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 Bicycling is about three things:
1. Enjoyment (sun, fresh air, open spaces, fun ) 2. Fitness 3. Camaraderie At least that is how I see it. Sometimes the order of those things change, but it is usually in this order in my mind. It’s not that I don’t like riding with people, but because of work and family commitments, I usually get out the bicycle and ride when the opportunity presents itself. And that is often short on notice, so I just hop on the bike and ride, sans friends. With cycling, fitness can be as simple as the result from enjoying the ride. If you enjoy getting out in the sun, wind, usually fresh air, and then if you ride often enough you will achieve some level of fitness. This works for some people. Others need to ride more often, go farther, and to some extent go faster. I find as I become more chronologically challenged, bicycling becomes a larger part of my sometimes inconsistent exercise routine. Cycling certainly puts less stress on the joints than running, which I had to quit as a result of a back injury. Cycling also allows you to go farther, see more, and yet can increase muscle mass, improve cardiovascular, and does wonders for one’s mental health. Training rides or conditioning rides are for those who need to push their fitness to higher levels. This can be simply a matter of personal achievement, or training for bike racing, or triathlons. There are still many people in the over 40 crowd who enjoy the thrill of competition, and appreciate the additional benefits of this higher level of fitness. Rails Trails have been a great boon to people who want easy access to fitness. The trails are often paved, often in pleasant settings, often well maintained, and for those living close by, easy to use. I have seen people in their sixties on roller blades using trails. I’ve come across many walkers, and of course many people cycling on big, heavy cruiser type bicycles. But they are out, getting fit and hopefully enjoying the experience. Whether they ride 2 miles or 20 miles, at least they are out. So in future articles in this section, we will explore ways to get into, and stay in good health through bicycling. As always, you input is appreciated. Let me know how you stay fit through cycling. -Mark |
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