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General Discussion => Share Your Badassity => Topic started by: kenmoremmm on October 17, 2019, 09:27:48 PM

Title: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: kenmoremmm on October 17, 2019, 09:27:48 PM
1980-2005: 11630
2006: 4530
2007: 9079
2008: 5065
2009: 4006
2010: 2731
2011: 2806
2012: 5259
2013: 5370
2014: 2350
2015: 3630
2016: 4030
2017: 4876
2018: 5124
YTD: 4233
TOTAL: 74719
WORLD X 3: 74703

started with biking as a kid, then a paper route for 6 years (age 12-18, 4 miles RT), then a lull in biking, then moving to seattle (2004) and bike commuting and endurance rides, ironman in 2006, biked across the country with my dad in 2007. lost job in 2010-2011, then new job was a 36 mile RT commute up thru end of 2014. now current commute is 29.2 miles and 1800ft gain. it's tiring, especially with frequent double headwinds, but traffic sucks. i don't mind rain and probably have 20k miles in it.

favorite bike was my fixie that i rode for several years before getting hit by a truck (their fault) and breaking my hip.

most enjoyable ride was a 156 mile day about a week after completing biking across the country. rode with my friend who was in the throes of ironman training (he would qualify for kona and place in the top 300) and i had to wait for him often (he was still a better runner than me).

steepest grade was 21% in maine with fully loaded touring bike.

favorite ride i've repeated is marblemount to washington pass on hwy 20 (north cascades highway) about 120 miles RT.

most enjoyable ride was probably the one where i first went on a date with my wife (bike ride + trivia and food).

most scenic was probably the route to lake koocanusa or going to the sun road, both in montana.

most number of flats on a bike commute day = 3.

total number of accidents = 3 (one cutting through a parking lot and slamming on the brakes for an endo; one getting clipped off with a right hook and ending up on a trunk (no injuries); broken hip). accident free for 10+ years now.

favorite time to ride is midnight after a long day in the office (no traffic, some semblance of peace in the world).

ideal situation would be to retire and fall short of 4x around the planet, but we'll see. started an annual goal of 5k miles now that we have kids and biking is my only form of anything.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: JoshuaSpodek on October 17, 2019, 10:28:20 PM
Congratulations, if that's the right response.

2007's trip sounds like a great experience.

The ride with 3 flats must have been annoying. I hope a good story after a while. Your 21% grade in Maine reminds me of riding up a steep hill one summer in Maine with loaded paniers. It was over 100 degrees. I remember not one car that passed had their windows open, thinking "if it was 20 degrees cooler it would still be hot."

To think of all the TV you missed and other things people spend time on.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: EscapedApe on October 24, 2019, 02:06:15 PM
1980-2005: 11630
2006: 4530
2007: 9079
2008: 5065
2009: 4006
2010: 2731
2011: 2806
2012: 5259
2013: 5370
2014: 2350
2015: 3630
2016: 4030
2017: 4876
2018: 5124
YTD: 4233
TOTAL: 74719
WORLD X 3: 74703

started with biking as a kid, then a paper route for 6 years (age 12-18, 4 miles RT), then a lull in biking, then moving to seattle (2004) and bike commuting and endurance rides, ironman in 2006, biked across the country with my dad in 2007. lost job in 2010-2011, then new job was a 36 mile RT commute up thru end of 2014. now current commute is 29.2 miles and 1800ft gain. it's tiring, especially with frequent double headwinds, but traffic sucks. i don't mind rain and probably have 20k miles in it.

favorite bike was my fixie that i rode for several years before getting hit by a truck (their fault) and breaking my hip.

most enjoyable ride was a 156 mile day about a week after completing biking across the country. rode with my friend who was in the throes of ironman training (he would qualify for kona and place in the top 300) and i had to wait for him often (he was still a better runner than me).

steepest grade was 21% in maine with fully loaded touring bike.

favorite ride i've repeated is marblemount to washington pass on hwy 20 (north cascades highway) about 120 miles RT.

most enjoyable ride was probably the one where i first went on a date with my wife (bike ride + trivia and food).

most scenic was probably the route to lake koocanusa or going to the sun road, both in montana.

most number of flats on a bike commute day = 3.

total number of accidents = 3 (one cutting through a parking lot and slamming on the brakes for an endo; one getting clipped off with a right hook and ending up on a trunk (no injuries); broken hip). accident free for 10+ years now.

favorite time to ride is midnight after a long day in the office (no traffic, some semblance of peace in the world).

ideal situation would be to retire and fall short of 4x around the planet, but we'll see. started an annual goal of 5k miles now that we have kids and biking is my only form of anything.

Damn dude, you're a cycling legend.

Even now you're riding ~30 miles to work? That's amazing. You must feel great at the start and end of each work day.

What, in your opinion, is the most essential piece of cycling gear to have with you? Accessory, tool, whatever you think is the most valuable/useful.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: kenmoremmm on October 24, 2019, 05:48:15 PM
i feel okay to start the day. just kind of normal feeling after doing it for 15 years. it helps to have downhill for the first mile. then it's a good solid uphill for a few miles with a grade that fits me well.

on the way home, it's a lot of uphill to start, and adding general fatigue from too much biking, too much overtime at work, and 2 kids (3 and 9 months) and it's about the last thing i want to do. final hill to the house is 10-12% range, but short, but it's not a fun way to end.

i forget entirely about biking the second i step in the door and play with my kids.

bests:
steel bike. don't have to worry about fatigue cracks or creakiness.
hand built rear wheel (no longer on the bike, but it was nice). rode 20k miles on it without a truing or anything until one pothole dented it. it was still true, but the dent was too much. the feel on the road was pretty nice compared to the cheapo machine built ones at the LBS.
taillights: dinotte 140r and 300r. my main line of defense against phone using drivers.

i almost never need tools on the road. occasional chain cleaning at home 1-2x/week depending on severity of rain.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: EscapedApe on October 25, 2019, 09:59:29 AM
I used to bike 7 miles to school for two years, with a gnarly hill on the way. That was always fun, and it really woke me up for classes. Now I live really close to work, so I only get to bike long distances if I do it as part of planned exercise.

What makes you bike 30 miles to work instead of driving? Is it just a desire to live frugally?
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: kenmoremmm on October 25, 2019, 11:35:16 AM
i can do the 30 miles, stoplights and all, in about 2 hours or less in the summer (add 15-30 in the winter for rain, wind, heavier bike). if i drove, it would be 1.5 hours on most days. 2 on bad days. seattle area traffic sucks. when there are no cars on the road, it's 40 mins RT.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: Dave1442397 on October 26, 2019, 06:28:40 PM
Nice going! Strava has me at 42,632 miles since 2011, which is when I took up cycling again.

Check out this guy - 135,437 miles to date. I don't know him personally, he just rides with a friend of mine. Strava says he's spent over 896 hours cycling this year, or 37 full days. That's just nuts!

https://www.strava.com/athletes/2559351
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: EscapedApe on October 30, 2019, 12:46:13 PM
i can do the 30 miles, stoplights and all, in about 2 hours or less in the summer (add 15-30 in the winter for rain, wind, heavier bike). if i drove, it would be 1.5 hours on most days. 2 on bad days. seattle area traffic sucks. when there are no cars on the road, it's 40 mins RT.

Wow, only half an hour difference? In your situation I would bike to work too.

I actually have plans on moving to the Seattle area and settling there. Is it really as bike-friendly as it seems? Any advice to someone moving there who intended on cycling most places?
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: kenmoremmm on October 30, 2019, 01:03:40 PM
i can do the 30 miles, stoplights and all, in about 2 hours or less in the summer (add 15-30 in the winter for rain, wind, heavier bike). if i drove, it would be 1.5 hours on most days. 2 on bad days. seattle area traffic sucks. when there are no cars on the road, it's 40 mins RT.

Wow, only half an hour difference? In your situation I would bike to work too.

I actually have plans on moving to the Seattle area and settling there. Is it really as bike-friendly as it seems? Any advice to someone moving there who intended on cycling most places?
depends where you live. shoot me a PM and we can discuss.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: kenmoremmm on November 07, 2019, 09:19:38 PM
and then there's this guy
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7660749/I-knew-I-one-day-says-82-year-old-cycling-millionth-mile.html?ITO=applenews
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: wbarnett on November 10, 2019, 10:11:37 PM
Incredible. I've been bike commuting for work the last 8 years, and biked everywhere in grad school for 3 years. But I have never averaged over 3k miles/year. A 30-mile RT bike commute is no joke. Mine is currently 24 RT, but I only ride the whole thing once every couple of weeks. I can get on a train after mile 4 :).
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: DapperAndy on November 20, 2019, 02:12:56 PM
That's some serious consistency! Great job.

21% grade with a fully loaded touring bike is nuts.

I've had a hard time transitioning back to road riding after the invention of smart phones. I feel drivers a lot more distracted now, and that worries me. I used to put in major miles, but now I prefer the mountain bike.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: Dave1442397 on November 20, 2019, 06:22:38 PM
That's some serious consistency! Great job.

21% grade with a fully loaded touring bike is nuts.

I've had a hard time transitioning back to road riding after the invention of smart phones. I feel drivers a lot more distracted now, and that worries me. I used to put in major miles, but now I prefer the mountain bike.

I'm also doing a lot less solo riding since having a number of friends run down in the past few years. I tend to do group rides outside and Zwift indoors these days.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: EscapedApe on November 22, 2019, 09:51:07 AM
and then there's this guy
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7660749/I-knew-I-one-day-says-82-year-old-cycling-millionth-mile.html?ITO=applenews

Pretty sure that guy came from the future in order to assassinate John Connor.
Title: Re: biked around the world for the 3rd time
Post by: soccerluvof4 on November 25, 2019, 04:54:12 AM
Awesome journey! thanks for sharing and keep it up!! Before my feet started getting beat up I walked alot and my goal was to California and back (real walking but virtual in actually going there and back) and did it nearly 3 years in a row. I would usually walk every morning 3 or 4 am when it was dark too and it is great for clearing the mind. Now I can only walk for 2 hours once or twice a week. Anyhow as I said thats impressive!