spoiling me, but I just can't hack the heat this summer.

Pathetic, I know. I wake up at 5, look at the bike, sometimes even shimmy into the baggies but, dear lord, I just can't make myself get on the thing.

I haven't ridden a mountain bike in 3 weeks.

The road bike is getting a bit more love, a couple rides every week. I'm actually running more than I'm biking these days. Hell, I'm rock climbing more than I'm mountain biking.

Oh, and I get to take a client up to Prescott for a ride on Tuesday. Good times. Haven't touched my bikes, haven't ridden at altitude, and now I get to play trained monkey for four hours or so. Ouch.

Go ahead and quote my previous posts about the heat wimps, 'cuz I know I'm one now.

p.

Don't sweat it (literally). Even Lance Armstrong takes time off every year. It's not possible to keep at something 365 days a year with no breaks. Taking time off usually rekindles my love for the sport, and I come back much better than if I would have kept slogging through the heat all summer. I have always looked at July/August as the best time to take an "off season" break here. That's not to say I don't do a few shuttle runs now and then to keep sharp

But, for the most part I am in off season mode as well.

Kevin_O

· #15 · Jul 12, 2004

Wasn't it Cool Hand Luke?

that had the line "every man has his breaking point."? Don't fret it too much. Enjoy the downtime. The passion will come back when the weather improves.

Heck, at least you're still getting exercise. I can't even run in this heat. In April it was 8 miles every sunday. In June it was 6 miles. Last night it was 4 miles and I had to take a breather after 2. I felt like a slug.

-KevinO

Paul B said:
Maybe I'm getting old, maybe it's residual stress of the past year's dramas, maybe the road bike is spoiling me, but I just can't hack the heat this summer.

Pathetic, I know. I wake up at 5, look at the bike, sometimes even shimmy into the baggies but, dear lord, I just can't make myself get on the thing.

I haven't ridden a mountain bike in 3 weeks.

The road bike is getting a bit more love, a couple rides every week. I'm actually running more than I'm biking these days. Hell, I'm rock climbing more than I'm mountain biking.

Oh, and I get to take a client up to Prescott for a ride on Tuesday. Good times. Haven't touched my bikes, haven't ridden at altitude, and now I get to play trained monkey for four hours or so. Ouch.

Go ahead and quote my previous posts about the heat wimps, 'cuz I know I'm one now.

p.

schwinn77

· #16 · Jul 13, 2004

We're All Hipocrites @ Some Point.

@ Least You Realize It Paul B. No One Is Perfect And Everyone Will Feel Like You Do Someday. And Those Who Deny This Are All Hipocrites.

Flying Wombat

· #17 · Jul 13, 2004

I almost made it out to the Saturday morning ride

Got almost to Kathleens house and remembered that my helmet and shoes were still at home....duh!
On Sunday morning the heat and humidity were killing me, and usually do well with heat (commute 35 miles round trip to work 4 days per week). I couldnt clear any sections to save my life for some reason.
Take some down time, fall will be here before you know it!

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.