Cycling in Sydney Australia
Getting older
With Neil's admonition ringing in my head, this morning I made it out for a ride. Because I didn't get into gear early enough, I ended up leaving after it had gone 9am. I guess it's for this reason I didn't see many other cyclists, as you are all dedicated enough to be up and out and have returned by then...
So I meandered around for a while rather aimlessly; after various excursions by the waterfront around Double Bay I ended up heading to Watson's Bay via the Old South Head Rd. I had a rest when I got there, as I was rather tired, so I sat and looked at the view for a little while.
Then I headed back via the New South Head Rd. The climb out of Watson's Bay was hard work, but even harder work was the not especially big hill coming into the city on Craigend St; this I really struggled with. Indeed, I was actually finding it hard to breathe going up here; I've never had asthma, but it felt (and I sounded) rather like that as I struggled up the hill. I made it to the top, and tried to catch my breath, still gasping away. I managed to get a really good lungful of air into me, and then, almost instantly, the breathless feeling went away, and I could breathe easily again. Very strange; the lights went green and I got going again, and felt much better, and much fresher. Could it have been exercise-induced asthma brought on by the heat and poor air quality? I don't know, but it wasn't very pleasant.
It's also possible that I'm just not as fit was I was. I'm getting older (I turn 38 tomorrow!), and maybe it shows. Funnily enough, i did a very similar route to the one I took today after Xmas last year (or possible the year before; Bikely rather annoyingly doesn't show the year when a route was added). I did it on the same bike (although it's possible that at that point I had it set up as a freewheel singlespeed, rather than a fixie), but last time also managed to detour to Bondi and spin around Centennial a few times, and as I recall didn't really stop for more than a drink and a snack at Watson's Bay.
Am I getting too old? Is the mistress (as I wondered about at the end of this blog) getting too hot for me to handle? Are my days of blasting up Heartbreaker Hill on a 48x17 gear numbered? Or do I just need to get out and ride more (which, to be honest, I haven't been doing as much of over the past few months)?
I guess 2010 will reveal all!
Happy New year, everyone!
So I meandered around for a while rather aimlessly; after various excursions by the waterfront around Double Bay I ended up heading to Watson's Bay via the Old South Head Rd. I had a rest when I got there, as I was rather tired, so I sat and looked at the view for a little while.
Then I headed back via the New South Head Rd. The climb out of Watson's Bay was hard work, but even harder work was the not especially big hill coming into the city on Craigend St; this I really struggled with. Indeed, I was actually finding it hard to breathe going up here; I've never had asthma, but it felt (and I sounded) rather like that as I struggled up the hill. I made it to the top, and tried to catch my breath, still gasping away. I managed to get a really good lungful of air into me, and then, almost instantly, the breathless feeling went away, and I could breathe easily again. Very strange; the lights went green and I got going again, and felt much better, and much fresher. Could it have been exercise-induced asthma brought on by the heat and poor air quality? I don't know, but it wasn't very pleasant.
It's also possible that I'm just not as fit was I was. I'm getting older (I turn 38 tomorrow!), and maybe it shows. Funnily enough, i did a very similar route to the one I took today after Xmas last year (or possible the year before; Bikely rather annoyingly doesn't show the year when a route was added). I did it on the same bike (although it's possible that at that point I had it set up as a freewheel singlespeed, rather than a fixie), but last time also managed to detour to Bondi and spin around Centennial a few times, and as I recall didn't really stop for more than a drink and a snack at Watson's Bay.
Am I getting too old? Is the mistress (as I wondered about at the end of this blog) getting too hot for me to handle? Are my days of blasting up Heartbreaker Hill on a 48x17 gear numbered? Or do I just need to get out and ride more (which, to be honest, I haven't been doing as much of over the past few months)?
I guess 2010 will reveal all!
Happy New year, everyone!
Comment
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Comment by Dan on January 24, 2010 at 2:32pm -
When I started riding again about four years ago (after a too-long hiatus), I used to stop half-way up Miller St for a rest.
Now I cruise up it at 25kph.
Although ultimately it doesn't matter if you walk up every hill, or can get up Cottage Point. As long as you're having fun, it's all good. And it's surprising how quickly you develop the strength in your legs to get up those hills!
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Comment by Jules on January 24, 2010 at 11:54am -
Thanks Dabba, that's right it's the two foot gear, one that I'm quite familiar with now and then.
Although things are looking up. : ) If I'm coming back from the city (like when I helped out at BVP last weekend, sat eveing) to the north I can now climb up the back side of North Sydney (Walker st, instead of Pac Hwy) without using my two foot gear. Going this way I managed to get up the hill without having to contend with traffic screaming past me (Pac. hwy). So it's safer til I gain confidence and/or speed or it may just be a better option for me getting up the North Sydney hill. Not sure if it's considered a cheat route as it is a shorter hill but steeper gradient (?) . I was climbing up there slowly (almost falling over! no just kidding) in big gear two and little gear one (this is probably described another way) so i'm glad i didn't get down to big gear one. I've never really used big gear one, it seems odd but I suppose you use it for really big hills. I just had to cruise at the top for a bit to regain my breath. Woohoo! The younger people (mostly boys) coming down the hill, looked surprised, I think they could see the glint of determination in my eye in the extra darkened canopied street.
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Comment by kirby on January 14, 2010 at 11:49am - dan this happens to me all the time i'm 43 this year i gave away the single speed two years ago when i found that after a week of commuting i couldn't walk. i thought the breathlessness was just me then i found out that my asthma diagnosis i got when i was a child was undiagnosed sinusitis so i traded one group of drugs for another and yes i hate it, i feel i should be fitter than i am but i'm not. i'm still worried about it i'm only 42 for christ sake, but this will probably sound dumb but i'm trying not to let the condition of aging stop me from riding to work and i'm sure as hell not going to check the weather before i go for a ride! i will not be that guy, and dan take it from a medical person if at any time your worried about breathlessness or anything. see a doctor, 99% of the time there will be nothing wrong and thats great but the peace of mind is better. i tell myself i'm in charge and if its not used its lost.
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Comment by Dabba on January 14, 2010 at 10:16am - Jules, that's called using your "two foot gear". Before I use that, my touring bike has a granny gear of 1 1/2 feet - but not quite in the same vein as Adam Hills from ABC TV's Spicks and Specks.
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Comment by Jules on January 14, 2010 at 8:45am
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Try being a 32 year old with skinny legs (small muscles) and struggling up the hills then getting off (panting, [I did have asthma as a kid -?]), that others with big leg muscles are powering up (panting).
Bugger you allllllllll
(I mean that in the nicest possible way : ) *sweet smile*)
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Comment by Dabba on January 4, 2010 at 3:46pm
- Kylie, according to some of the fitness books that I've read, your body loses about 25% of its fitness in the first week of inactivity.
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Comment by ♫ Kylie on January 3, 2010 at 7:52am -
It's interesting though, Dan. I've been shocked and amazed at how quickly the body can lose what it's worked so hard for. I remember when I moved to the inner west and then went for a ride to the north shore after a month, I thought I was going to die riding up the Pac Hwy in North Sydney!! And now, with my ankle, I've literally watched my left leg disappear before my eyes. Muscle memory certainly exists, and I've felt very comfortable back on the bike this week, but there is no strength there at all.
I guess in answer to your original question, maybe you do just need to ride more...I know I do! ;-)
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Comment by Nigel on January 2, 2010 at 5:03pm - I agree with John you are only as old as you feel, age is only in the mind all blokes are only 18 at heart.
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Comment by Neil Alexander on January 2, 2010 at 4:56pm -
I still feel that varable gears are only for people over forty-five.
There's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.
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Comment by Dan on January 2, 2010 at 4:12pm
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Hmmm.
There's that famous quote, of course, by Henri Desgrange in a 1901 cycling magazine:
I still feel that varable gears are only for people over forty-five.
Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur?
We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!
And Beryl Burton was still the undisputed champion of UK time-trialling aged 46; according to Sheldon Brown she rode a fixed gear with some crazy 52x14ish ratio.
I think it's all mental. When I only had the singlespeed, well, I just had to get on with it. But now, when I get a hill, I hear a little voice in my ear, 'this would be much easier on the other bike. Maybe you should have ridden the one with gears'. This little derailleur devil definitely makes it more difficult....!!!!
Hey-ho. I'm not really feeling maudlin at my increasing age, BTW, in case it came across that way!
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