Category Archives: Cycling

To Be Healthy Again

29 Friday Jul 2016

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This year has got to be the worst year so far as far as my health is concerned.  I’ve already been hospitalized twice this year and another visit is just around the corner.  This month alone I’ve been to a doctor five times for tests and other examinations.

Since my bout with pneumonia back in May, my breathing has gotten worse.  So much so that I can’t walk any distance or do any type of work without gasping for a breath.  Even sitting here typing this my breathing is labored.  I had a nuclear stress test last week as well as an ultrasound of my heart and both tests have come back without any abnormalities.  My regular doctor is supposed to be setting up an appointment with a cardiologist hopefully one day next week for a follow up.

I long for the day I’m able to walk down the hallways at work or hop on my bicycle for a twenty mile ride without feeling like crap.

365 Day Photo Challenge 354/365 “It Was a Better Day”

19 Saturday Dec 2015

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https://tchphotography.smugmug.com/2015-Cheaha-Challenge/i-wh67MV6/A

Compared to yesterday, today was  like a breath of fresh air.  The kidney stone still has not passed as far as I know.  I’ve been drinking plenty of water and going to the bathroom more times that I care to count.  I still have a little pain in my lower back but I can deal with that as long as it doesn’t get any worse.  I’m hoping to go to the store tomorrow and get some stuff together for our upcoming Christmas dinner.

“Life Goes On!”

My Whole Body is Sore

26 Sunday Oct 2014

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http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/776383875#

I took a trip to Dallas Georgia yesterday to ride a few miles on the Silver Comet. Fifty to be exact I haven’t ridden by bicycle since the end of June and I believe I did too much yesterday.  The back of my neck and shoulders are feeling the worst and my legs come in a close second.

It was a beautiful day yesterday with the temps being in the sixties to start off with and the high in the mid 70’s by the end of my ride.  I started off with a hoodie but had to take it off about midday.  I am so bad out of shape that it took me longer than I had expected but I didn’t have any problems until about mile 40 when I started having leg cramps.  I slowed down and started taking mini breaks.  I was in no hurry so I just took my time getting back.

The Silver Comet Trail is 61.5 miles long, and starts at the Mavell Road Trailhead in Smyrna, Georgia. It ends at the Georgia/Alabama state line, near Cedartown and The Esom Hill Trailhead.

At the Georgia/Alabama state line, the Silver Comet connects to the 33-mile long Chief Ladiga Trail. Plans are underway to extend the Chief Ladiga an additional 7 miles. Both the Silver Comet Trail and Chief Ladiga are fully paved rail-trails built on abandoned railroad lines. The combined Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga trail length is estimated to be 94.5 paved miles from Smyrna, Georgia to Anniston, Alabama. (Copied from the Silver Comet Website.)

Riding on the trail is very pleasant and you can meet a lot of nice people along the way.  In fact yesterday I had a chance to give a helping hand.  About 14 miles from the trail head in Dallas, I ran across an elderly couple walking their bikes.  I stopped to see if they needed help.  They told me that he had a flat and his hand pump wouldn’t work  Just so happens that I carry two tubes and two CO2 cartridges with me on any trip.  He borrowed one of my CO2 cartridges and he was on his way.  He did say thanks and offered to pay but I declined payment.  I just hope someone is as nice to me as I was to him if I’m ever in his shoes.

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Got to ride today

29 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by in Cycling, Uncategorized, Weight Loss

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The weather was finally warm enough to take a small ride this afternoon.  I think the temperature got up to around 53 degrees so I decided I’d take advantage of the wonderful sunshine and take a spin.  Although the temp was around 53 it was still cold doing 15 or so mph.  I don’t own any cold weather gear so my upper body got quite chilly.  I got 15 miles in before calling it done.  Probably the last time I’ll get in a ride this year.  I can’t wait until spring.

Cycling as a stress reliever?

29 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Cycling, Weight Loss

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After a horrid weekend, by the way, sorry for the rant the other day, I went on a short bike ride through my community.  It’s the first one since I broke my rib at work.  It took me a little while to get motivated and I guess that’s because of the mood I was in.

Once I got on the road I started feeling better.  I don’t know if it’s because of the wind in my face or the exercise I was getting but I was a different person when I got home.  In fact, my wife even noticed a difference.

With the days getting shorter and the time change this weekend it will be near impossible for me to get a ride in when I get home from work.  I’ve got a trainer that I’ve been on a couple of times and believe me it’s not the same as being out on the road.

Don’t come between a hawk and his snack.

26 Saturday Oct 2013

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I’m wanting to do some landscaping work our Boy Scout meeting place.  I went by there yesterday afternoon and had taken several photographs when I heard this loud whooshing sound above my head. I looked up to see this large hawk diving toward me with incredible speed.  I ducked down and he flew just above my head as he dropped down low enough to grab this rat that was running across the path.  He flew up and landed on a limb and I was able to capture these images.  I hope you enjoy.ImageImageImageImage

My First 50 Miler

24 Thursday Oct 2013

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I met up with another boy scout troop in our district and we took a trip to Dallas Georgia to ride a section of the Silver Comet.  The Silver Comet and the Chief LaDiga Trail is an old railroad bed that has been converted to a very nice bike/  walking trail.  It goes from Anniston, Alabama to Smyrna, Georgia.  It’s part of the Rails to Trails project.  We had 18 scouts ride the trail but only 4 of us made the full 50 miles.  I hope everyone enjoys the pictures.ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageg

Home sick today

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

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One of my daughters woke up sick yesterday morning now I guess it;s my turn.

I started out in May riding an old 12 speed Trek.  I bought it from a co-worker 15 or so years ago.  According to the serial number the bike is a little over 30 years old.  It served it’s purpose because I didn’t want to go and spend a lot of money on a bicycle if I wasn’t going to stick with it,  Come to find out I love to ride.  In fact, so much so I found a bike on the internet that I fell in love with.   After putting over 1000 miles on my old Trek I purchased a 2013 Cannondal from a guy in Mississippi.

On average I ride about 60 miles a week.  Now that the daylight hours are getting shorter I find it difficult to get my mileage in.  Also, I broke a rib Saturday before last and that too has put a damper on my riding. I have a trainer that I will put to use to help me keep my muscles in shape during the winter months.

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My first attempt at riding in the rain.

My riding hasn’t come easy.  I’ve had several wrecks that fortunately only caused minor damage to me and my Trek.   I’ve had road rash, and bent rims but I’ve learned to get back on the bike and keep going and not give up.

A Weight Loss Adventure

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

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As stated earlier, I’ve had a problem with my weight since before I got married some twenty some odd years ago.  In 2009 I was at 345 lbs, my heaviest and at the same time, my lowest in self esteem.  I decided then to start doing something about it.

I can’t give all the credit to my weight loss to diet and exercise.  If you’re a diabetic like I am all you have to do to loose weight is to stop taking your medications.  This was not a good idea and do not attempt if you’re a diabetic.  I did it to save money and I thought I could take care of my diabetes with just my diet and exercise.  There was two major things wrong with this; 1) I didn’t exercise and 2) I didn’t stick to any diet.

Things got a little harry after not being on any medications for a while.  It was only after I started loosing feeling in my feet when I decided to go back under my doctors care. In 2011 I had lost down to 311 with a loss of 34 lbs.  Not bad for weight loss but I wouldn’t recommend loosing it the way I did.

November 2012, my doctor and I had a serious conversation about my sugar levels still being way out of control.  I came home that afternoon and got on my treadmill and have been exercising ever since,

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Before/During

I now weight 270 lbs and I’ve still got several pounds to go.  I’ve started riding a bicycle in May of this year and I really love being out doors.  More on my bike riding in my next post.