[SportsandRec] Fwd: [blind-cycling] I say cool is the rule

[Ron Burzese]

Hi,

I’ve been a blind cyclist for over 28 years. I wrote this note to check in with the community of blind cyclists. I used typical bike speak.

If you have any questions, feel free to reply.

Thanks,

Ron, near Daytona Beach



Begin forwarded message
> Subject: [blind-cycling] I say cool is the rule
> Date: January 16, 2025 at 11:29:33 AM EST
> To: blind-cycling at groups.io
> Resent-From: 
> Reply-To: blind-cycling at groups.io
> 
> Hi,
> 
> The list is quiet so I thought I’d chime in.
> 
> Last year was fairly good for us. I don’t remember my mileage for the year or if the free version of Strava will let me look back at it. Yet, I estimate it was between 2K and 2.5K. not sure of her mileage, but i’m pretty sure it has been the most miles my wife ever rode in a year. She has been getting pretty comfortable with a more active lifestyle. Buying the Sun Brickell cruiser on Valentine’s Day was instrumental in getting her confidence back on a bike. After a few weeks or months, she became bored with the leisure speeds and began requesting the Raleigh mountain/hybrid tandem. Together, we wore a 60MM tire down to the casing. on a wide rim, which puts more of the tire on the ground, this was impressive to me. I replaced the 2.35 tire with a 1.75, but have not noticed much difference. I was hoping we’d be faster. Perhaps the too-large tube is part of the problem.
> 
> This year, I was reminded that two hours on the trainer makes me feel better than just one. It was a kick for me to load both waterbottle cages with large bottles for an indoor ride. At least once, I finished both bottles. The cooler months have been much better for me. Two days ago, I was on the hamster wheel. I asked my bride to open the window for the spin room. It was maybe 58 degrees out there and I was plenty warm, with the fan on high. After about 30 minutes, I asked her to open the window for the bedroom opposite me. I said that I could get more air in, if it could get out the other window. She then confessed that she only opened the drapes in the spin room. No wonder I was not getting enough cool air. I don’t like to stop my ride or timer once on the bike. No matter how hard I push the envelope, it remains stationary. :)
> 
> I think I only had two rides over 50 miles this year. They felt great and reminded me of how it used to be when I was fit. I’d like to rack up the bike and ride some new trails this year. My friend’s boss is training to ride coast to coast in FL this year. That is a goal of mine as well. Ideally, it would be in one day, about 170 miles. Three times, I’ve ridden over 200 miles in a day, but not since March 9, of 2009. A new pilot and I rode 200 miles, with over 14, 000 feet of gain in 14:08. Riding coast to coast in FL might have lots of wind. Most of it, you can do on a bike trail. They are working on filling in the 50-mile gap, hopefully.
> 
> My bride took me to a model train store, then a bike shop, then a guitar store one day. While I was talking with a mechanic about a headlight, my wife was talking to the manager. Turns out, he is a former Olympian, from 76 and 80. He has a tandem and is interested in riding with me. I am hopeful that it will happen. I’d like to go for this year’s state time trial, in April. It would be real motivation to keep training. I rode with another veteran Olympian in LA. He raced in 72 and 76.
> 
> The cruiser has been a fun pet for me. I have not liked the wheels because they have thick spokes and a freewheel. For $100, I got a deal on it.. I replaced the wheels with some from an old mountain bike. They have a freehub and better bearings. I also went from 1.95 tires to 2.15. I bought the tires on Marketplace for $10. They retail for $50 each. The rear is worn, but still has a lot of life left. The front is like new. I can feel the difference in comfort. It might be psychological, but the bike even feels faster. I plan to repack the bearings on the stock wheels, which I will keep should I sell the bike.
> 
> For months it seems, I was not stopping to pet my new friend, the cat. One day, we had an appointment to get gutters installed on the sides of our house. We cut the ride short, but stopped to pet the cat at the turn-around point. He came running toward me, just meowing away, as if he remembered me. As I pet him, he kept meowing. My wife thought he was cussing me out. I think he was just telling me all about his summer and how much he missed me.
> 
> Besides my chest cold, that’s about it for now at the center of blind cycling on the east coast of Florida.
> 
> Would love to hear of the highlights from the past year or goals for this new year.
> 
> Be blessed,
> 
> Ron
> 
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