» Marriage The Fat Guy

Something New

August 29, 2010 — David Crowell

I did ride to work and back on Friday. It put me in a better mood.

I didn’t do much riding this weekend. I rode with Tim for about ten miles on Saturday. He let me borrow a single-speed road bike. I’ve been wanting a nice, simple, cheap, single-speed bike for a while. I found one on Craigslist, but it was too small. Tim’s is almost big enough, but he’s not selling it. I’m not crazy about the new ones out there.

I did visit Vic’s Classic Bikes today. I put down a deposit on a new ride. I’m still figuring out what components I want, but I picked out a frame and wheels. I’ll do a big reveal once I receive the bike in a month or two, but yes, it will be a single-speed. It’s wonderful to have a wife who is so supportive of my cycling.

We also spent hours today driving around Louisville looking at neighborhoods. I’ve spent countless hours looking online for houses also. Yes, we intend to move out of Charlestown.

One of the houses we are looking at would leave me with a 3.5 miles commute instead of 16.5 – 20.0 miles ride. That might actually force me to take the long way to work occasionally. It would eliminate the need for me to drive to work. Even in snow, my LHT with studded tires would be fine. I could walk if I needed to.

So, will I end up car-free? Kristy will still drive. We would probably go down to one vehicle instead of two. That would be quite nice. :)

Posted in Bikes, Car-Free, Marriage, Off-Topic. 6 Comments »

A Gift From My Wife

July 23, 2010 — David Crowell

I arrived home today after work (driving my truck) to see a large box out front.

Let me back up a minute…

I only rode my bike to work two days this week. I only rode home 1 day, as the other I got a ride home. My idea of another record mileage month is out the window. I’ve not been riding enough, but I’m not letting that bother me.

My wife will be home tomorrow, a bit earlier than originally planned. I’m glad she’s coming home, but it will cut even more into my bike riding time.

So anyway, I open the box and find a new bike.

It’s a Dahon Speed D7. It certainly won’t be my primary bike, but it could come in very handy for travelling, or even short around-town trips.

How many of you have a wife that would surprise you with something like that?

It folds up quite small. See how large the trunk bag appears on the folded bike.

It is officially too big to go as checked luggage on most airlines without oversize items fees, but I’m going to take it with me to Washington DC next month, and see how that works out. It’ll be nice to have my own transportation while on a business trip.

I was amazed that it came with fenders and a rear rack. I just threw on a cheap set of lights and my trunk bag, and it’s ready to go.

I did take the bike for a four-mile ride after getting it set up. I rode to the bank, the pizza place, and home again. I enjoyed some good food, a great beer, and a new bike from my wonderful wife.. Life is good.

Posted in Bikes, Marriage, Pictures. No Comments »

Some Improvement

June 29, 2010 — David Crowell

After several days of feeling only slightly better than death, today is refreshing. It started out rough this morning. It was just like yesterday morning. I woke gasping and choking and making horrible noises.

By mid-morning, I was able to eat solid food. That’s a switch. By early afternoon the feverish feeling appears to be gone.

I won’t be riding my bike to work this week. I haven’t actually been to work this week yet. I shouldn’t ride tomorrow, I still need to recover, and I can’t ride anyway, because I’m picking Kristy up from the airport. There is some better news! I won’t be riding on Thursday so that I can spend more time with Kristy.

I can’t ride on Friday, because I’m taking her back to the airport for another adventure. I thought she’d get to stay home for more than two days. Such is my crazy marriage.

On the other hand, I’ve got every weekend in July available for putting in some miles on the bike. I’m planning at least one more camping trip too.

Posted in Bikes, Marriage, Physical. 1 Comment »

N+1

January 2, 2010 — David Crowell

Bike with no name

What is the perfect number of bicycles? N+1, where N is the number you currently have.

Despite wanting a simpler life with fewer toys, I’m adding a new bike to the fleet. I’ve had two rideable bikes, but they will become three in about two weeks.

I found a 56cm Surly Long Haul Trucker at a local shop that had been sitting in the showroom too long. The LHT is the bike I was writing about wanting back in November.

I took the bike for a spin this morning (it was a bit cold for a lengthy ride), and put a deposit down on it. It will be mine on the 15th.

I sent a picture of the bike to my wife (who is out of state again), and she called me immediately. She had apparently been planning on buying me one, over time, built piece-by-piece to my specifications. Overall it would have been more expensive, but I would have had the opportunity to pick out components. She was also working with a different bike shop.

That’s what happens when you have a secret.

Either way, the other shop hasn’t ordered anything yet, but already have some money “on account” that will go toward racks, fenders, a computer, and whatever else I outfit on the LHT.

My bikes have names. Nermal is my frankenbike-hybrid/commuter that started life as a cheap Giant Cypress ST. Oria is my long-wheelbase recumbent Bacchetta Agio. The newcomer doesn’t have a name yet. I will ride it/him/her for a while to get a feel for the personality first.

Posted in Bikes, Marriage, Pictures. 4 Comments »

2009 In Review

December 31, 2009 — David Crowell

What a wonderful/busy/crazy/happy/stressful year it’s been.

Weight

chart-montly-weight-2009

I (mostly) lost weight through the first half of the year, but mostly gained it all back in the last half. I’m still happier with my weight than I was in 2007 or 2008 though. I need to have the self-control that I did in 2008 again.

Bike Mileage

Month	Miles
01-2009	277.8
02-2009	263.3
03-2009	192.4
04-2009	290.9
05-2009	452.0
06-2009	542.2
07-2009	371.3
08-2009	199.6
09-2009	298.9
10-2009	436.1
11-2009	443.9
12-2009	91.6

Month	Nermal	Oria	Nermal	Oria	Total
All 2008	712.8	1,525.8	712.8	1,525.8	2,238.6
01-2009	927.6	1,588.8	214.8	63.0	277.8
02-2009	1,004.9	1,774.8	77.3	186.0	263.3
03-2009	1,068.5	1,903.6	63.6	128.8	192.4
04-2009	1,359.4	1,903.6	290.9	0.0	290.9
05-2009	1,501.0	2,214.0	141.6	310.4	452.0
06-2009	1,769.0	2,488.2	268.0	274.2	542.2
07-2009	1,953.6	2,674.9	184.6	186.7	371.3
08-2009	2,024.9	2,803.2	71.3	128.3	199.6
09-2009	2,104.0	3,023.0	79.1	219.8	298.9
10-2009	2,417.5	3,145.6	313.5	122.6	436.1
11-2009	2,765.5	3,241.5	348.0	95.9	443.9
12-2009	2,857.1	3,241.5	91.6	0.0	91.6

I didn’t make my goal of 5000 miles. I knew I wouldn’t fairly early. I did ride 3,860 miles for the year, which beats the previous year of 2,238.

Month by Month Review

January 2009
- Biking irregularly due to weather and ice storm
- First RCCS ride
- Rode 277.8 miles
- Average weight of 216.5 lbs
February 2009
- Gave up the idea of living car-free in the near-term
- I assumed (wrongly) that I’d hit my goal weight by August
- Rode 263.3 miles
- Average weight of 208.2 lbs
March 2009
- I met Kristy
- Rode 192.4 miles
- Average weight of 204.6 lbs
April 2009
- My car died – spent two weeks without one before buying my truck
- Kristy and I were engaged
- Kristy left the state for a few months
- Rode 290.9 miles
- Average weight of 206.6 lbs
May 2009
- Rode the 60-mile Tour de Cure
- Set a new weekly mileage record of 186.1
- Rode 452.0 miles
- Average weight of 203.3 lbs
June 2009
- Weight was under 200 lbs for a while
- Set a new weekly mileage record of 201.9
- Rode 542.2 miles
- Average weight of 202.0 lbs
July 2009
- Kristy came home
- Went to West Virginia with Kristy to meet some of her family
- Rode 371.3 miles
- Average weight of 201.8 lbs
August 2009
- Managed a 20-mile ride in Michigan while traveling
- Almost sold my recumbent
- Business trip to San Antonio – Too much good food
- My daughter came to live with me
- Rode 199.6 miles
- Average weight of 208.4 lbs
September 2009
- I married Kristy in Florida – managed to bring bikes and get in some riding too
- Finished The Ride to Conquer Cancer – I enjoyed the achievement, but I’m not really sure I want to spend the (fund-raising) time to do another charity ride
- Rode 298.9 miles
- Average weight of 212.4 lbs
October 2009
- Kristy left again for work
- Rode 436.1 miles
- Average weight of 209.7 lbs
November 2009
- Went mountain biking for the first time
- Rode 443.9 miles
- Average weight of 209.8 lbs
December 2009
- Kristy came home
- Spent Christmas in West Virginia
- Kristy left again
- I’m gaining weight again, it’s going to take work to get back down
- Rode 91.6 miles – holy crap! what happened here?
- Average weight of 215.2 lbs – wow back to January weight

Overall

I’m happy with what I’ve done for the year. I met a wonderful woman, fell in love, and got married. Looking back at my posts from the past year, many of them seem rather negative. I guess it’s easy to focus on the times when things aren’t going as planned. Things usually don’t go as planned, but work out alright anyway.

That doesn’t mean I give myself a pass on not losing the weight and keeping it off. I very much intend to achieve my goal weight of 175 lbs, and stay there. I’m hoping I can do it before December of next year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Posted in Bikes, Goals, Marriage, Mental, Stats. 2 Comments »

The Perfect Sh*t Storm

October 23, 2009 — David Crowell

I’ve mentioned that my life has been a little crazy recently. My work life got a lot crazier on Monday the 5th. I still rode to work 4 days that week, and rode home 3. I wimped out one day and got a ride. I drove one day because I needed my truck.

The week starting on the 12th was a little crazier. I still managed to ride to work and back 3 days.

Why could this affect my riding?

I spend an extra 1.5 hours per day commuting when I ride
I have less physical energy
I have less mental energy after an extended amount of bicycle commuting
I need more sleep when I ride a lot
My weekends have been busy with personal errands and tasks (such as moving Kristy’s stuff into the house)

This past week, I had enough, and I was exhausted. I still rode on Tuesday, but that was it. I paid $8.75 per day to park for 4 days, and drove my truck.

I’ve been so busy, I’ve been running and doing something from the moment I wake up, until I get to sleep at night. Some of it is work, some of it is moving Kristy’s stuff, some of it is normal domestic crap. Oh, yeah, Kristy is out of town, so she’s not here to help. I’m not blaming her, she wishes she could be here. I also have my younger teenage daughter living here and increasing the stress level.

On Monday I applied a software update that has led to a work-week-long pain in the @ss. This coincided with two other screw-ups (one of which is partially my fault).

On top of this, I had to come up with a fat chunk of money for a lawyer. I’ve got some legal issues to deal with. It’s just a “family law” matter, nobody is in trouble or anything.

So, it’s late on a Friday night. I can’t mentally let go of the issues at work, so I can’t sleep. I can’t fix the issues at work until at least Monday. I have to get up early tomorrow to finish up at Kristy’s old apartment.

On the bright side, I will be done at the apartment tomorrow. I’m going to try for a bike ride on Sunday. I think I’m going to get back on the bike for full-time commuting again on Monday.

I don’t know who said it, but the phrase “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans” applies perfectly.

Wish me luck!

Posted in Bikes, Marriage, Mental, Off-Topic. 2 Comments »

Settling In

September 18, 2009 — David Crowell

Kristy, my shiny new wife, has moved in. Her job has transferred, and we can even do some car-pooling.

We’ve still got of stuff to move from her old apartment, but we’re getting to it. Although we’re probably still going out to eat too often, we are splitting meals now which is better for the wallet and the gut.

I’ve worked three days this week. On Wednesday I drove to work. Thursday and Friday (today) I rode the bike into work, but Kristy picks me up after work. That seems to work out well.

I’ve been riding Nermal. Oria needs some work on the wheels, and should probably have the bearings cleaned and regreased after the sand and saltwater spray in Florida.

I am disappointed with my weight. I’ve been above 210 lbs all of this month, and part of last. I had been down below 198 as recently as July.

Kristy is supportive of my weight loss and bike riding. She kicked me out of bed this morning so that I had time to ride. I love her for that.

Posted in Bikes, Food, Marriage, Stats. 4 Comments »

Wedding Day

September 13, 2009 — David Crowell

Kristy and I were married yesterday, 9/12/09. The weather was wonderful, the sun came out just for us.

A few friends and family members gathered on the beach for the fun, relaxed ceremony.

We kept the ceremony simple (about as simple as driving to Florida can be). We had a reception at a local restaurant. We were surprised with a phenomenal beach-themed wedding cake.

Most of our honeymoon is actually a pre-wedding adventure. I’ll be back at work later in the week. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ll have more pictures and stories to share.

As far as weight loss…. What weight loss?