Becker "Move Your Butt" Challenge - January 2014

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Hey,don't feel bad,it's friggin COLD out there! (I REALLY need to upgrade my cold weather outdoor gear/clothing...). In the grand scheme of things,the 22 deg F it is here as we speak (it was near 50 yesterday...) isn't really that cold,but they're saying windchill is below 0 F,and it's sposed to hit 0 F in the next 36 hours with windchills expected "-5 F to -30 F"(a 20+ year record for this area),so it's considerably cold for what we're used to anyways...sposed to be back up above 50 by Sunday,so I'm right there with you,without having a treadmill mind you :hopelessness:
 
Finally got a start on the fitness challenge threads today... been under the weather since New Years..

10 minute warm up before weight training = 0.4 miles
30 minute hills intervals after weight training = 1.4 miles

total to date = 1.8 points.
 
The DC said:
Started the day off right today,went for a short mtn bike ride through the city park's local singletrack in the early morning's cold before church :D

As the Boy is towards the end of seatpost extention on his 20" wheeled Scott mini-mtn bike* and the tax fairly's planning her trip for next month,ran by my trusted/trusty LBS last eve and did some pricing and size guestimates. Back in the Fall,he could ride a XS framed Giant 26" wheeled mtn bike,but it was a bit much for him,though a Giant XTC24 24" wheeled mtn bike was a perfect fit (while he could physically ride the 26"er,I didn't wanna plan to get him a bike that would be borderline big for him to handle on technical trail...)...I guess before he goes back to school Wednesday,I'll take him back out there and let him do some more test riding. Also,I'll be upgrading my cyclocross frame this year-nothing wrong with my Origin 8 700CX frame at all (and it only has around 6,000-9,000 miles on it,mostly road,so it still looks mostly new,not having any trail damage-tho it has railed singletrack),but I've been wishing there was an easy way to mount fenders on it for 2 years (for rail trail use when less than dry ;) ),an dtry as they might,the shop couldn't mount a rear one without major jury-rigging.......being more honest,I've always loved the look/words written about Surly's venerable Cross Check frame/fork,and they made me an offer on a shiney new '14 model,LOL :p (what I'd LOVE would be a Surly Troll,Ogre,Krampus,or a fat bike set up for bike camping deep in the woods,heeheehee,but the way we've been planning it,we're already spending on 2020's tax refund,so.... :eek::p).

*Well....he's been past that point,having had this one for 2 years (and over 3,000 miles he's pedal'd with me on it :D),I've installed a longer seatpost and longer stem to give him more room....but as 11-13 year old boys tend to do,he's growing past what the bike can fit him,LOL :p
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You probably know as much about this stuff as anyone here, but my daughter started riding at 4 and a few months. At six, we got her a signle-speed 20-incher which fit just fine (Specialized hardrock.) At 7, I had to get her an extended seatpost - it brought the seat about to the level of her handlebars. Over the summer (at 8 years, and 4.5ft tall), she tried a bunch of 24-inchers and several "xs" (13.5" frame) 26-inchers. She could ride 'em, and a couple looked okay. But on most she was so stretched out that she really didn't have the bike control we both felt she needed. She bought (with her own money!) a 24" 21-speed Raleigh mountian bike - and she couldn't be happier.

Back on topic - Walked a mile on the 1st, biked (road, but on my mountain bike) 8 miles on the second, rode 4 miles on the 4th.

Current total BP: 3
 
Have only managed a miserable total of 5 miles walking to date; is it just me, or is it damn cold out there?

Total BP: 5
 
Which reminds me, don't forget the old adage, "...frozen in January, amputate in July". So if you value your manhood, and/or other appendages, don't be freeing Willie in this Artic Vortex....being a Polar Bear Club member is no excuse.;)
 
Nice pics DC...thanks for sharing. Also a nice cross bike. I have a Redline...third one in fact. I love cross bikes, so versatile. Funny to see the Dirt Rag sign. I remember when they first arrived...long time ago.

Sunday: 4 miles snow shoeing
Monday: 15 miles on trainer

Total: 22 points
 
tjswarbrick said:
You probably know as much about this stuff as anyone here, but my daughter started riding at 4 and a few months. At six, we got her a signle-speed 20-incher which fit just fine (Specialized hardrock.) At 7, I had to get her an extended seatpost - it brought the seat about to the level of her handlebars. Over the summer (at 8 years, and 4.5ft tall), she tried a bunch of 24-inchers and several "xs" (13.5" frame) 26-inchers. She could ride 'em, and a couple looked okay. But on most she was so stretched out that she really didn't have the bike control we both felt she needed. She bought (with her own money!) a 24" 21-speed Raleigh mountian bike - and she couldn't be happier.

Back on topic - Walked a mile on the 1st, biked (road, but on my mountain bike) 8 miles on the second, rode 4 miles on the 4th.

Current total BP: 3
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A "good" LBS (Local Bike Shop) will have lots of experience and some good know-how on proper bike sizing,and they really should let her take some time to let her ride it around a little (meaning any new bike buy)...Nick is right there (at least he was 3-4 months ago,last time he went to the LBS with me,anyways),right where you mention,between the 24 and 26".....gotsta keep in mind too,they tend to sprout up fast around his age (and your daughter's soon too). The way I gots it figured,if I buy him the 24",in 2 years-tops-I'll be buying him another new bike (26"),but if he can now comfortably control the 26",I might can get away with a frame and swap parts over,LOL,or hand-me-down to him one of mine as I upgrade...IDK,this is my first time around this issue with a son (my daughter never really took interest in riding-oh,she would ride a bit,but he's a cyclist to his core if that makes sense) :P Awesome that she got one that seems to fit her well and gives her lots of smiles per mile :D
 
Kai Winters said:
Nice pics DC...thanks for sharing. Also a nice cross bike. I have a Redline...third one in fact. I love cross bikes, so versatile. Funny to see the Dirt Rag sign. I remember when they first arrived...long time ago.
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Thanks (on all counts :D ) I've had a few RL's myself,in '02 wanting to try a dedicated SS (SingleSpeed for those who don't know) but not wanting to spend a lot and maybe not like it,bought a new Monocog,kept that thing until early '11 and immediately missed it soon as I sold it (was my only SS at the time). In 2008,RL gave me my first taste of 29"er wheels on the cheap in the form of a new d440 (1x8 drivetrain,fully rigid) AND a new Monocog 29 (I haven't looked back to smaller wheels since,except on the Xtracycle). I think they've started pricing themselves out of the niche they created with entry level bikes,now that the Monocog's nowhere near the $450-500 mark it sat in for a decade (local shop priced a non-Flite,base model Monocog for over $650 :eek:),but there's NO doubt I've loved RL since I was a kid lusting after/loving their BMX'ers.

As for Dirt Rag,been a reader since '94,subscriber since '96,and got a Lifetime sub the first year they offered it (Karen Brooks,editor extraordinaire tells me I was the 13th lifetime subber),and reading their sis rag,Bicycle Times since day 1. Met most of the crew they had up until around 5 years ago over the years,and still email Karen once a year or so just to say hi,LOL :p

I've always been a fan of Surly Bikes (never owned one,had many a ride on friend's bikes tho),I've been eyeballing the venerable Cross Check and Long Haul Trucker (of which I was myself by occupation for 13+ years,LOL),but I really like the looks of the Troll and Ogre...:D

BUT.........I really don't mean to hi-jack the thread,like an old trucker I tend to ramble on when it's a subject near and dear,and cycling of ANY kind is near and dear,apologies for the thread-jacking :o
 
I didn't participate in this challenge officially. But have been walkinig quite a bit in the woods with the dog. Both on shoes and without.

I have to say, it is extremely dangerous out there. We had a thick crust on, with just enough snow to hide the ice. So you can walk on top. But every now and then you punch through and plunge in up to your kneecap. With snowshoes you just skate on the the ice.

After Yesterday's rain, and subsequent temperture drop back to zero. Everything is now a total sheet of ice. I'll be adding the grousers to my shoes this morning.

If that's not enough, the wind is howling. So all the trees that were damaged in the last ice storm are dropping branches everywhere.

Just a quick reminder for everyone to be safe out there,
 
Cardio day..
.69 miles hills warm up
7.5 miles on bike intervals
1.1 miles walking 5% incline

3.6 points + 1.8 = 5.4 points


LeeBower said:
Finally got a start on the fitness challenge threads today... been under the weather since New Years..

10 minute warm up before weight training = 0.4 miles
30 minute hills intervals after weight training = 1.4 miles

total to date = 1.8 points.
Click to expand...
 
As of this morning, 10.85 BP's, the last few from the treadmill watching the BCS Championship. Great game.
 
Managed a 2 mile walk tonight. Pulling a wagon with a 65-lb 9 year old, and keeping the dog in line, it sure felt like more. But at least we're not freezing.

Total BP = 5.
 
Update for MYB. I jogged and walked on Tuesday, running for two miles and walking 1.5 miles. Even though it's not nearly as cold here in Albuquerque as other parts of the country, I definitely feel like this challenge is more, well, challenging than the previous go.

1-7-14: 3.5 BPs

Current Total: 13.05 BPs
 
.5 mile hills warm up
15 minutes of step boxes, 60 seconds at a time between weight stations.. jelly legs.. not sure how to score it. I averaged about a 1/4 mile of distance, but 3 miles of effort, lol
.25 mile steps
1 mile of intervals

+1.7 miles for today = 7.1 points



LeeBower said:
Cardio day..
.69 miles hills warm up
7.5 miles on bike intervals
1.1 miles walking 5% incline

3.6 points + 1.8 = 5.4 points
Click to expand...
 
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Reading between the lines here, I would say that most folks who live where it's cold, and this year that is most of us, are doing really well under the circumstances either by just gutting it out in the cold or improvising ways to MTB's inside. Conditions will get better eventually - just keep trying and be safe!!!

"MTB"s" = move their butts. :cool:
 
Man, gotta motivate to move mine. At least I've nominally completed the weights challenge. Need to put more emphasis on this one.

-edit- Ran 3 miles today, with the rest of my massively long workout today for a combined total of 6.5 BSP.
 
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I walked a whopping 0.7 mile tonight :rolleyes:

1-9 BPs: 0.7

Current total BPs: 13.75

At least my number's back to a quarter of a point.
 
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