MichH

I guess it comes down to how fanatical we are about following a program. For me, what is a program But look at IanJ, been following his program religiously with huge gains! Makes you think, doesn't it? But at the moment, I ride mostly for fun, and amazingly I achieve it!!

Cape Storm or First Ascent used to make a version if the beanie/ neckwarmer shown above. I wonder if I still have mine...

I found it interesting. Never mind the male-female side of it, how many of us go out with a group and throw the training regime out the window because there is a sprint to the traffic light, or the group pushes hard up the hill? Only problem is riding alone is not that much of an option...

Another hijack: a way to reduce internet usage (bandwidth-wise) is to remove pictures. Click on Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, untick Show Pictures. reduces bandwidth usage dramatically. Plus if you want to see a pic, merely Right click on it, Show Picture. Saved my skin a couple of times!

Phew, I'm safe!

Tridude, will be great to have you on a ride again. Haven't seen you on a ride since last year!

Yup, gotta go with that pearl of wisdom! Where do you stay in WC? Find a local bike shop that deals with real MTBs and ask them to help you hook up with some local riders

That'll be good! Maybe after this 'little' event I'm doing on the weekend, we organise a MTB ride and you can come meet a whole bunch of Hubbers?

Yup, Pearl Izumi leggings! My hubbie bought me those wonders of modern man for my birthday (although he keeps telling me "Don't ask how much it cost!") Now you know what I look like, the onus is on you to come say hi next time

Got there at about 11:30 or so, sat near the Girls on the Move tent for a while, then moved further up, just below the technical section through the bushes/ trees Came straight from the morning's MTB ride so I was the one in the black cycling shorts, black leg warmers, blue Buff on my head to cover my bad cycling hairdo! I had to laugh, I was standing with Mike and Gail and we were chatting to some kid. He asks me "Are you a cyclist?" I stared at him, looked down at my lycra-clad legs and said "Erm, I just like wearing lycra?!!!"

Hey holy roller, I prob saw you at the SA Champs? Were you there between 11 and 1? What bike?

Just your usual hijinks, or were you trying to get to the president?! Is this like trying to get the Queen's Guard to move? Hey pepper spray might do it!!

Hehehehe RodTi I have no idea DR, who have you used it on, apaprt from that incident with the Argus train and the air ducts?!

Careful RodTi, maybe you'll get a warning for posting unappropriate language!!

That's on Saturday isn't it?

PS Desertbob, maybe we do an afternoon ride as well? I'll ride in the am with Swampdogs, PM me your cell and we can chat about whether we do an afternoon ride

B bought one for me from the security shop in Sandton, will have to check the brand when I get home. My friend ThePanda rides with a brand called SWAT, in a black container with red writing. Make sure it's pepper spray and not mace as pepper spray is more effective. Mine has a protective cover over the spray nozzle so you don't accidentally depress

OMG The Thug, I'm not THAT good yet, it's just my bike that's good! OK, so I'll stick to the swampdogs ride, nice to know where your friends' loyalties lie

OK, so I'm doing my 70km test ride this Saturday and then looking for a Sunday ride. I have the option to join the Swampdogs on the Spruit, but to be honest, my bones are asking for new track. Anyone keen for a ride this Sunday? Any ideas for new areas to ride?

Yay! I'm normal!! Cervelo, I think we all exercise whilst sick at least once (some of us take longer to learn the lesson!). Mine was Midmar Mile about 3 years ago, felt almost better so I swam, came down with Bronchitis after that...

Hehehehe! So I don;t have to feel like I'm the odd one out! I'm sure I'm "normal" and it's all these other freaks that have RHR's that are too low! Thanks for all the advice guys, gonna go work out my zones...

Oh, for those of you who HAVE to know, it was 58. Yep, 58 was the lowest I could find!!

Thanks Mampara for making me feel like mine is through the roof! CP, it WAS above the neck, but good thing I had the HRM, no effort at all and my HR was spiking! Thyolo, I think I'll use it to measure when I'm sick, but what do I use for working out HR zones MichH2007-05-24 10:09:54

OK, so with having a cold last week (first time in ages!), I found myself in a position trying to decide if I was too sick to exercise! Problem is, I didn't know my resting heart rate to see if it was elevated by 10 beats a minute! So, now that I think I'm better , i'm now trying to calculate resting heart rate. I am still young, and I think my heart rate naturally runs higher than other people (either that or I hang around with too many old people!), but the max heart rate I've seen is 192 on one occassion and 199 on another. I've tested for resting HR the last two days in the following manner: Wake up (alarm clock, skrik my HR up!), empty bladder, put on HRM, climb back into bed and run the HRM for 5 minutes. So... do I take the lowest reading that I've seen, do I take the average, or have I made an elementary error in how to read resting heart rate?! Thanks for advice!MichH2007-05-24 08:52:50

Pity I can't join tonight, baby's going in for some minor surgery (replacing a rotor). Also need to pick the brains of my LBS for Dusi.