Blasphemy. The Joys of Riding Simply for Fun or Not At All

[PotomacCyclist]

I hate heart rate monitors, especially the chest strap. I tried using one for a month or two, when I first bought a Garmin GPS unit. I never actually looked at the HR data while I was running. Plus I could never get comfortable with the chest strap. Either it was too tight and it bothered me while I breathed. Or it was too loose and it would tend to slide down toward my waist.

So the fact that I never modified any workouts because of the HR data and the problems with wearing the strap meant that there was no point in using the HRM for me. Thus, I promptly put the chest strap in a drawer and never looked at it again.

I do use GPS but mostly for tracking workout data. I don’t look at the numbers that much while I’m riding, except to time intervals in some workouts. I generally ride by time and effort. I don’t care about mileage too much. If I were riding on a spin bike, I could do a very hard workout, or a longer one, but the actual distance traveled would be zero miles. So it’s all about duration and effort for me, even on outdoor rides. That includes frequent recovery rides where I’m just riding easy for a moderate amount of time. I usually do those easy rides on CaBi. I don’t have any goal in mind other than to shake out the legs and enjoy the outdoors. Since I’m not riding my own bikes on those rides, I’m not even as worried about things like flat tires and such. While I still try to avoid any debris in the road or on a sidewalk, tire problems would be easier to deal with on CaBi. I could just dock the bike and press the red button. (However, I have never had a mechanical issue during a CaBi ride, except for loose seats. I’ve never experienced a flat tire on CaBi.)

I’ll do some hard workouts at certain times of the year on my own bikes. But even now, many of my rides are at an easy effort level. I might have 2 or 3 hard workouts in a key week. Then I’ll do easier rides another 3 or 4 days. Sometimes 5. That helps to avoid overtraining (especially with hard run and swim workouts in the mix too). It also helps with mental focus. It’s not easy to get geared up for harder workouts all the time. Sometimes it’s nice just to head out and relax, physically and mentally.

[Riley Casey]

I must be missing something important in biking. Never worn a heart rate monitor. Last cycle computer I had died years ago and I never replaced it. Downloaded an app that tracked my rides and used it once then deleted it promptly when I discovered it ate my phone battery to death in one ride. Don’t own any Lycra, although I have been considering it recently ( I don’t look as good in Lycra and rhinestones as Ann does anyway). Never been in a bike race and damn few group rides aside from the occasional WABA social event cum ride. I ride to get from point A to point B, be it for fun or profit ( or groceries ). Ann you’re making all sound too much like work. 😮

Oh, and I have never, ever used pedal clips or even straps ( although the straps have always made good trouser ties )

[ShawnoftheDread]

I rode a CaBi for the first time on Friday, in the rain to go to the bike shop in Georgetown. It was easy to ride, but I’m convinced the saddles are designed just to remind you of the 30-minute free time limit. Like sitting on three large rocks.

[KelOnWheels]

@ShawnoftheDread 26045 wrote:

I rode a CaBi for the first time on Friday, in the rain to go to the bike shop in Georgetown. It was easy to ride, but I’m convinced the saddles are designed just to remind you of the 30-minute free time limit. Like sitting on three large rocks.

10 minutes per rock?

[jnva]

@Riley Casey 26043 wrote:

WABA social event cum ride.

That sounds like a little too much fun for me.

[acc]

Oh Riley, I won’t even ask whether you shave your legs…

And FWIW, you’d look perfectly acceptable in bib shorts but you can’t borrow my shoes or my rhinestones.

Some of the most fun I’ve ever had on a bike was the time I loaded up my jersey pockets with loaded water pistols and used them for target practice on my innocent, unsuspecting riding partner. It was also the perfect setup for practicing sprinting…

[Author]

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