It's been a while (rambling thoughts and MTB content)
Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 4:41 pm
Hi Everyone, it's been a while since I've been around here but wanted to drop in and say hello and make excuses for my absence (that's assuming anyone noticed!!).
A while back I decided to cut back on forum time and focus on other things, I had started to loose interest in watches but still spent a lot of time looking and trying to decide what next, which I don't think was very healthy. Towards the end of last year I sold my UX hydro to get a used Pelagos and lost interest even more, I was alternating between my Datejust and the Pelagos and only sometimes pulling out the SKX for grubby jobs. My Makaira was packed to ship but when the deal didn't happen I put it in a cupboard as is and didn't open the box for almost a year.
Whilst all this was going on I was trying to get back on my bike (a 2010 Scott Spark full suspension with 26" wheels) and do something about my size. I'd managed to creep back up to 230lbs over the last five years or so and was starting to feel very uncomfortable. The last time I was properly riding I had managed to get down to 201 and for a reason I can't remember just stopped. I went semi regularly for a few road rides and a couple of trail rides but didn't really commit and then in May 2018 I broke the bike. I spent the next five months procrastinating about a new one and eventually ordered a 2019 Giant Trance 3 and got it last October. I rode it once and it sat in the storeroom for another three months.
On January 3rd this year I decided that was it and went for a ride, fast forward to the end of July and apart from the six weeks off for surgery I'd ridden trails three to four times a week for a total of 980 miles and a loss of 25lbs. The feeling was quite life changing, I was happier, in a much better mental state and physically so much better. A lot of my watch related time went into riding and my interest in watches or at least getting new watches had waned.
To that point I'd become a much better and faster rider but found I was on the wrong bike, the Trance is a great trail bike but it's heavy at 32lbs and has more travel than I need so the browsing and dreaming started. Long story short something had to go to get a new bike, I sold the Pelagos and I ordered a Scott Spark RC Pro, at 23lbs it promised to be amazing.
I've had the bike for two months and have put almost 500 trail and hill miles on it and it's everything I hoped. I'm trying for 5 times a week and 200 miles a month, I've managed to get to under 200lbs and have a new goal of 180 (for a total of 50lbs lost). I am happier and now have what I think is a healthier use of my time, not to be over dramatic but I'm not sure where I'd be mentally without the time on the bike and everything it brings with it, time outdoors, exercise, new and renewed friendships etc.
My feelings about watches will never go away but they have changed. I'm pretty sure if I added an Explorer at some point I'd be good. I'm happy with my collection although I do feel there is a hole where the UX then the Pelagos sat but it's a hole I can live with for now.
Thank for allowing me the space to share, I miss being here and will be around somemore.
A while back I decided to cut back on forum time and focus on other things, I had started to loose interest in watches but still spent a lot of time looking and trying to decide what next, which I don't think was very healthy. Towards the end of last year I sold my UX hydro to get a used Pelagos and lost interest even more, I was alternating between my Datejust and the Pelagos and only sometimes pulling out the SKX for grubby jobs. My Makaira was packed to ship but when the deal didn't happen I put it in a cupboard as is and didn't open the box for almost a year.
Whilst all this was going on I was trying to get back on my bike (a 2010 Scott Spark full suspension with 26" wheels) and do something about my size. I'd managed to creep back up to 230lbs over the last five years or so and was starting to feel very uncomfortable. The last time I was properly riding I had managed to get down to 201 and for a reason I can't remember just stopped. I went semi regularly for a few road rides and a couple of trail rides but didn't really commit and then in May 2018 I broke the bike. I spent the next five months procrastinating about a new one and eventually ordered a 2019 Giant Trance 3 and got it last October. I rode it once and it sat in the storeroom for another three months.
On January 3rd this year I decided that was it and went for a ride, fast forward to the end of July and apart from the six weeks off for surgery I'd ridden trails three to four times a week for a total of 980 miles and a loss of 25lbs. The feeling was quite life changing, I was happier, in a much better mental state and physically so much better. A lot of my watch related time went into riding and my interest in watches or at least getting new watches had waned.
To that point I'd become a much better and faster rider but found I was on the wrong bike, the Trance is a great trail bike but it's heavy at 32lbs and has more travel than I need so the browsing and dreaming started. Long story short something had to go to get a new bike, I sold the Pelagos and I ordered a Scott Spark RC Pro, at 23lbs it promised to be amazing.
I've had the bike for two months and have put almost 500 trail and hill miles on it and it's everything I hoped. I'm trying for 5 times a week and 200 miles a month, I've managed to get to under 200lbs and have a new goal of 180 (for a total of 50lbs lost). I am happier and now have what I think is a healthier use of my time, not to be over dramatic but I'm not sure where I'd be mentally without the time on the bike and everything it brings with it, time outdoors, exercise, new and renewed friendships etc.
My feelings about watches will never go away but they have changed. I'm pretty sure if I added an Explorer at some point I'd be good. I'm happy with my collection although I do feel there is a hole where the UX then the Pelagos sat but it's a hole I can live with for now.
Thank for allowing me the space to share, I miss being here and will be around somemore.