Leaderboard

I forgot to update this. The pool was done a few months ago. Current DIY project is building a deck around the backside of the pool.

Did some bench cutting today on a new section on Black Trac created with the help of the TMBRA PayDirt folks. This will be a series of ~10 switchbacks gaining about 50' over a quarter mile. It should be completed shortly. This section passes the new Water Station 3, which has a great view and some shade to sit in. Ought to make a fine spot to hang out while making the loop. Here's a pic.

To everything.

Alright, I took advantage of the outdoor air conditioning yesterday and today and have completed the new section and cut out the old climb on BT to the road. Here's where the new part begins... Most of the old climb will eventually be repurposed as a downhill that leads into this new section. Ought to be a hoot! Paul has also opened up another new section on Karaway. Between the work done on Karaway and on Black Trac we have gained over 3/4 of a mile of new trail. I'll get a "wheel" measurement tomorrow. Thanks again to the TMBRA PayDirt volunteers and to Brian Nash for their contributions that brought these new sections online in record time.

Population is the threat.

Did some Googling just now: Pfizer’s worldwide known erectile dysfunction product Viagra generated around 500 million U.S. dollars in revenue in 2019.

Good job there. Carpeted bathrooms are wicked gross.

It is both age and the condition of the heart that causes max heart rate to decline. I'm no doctor, but perhaps a better indicator of longevity, at least from a heart muscle perspective, is resting heart rate. I've known incredibly fit folks who died in their forties and incredibly unfit folks who've died in their nineties; so there are plenty of other things in play when it comes to predicting the end. True max heart rate though is in fact measured through exertion; so if you're not exerting yourself to the max, you don't even know what your max is.

Refinishing and staining our butcher block countertops. Thanks to @Chief for recommending using Danish oil to stain/seal them. Admittedly I'm looking forward to these "projects" coming to an end😖

Sitting around thinking about some of the differences of my experiences when comparing riding standard and "E" bikes I remembered one factor from riding the acoustic bike (the Brit's name for standard) was managing heart rate. As we age, most should know how max heart rate declines. "Max" being where the heart is being stressed at a level that could shorten its operating lifespan, and ipso-facto, its owner's lifespan as well. Pushing things to the max on a regular basis is asking for trouble as we get older. Knowing this, for the past several years I've used my watch to monitor heart rate while I ride and this has happily led to developing a good feel for noticing when I was getting out of the yellow and into the red zone. It has become second-nature for me to feel when I was pushing too far, then verifying this on the watch. My SOP for managing this was to stop (often mid-climb) and wait a couple of minutes for the HR to come back into the yellow before moving on. An added advantage derived from this tactic is how I've become quite adept at resuming a climb from a standing start on the acoustic bike, rather than pushing it up the hill. Because I do enjoy riding and want to continue to do so for as many years as possible, it seems like a good idea to not overwork the cardiovascular system. It is well out of warranty and this strategy is as close to an extended warranty that I've been able to find. Besides, the manufacturer never was all that good at responding to warranty claims anyway. Fast-forward to pondering about the eMTB and how the realization struck me that while still using the feel I've developed to gauge whether I'm punching near the red zone, instead of stopping the ride I can just bump up the assist level a notch. Then, bump it back down as soon as I feel my heart rate is back into the yellow zone. Being able to keep the flow of a ride going without stopping to manage HR levels has been much more enjoyable. I am able to get the workout I desire, get more time and distance riding, and I'm enjoying riding in a way I haven't experienced in a decade or two. The phone app (Specialized Mission Control) allows fine-tuning of the support levels, and I've been dialing them down as my fitness improves. This results in extending the range I can get from the battery as my muscles take on more of the load. I've found this to be a good thing as the miles of new trail we've added to Rocky Hill are getting to the point that two laps now use up most of the battery. YMMV

Out with the 70s flooring for the old girl.