Build Your Own Clone Message Board

So - I just signed up for the Pittsburgh Marathon in May. Which means my base training (50/50 run and bike until Mid February, then probably just running) will be done in the ice, snow, slush and mud that typifies Pittsburgh between now and then.

Anybody else planning on slugging out a cold winter out in the elements? Any other runners or cyclists around here?

I just recently started running, getting in shape before I leave for the Navy, and my wife and I are going to do the Great Aloha Run here in Feb. Its 8 miles, I think, and they do a running clinic that we started attending. Yesterday I ran the farthest in my life, 2.4 mi. Its pretty satisfying I must say. But i wont have to be training in the slush and snow like you guys. I feel or you guys.

I love mountain bikes
I used to ride several miles a day, a few years ago, but sadly I don't anymore. Riding a mountain bike in the woods, close to where I live, was so much fun. I used to get up early, to go for a ride before school or work, and then ride my bike to the days giving destination.

...But now I have to take the train into town every day, get home late & tired, so I only take a walk with my dog... and then my dog and I take a nap before dinner.


Wow, it's gone down hill, huh

I took a 20 mile bike ride through the woods last summer though. I thought it would hurt my legs for days, but only mah behind had a rough time I was surprised

bicycles hurt my groinial area.

Cool - some cyclists on board! That's really my favorite sport, but lately I just don't have the time and whereas I can get a great running workout in in an hour so, that much time will just get you warmed up for serious cycling. When I used to race a lot I would log hundreds of miles a week and had a lot of great times but I didn't really have time to do anything but train, eat and sleep . . . thank God I wasn't playing guitar or building pedals (or paying a mortgage) back then!

Hey crbmoa - I used to have that exact same bike! Same paint job and everything! Now I've got a Bianchi cyclocross bike, an IRD aluminum/carbon road bike, a Cannondale mtb, an old "steel is real" Panasonic that has been converted into a fixie and a Nishiki mountain bike. Bikes are like guitars and beer for me - I always need more!!!!



Sounds like someone needs a new seat!!

I only run if something is chasing me...

As for bikes, I rode all over the place when I was a kid. I used to go up and down the gravel road in front of our house for hours. One day, I didn't tie my laces on my shoes, got about half a mile down the road and tangled them up in the gears and tipped in the ditch... and I was terrible at untying knots. My dad came looking for me about half an hour later and saved me!

A couple of years ago I bought a bike to ride around town. Sadly, I didn't learn my lesson about shoe laces, so as I was crossing a pretty busy interection in town I tangled up my laces AGAIN and dumped myself onto someone's front lawn as a bunch of cars drove by. I'm sure they were pretty entertained seeing a 20 something woman biff it on her bike.

The bike has been reitred to the garage... until I build up some more courage and get some slip on shoes!

I used to bike religiously. To work. To parties. To bars. Everywhere. I used do 4 hour/40 mile rides at least once a week. And then ride to work. Loved it.

I used to do long biking/camping trips in upstate NY 2 or 3 times a year.

As a kid, I did some serious BMX racing. My old friend Scott and I raced all around the country, I guess semi-professionally in the early 80's.

Once I started working 9 to 5 in an office the biking slowed. Then I had a kid. No more biking.

I hope one day to get back into it.

My bike no longer gets the attention it deserves. I can blame that on guitar.

Unfortunately both bikes and guitars are money pits.


Then don't sit down.

Run and ride bike. Relish trail bikes, even in my non-youth!

I'm a big runner! I run cross country, which I just love. The races (5K) are not so much fun, but there's something about a long run that I just can't get enough of. I like having a running partner though because it is amazing how much more you can push yourself when you have someone next to you.

I wish I biked more... I don't really have a bike and on top of that, Tulsa is absolutely horrible for biking. Bikers have been killed riding on the streets and we don't even really have biking trails. The city is working on that since more people are biking, but it's still not really feasible to bike to work or school...

Ha ha. I did a few, but that was back in like '93 or '94 and I wouldn't dare do it now . . . scary to think about that . . .

I like biking but I hate my bike. It's some cheap Mongoose mountain bike I bought because I needed a bike and it was cheap. But it's heavy, front and rear suspension, doesn't shift down well (which is incredibly frustrating on some of the hills around here).

Over the summer I was doing a little 4-mile loop every other day or so. I am largely fearful of riding on the roads here though. Lots of hills, lots of turns, lots of spots where cars can't see you.

In spite of my bike, I was running a bit at the beginning of the summer. There's a straight road behind my apartment complex that's about 1.2 miles each way. But it's also 99% hills. There is one hill that is half a mile long on its own. Gets tiresome.

In the end I am really lazy and have too much going on to stick to a regimen with biking or running.

Just getting back into both after my knee reconstruction surgery 6 months ago, i've really put on weight since then so i have about 3 stone to lose. Luckily running burns it off really well.

Yeah - the bike makes such a huge difference. I got spoiled early on since I got into racing at about 14 and rode on premium bikes ever since. My girlfriend hated cycling because she rode a Wally Mart special, but now she loves it since I hooked her up with a very nice Specialized MTB . . . it's only worth the money if you are sure you'll use it though, since these things really only plummet in value and the technology is constantly moving forward.

Tell me about it. Just dividing time between a road bike, mountain bike, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, a wife and two daughters is hard. Fun, but hard. I find that when I get into a hobby I tend to go overboard almost to the point where I kill the fun of it. So far with cycling and guitars I've kept it at a level just below "crazy". If it wasn't for that fact I had to got to work every day I could probably be a better guitarist and a fitter cyclist.

On a side note. I was talking to some co-workers today who were planning on doing a mini-marathon in May (in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby). For those of you who are runners and cyclists, how does running a mini stack up against doing a century?

I would say that a century equates out well to a full marathon, depending on your strengths at either discipline. So if you are in shape for a century, a half-marathon shouldn't be too tough for you. The big difference for me is always the pounding your body takes while running a long distance versus staying in the saddle for a good distance. I always hurt more the day after a marathon than the day after a long-distance ride (except for the Cochise County Cycling Classic - 252 miles - that HURT!)

It also depends on your approach. I tend to not relax when I run so I'm basically running at race pace every time I do an event rather than trying to enjoy it. With a century things tend to be taken more slowly and easily so you obviously suffer less. Back in the day when I would do real (USCF sanctioned) races on the bike, though, I would go all out and could easily pound myself into oblivion within 50 or 60 fast miles.

Any one ever tried a recumbant bike?



I think these look like fun!

I have not driven a car in four years. I built a single speed bike from an eighties univega touring bike and pedal my ass everywhere across tucson, no matter 115 degree heat or bone cold rain like last night.... hands are for guitars, legs are for moving!!!!
I love not driving!!!!!

I'd bike more often... if not for the crazy ass old people I have driving in my town and all the snow I have to deal with. Good work!

Another Tucsonan on the board - sweet! Hey Farndurk!! That's three!

Tucson is the place to be if you want to bike all year - when I lived there I had a car, but mostly commuted by bike (my last commute was from my house in the foothills to my job in Rita Ranch - something like 24 miles each way, including that killer hill up Swan on my way home, and bike lanes practically the whole way!) Another bonus of that was that you could buy a crappy, but cool, car and work on it without worrying about time. I can't tell you how many times my Fiat Spider sat with a half-finished something or other happening for like a week because I didn't need it to get where I was going.

Commuting here in Pittsburgh has been tough and I don't do it very often. There's a legitimate safety concern with narrow roads, no bike lanes, and a public that simply refuses to understand that a bike is allowed on the road. Add in the weather and it is tough.

Hey - how's the music scene out there these days? I used to hang out at Plush and Club Congress a lot for shows - or sometimes 7 Black Cats or Vaudeville. There usually wasn't a whole lot going on but there were some good ones - Bob Log III comes to mind! Are Chango Malo and Gat Rot still around - those guys were great. Gat Rot still goes down as one of my favorite hardcore bands ever.

that climb up swan would be a monster. I live downtown and work about five miles away, but make short work of the city on my days off. you are correct that this is a good city for bike riding, its flat with plenty of bike lanes...

the music scene has turned from dismal to non existant, at least for stuff i like. its all rap metal, emo or or really poor blues bands...
Bob Log moved to Australia a few years ago, bummer as he was always a blast to watch. I dont think Gat-Rot does shows anymore though they may. I did not keep up them as i was not a huge fan, but Trey their drummer works at Rainbow guitar (my favorite music store here) and is always really cool... I am pretty sure Chang Mallo still plays...I honestly dropped out of the music scene here for years and have just started playing shows again...

Plush and Congress are still going strong. I played Congress a few weeks ago actually. 7 Black Cats is a new bar that does not have shows, i did see some killer shows at 7BC though...

How long ago did you move away??