Search found 43 matches

by Carpediem
23 Oct 2019, 11:57pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Flu Jab - side effects?
Replies: 133
Views: 9423

Re: Flu Jab - side effects?

Mick F wrote:Not just that.
I've had asthma since my late 30s but no issues until my early 40s.
It made life difficult in the RN and was part of the reason I retired.
Much of my asthma is stress related but as I've aged it's just plain asthma.

Colds often go to my chest and develop into bronchitis etc. Quite depilating really.


Im in the same boat as you Mick,( no pun intended)
Over the last few years(im now 70) a cold almost always ends up in a bout of bronchitis,which as you say is quite dibilitatng and definitely rules out cycling.
Just wondered if you have any special remedies which I might not have tried.
I’ve been offered the flu jab but I’m still undecided.
Cheers Paul.
by Carpediem
9 Sep 2019, 11:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 50/34 chainsets and the older rider
Replies: 55
Views: 3218

Re: 50/34 chainsets and the older rider

[quote="Paulatic"]I like my 50/34 11-30 bike as I ride it most of the summer providing I’m not carrying much weight. I bought it for that job. It got me from LE to JOG without walking

I’ve been using the same 50/34...11-30 cassette for past few years and find it works well for me getting me up the lumpy hills on my normal 25 ml 2350ft ofascent ride.

I do occasionally swap to a 11-34 cassette when I know my ride includes some 10-15 % hills,but that’s not often.
I’m thinking of adding a new bike to my collection soon and have been looking at a canyon with the scram force one 44 single chainring and x10-42 cassette
I know they’re commonly used on Mtb’s and Cx but not often on road bikes.
As I’m now a 70 yr old fart as was hoping the hills might be a bit easier and speed on the flat doesnt bother me now.
Out of interest one bikes I like the look of is the Canyon roadlite cf 9.0 ltd.
It’s not cheap but imo offers good value for money by missing out the retailer coming direct from Germany. It has just been reduced by around £350 to £2349 if i remember correctly.
Any views good or bad would be most welcome
by Carpediem
24 Aug 2019, 12:38am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Do E-bike riders get more exercise than regular cyclists ?
Replies: 83
Views: 5664

Re: Do E-bike riders get more exercise than regular cyclists ?

Cugel wrote:
Oldjohnw wrote:I've been a long distance backpacker and hill walker for decades. Following major surgery 3 years ago I could no longer carry a heavy backpack. Otherwise I am fit but getting old.

I tried cycling but struggled as it is very hilly in my locality. So I got my bike modified and added a motor. I have lost 15kg in weight, my lung function has improved and I am well in the way to coming out of the pre-diabetic phase. I've had several almost free holidays in the Highlands and significantly reduced my carbon contribution as I do most of the shopping on my bike.

I would recommend an ebike to anyone who struggles otherwise, for whatever reason. And ignore the prophets of doom occasionally inhabiting this forum.


As we age the thing that becomes the measure of all else is our quality of life. It's so easy to lose it, slowly and beneath notice until one realises (in a brief lucid period) that one is a gimmer tottering on a perch in the gimmery, attended by Brutus the male nurse. So, we are wise to avoid the bad habits and to seek out the accoutrements that bolster that ever-so-valuable quality of life.

The e-bike is certainly one such valuable accoutrement. Your own case is a classic example that the puritanical lads should examine closely so that they may follow it in due course, as their formerly super-quads, glutes, panters and pump wither and go a bit stringy & feeble. The choice is: perch in that gimmery under the cosh of Brutus or perch on an e-bike and continue the immersion in the multi-paradise of the British landscape, riding with others or alone, not just alive but well.

****
There are other modes and accoutrements that avoid the deadly clasp of the gimmery. A shed with man-toys (or the womanly variety) of tradition. Outings with the grandchildren of a more physical kind than merely shopping or sitting passively at an "entertainment". Some demanding dogs to walk.....

But some lads seem very wedded to only one mode of life, becoming moribund at the slightest setback to their ability to maintain it. They become morose, bad-tempered, depressed then dead. Be warned, doomsters! Save for that e-bike now. :-)

Cugel

Well said cugel
Just having reached the three score years and ten milestone my old bones are starting to object to the hills around Rivington and Belmont which if i remember correctly you are familiar with.
I have my man cave and boys toys but really enjoy my twice weekly 25 mile cycling excursions.SO although saying I wouldn’t be seen dead on one of those “wussy” (ebikes) I’m now seriously thinking one will be my next bike,especially after being overtaken by an old boy on a 20” wheel ebike today...try as I might I couldn’t keep up as he sailed into the sunset.
by Carpediem
9 Jul 2019, 12:04am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Favourite quotations
Replies: 174
Views: 13402

Re: Favourite quotations

“Life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans “
Is a thoughtful line from John Lennons’ great song Beautiful Boy.
Not sure he didn’t steal the line from somebody else or not.
Can anybody shed any light.
by Carpediem
25 Jun 2019, 11:20pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling in the Lake District
Replies: 36
Views: 4221

Re: Cycling in the Lake District

Me my wife and our dog stay in Borrowdale near Keswick 3 or 4 times a year.
Each visit I consider taking the bike,but never do for several reasons..like you I’d have to use a roof rack,and as already said it’s quite hilly so you need a good level of fitness,and although not quite as busy as the south lakes there’s still plenty of traffic on what are mostly narrow single lane roads.
Personally I’d take some good walking gear and get some hills done,which tbh is the best way to enjoy the fantastic views on offer.
I’m looking forward to our week there in August,hope you enjoy yours.
by Carpediem
11 Jun 2019, 12:16am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Lightning: terrible misfortune
Replies: 29
Views: 3640

Re: Lightning: terrible misfortune

reohn2 wrote:For those who know the area,on Thursday after carefully checking the forecast said no rain over the moors,I decided on an MTB ride from Rivington village.
The ride took me up to the Dove tower and down into into Belmont village,where I spotted the flaw in the forecast(a huge black cloud heading my way from the west),I decided to keep heading east toward Edgerton and over Turton golf club,swinging north on the Witton Weavers way to Entwhistle,stopping off at the Strawberry Duck for a sandwich then heading west to Cadshaw crossing the A666 and over Tuton Moor,heading for The Jubilee tower on top of the moor.
I was was doing well skirting around the huge black cloud and rolling thunder just to the to the south.
At this point I felt that chilly wind that says I'm coming your way :? .
The rain came so quick I'd barely time to get my waterproof on and it was overhead,and the thunder with it.
The high point of an exposed moor is not the place to to be in a thunderstorm on a steel bicycle :shock: and boy was it raining,I was soaked within a minute of it starting.
At this point I should say that one of my granddaughters was once struck by lightening,thankfully she only suffer very slight burns but was knocked unconscious but recovered fully within a few days.This was to the forefront of my mind as I hastily descended the 1km rough track down,which was now 7cm deep in water running off the moore,to Sunnyhurst and what seemed to be safety.
I continued my ride in pouring rain to Tockholes,Roddlesworh wood.Abbey Village,Briscall,Whit Coppice,The Nab and back to Rivington for the drive home.32 hard hilly enjoyable miles with the last hour and a half soaked through :D
You never know do you?


That’s my neck of the woods,
All my rides start from my home village of pickup bank.near Darwen
No avoiding hills round here
by Carpediem
10 Jun 2019, 12:24am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Ten mental health tips
Replies: 136
Views: 16736

Re: Ten mental health tips

Not a thread I’d expected to find on a cycling forum,but very interesting and informative it is.
Like most folks I’ve had my issues in the past,the worst and still not resolved loss of our son at the age of 23 in a climbing accident..
Not much you can do to change that,so you just have to try,hard as it is to move on and focus on the positive things he brought to our lives.
Something I have done in the intervening years now is at the end of everyday find something I’ve achieved,however small or mundain and take pleasure from that. I also always try to find one positive out of what can at first appear to be insurmountable negatives,there’s usually something there if you look hard enough..Easy for me to say I know,it’s taken a lot of time and practice to achieve and not quite ther yet either.
Paul
by Carpediem
13 May 2019, 12:49am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Flu
Replies: 24
Views: 2527

Re: Flu

To say 'could lead to a possible heart attack sounds dramatic ,but I've had it on good authority that it can and does happen,especially to older folks with underlying conditions.
I still haven't properly recovered from a very bad flu infection in January which led to bronchitis,my breathing now whilst out on the bike is still not as good as is was prior to my flu/bronchitis illness.
My GP thinks i may have some permanent slight lung damage,thoughXrays have come back clear.
The only times I struggle are on short very steep hills where I'm literally wanting to stop and walk which pride stops me from doing,but then I'm gasping for breath at the top ,this never happened before my illness,and it's quite worrying TBH.
On the plus side my breathing does return to normal fairly quickly,like within a minute,and I can continue my ride,albeit at a slightly slower pace.
by Carpediem
19 Mar 2019, 12:35am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: How do you look behind with falling off your bike
Replies: 51
Views: 6845

Re: How do you look behind with falling off your bike

I'd like to congratulate you 531colin on both your posts which were sensible,full of great advice and very helpful to me personally.
I could add that I've recently been using garmins rear view varia radar paired to my 520.
It does give good warning of traffic approaching from behind up to 150mts IIRC..it does give early warning of approaching vehicles.. However as has already been said it can be a distraction,and should only be given a quick glance before making a manouvere,and is in no way a substitute for the neccessary 2 glances over the shoulder as described.
Regarding an earlier comment on computers..
I haven't heard of anyone having accidents caused by being distracted by their computer,but I can see how it could happen quite easily..so I now make a conscious effort to only give mine the occasional glance at the radar and av speed and distance,it's taken a few weeks practise doing this, but I'm managing to get used to it.
by Carpediem
15 Mar 2019, 7:52pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Hip replacement and cycling
Replies: 64
Views: 26405

Re: Hip replacement and cycling

Hi their , fellow hippy.
I to have had THR,both hips replaced within the same year,and I was also 66 at the time.
As you say it does take around a year to fully recover,it is a major operation after all.
I was previously a life long cyclist,but had to take an enforced 4 yr lay off,before the pain left me no choice to have the op,which in hindsight was the best thing I have ever done.
Recovery is slow and we all recover at different rates.
Like you I began doing 10 mins a day on a static bike,and to be brief ventured back on an MTB on easy trails a few months later,which was quite daunting at first.
Fast forward four years and I know do 25 ml road rides 3 times a week and one ride on the turbo trainer.
To try and allay one of your fears I have taken a few LOW speed falls,landing on my new hips,and apart from some bruising had no hip damage,in fact my surgeon told me that the new implant is probably stronger than the original hip bone.
TBH I don't even give it a thought any more,just get out and enjoy the ride.
NB bear in mind your glutes and quads will never be as strong as they were pre op,but don't let that put you off.
by Carpediem
19 Jan 2019, 12:05am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Flu
Replies: 24
Views: 2527

Re: Flu

Audax67 wrote:I wouldn't go running or take any other kind of strenuous exercise until the infection has gone. Flu is generally an upper respiratory tract infection, but if you do anything that makes you breathe hard you could suck it deep into your lungs and have a very nice case of pneumonia. In which case you don't worry about being stiff but about being a stiff.


That's pretty much what my GP told me recently when I visited with a chest infection.
Foolishly I ignored his advice and finished up with acute bronchitis,which has taken weeks to recover from,but it could have been worse,as you say pneumonia can be a killer.
I've learnt my lesson :(
by Carpediem
5 Jan 2019, 12:11am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Novel overtaking move this morning
Replies: 20
Views: 2494

Re: Novel overtaking move this morning

The scary thing with this head on overtaking manouvere is the speed the car is approaching gives little or no time to take avoiding action,even if your lucky enough t have somewhere to bail out.
From now on I pay extra attention to an oncoming car, and th car behind that one,and make a guess as to if they're suddenly going to make an overtake manouvere.
by Carpediem
3 Jan 2019, 12:12am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Novel overtaking move this morning
Replies: 20
Views: 2494

Re: Novel overtaking move this morning

mjr wrote:
ian s wrote:I was proceeding through a local village, where the road is a succession of bends, a car was behind me waiting for a good view before passing me, when we were both overtaken by a pickup completely on the wrong side of the road around a blind bend. What, if anything, was the driver thinking?? It is down hill, so I wasn't going all that slow.

In my experience, that was a first

Been going on for a few years. They think they've got round-the-bend radar. Cars ending up in trees near blind bends suggests they don't.


I was involved in a similar incident last week, out on the bike on a dead straight minor road with good visibility., only frighteningly the overtaking manoeuvre was with a car overtaking another one coming straight towards me at I guess 50mph,and ending up on my side of the road...it missed me by a whisker,and the thought of what almost happened made me stop a few seconds to regain my composure.
Why the driver couldn't have waited a few seconds to overtake after I'd passed I don't know...but it was a very scary experience.
by Carpediem
2 Jan 2019, 11:57pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Upper Body Circuits?
Replies: 6
Views: 648

Re: Upper Body Circuits?

foxyrider wrote:Don't you do upper body for your Boxing?

The easiest thing you can do is to get out on your bike in the real world, climb some hills and do real world intervals if you must. This will improve your cardio, and give your upper body and legs a good all-round workout. As a bonus you'll get a bit of experience of road riding before getting out with others - you can't learn bike handling on a turbo.

Good luck


Excellent advice to anyone wishing to take up cycling at any level..pushing yourself on a trainer is difficult IME..especially solo.
In the real world hills have to be ridden up.
by Carpediem
23 Dec 2018, 11:57pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Mental activity v. Mental decline?
Replies: 36
Views: 2272

Re: Mental activity v. Mental decline?

Very brave of you to bring mental health issues to the forum,and full respect to.
For a start your obviously not alone here, there are millions of us.
I'm no expert but in my experience as we age we obviously can't do things we could 20 yrs ago,which is frustrating and can lead to a drop in self confidence.
Like you I eat a healthy diet and drink very little,I cycle around 25mls twice a week,but much slower than even 10 yrs ago which is itself demotivating,(I'm 69 btw)
Another possible cause of mental issues can be the sudden loss of a loved one,we sadly lost our 22yr old son in a climbing accident 7 yrs ago,and though as they say time does heal,the hurt never goes away,and both my wife and I have lost some of our "jois de vie".
Any excercise in the form of running walking,or in my case cycling is good for our mental well being,apart from my wife worrying about me having an accident,she now even follows me on strava "beacon"which is actually very good.
As other folks have said taking up new hobbies or joining groups with like minded interests is the way to go.
You've just encouraged me o dig out my old guitar from the loft and get back into playing again,thanks and good health to anyone in a similar situation,your not alone.
Paul.
And a great Christmas to each and everyone