I'll Be Back !! (Arnie accent)

I'll be back very soon.

I have been away from riding for the past 3 to 4 weeks. I have been very busy getting my work life sorted out, changing job, settling into a new one, etc.

You will think that I am using all of this as a reason to not ride and on a level you would be right, but there are other underlying reasons that have caused me to pause, and those are about settled now, so ...............

I need to change the pedals on my bike as my new dog got at it and bit off the straps. I thought of going clip-less but am leaning more to going back to what was there before. I also need to get a new seat before hitting the road, as my ass will sure as hell complain like it did the first few weeks way back last year.

I will have to get back in and fall back into my routine, I also need to supplement my riding with mucho cross-training. I have been maintaining my 232 lbs but I really want to kick start the losses and get down to 200lbs as quickly as possible (without going overboard).

More to come

Kingston to Negril 2010 Ride is On

I am not going anywhere near this, despite my post late last year that I would.

The Kingston to Negril run have riders going through Bog Walk George up to an estimated elevation of 1,650 feet to Moneague and then down to sea level into Ocho Rios, trekking along the north coast through Discovery Bay, Flamouth, Montego Bay and on into Negril. 140 miles, that is like a 5 1/2 hours driving at decent speed, much less on a bloody bike. Wasnt it last year it was along the south coast ?

I have been chugging along doing 35 miles on my best days and need to sort out a few things on my bike, like changing the seat to a more comfortable one but right now other things take priority. Last week I didnt get in any riding as it was rainy and I ended up spending the day with my better half and the guys from school finishing off an assignment. I am now free of school and am going to really try to get my ride time per week up.

This weekend will also be a tight one, but I am determined to get a good workout tomorrow. 35 miles is the target and I am going to work my butt off with the intention of riding a 100 miles trip before the end of 2010.

The home page for registration for the Kingston to Negril ride is http://www.jamaicabybike.com/

Check em out

35 Miles last week was no fluke

35 miles again this morning.

Starting early helps and it looks like I might have to get up even earlier to get my miles in before it gets too hot. 5:30am this morning was a brighter than it was last week and I know that in another 2-4 weeks it will start lighting up by 5:15am.

On Saturday last week it took me a little over 3 1/2 hours to do the ride, this morning the time was down to 3 hours, which meant that my average speed over the 35 miles was about 12 miles per hour. I have a few 5 minute stops in there so I might actually be going faster.

On Wednesday I will be trying to get out again for hopefully a 25 miles run in the hope that I will be able to ride consistently twice per week.

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April 10, 2010

Miles Ridden Today - 35.0

Miles Ridden MTD - 81.7

Target for March - 150 miles

Needed for target - 68.3

Really trying to get into week day riding

Its hard to motivate myself to do it during the week, especially when I am under work pressure, but I know if I dont increase my workload then I will stall my weight loss initiative.

This morning was crazy, I left out hoping to get at least 25 miles in and could only manage 11.7. The wind was blustery and I had to take a break when my heart started pounding from the exertion. My Doctor has suggested that I get a heart monitor and try to remain within 80% of my maximum heart rate. Apparent you maximum heart rate is 220-your age and staying with 80% of that number.

I am 40, so my maximum heart rate is 220-40= 180. I need to stay within a maximum of 144 heart beats per minute to keep my heart from pounding, having me break out into cold sweats wondering if I am having a freaking heart attack.

Rest day tomorrow and then an attempt at 35 miles on Saturday. I hope the breeze has died down by then.

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April 8, 2010

Miles Ridden Today - 11.7

Miles Ridden MTD - 46.7

Target for March - 150 miles

Needed for target - 103.3

Breaking that 25 miles barrier

On February 13th I broke the 12 miles barrier and left it behind when I rode 25 miles. Today April 2, 2010 I broke the 25 miles barrier and took it to 35 miles. It was not easy and left me exhausted but I was so elated at the accomplishment.

I have issues that have prevented me from riding every Saturday and I am not going to sweat it, I am going to keep plugging away as often as I can and enjoy myself. We are on the first day of 4 days off from work, its the Easter weekend here in Jamaica and I am going to try to get 4 days of riding in and hopefully complete 100 miles for the weekend, something I have not been able to accomplish over a one month period.

I started earlier this morning as with the approaching summer the mornings are a little bit earlier and the sun a hell of a lot more hotter. My first circuit (12 miles) was a bit of a struggle, but the next 12 miles was easy, by the time I started tackling the last stretch the sun was scorching and I was glad I had carried extra water.

The road was nice and quiet as most people seemed to be sleeping late today and only 2 other cyclists showed up, I had to stop on the last stretch to help someone who had gotten a flat. He had a brand new tyre on and it looked like it had a hole and somebody had stitched it, he was not amused as he couldnt get in his miles and with today being a public holiday he cannot get the tyre replaced until tomorrow, so he cant do his regular Saturday morning run. I had to ride on the last 2 miles to get his car for him.

April is off to a good start and I am hoping to do another 35 miler tomorrow as Wayne had already planned that for us. If I can keep this up I will get to my goal off riding 100 miles in just 4 days.

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April 2, 2010

Miles Ridden Today - 35

Miles Ridden MTD - 35

Target for March - 150 miles.

Powers - Excellent Comic Book Series

Every now and then I will read a comic book and just be blown out of the water by the type of story and the artwork. When you have been collecting comics as long as I have it takes something special to hold my attention, I mean most of the times I feel like I have "been there, done that", not so with Powers.

Powers is a crime drama comic book that takes place on an Earth populated by Superheroes. They soar above people in brightly coloured costumes and clash with Supervillians in epic spectacular battles like Gods while down in the streets normal citizens try to go about their lives in a dirty crime infested city. Police Detective Christian Walker (a former Superhero) and rookie Deena Pilgrim are teamed up and investigate crimes (mostly murders) related to Powers (the name given to people with........well powers)
Creator Brian Michael Bendis, a writer who made his name in the independents before becoming Marvel Comic's star boy, has stated that he really wanted to write this book as Alan Moore (Watchmen) and Frank Miller (The Dark Return Returns) told all there was to tell about Superheroes, and he found these types of stories more interesting. There are times when Bendis' obvious Mamet's style of writing irritates, but thankfully the substance of the stories usually make up for it

The artwork by Michael Avon Oeming is simple and reminiscent of Bruce Timm's style from the Batman Animated Series of the 90s and actually enhances the scripts greatly. His clean dynamic layouts have made me an instant fan.

If you were/are a fan of Hill Street Blue, NYPD Blue, CSI, heck even Law and Order you will enjoy this. It is serious, funny, irreverent, smart and damn good comic writing with stunning art.

I have a friend that I supply with what I consider exceptional comics, right now he's devouring Bendis/Maalev's excellent Daredevil run, I think I will give him Powers next and watch as his head explodes.

Powers - copyright Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Trades available at Amazon at this link

Mileage already going well this year

I got my bike in late 2009 and started riding, not as much as I would like to but at least I was getting some exercise.

On January 2010 I decided that I really needed to take this lifestyle change seriously and really ride more consistently if I wanted to hit 200lbs by December. There was no way a half ass attempt was going to get me there, so I have been out more, I can still get out more and will.


Total miles for 2009 - 51. 03 miles
Total Miles for 2010 - 177.20 miles (YTD)


In January 2010 I rode more miles in one month than I did the entire 3 or so months in 09. It helps that I am already down 10lbs just from eating better and the doing more, but can you imagine the strides I could make with consistency ??

October is the date for the Kingston to Negril 142 miles bicycle trek and I am still working my way to taking part in it, it is a goal that I have set for myself and want to see just how much of that journey I can complete.

Stay tuned for more updates on my consistency.....