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Bicycling Advantages to Health and Fitness
All one has to do is watch footage of any race that Lance Armstrong has been in to see the fitness to be gained by bicycling. Of course he put in more hours of training time than most of us can afford, but even an hour a day can make a great deal of difference in our fitness.
BENEFITS
There are numerous benefits to be gained when one rides a bicycle for fitness. Some of the numerous benefits are listed below.
-Increased Strength
-Weight Loss
-A Sense of Well-being
-Camaraderie
-Competition (if desired)
-Fresh Air
-Natural Sights
EQUIPMENT
The equipment necessary to use bicycle riding for health and fitness is as follows:
1. A bicycle; it can be a road bike, mountain bike, or recumbent
2. The proper apparel (specialized apparel is not necessary, but can make the experiance more enjoyable)
a. Biking shorts are not required but they do make the ride more comfortable
b. A bike jersey will wick away the sweat and help you to keep cool
c. Gloves to add padding and protection for your hands
d. Biking shoes to help you to be more efficient in your pedaling style
e. If you value your life and brains, a good helmet is a necessity
f. Depending upon the weather, some cold or wet weather gear may be needed
PERSONAL EXPERIMENT
I have managed to turn myself into a real couch potato for the last few years. Prior to retiring from the United States Air Force, in 1994, I stayed fit by running from 3 to 8 miles a day and mixing in a healthy dose of bicycle riding and swimming. Too many years working on the concrete flightline and frostbite on my knees led to arthritis in the knees, back, shoulders, and hands. I also managed to rupture a disc in my lower back and had a fusion performed. I had to give up the high impact exercise and have only ridden the bike or walked spuriously since then. Now at 50 years old, it is time to get rid of the spare tire to try to improve my quality of life by reducing the constant pain and also the accompanying depression. I know it will work because when I have made time to ride the bike or power walk, my pain has been greatly reduced. Now that I have the bike shop, I can make time to get the exercise I need. I will track my progress on this page and as my fitness improves and the pain is reduced, maybe I can encourage other couch potatoes, like myself to take an active role in their own fitness.
UPDATE 6/22/06
Just a small note to update you on the progress of the Couch Potato. Lost about three pounds so far. A little bit of procrastination slowed progress. I found out that a "Penny Farthing" bicycle is not the most comfortable workout bike. In case you don't know what a "Penny Farthing" is, it is one of those old timey bikes with the big wheel on the front and the small one on the rear. Anyway, I went for a long ride on mine yesterday and man was I sore when I got off. It is a literal pain in the rear. I could hardly walk and I found muscles that I've never felt before. It was a pleasure to get on my well maintained road bike today. Sure is a lot more comfortable. Stay tuned and I might post some pictures of riding the "Penny Farthing."
THE "COUCH POTATO"
MAY 26, 2006 BEGINNING AT 5'11" AND 246 POUNDS
The Bike R.A.T.
337 SE Railroad Blvd. Suite: C
PO Box 1896 (mailing)
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USA
Phone: (541)693-4885
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