Story time....

sixpack577 said:
I've met a couple freaks in my day too, and you can't even convey it to those who've never seen such in person, it's truly staggering...How is this even possible?
Apparently the human body is capable of Way more than most can comprehend, and in many ways.
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I use to cycle with a girl, weighing 120lbs, no visible muscle definition, very feminine looking, real pretty. She finished first lady in what is considered the largest Chicago Triathlon, 14th overall among the men. West point grad. In USA cycling right down to Cat1, she kept up. She kicked my @ss, on the bike, which was hard to accept.

What was even weirder, is everyone at that level trained professionally, knew their heart rate, their anaerobic threshold, all their stats. She had no idea what her heart rate is, trained without a computer, just raw talent.
 
jellyrug said:
I use to cycle with a girl, weighing 120lbs, no visible muscle definition, very feminine looking, real pretty. She finished first lady in what is considered the largest Chicago Triathlon, 14th overall among the men. West point grad. In USA cycling right down to Cat1, she kept up. She kicked my @ss, on the bike, which was hard to accept.

What was even weirder, is everyone at that level trained professionally, knew their heart rate, their anaerobic threshold, all their stats. She had no idea what her heart rate is, trained without a computer, just raw talent.
Click to expand...
I used to know a guy who was in the armored corps and he and his wife's hobby was running marathons.....they both did three in a week a few times....

However, he was a stick and although he could run forever and a day, he wasn't strong but his running pace was really fast.....I called him a greyhound.......and her a whippet.....

As they aged, she started to do less and less as she suffered more injuries than he did....once she stopped, he did too as it was something they did together.....
 
The heart rate thing is weird too.
As said, I am in good shape, work-out regulary, am not a runner(a mile is about all my flat feet and worn knees can take)
I could curl alot of weight when I was younger, but all and all, there is nothing strength wise about me that I would say is much above average(but I do think I could beat the world record in planks, as they seem to have no effect on me, lol)
About a dozen years ago I had s stress test done at the local hospital, either 30 or 45 minutes.
After a few minutes the nurse tilted the treadmill and turned it all the way up, he said that would get me going.
It literally came down to the final minute before my heart rate just barely increased.
He said "finally...I thought you were going to beat the machine, but I got ya, lol"
He said that I was first person that he had ever seen that came within seconds of their heart rate not elavating, and only one othet man who's heart rate never did.
We got to talking about him because after he mentioned him being the middle-weight kick-boxing champion in a multi-state, east coast league, it turned out that I knew him, and had friends who trained with him.
I walked out of there, head held high, knowing that I had the endurance of a champion kick-boxer...who would've killed me in the first round, lmao
 
sixpack577 said:
The heart rate thing is weird too.
As said, I am in good shape, work-out regulary, am not a runner(a mile is about all my flat feet and worn knees can take)
I could curl alot of weight when I was younger, but all and all, there is nothing strength wise about me that I would say is much above average(but I do think I could beat the world record in planks, as they seem to have no effect on me, lol)
About a dozen years ago I had s stress test done at the local hospital, either 30 or 45 minutes.
After a few minutes the nurse tilted the treadmill and turned it all the way up, he said that would get me going.
It literally came down to the final minute before my heart rate just barely increased.
He said "finally...I thought you were going to beat the machine, but I got ya, lol"
He said that I was first person that he had ever seen that came within seconds of their heart rate not elavating, and only one othet man who's heart rate never did.
We got to talking about him because after he mentioned him being the middle-weight kick-boxing champion in a multi-state, east coast league, it turned out that I knew him, and had friends who trained with him.
I walked out of there, head held high, knowing that I had the endurance of a champion kick-boxer...who would've killed me in the first round, lmao
Click to expand...
Were you breathing hard, with heart rate not increasing?
 
sixpack577 said:
The heart rate thing is weird too.
As said, I am in good shape, work-out regulary, am not a runner(a mile is about all my flat feet and worn knees can take)
I could curl alot of weight when I was younger, but all and all, there is nothing strength wise about me that I would say is much above average(but I do think I could beat the world record in planks, as they seem to have no effect on me, lol)
About a dozen years ago I had s stress test done at the local hospital, either 30 or 45 minutes.
After a few minutes the nurse tilted the treadmill and turned it all the way up, he said that would get me going.
It literally came down to the final minute before my heart rate just barely increased.
He said "finally...I thought you were going to beat the machine, but I got ya, lol"
He said that I was first person that he had ever seen that came within seconds of their heart rate not elavating, and only one othet man who's heart rate never did.
We got to talking about him because after he mentioned him being the middle-weight kick-boxing champion in a multi-state, east coast league, it turned out that I knew him, and had friends who trained with him.
I walked out of there, head held high, knowing that I had the endurance of a champion kick-boxer...who would've killed me in the first round, lmao
Click to expand...
A few years ago I was having pains on my left side so my Dr sent me for a chemical stress test which included an MRI to check my circulatory system.

The sensation of the chemical and dye they put in me was strange.....the technician said there were people who really started feeling the stress test but my cardio must be very good because it didn't affect me as much..........I went into the MRI for an hour while they took pictures.

The cardiologist called a week later and said I had the heart of a 30 yr old, everything checked out.

That relieved some stress off me as my father and mother both had heart attacks close to my age....however, they both smoked like diesel locomotives and never exercised......but I had to make sure....
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While I was serving we did annual treadmill stress tests where they hooked up a spaghetti factory of wires to us and had us breathe through a mask....we did it with a 60lb rucksack on our back to simulate a load......I said that is not even close to our battle load so the Dr asked me to come in with my full battle load to test me.....I did and later the testing standard changed to us wearing our full battle load.....I don't know how many times I was thanked for that from the guys in the teams.....but it was far more realistic.
 
jellyrug said:
Were you breathing hard, with heart rate not increasing?
Click to expand...
No hard breathing, no heart rate increase.
I went to the Dr's in my late teens through early 20's, as I'de have crazy 'amped-up' spells, no mood changes, just huge bursts of energy, and apparently it was adreniline...randomly...regularly.
No ryhme or reason, just sudden energy and strength(not freak strength like the classic 100 lb female lifting a car off of her kid, but stronger than normal, for me).
It never caused me any problems, but made for some interesting situations, lol.
My wife and I have been together for 3 years now, and she has been a nurse with a bunch of letters behind it, lol, for about 28 years now.
She said just yesterday, "I'm going to stop giving you medical advice, as I've Never seen anyone like you before, nothing about you makes any sense".
That stemmed from her recomending me to add magnesium to my supplements a couple weeks ago... and 2 days later I was seeing flashing lights and and was completely exhausted...and it took 3 days to go away after I stopped taking it, lmao
I could go on and on.
Needless to say, I havn't been to the doctor in years, and rarely get sick.
I only go if something's broken or I can't stop the bleeding.
 
Remember those heavy climbing ropes hanging from the rafters in a high school or college gym? I watched an FBI agent climb two of them at the same time using one hand on each and no leg or feet assistance clear to the top. A friend of mine could walk up to a playground pole, like a tether ball pole and grab it with both hands and prone himself out like a flag, straight out arms fully extended holding the pole with his hands. He worked as a roofer building warehouses and other tall buildings. His low COG was so good he could walk a 4” beam several feet off the ground with ease. He had to wear a catch harness working that high and one time he fell but caught himself using his 32oz claw hammer he had in his hand before the strap tightened. Pound for pound a very strong guy. He was 4’11” and used to ride race horses.
 
CBXRider said:
Remember those heavy climbing ropes hanging from the rafters in a high school or college gym? I watched an FBI agent climb two of them at the same time using one hand on each and no leg or feet assistance clear to the top. A friend of mine could walk up to a playground pole, like a tether ball pole and grab it with both hands and prone himself out like a flag, straight out arms fully extended holding the pole with his hands. He worked as a roofer building warehouses and other tall buildings. His low COG was so good he could walk a 4” beam several feet off the ground with ease. He had to wear a catch harness working that high and one time he fell but caught himself using his 32oz claw hammer he had in his hand before the strap tightened. Pound for pound a very strong guy. He was 4’11” and used to ride race horses.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had a friend about 5'7", built like an anatomy chart, nothing but muscle, and he could grab a pole and stretch himself straight out too.
I tried and tried for years to no avail.
I could jump into position and hold it for about a second, lol, while he just grabbed it and sat there.
He passed last year, but it was always amazing to see him do that.
I could climb the rope up and down without my feet too, but never had a chance to try two ropes at once, that sounds really difficult.
 
Another

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Growing up in a farming community, some of those old farmers were incredibly strong, nobody ever measured their strength and many didn't even know they existed or what their names were......but we who lived amongst them knew.

I recall going to school in the fall and the city-slickers would harass us farm kids just because.....they didn't realize that while they were goofing off all summer we were slugging bales of hay, splitting and stacking wood and the usual farm related chores and although many of us were small in stature, we were really strong......

There used to be an activity we all did in gym class called the "Participaction Challenge" and each and every farm kid crushed that challenge....it consisted of a bunch of activities, rope climb, flexed arm hang, push ups, sit ups, cross country run, 100m dash, etc.......

I remember one kid who lived on a farm near ours a few miles away, his name was Terry...he was a shorter guy but broad in the shoulders, they had a beef farm like ours....his locker was beside mine and one day the hallway tough guy decided to slam him into his locker from behind....Terry turned around and when the tough guy squared up on him, Terry gave him a chest push which sent that guy across the hallway and smashing into the opposite lockers denting in a locker door.....people's mouths dropped open when they saw that.....

Needless to say people gave Terry a wide berth after that.....

One just never knows about another person......
 
Bumblebee said:
Growing up in a farming community, some of those old farmers were incredibly strong, nobody ever measured their strength and many didn't even know they existed or what their names were......but we who lived amongst them knew.

I recall going to school in the fall and the city-slickers would harass us farm kids just because.....they didn't realize that while they were goofing off all summer we were slugging bales of hay, splitting and stacking wood and the usual farm related chores and although many of us were small in stature, we were really strong......

There used to be an activity we all did in gym class called the "Participaction Challenge" and each and every farm kid crushed that challenge....it consisted of a bunch of activities, rope climb, flexed arm hang, push ups, sit ups, cross country run, 100m dash, etc.......

I remember one kid who lived on a farm near ours a few miles away, his name was Terry...he was a shorter guy but broad in the shoulders, they had a beef farm like ours....his locker was beside mine and one day the hallway tough guy decided to slam him into his locker from behind....Terry turned around and when the tough guy squared up on him, Terry gave him a chest push which sent that guy across the hallway and smashing into the opposite lockers denting in a locker door.....people's mouths dropped open when they saw that.....

Needless to say people gave Terry a wide berth after that.....

One just never knows about another person......
Click to expand...

Yep, I grew up and live in farm country.
Mainly beef cattle, still some dairys, and what was once big tobacco.
And there are some freakishly strong farmers out there, and most have no idea, they just work and get the job done.
Alot of them work in local factories in maintenance departments, as a few did and do where I work.
They work for the insurance and benefits, and the pay always has helped the ever shrinking farm profits.
These guys know how to fix most anything, simply because they have to on the farm.
It's also funny to see regular guys that look strong struggle lifting heavy pieces of equipment...only for the old farmer to come along and pick it up like it's nothing, and look at them wondering why the couldn't, lol
 
Bumblebee said:
I've just returned from my morning walk....

While going by a house I saw a Gold Wing in the driveway with the garage door open and a fellow I often see and talk to during my walks as he is out there with his dog....

I stopped in and he said he was just getting the old girl out of winter storage.....it is a 2012 and he's had it since new...he said it has around 160,000 kms on it (100,000 miles or so) and he and his wife go on lots of trips with some other Gold Wing riders......it looks like new...

Then he said, come into the garage and let me show you a new toy I got last week....under the cover is a green Kawasaki ZX4RR....he said in his past he used to ride 600 sport bikes and kind of missed that so when he went to the local Honda dealership he saw this sitting in the showroom right beside the door and must have lingered too long which attracted a salesman....

It was a trade in and has 2000kms on it....he got it for a song and dance as sport bikes are a hard sell around here and picked it up to play on the back roads as his 'Wing is just too big to do that.........I mentioned a couple guys on this forum would disagree....

I sat on it and it weighs nothing...it felt like I could pick it up and carry it around in my pocket....

He laughed and said now I will be able to give that yellow thing of yours a run for it's money......

It's a sweet bike.....
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.........................I know I replied and quoted my own post.......................

However, I was out walking this morning and saw the fellow with the Gold Wing walking his dog and he said the Ninja didn't last long in his garage...

His nephew stopped in to visit last week and mentioned he was looking for a bike and would really like to get another Ninja...

When he took him out to the garage to show him the ZX4RR he picked up, his nephew was pretty excited and even though it is only a 400 he loved the styling....

So he offered it to his nephew for the same price he bought it for......the nephew will be picking it up this week sometime...

I asked the guy what he will do for a bike to run the back roads and he said he might look around for an adventure tour bike and go out on some logging roads instead......
 
sixpack577 said:
Yep, I grew up and live in farm country.
Mainly beef cattle, still some dairys, and what was once big tobacco.
And there are some freakishly strong farmers out there, and most have no idea, they just work and get the job done.
Alot of them work in local factories in maintenance departments, as a few did and do where I work.
They work for the insurance and benefits, and the pay always has helped the ever shrinking farm profits.
These guys know how to fix most anything, simply because they have to on the farm.
It's also funny to see regular guys that look strong struggle lifting heavy pieces of equipment...only for the old farmer to come along and pick it up like it's nothing, and look at them wondering why the couldn't, lol
Click to expand...
Pretty much this.^^^^^^^

Farmers are some of the most well rounded people I've ever known and worked with. They know how to do a lot, because they have to. To them it's just common sense living to know how to budget, forecast, harvest, fabricate, repair, engineer etc. Its called running a farm.

Anyone who doubts their skills needs to go to a tractor pull and see the skills needed to build 6 blown engines to run in tandem through a combining gear system into a progressive transmission and dial in boost in unison as the load increases.

This is recreational activity for them.
 
By 1977 or 78 I was in decent shape from working on drilling rigs. Tons of stairs everyday, 50 and 100 lbs bags packed to the mixer to make drilling mud per spec mud engineers concoction.... wrestling with heavy steel items like slips, tongs, and elevators... almost forgot... endless sledge hammer pounding at times working on mud pumps and mud lines, tightening up blow out preventers, or beating pins into place.... all tools of the trade.

One day I am on the floor because we're drilling ahead and all is good. My driller ( Boss over the crew ) was a Pawnee Indian named Jim Gaskins. He asked me... how far up the dead man line can you climb? The dead line in new wire rope that is part of the block and draw works hoisting system for the drill string. ... it's like an 1" 3/8th in size and comfortable for a good grip. It also has line tar on it to prevent corrosion and is pretty stiff when it's cold out... I know it was cold because I was wearing my insulated coveralls.

Anyway... I grab ahold of the line and climb up about 40 ft or so until I can tell my arms are fading... I am also using my feet to assist me. I come down and he says... watch this. He grabs the cable and puts his feet straight out in front of him and starts going hand over hand in a smooth and stead pace about as far as I went up. Then he comes down the same way never letting his feet drop until he is down to the floor. Keep in mind he is dragging his upper thigh and hip on the way up. We had a good laugh about who can do what. Ok Jim... you are the man ... or whatever we use to say back then.

Jim was the leanest guy I have ever seen. His hands were ugly... so little fat... and if he squeezed his thumb to the side of his hand that muscle bump was hard. Now, push on yours and see how hard it is.
 
Hayabusa Wannabe said:
The W900 is being retired. Do you have any personal feelings on this? (Frankly, I am neutral.)
Click to expand...

Long hood/wheelbase tractors are nice coast to coast cruisers/open highway.
And even though you can still get them into most places, it can be tight, and a challenge sometimes.
After I got my CDL/Class A license I went to work for TMC driving a 48' spread-axle flatbed.
I drove a Peterbuilt 379 short hood...but they made me take Their road test in a 379 long hood and long wheelbase truck(much like that W900)...snaking through the city streets of downtown Des Moines Iowa.
That was fun, lol.
The top of the hoods are over 6' tall, and you have to have a good judge of distance.
Alot of the turns were as tight as the truck could do, and of course on purpose.
Swing it as wide as you can and hope for the best, lol, as you literally only have inches to spare in any direction.
I made it just fine, but I prefer the short and slanted nosed Freightliners and Volvos.
The short Peterbuilt 379's and 387's are nice too, and all are much more user friendly in tight spots.
The ride quality of the shorter tractor isn't bad either, assuming the truck is in good shape.
I delivered to alot of construction sites down in the woods, and even drove past the White House on my way out of D.C.
Where I had to deliver to there, a long hood and long wheelbase truck would not fit.
Myself and the other drivers delivering were literally on one sidewalk with the tractor(closed with workers directing us in)...and the side of the trailer dragging against a light pole.
After passing the WH, I was so fortunate to run into a crossroads and an Old money narrow neighborhood...and the direction of traffic on the single lane road I was on...the traffic went different directions at different times of day!
Wth! I'de never see that anywhere in 40 states, before or since(I truly despise NVA, DC, MD, and DE...and hope to never travel to any of them again)
So for me, yeah...you can keep those long tractors
 
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