thanks pat. you're welcome.
i guess you could call what we say here "constructive". maybe not in heythorp's case but...
my story is pretty similar. i was a powerlifter and 250. i wanted to start doing some cardio a coupla years ago to try and slim up. i got on my old bike, went for a ride and was like 'huh, i need a new bike'. i hadn't so much as looked at bikes and hopped in the car and headed to my LBS. they said buy the fuel so i did. i'd been doing business with them for 18 years prior so i trusted them.
i suffered A LOT that first year...at the tourne no less. i remember the first time i did my five mile loop only stopping like once how thrilled i was. then i rode with scotty, alex and albert. boy was that eye opening (scott, thanks again for fixing my rim
). the following year (last year) i did my first race. even more eye opening.
anyway, here i sit almost two years later, 40 lbs. lighter (and dropping) and training for the 40 mile darkhorse race. i'm at the point now where not only have i put in more than a few hours on a spin bike (which i vowed NEVER to do), but i'm also (GASP!) riding the road...and (DOUBLE GASP!!) enjoying it. the hardest thing for me has been been transitioning my mindset from goon meathead weight guy to cardio guy. not all that easy to rewire the body after 10 years but i'm getting there.
at any rate, good luck pat. eventually it gets fun.