I ask for dirt paths and I got more than I expected. I saw a marked trail so I went down this gully. Problem was I was off the marked trial heading into a briar patch without a clue. It didn’t seem like a mountain bike trail because it wasn’t. It looked like a delinquents playpen. Lord of the flies type vibe. It would have been a enough without the bike. I had to walk the bike a bit because of the roots, large stones and downed trees crossing the path. After a mile or so I spied a way out. It was about a 45% grade. I huffed the bike up hill on foot. It wasn’t a foothill or small mountain, but its was a good size bluff for a guy in my shape, maybe 8 stories high. I was sweating more than when riding the bike full out on pavement. The woods are a workout. After I removed myself from the trail of doom I went back to its beginning to reread the signage to see where I went wrong. A fellow mountain biker pointed out I was not on the marked path and I was heading in the opposite direction. He told me about a few decent paths and said some were challenging for him. He looked like he rode often. So I found my dirt trails. They’re pretty technical. I got my work cut out for me…

25 miles yesterday. No long off rode areas around here too bad. Fitting into pants again I have a bunch of clothes I’ll not see for a while but looking forward to knowing them again. I felt like Homer Simpson; sweats only. Diet is everything when it comes down to it.
The bike is holding up well. Its got some mud on it. I go off road any chance I get. There are always a few dirt paths around. none long or challenging but they are fun when I find them. off to the pavement…

Ask and you shall receive. Found a bunch of muddy dirt paths and some was beyond my abilities. Tried to go up an insane grade. I’m not the agile waif I once was. I was able to keep from falling on my back but I couldn’t keep on the bike. In all another 25 miles today. That’s about all my battery will handle. I need to try a full ride on the slow setting to see how many max miles I can get out of one charge. I want to do a 100 mile day. I could do 55 miles without battery but at this point it would be brutal. The bikes weighs a bit. When are then going have the extra battery pack?

2 rides 10 miles am 10 miles pm. cold out. really pushed up some hills legs getting stronger. I tried to drain the battery but haven’t done it yet. Got it down to just the red but it still had some power when I was done with the ride. need to find some big hills. Oh well, I’m sure a three or four hour ride will do the trick…

All I can say is its working…

Rode this morning. I was hoping to ride this evening too but it rained a lot. I need an all weather outfit. I’ve already got the endorphin jones. Morning rides make for a calm day. Folks with mood issues can get a great benefit from a daily ride. Put your prozac and zoloft back in the medicine cabinet and get on a bike. If everyone rode daily it might put divorce lawyers, anger management clinics, and psycho therapists out of business. It might be what C. Sheen needs, a daily bike ride to take the edge off, or sleep, who knows?

If you have a few years under your belt, like me, you might remember the old pictures of China from the 80′s, the streets covered, wall to all with bicyclists. Yet today they’re all in cars with the worst pollution on the planet. Smog coming out their ears nose eyes and teeth. I’ll bet they’ll find the population was much healthier, back in the day, when they were all on bikes.

So far I’ve got 35 miles under my belt. It should be more but my muscles have been in atrophy for so long I need to give them some time to rebuild whats been lost. I don’t want to pull something and then be forced off the bike for any amount of time.

The ugly truth. I think my artistic renderings are easier on the eyes and more interesting for the viewer than a cold color photo. At least I hope so. If this mass was to fall from the stratosphere who knows what damage it could do? One reason why I love my 850R Optibike is because its electric and that extra power means speed and climbing hills yet it needs my strength to get it moving. Its a great work out. Some one in my poor condition can ride for hours. That’s amazing.

The Balzac

OK I’m here on the blog bloging about being on the blog. Maybe not my best blog… well its my first. So I have my Optibike Its an 850R. Its epic. I’ve started riding it. I’ve become huge and I can’t think of a funner way to loose all this blubber. I can go up any hill without passing out and I can ride a good distance till my legs sore and my lungs heave even though I’m almost 100 pounds over weight. I used to ride a lot, be in good shape but that was maybe 20 yrs ago. The past three years I have sat on my ass, done nothing physical and that’s how I’ve turned into a too common statistic… obese maybe morbidly obese. So I’m a big fat pig yet I don’t expect it continue thanks to my awesome 850R Optibike with some coaching and a change in diet. I’m starting to juice. No not take steroids. I have a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer which I’m using to supplement some meals and I’m trying to eat more raw foods and downsize the amounts of stuff I shove in my pie hole. I’ve already spilled twice on the bike doing some off-rode climbs. I tried to go up this almost vertical hill. I realize I have to really lean forward to make it. Health problems. My blood pressure which has always been low, now high, heart burn and I get no play from the ladies which is really bad for the psyche. Well I’m off. Going to go for a ride and enjoy the spring air…. Oh I’ve grown into 275 lb five foot nine inch thing which to me is totally unreal; its an epidemic!

John S - Goal lose 70 lbs.