tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post6526437080968324513..comments2009-01-09T11:09:16.553+00:00Comments on US in the UK: Ben's Secret SorrowThe Merkle Gang:http://www.blogger.com/profile/09762186377506941973noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-44216352043710281762008-02-05T00:05:00.000+00:002008-02-05T00:05:00.000+00:00Maybe you need an older bike and a basket.Maybe you need an older bike and a basket.Desmond Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11003872247765909642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-36735048229195855332008-02-04T22:22:00.000+00:002008-02-04T22:22:00.000+00:00Peter,I'll keep an eye out for the motors. Maybe t...Peter,<BR/>I'll keep an eye out for the motors. Maybe that's why they sing, to cover the noise of the weed-eater engine. But, I would like to report that today on the Headington Hill, a small Japanese man tried to pass me. But I poured it on and held him off for the length of the hill. Then someone else tried to pass me at the top of the hill. I was all out of gas and couldn't speed up, so I held him off with a lot of dangerous swerving. Anyhow, I walked into the house today with my head held high.<BR/>BenThe Merkle Gang:https://www.blogger.com/profile/09762186377506941973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-30572787500947500432008-02-04T19:45:00.000+00:002008-02-04T19:45:00.000+00:00So, Peter wants to know, has Ben looked for the li...So, Peter wants to know, has Ben looked for the little assist motor on the back of the operatic ladies' bikes? This is apparently not a facetious question.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13646005946352104155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-32887739563272938682008-02-04T16:58:00.000+00:002008-02-04T16:58:00.000+00:00This is hilarious--thanks! Hi to all Merkles from ...This is hilarious--thanks! Hi to all Merkles from all Crawfords (BTW, there's a new one!).Beth Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06825271110209741782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-10143243237512298592008-02-03T08:06:00.000+00:002008-02-03T08:06:00.000+00:00I too can attest that crew and cycling are quite d...I too can attest that crew and cycling are quite different forms of exercise...but that one can, with persistance, engage in both in the same season to quite good effect. Freshman year of college I rowed crew....was in the fastest non-versity shell. With some men two years my senior. That year, at spring break, I also cycled the California coast from the San Francisco Bay area south to southern California. 450 miles in three days. I slept for 24 hours straight (seriously --didn't stir an inch) but felt fine the second day. As to getting himself in shape, might I recommend simply riding...lots. And often. Learn to let your pedals spin free..use lower gears (if you have them). I'd wager those dowager operastas have been at it a trifle longer than has our hero. Now, as to prayer, sorry, the bus pass bit is a non-starter for my list. The other bits, though, certainly. Oh, it helps a LOT to have the cycle fitting decently but that's a topic for another discussion. When you're putting on a hundred miles in a weeks time on a regular basis, well then I'd say you're getting there. And never mind the ladies, bolt upright, cycling madly past whilst belting out La Traviata in top cog....using their brollies as trafficators. Now THAT would be a clip for a fine film........Nick Jeschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12590045434710159571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-4586938653821039242008-02-03T05:12:00.000+00:002008-02-03T05:12:00.000+00:00And please tell Mr. Merkle that his pick-up truck ...And please tell Mr. Merkle that his pick-up truck is very romantic! (<A HREF="http://www.foucachon.com/" REL="nofollow">www.foucachon.com</A>Daniel Foucachonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01273451591387131451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-57808430747461850722008-02-03T05:09:00.000+00:002008-02-03T05:09:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Daniel Foucachonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01273451591387131451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-74766935676769760532008-02-03T05:07:00.000+00:002008-02-03T05:07:00.000+00:00Very true, "info," biking shape is different. Havi...Very true, "info," biking shape is different. Having grown up in France, biking would come more naturally to me than, say, jogging. <BR/><BR/>My great-grandmother who died fairly recently at 100 years old, told us she used to bike from Lyon to Grenoble (a little over 100 km)!Daniel Foucachonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01273451591387131451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436721444335578520.post-23530788450047175652008-02-02T21:23:00.000+00:002008-02-02T21:23:00.000+00:00Thanks for the chuckle!Thanks for the chuckle!Valerie (Kyriosity)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07389879363642577194noreply@blogger.com