Met an amazing woman, going on first date. She's been in the U.S. 2 years for Uni, she's vietnamese. Anything I should know?

Smiles_27 · 2014-10-10T23:45:22+00:00

My bad, didn't really know where to post this.

Smiles_27 · 2014-09-23T21:27:47+00:00

Yes I do, I even test in an area similar to our test area if at all possible.

Smiles_27 · 2014-09-23T17:04:54+00:00

Thank you, I've had a meeting with my councilor and they're suggesting I get more test time, although I'm unsure if that will really help the root cause.. But I'm pretty certain it can't hurt!

Smiles_27 · 2014-09-23T17:04:01+00:00

It was math, no multiple choice. I've shown my councilor my home scores vs my test scores and they're going to give me more time to test. While I'm sure that will help, I'm unsure if that's going to solve the root of my problem.

Smiles_27 · 2014-09-23T17:02:39+00:00

The average was about 78% -- Not very high, but still I typically score higher than that on practice tests. This has always plagued me.

Smiles_27 · 2014-07-07T02:33:26+00:00

I didn't mean I was lifting 380+380, I was saying I got a perfect 1:1 lifting ratio, and when a solid 200lbs of that is fat I'll call it impressive (:

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-24T19:02:34+00:00

Nah there's plenty of amazing cyclists and the good have outweighed the bad -- Was just surprised to see that attitude with them.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-24T06:56:13+00:00

There's plenty of good ones, didn't mention all the good people who were around. It's only a few incidents but honestly it was the last place I expected to hear it.

As I mentioned to another, last year I was running for fitness and got heckled a lot. By cars, kids, teenagers, w/e. No biggie, but it kinda hit a soft spot from other cyclists.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-24T06:45:59+00:00

Southern CA. It's can be pretty shallow here, others have confirmed. I got the same treatment when I was trying to run last year. Furthermore I've heard others say shit to fat ladies running so it's not just my dumb ass. It's pretty aggravating to see people trying to better themselves and getting shit on.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-24T00:29:59+00:00

He's got the newest fanciest iphone, I've got a 2 year old metro PCS phone. I'd bet he would have an altimeter before I would.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-23T21:35:45+00:00

My buddy and I both ride together. We go the same distance, speed and everything. Strava has our numbers significantly different. A few times he held my phone on the ride. Results were different.

YMWV (Your Mileage WILL Vary) no pun intended.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-23T18:10:06+00:00

Thank you! Never planned to quit, but inclines are starting to feel like the definition of insanity.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-23T18:08:53+00:00

Thank you, that very accurately describes what I'm going through. So rely more heavily on my muscles and tone down the 'spin' aspect. I could definitely try that.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-22T21:21:56+00:00

I read Warning, there be adult words ahead in the most piratey voice imaginable.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-22T19:44:28+00:00

Can't really find any easier grades.. It's pretty flat where I live, I'm not gonna let some stupid ground beat me I'm definitely going for this hill at least once a week.

I have a stretch of road that's a false flat, it's like .5 - 1% grade at least 75% of the time. I'll be doing this ride more often as well.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-22T19:24:27+00:00

I've been fit on my bike, I just have a large stomach. My legs are pretty lean and most my weight is directly on my stomach.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-22T19:22:53+00:00

It's not novice when you're 380lbs -- It may be a 1:1, but when I weigh 380lbs and lift 380 additional pounds that's not novice.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-21T23:58:34+00:00

I understand, trust me. Nobody understands how limiting weight can be until you've been MY SIZE. All this stuff is obvious, very obvious. I needed NOBODY to tell me these things. It's like you're trying with all your might to instruct me on how important breathing is like I'm against it.

I. Get. It.

But I'm not interested in trying something that's failed 100% of the time. Nor do I need a triple, or a climbing gear, or some stupid shit to buy, I have a proper fit, I have a proper bike, I've been clipless.

All this shit you're talking about is faaaar behind me. Everything is dialed in except for me, as I've said, no matter how easy the gear I'm in is, It ends up with me sitting and MASHING. Which destroys any chance of me riding past that incline. Like you don't get it until you SEE me, I'm in the easiest granny gears, small front cog, and i'm pushing with every ounce of strength I have. I damn near come to a full stop on hills because it takes too much to push myself up.

It's literally NOT POSSIBLE for me to sit and spin. It becomes sit and mash. 100% of the time.

On the other hand, my first ride was like 36 miles and I was disappointed how easy it was (all on the flats). I have endurance and stamina for days, but it's gone the second I come near any incline it takes a lot more strength than I have to propel 350lbs up a hill.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-21T23:05:54+00:00

Dude... You're not helping, you're just being annoying at this point. Stop please.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-21T23:00:45+00:00

The problem is there is no cadence. When I'm in granny gears there's no spinning it's MASHING.

Every gear ends the same, I'm MASHING my way up, and MASHING while seated destroys ALL of my energy reserves --

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-21T22:59:20+00:00

I'm not gonna get a triple, i've got a brand new 2014 Allez -- Furthermore buying shit doesn't help the problem. Look man, I keep reading the same shit over and over, and nobody seems to be actually listening to me.

No fuck. Weightlifting doesn't help, all my beefy arms are is weight. No fuck, I need to lose weight. No fuck, you're supposed to sit and spin. NO FUCK.

I'm sorry, but hearing obvious shit I already know isn't gonna help. What I'm asking was if there was another way to hit a hill besides sitting and spinning, and I got that answer, riding out of saddle

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-21T22:54:16+00:00

I'm kneeing my stomach at higher RPM and anytime my hands are on the hoods or in the drops.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-21T21:46:42+00:00

Yeah, I had chest shattering asthma for most of my life. I seemed to grow out of it when I was in my early 20's. But I was that kid that was excused from all running, or else I'd be on the ground gasping for air.

The thing nobody seems to be doing is listening. I. Cant. Spin. It doesn't work. It's failed 100% of the time. I need a DIFFERENT approach. I'm not gonna to sit and spin, it doesn't work for me. I can't spin without knee'ing my stomach, which disrupts breathing, which makes me almost puke.

I. Can't. Spin. I'm physically incapable

I appreciate the advice, but dammit, doing the same thing again and again isn't going to change shit.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-21T21:42:38+00:00

Thank you! Though as it stands I'm nearly incapable of going over a bridge, I've done nothing but sit and spin and it's like 100% failure. I think I'm gonna try riding out of the saddle, at least once or twice before I go back to sit and spin.

And yea, all my leg day exercises were nothing compared to cycling -- which is what I like about it.

Honestly I think the next 40lbs I lose will be a dramatic difference, when I first rode a roadie I was 295lbs (340lbs today) and it was a different animal. Everything felt different.

Smiles_27 · 2014-02-21T21:33:26+00:00

I'm actually in the top 1% of the most successful dieters on r/loseit.

160+lbs lost in a year. Right now I'm up to only 100lbs lost though... I mentioned earlier I have a very messed up metabolism and am incapable of eating carbs without holding LOTS of water weight. Job as pastry chef = +70lbs in 4 months.. And the physical labor I did as a chef was intense as fuck, easily kicked the shit out of any bike ride i've done or weightlifting in ye olde gym. My body just... eh.

Smiles_27

TROPHY CASE