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Get Fit, Stay Fit, Feel Good - 2026

Look at me taking big walks! I think I can make it up the big hill that used to be my daily doddle. Getting stronger every day.

VO2 max went from 22.1 on 12/15 to 24.1 today. It was over 30. I’ll get there.
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Das MotorRad said:
I remember Rob @stangmx13 posting a review of different Garmin products, were they watches or the bike computer?
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Both. My current recs are Garmin Forerunner 265 watch and Edge 840 bike computer.

The wife has the 265. My 965 is not better-enough to justify the price diff, unless you hike w digital maps a lot or want golf functionality.

The Edge 850 is out so the 840 can be found on sale. The better screen on the 850 would be nice, but isn’t a game changer. I hate the lack of touchscreen on the 540/550.
 
stangmx13 said:
Both. My current recs are Garmin Forerunner 265 watch and Edge 840 bike computer.

The wife has the 265. My 965 is not better-enough to justify the price diff, unless you hike w digital maps a lot or want golf functionality.

The Edge 850 is out so the 840 can be found on sale. The better screen on the 850 would be nice, but isn’t a game changer. I hate the lack of touchscreen on the 540/550.
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Awesome, thanks @stangmx13 :thumbup :ride
 
I decided I’m buying a bike for my place in sf.

I can’t be bikeless for two whole weeks again. I will go insane.
 
So first day of the Spartacus was an eye opener. Apparently I had forgotten how much leg work was in that workout. My legs are absolutely noodle like today and I hurt in places that I didn't think I could hurt. :cry: Only did one set of each exercise and skipped a few leg centric ones towards the end as apparently I have neglected to do any legwork previously and walking doesn't count I guess. :laughing

felt good to change it up but damn walking up the stairs to my home office sucked ass this morning kind of felt like i was 90 hobbling up them and I am sure I heard my damn dogs snickering at me. Overall all though happy with this ass kicked feeling as it means I am breaking out of my comfortable routine. To add some spice to my nightly workout I also did a medium incline walk on the treadmill to let my legs know what I thought of their wimpiness(?) during the workout. I am pretty sure they learned their lesson and won't let me down again, slackers. Will have to see how I feel Friday to see if it might be a day of rest or I hit it again but pretty sure next week will be 3 days.

I did my new routine in the crossfitesque part of the gym. They have some equipment they don't have in the other part of the gym so I may add on some extra exercises to take advantage of the extra gear for more full body workout type exercises. Maybe some medicine ball slams, rope work or sled pushes(maybe after my traitorous legs start functioning again).
 
stangmx13 said:
I suspect MTB gearing will be a good choice for all the steep hills in SF.
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I’m loving the 1x11 on my bike here and hope to find something similar . The granny gear is incredible.

I’m hoping for a flat bar, no suspension, slightly wider tire (28c or bigger) with disc brakes. @N4teTheGreat was a bicycle mechanic in a past life. He’s agreed to check out a couple of used bikes with me. I will also hit up a few shops. It’s my birthday next Tuesday and I’m getting myself a bike. :teeth
 
I would love to get a bike again but am still debating its potential to turn me into roadkill here with all the shitty drivers on these back country roads. Would also be sharing the roads with tons of semis on already narrow 2 lane roads. Would probably need a camera that streams everything to the cloud so at least my wife would be able to sue them to oblivion and get some money out of my death.
 
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Sharxfan said:
I would love to get a mike again but am still debating its potential to turn me into roadkill here with all the shitty drivers on these back country roads. Would also be sharing the roads with tons of semis on already narrow 2 lane roads. Would probably need a camera that streams everything to the cloud so at least my wife would be able to sue them to oblivion and get some money out of my death.
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There’s no real shoulder here. Fortunately, traffic is light. I encountered ten cars or so during my 12 mile ride Tuesday. There are log trucks out now but they’re pros and very respectful.

Honestly, the rudest drivers when I’m out pedaling or walking are middle aged women. The younger guys in trucks seem to get it.
 
two wheel tramp said:
I’m loving the 1x11 on my bike here and hope to find something similar . The granny gear is incredible.

I’m hoping for a flat bar, no suspension, slightly wider tire (28c or bigger) with disc brakes. @N4teTheGreat was a bicycle mechanic in a past life. He’s agreed to check out a couple of used bikes with me. I will also hit up a few shops. It’s my birthday next Tuesday and I’m getting myself a bike. :teeth
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A new flat bar road bike will prob come w 35 or 40mm tires. They are so comfy and not any slower (if you buy a good set).
 
stangmx13 said:
A new flat bar road bike will prob come w 35 or 40mm tires. They are so comfy and not any slower (if you buy a good set).
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I can’t wait to bike shop. Nothing will
Be as awesome as this Vassago that @benduro built me :love but it can be a close second.
 
two wheel tramp said:
There’s no real shoulder here. Fortunately, traffic is light. I encountered ten cars or so during my 12 mile ride Tuesday. There are log trucks out now but they’re pros and very respectful.

Honestly, the rudest drivers when I’m out pedaling or walking are middle aged women. The younger guys in trucks seem to get it.
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I mean I had a guy stop in the middle of the road randomly and then proceed to back up into the front of my explorer before I could react and put his hitch through my front grill. These old farmers also drive down the middle of the road and wait until you get right up on them before moving to their side its like Mad Max out here.
 
Sharxfan said:
I mean I had a guy stop in the middle of the road randomly and then proceed to back up into the front of my explorer before I could react and put his hitch through my front grill. These old farmers also drive down the middle of the road and wait until you get right up on them before moving to their side it’s like Mad Max out here.
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What in the name of meth labs is going on out there?
 
two wheel tramp said:
What in the name of meth labs is going on out there?
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It's always been very rural with lots of farms, rice fields, tractors, combines and now old farmers on the roads its an adventure. I would bet if we had some peeps from say Kansas or Nebraska on here they could relate. Rural and bikes probably don't mix.

I will have to check into it but there are bike trails around but then I get to have even more fun with poisonous snakes and all the associated wild animals we have around here. You would not believe how many snakes/animals get run over on the road here.
 
Sharxfan said:
It's always been very rural with lots of farms, rice fields, tractors, combines and now old farmers on the roads its an adventure. I would bet if we had some peeps from say Kansas or Nebraska on here they could relate. Rural and bikes probably don't mix.

I will have to check into it but there are bike trails around but then I get to have even more fun with poisonous snakes and all the associated wild animals we have around here. You would not believe how many snakes/animals get run over on the road here.
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I’m rural af here in southern Oregon.

Meth labs. :x
 
The trick will always be to avoid roads that are on everyone’s commute. Or only take those if there’s a massive bike lane. I ride rural regularly and have done training rides and races across the country in rural areas. It’s amazing when you ride for 4-8hrs and never see a car. But it def sucks when you planned the route poorly and get passed close by tons of trucks and idiots on their phone.

Of course, it helps if you venture off the pavement onto dirt roads. At a minimum, people will be driving far slower.
 
We have a 3 mile stretch or road here where over the past 6-1/2 years I've lived here there have been 7 deaths by bicycle riders.
In just about every case where I heard the details, it was a modified pickup truck.

Along that same stretch, I have had vehicles blow through a red light 7 times when I was crossing in the crosswalk on my bike with a walk signal. I absolutely will not pass in front of a vehicle there until I'm certain they will stop.
 
stangmx13 said:
The trick will always be to avoid roads that are on everyone’s commute. Or only take those if there’s a massive bike lane. I ride rural regularly and have done training rides and races across the country in rural areas. It’s amazing when you ride for 4-8hrs and never see a car. But it def sucks when you planned the route poorly and get passed close by tons of trucks and idiots on their phone.

Of course, it helps if you venture off the pavement onto dirt roads. At a minimum, people will be driving far slower.
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Then you sir have never been to the swamplands. If you can't take a gravel road in your truck at 65 they revoke you license as attested to by the multitude of cracks on the windshields around here. I was so glad when they paved the road our house was on and count my lucky stars to this day.

I may try my luck one day just to see. got stuck behind a tractor on Monday because he wouldn't move over to the shoulder like most of them do to let cars past. another fun one is when they move mobile homes that are as wide if not wider than the road. Did I mention no shoulders at all but there is a drainage ditch on the side so maybe tires that are balloony enough to float might help?
 
Sharxfan said:
Then you sir have never been to the swamplands. If you can't take a gravel road in your truck at 65 they revoke you license as attested to by the multitude of cracks on the windshields around here. I was so glad when they paved the road our house was on and count my lucky stars to this day.

I may try my luck one day just to see. got stuck behind a tractor on Monday because he wouldn't move over to the shoulder like most of them do to let cars past. another fun one is when they move mobile homes that are as wide if not wider than the road. Did I mention no shoulders at all but there is a drainage ditch on the side so maybe tires that are balloony enough to float might help?
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PM me an approx address and I’ll see what shows up on the cycling heat maps. We can see where everyone else rides.
 
stangmx13 said:
PM me an approx address and I’ll see what shows up on the cycling heat maps. We can see where everyone else rides.
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ME ME ME! I am curious where all the cool kids are riding.
 
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