Those were the sounds of me mashing the pedals up this darn hill today. Today's the first day that I didn't go into the granny gear to make it up. My legs were numb and tingling by the time I got to the top but damnit I made it!!!

Lot's of things have been going on in my life lately. Just thought I'd share some of it. Since leaving California, I've lost 22 pounds. It looks like I still need to lose about 10 more. I know that sounds crazy but I know my body better than you! (I was too skinny in High School at 120 pounds, I need to be about 140 I think). I lost the weight through diet and exercise. I do the slim fast thing mostly and for exercise I ride my bike.

Bike riding is the most exciting thing about my life right now. I am surprised how much I enjoy it. It makes me feel great. I feel healthy and because of that I also feel happy and my spirits are elevated.

I've finally gotten comfortable enough with myself to actually wear biker shorts (lycra shorts). I always felt self concious about my junk, yes you heard me right. I finally said screw it (no pun intended) and wear the shorts. Gotta have the road jersey too, fortunately they have some fun Pink Floyd jerseys so I bought one of those to parade in.

The other great thing happening soon is that I'll be moving in September to Schaumburg. The reason this is good is that it puts me 9 miles from work (I'm currently 36 miles away from work!). This means (weather permitting) I can ride my bike to and from work. I'll be getting a new roommate as well and am hoping to meet more people because of it.

I guess that's about it really. I don't take too many photos anymore but I brought my camera with me today for my bike ride....almost pulled it out once or twice, my camera that is (I'm not talking about what's in the shorts people! geez!). When I got back home after my ride I took a quick self portrait in an attempt to capture the sweat dripping all over my face. I LOVE THAT FEELING!!!!!!

I celebrated my good mood this evening with my best bud by going to a local Irish restaurant and partaking of some beer and scotch (don't know anything about Irish whiskey).

Twas a great day!

(in case you can't tell, I'm still partaketh'ing of the scotch at home, and making up new words as I type)

Me after 47 minutes or 13.5 miles of pedaling...

Way to go Trev! I can relate to your story in quite a few ways...

I too, love biking, but my slide into being overweight virtually eliminated me going out on my road bike anymore. I saw too many fat dudes in Miami stretching the lycra to "the limit' and I swore I'd never embarass myself like that.

So I still ride a bit, but it's my mountain bike (ok, in Fla we call them beach bikes or atb's). It's much more of a tank (not expensive at all and no suspension) compared to my road bike, so I don't get anywhere near the enjoyment and don't ride as often.

My passion this summer has been swimming. I'm now swimming three times a week, and putting in a decent amount of laps each time. Like your riding, my swimming gives me a great feeling. Perfect overall workout with little stress on any of my joints.

That in turn has helped me to lose more than 20 lbs. since the spring, and I'm much more motivated about everything in my life. I still have a long way to go, but my goal is to be fit and trim by the time I head up to Chicago in November.

And as soon as I feel confident enough, I'm tuning up the road bike and breaking out my cycling clothes again.

BTW, saw those Pink Floyd jerseys. Very cool... :cool:

You look good, partner. Glad you're doing well and your hooked on the bike. Sorry about the Pink Floyd jersey :p

Now you have to get yourself a bright red bib and ride with no jersey. Then you'll have become a complete bike nerd. I'm just kidding - don't do it. Red bibs are not good.

Or a singlespeed...

Small cameras are good for biking. Most of the time SLRs aren't practical. I haven't found the perfect bike camera yet. I still think my Yashica T4 Super was the best. And I still haven't found the digital equivalent. The Rebel XT looks like a good SLR option.

Good to hear from you.

Hey Steve, we can relate well! I'm glad to hear you're doing good too. For me, I like to hear about others so thanks for sharing :)

John, I may know the photo you're picturing with the red bibs and the beer belly. Don't worry though, I wouldn't be caught dead in red. Yellow is a different story :p

Singlespeed? Too late, seriously. I bought a cheapo bike and am already playing with it for such uses :confused: :eek:

Perfect camera? Not possible. It's like the "Perfect bag" or "Perfect tripod". I am using the Canon SD200 and love that little beast. One thing I have to be careful with though is that evn though I put it in the back pocket of my jersey it still gets a lot of body perspiration on it. I need to keep it wrapped up or in plastic.

There's no doubt though, I've been bitten deep. I feel good, but I miss California quite a bit. Is there any chance you and Steve can make it to Chicago for the next gathering? Sounds like Steve is going to make it :).....come on! everyone else is doing it!

If I may add my own little accomplishments and make this a bloggish thread ...

Today, my family became the proud owner of an elliptical machine and a home gym. Y'all are saying "yeah yeah it will just gather dust", but I'm telling you it won't. I've worked out at gyms (sporadically) for too many years, and the reason I always quit is because I'm always picking up illnesses that sloppy people leave behind on the equipment, which leave me atrophying in bed for a week and a half and then I have to find the motivation to start all over, time and time again. I am craving the kind of workout y'all are describing, but since I live out in the country in a cold-weather state, I've got too many reservations about taking walks or bike rides on 55-mph curvy hilly country roads.

I doubt I'll have had it long enough to be "fit & trim" by November, but hopefully it will have made a bit of difference at least.

Hooray for you for your impending move! You'll be closer to IKEA. And the Woodfield Apple Store. :D Glad you plan on getting out and meeting new people. I made a new friend this past spring through the play I was in, and it's really made my summer a lot more active and fun (not to mention more "spirited", if you catch my drift...)

When is the Chicago gathering this year, anyway? Or is that what we'll be discussing on Wednesday?

It's great to hear things are going good Treavor! I haven't been biking much this year, but I wish I was. Amy and I put on about 130 miles last weekend, and I haven't touched the bike since. I plan on getting back into it very soon tho. I haven't been to the gym all summer, ever since my work schedule changed, but hopefully that will change again this fall. love the feeling of accomplishment after a good ride and it really does help clear your head and lift your spirits, as you say. I use to ride a lot more, but that was 25 pounds ago, and wish I would have never stopped.

I looked at your picture, before I read your post, and the first thing that I thought, was, damn, he looks like he lost some weight. Congrats on that!

Anyway... it's about time for me to start work... I look forward to meeting you and the rest of the crew tomorrow night!

Well congrats to you!

I was biking this summer, but then we had a rainy week, and I lost my motivation. But I'm hoping to get back to it. Kelly, we have the treadclimber and the crossbow, (which have been collecting dust) but I will work on being fit and trim for the Chicago gathering if everyone else is.

I'm pushing for November.....

I looked at your picture, before I read your post, and the first thing that I thought, was, damn, he looks like he lost some weight. Congrats on that!

Well, the camera lies a bit....and I've gotten good hiding these kinds of flaws :) High camera angle + wide lens + keeping chin untucked = skinnier :D

Adina,
Maybe you'll find some motivation again. I bet if you just went out for a casual ride on the bike with a friend you'd have a good time.

I also have to figure out what to do in Winter which is coming soon! uh-oh.

Adina,
Maybe you'll find some motivation again. I bet if you just went out for a casual ride on the bike with a friend you'd have a good time.

I also have to figure out what to do in Winter which is coming soon! uh-oh.


Yeah, I'm hoping. Even once school starts and I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to do it, I should be more consistant.

And I'm just going to bike in the snow. I've got a sweater.

Yay! to you...I think we all like any junk that you may carry in your trunk... if the trunk is half as nice as those eyes... :D

maybe the next chicago gathering needs to have tshirts that read
"former fatties of america unite" ;) :D

congrats to you it sound slike you're working hard

maybe the next chicago gathering needs to have tshirts that read
"former fatties of america unite" ;)

Well, if I wear a t-shirt, you can bet it's gonna be one of the, a'hem VERY hard to find PHOTOGRAPHYREVIEW.COM t-shirts. Not to start a flood of envy, but I got TWO of 'em, ya know...

It's just that neither one fits me right now... ;)

Trevor, congrats.
You look fantastic :)