Denial and aging...

This is a hard one. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/31/opinion/31jacoby.html?hp

Few things scare us more than being trapped with no hope of getting out. 

Choosing to be a psychologist is the natural result of a tendency to make my mind go places that are typically too frightening.  Trying to take the `sting' out of our darkest fears.  We use the term `functional denial' to describe the process of `just not thinking about' things we can't change but are likely to be unpleasant. 

I often wonder about why I spend so much time in solitary cycling.  Am I pursuing something?  Or am I fleeing something?  It is both.  But what a difference!

I love to challenge myself to do something beyond hard.  So that I can then take private or public credit for exceptional accomplishment.  I feel good about myself and gain a temporary sense of hope. 

But I also need frequent confirmation that I'm successfully escaping calamity or failure.  Fleeing powerlessness and, in my case,  the sense of `shame' that accompanies just being `still.'  The everpresent `ghost' in the shadows. 

On a professional level I `can relate' to that fear and suffering in others.  It helps me to help others.  Sort of selfish, isn't it. 

On a personal level I'm really critical of myself and others.  I tend to not be `good company' for an extended period of time. 

I'm not afraid of oblivion.  Which is what I perceive as being dead. 

I'm terrified of being trapped in a painful body while being clear headed and conscious of the inevitable worsening until death.  And anything or anybody causing me to be exposed to my decline ... I struggle with. 

Very contradictory.  Hard to think about for long.  And maybe the long hours of `zoning' while cycling keep me adequately distracted.  An addiction?  A dependency? 

Vanity of humanity, or, `ride your bike and socialize.'

Quote:

As the baby boomers age. Electric assist on bicycles will ramp up in popularity . You get older, you need an assist, whats not to like?

That's logical but not reality. In fact, most of the elderly become inert. That is, they don't travel unless transported by others. This is sad, but true.

Worse, obesity is becoming pandemic in the U.S. among the pre-adolescents. They are hooked on passive forms of distraction. When they do participate in activities they, like the elderly, are transported by others.

Military drill instructors training new recruits have registered their own shock at the rapid and extreme downturn in physical fitness among 18 - 24 year olds. One DI was quoted as saying: "They're so out of shape some of them can't even skip!"

As for the objection that most of us will continue to use gas rather than switch to two wheeled bikes ... again, fallacious.

Fewer suburbs. More small exurbs. Bigger cities. Less gas consumption. More trike- and covered battery powered vehicles. More public transportation. Verticality rather than sprawl.

The 1% of the population owning almost half of the national assets will continue to do as they want until they are, again, beheaded and burned. The rest will do without until, again, they behead and burn.

The human species occupies a mere thin layer of `stain' on the planet when considered on a geological / biological scale of time. Consciousness is an evolutionary dead end.

Ride your bike. Enjoy the moment. Don't isolate yourself. Build good neighborhoods.

Never forget that Aristotle and Plato thought the sun, moon, planets and stars revolved around the earth.

Never forget that Galileo was persecuted and held in house arrest for the remainder of his life by the Pope for proposing that we live in a galaxy, and we occupy a small place in the `solar' system.

Ride your bike. Enjoy the moment. Don't isolate yourself. Build good neighborhoods.

Use of External Catheter for Racing (or just convenience)

I use an external catheter for on-the-road urination while riding the recumbent. For upright and other bikes you might make some changes. Here is what, how and why I do it.

(Note thin white `tube’ exiting left of rider’s torso. That is the external catheter. Does not empty onto water bottle, chain or brake pads.)

Material:

• External catheter: Self-adhering male external catheter
• http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com/supply~Rochester+Medical+(RH)~wide-band-silicone-catheter-large-36304.htm
• The medical supply company sells the catheters at different widths. Though you may be `sensitive’ about this the idea is to measure the circumference of your penis in millimeters (not feet, yards, or meters!). When you access their website order appropriately.
• Acrylic tubing. Clear. External diameter 7 mm; length 13” – 15”.
• Electrical tape or equivalent. .5” - .75” wide; 1.5” long.

How:

• Insert the tubing into the catheter extension.
• Drill a little vent hole on one side about an inch from the top of the tube (this allows the urine to flow without creating a vacuum).
• Apply tape around the connection between the tubing and the catheter so that the tube does not work itself out of the catheter while riding. Be careful not to tape over the vent hole.
• Roll the external catheter (like a condom) over the penis so that the adhering material is firmly attached. (You may need to cut your pubic hair to avoid getting it caught in the adhesive. Be careful!)
• When not riding you can discretely put the tubing in your shorts.
• When riding you can extend the tubing out of your shorts to the left side to avoid getting it fouled in the chain.
• When you are done riding you simply (and slowly) peel the catheter off the shaft of your penis. It doesn’t hurt or leave an abrasion or skin irritation.
• Remove the tape and catheter from the tubing. Wash the tubing and reuse.
• Many have said that they don’t think that they can pee on the fly. Wrong. Physics. When your bladder is full and out of room you will pee. After a while you won’t notice it.

 Why: 

• To remove any thought of trying to minimize fluid / hydration intake.
• During races some racers have to stop several times and run off to the bushes, losing valuable time.
• Simple convenience. The argument that it is unsanitary ignores the fact that cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other animals disperse many worse fluids, materials and solids on roads.
• Completely inconspicuous.
• Leaving a valuable bicycle outside a public restroom without a lock risks theft.
• Carrying a heavy chain, cable or lock to secure the bike while using a public restroom adds weight to the bike.
• Often I'd be forced to urgently run behind some barely adequate bush, some alleyway between two out-of-the-way factories, or any similar barely hidden location just to pee. And, while discreetly peeing, I would look, furtively, in all directions, fearing if I'd get arrested for public indecency /exposure.

Note:

Often persons considering the external catheter have an inhibition to the very idea. Peer comments may contribute to your own initial reluctance. For many bicycling involves peer approval and ego issues. You’ll have to make the `judgment call’ for yourself.

If you are likely to be embarrassed on a group ride (worrying that you will be seen urinating) just separate from the group for a while; pull back, to the side, etc.

For those who race bicycles this is a better option than:

• Stopping to pee;
• Slowing down to pee under or over your shorts;
• Peeing in the saddle, through your shorts;
• Underhydrating to avoid peeing.

 And What Happens When You Hold It In For Too Long?


Watch This
 

Indoor Training for Outdoor Competing

RAW and RAAM - 2012 and after .... TRAINING STRATEGIES

Because my wife and I will be relocating from Chicago to Prescott, AZ, in 2011 I won't be able to enter the Race Across the West in 2011.  Likely the most challenging event for the '11 cycling season will be the doublecross Indiana UMCA race on May 21st. 

Since I'll be retired by June '11 and likely living in Prescott the training will start with regularity at that time.  I'll be switching among recumbent bikes for the training in the mountainous local area and the low (southwest of Prescott) and high (northeast of Prescott) desert areas.  The recumbents I'll be training on will include the Bacchetta Ti Aero, the Cruzbike Vendetta and the Cruzbike Sofrider. 

The Cruzbike Vendetta will be used exclusively for speed and time trial training on both the flats and the mountains.  It will be reserved for shorter (200 miles and less) unsupported distances.  (If I am supported in my racing the Vendetta will be the primary bike, no matter what the terrain or distance). 

The Bacchetta, also will be used on both the flats and the mountains.   But I'll be training with a BOB trailer weighted with gear, nutrition and water for the longer distances.  For shorter distances (less than a day) I'll replace the gear with sandbags. 

And the Cruzbike Sofrider will be used almost exclusively on the mountains for shorter distances, using the BOB trailer weighted with sandbags and nutrition and water.

As you can guess the use of the weighted BOB trailer will serve the purpose of increasing my mountain climbing speed and power. 

I plan to use the Bacchetta and the BOB trailer for long, multiday, unsupported solo training through the low and high deserts.  I'll need the BOB trailer to carry water, tires, parts and tools, clothing and camping gear.  It's hot, dry and the towns are few and far between.   Again, the purpose will be to increase endurance and power by adding weight (trailer) and extended training hours. 

As mentioned in a previous blog I'll use either or both the Bacchetta and the Cruzbike Sofrider to transport the Cruzbike Vendetta to races that are within a 300 mile radius of Prescott.  Again, more reliance on human power for endurance and conditioning. 

Though I value the `green' aspect of not using my pickup truck and gas to go back and forth to races ... I'm less interested in being `green' than I am in building strength and endurance. 

As for food?  Thouugh I tend to be careful to avoid `bad' foods and too much salt, meat and alcohol I'm not what you would call a food freak.  I do well enough.  And I have neither an illusions about immortality nor a desire to live into senescence.  If I have to die I'd rather not slowly dissolve into a barely surviving organism.  Part of my role in life is to become food for the planet when I'm gone.  Nope: no cremation.  What a weird idea! 

Surprising

Just the other day I established what I thought would be a challenging indoor training goal of maintaining an average heart rate of between 128-132 bpm.  Looks like it's not so challenging. 

When I got on the trainer today the first 5 minutes felt uncomfortable and I was wondering if this was going to be a crappy 90 minutes of disappointment.  Twenty minutes later I was having to restrain myself from pushing past the 130's.  For the rest of the workout I found myself easily pushing into the late 130's and then backing off so as to stay on plan. 

I think part of what is going on is that:

• I'm regaining the fitness I let slide as I closed out the cycling season about 8 weeks ago and played catch-up with neglected family/work duties;
• I typically close my eyes when indoors;
• My mind wanders (`to do' lists, memories of past rides, etc);
• I get caught up in the music I'm listening to.  

I'll let what happens happen over the next week or two, not pushing for `peformance' and power so early into the indoor training off-season. 

The (possibly) good news is that I may simply be stronger than I was last year, stronger than I thought.  It's interesting to recognize how our body's response to years of training improves despite (in my case) the fact that I'm 65 yrs old. 

I wonder if I should increase the HR goal to the 140's range.  This increases my curiosity about how many watts I'm generating.  But that will have to wait.  I have to be careful to not spend too much time training at the expense of the many other things going on in my life. 

Balance.  Always the important variable. 

Avg Wattage Estimate for UMCA Indiana event

Originally Posted by galilee
"Just curious but what is your target watt output for the Indiana event?"

I don't know yet. So many factors play into setting such a target on discrete racing events. Shorter distance and more difficult terrain would argue a higher wattage. 300 miles with half of it likely with a tail wind and a slight incline and the other half with a slight decline into a wind ... again, hard to say.

Last June (RAW) I averaged 106 bpm over 415 miles in 27 hours from San Diego to Congress, AZ, with minimal (at least "I" thought it was minimal) real climbing (50 miles max). Frankly, that is the kind of range you would want for anticipated 860 mile three day event. That certainly might equate to wattage in the 120 or less range.

I didn't expect to have to stop in Congress. And I think it had to due to the constant diarrhea I experienced. You can hydrate and fuel only so much, but diarrhea will take it's toll. My nutrition and hydration plan for Indiana will include much moe solid foods (turkey jerky, turkey weiners, etc).

Given the Indiana attempt I might expect to average 150 - 170 watts, 130 - 140 bpm for 15 hours - which will be bordering on depletion and exhaustion. I want to avg between 24 - 26 mph. Very, very challenging goal.

I think the CompuTrainer numbers in mid-March should give me a more accurate and reliable set of data. I'm quite curious, too.

__________________

The Indoor Training Program This Year

This year's indoor training program is completely different from last year's. Although the 2011 cycling event calendar is far less frightening than 2010 my thinking is that the I'll probably enter the spring in better condition.

First, I'm not using the CompuTrainer this year. Low tech is the plan: the LeMond Revolution (sturdy, powerful and challenging wind trainer).

Second, I'm not going to force myself outdoors to train in the freezing and brutal elements. Too much time (hours and hours of driving and preparation and recuperation --- not to mention the expense) and the benefit just wasn't / isn't worth it.

Third, I'll be less a slave to a training log, spreadsheet, etc. I'll just train as much as I can and want, while I put family and work as priorities.

Fourth, I'll approximate a periodization method of training. The major goal, so far, is the W-E-W Cross Indiana State UMCA Record attempt on May 21st. No major terrain challenge; weather should be very agreeable.

Fifth, my focus will be on keeping a steady heart rate in the high 120 bpm - low 130 bpm range for long periods of time (17+ hours without a break). I've already put in a few 90 minute sessions of this in the last week.  It might turn out that this goal is too `easy.'

There will be several weekend days of 6 - 10 hours on the trainer, a nice window fan and music if and when I want it (no iPod; instead, just simple earbuds to a CD player). As the early spring arrives I'll put in more hours outdoors, as well.

In comparison to last year I'll be saving hours and hours of time I used for heat acclimatization. That is, I won't be dressing up as the Michelin man, surrounded by space heaters and `dikes and berms' surrounding the bike to contain the rivers of sweat.

Periodically I'll switch the bike to the CompuTrainer to measure wattage production. The Indiana course is flat and, though there will be wind and weather, I won't be dealing with 20 miles of 5-7% grades, 22% switchbacks, etc....

Again, the training will target the event: solid watt production, substantial heart rate capacity and long hours of doing it without interruption.

Though I expect to weigh in around 180 - 185 lbs for the Indiana event this will be a byproduct of training rather than a particular goal. If I had long hours of climbing to do in 2011 (like there was in 2010) I'd focus more on weight reduction.

Compared to last year I find myself much less `afraid' going into the training mode. It will be more natural, less insane. More integrated with the rest of my life.

And, I'm pretty confident -- determined -- that the results of the `off-season' training program will be amply demonstrated with a solid series of UMCA Cross State Indiana records.

LOST AND FOUND

I received an email recently from an ultracycist listserv recognizing the indoor training achievements of a few DF’rs this winter. The author joked about the need to stock up on “Chamois Buttr.”

I was recently watching vids of ultra DF’rs scrunched up over their bikes, backs aching, feet screaming with pain, necks about to crack in half, hands and wrists numb and limp from nerve damage, shoulders drooped and folded like leaves from a dead plant.

And I am ashamed to be a hypocrite. For the first 63 years of my cycling life I rode DFs. And for last 25 years of riding the DF I spent at least half my energy and effort struggling against the pain, not struggling to improve my fun or performance.

These last 2.5 years I have had no pain. I spend NO energy and effort struggling against the pain. NOW I put that energy and effort into improving my performance, enjoying the ride, excited about what I feel inside of me and see around me.

Why did I spend so much of my life in diligent pursuit of suffering on the DF?!!

Because I wanted to be liked by my buddies on DFs.

Thoughtless.

Pure and unadulterated desire to be accepted.

Blind and ignorant to what my poor body was trying to communicate to my dumb mind.

Rushing with the crowd toward the edge of the cliff.
------

Now? I have no more `Chamois Buttr.’ 

I now ride to be fast, to go long, and to be my best in performance, NOT my best in capacity for self-inflicted pain.

Slow learner. But … at least I got the message before I lost interest or died!