It's been so hot here - frequently over 100 during the day - that riding my bike has not held much interest for me. You may remember in the past that the electric bike assist on my Xtracycle really helped out with riding in the heat. Unfortunately, my Xtracycle lives in a storage unit away from home at this time because we still don't have a shed and haven't figured out a weatherproof and secure way to store the bike here. I do, however, have my regular hybrid "comfort" bike here.
One of the reasons I joined the gym was I needed to be able to exercise during the hot months without getting heat exhaustion. Unfortunately, my feet just don't do well with a treadmill, something my chiropractor confirms is not an uncommon problem. The elliptical machine is even worse for my feet. The only two cardio choices this leaves at the gym are the upright bikes used for spinning and recumbent bikes. My knee sometimes fusses about the recumbent and my, um, lady parts don't like the seat on the upright bike. I cannot adjust the angle of the seat nor replace it with a saddle with a cut-out in the right place like the one on my bike.
It finally occurred to me that I should just ride my own bike for the cardio part of my exercise. The tough part about this, of course, is that I have to get up at O'dark-thirty to avoid the heat but wait until there is just enough light to avoid the potholes and rocks in the road. (Roads around here get really beat up with the monsoon rains, forming potholes quickly. Overflowing washes and run-off leave large amounts of sand and rocks deposited on the roads, too.) However, since my sweetie has resumed his running, he is already getting up at O'dark-thirty so it's not that difficult for him to shake me and tell me it's time to get up, too.
I've really enjoyed being back on my bike! Thanks to the lower body strength training I've been doing, along with the miles I logged on the treadmill until my heel started hurting too much, I don't feel like I'm starting utterly from scratch. Of course, there is the normal seat numbness that comes with taking up riding again but TITS (Time In The Saddle) will take care of that. If I keep this up, I'll be ready and able to use my bike for midday errands again when the temperatures cool off this fall.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Glad to hear you're back on the bike! Riding is one of my absolute pleasures, made better by not having to deal with loose dogs, which, unfortunately is a regular issue. Darn.
That's great! I also noticed that treadmills are hard on my feet, though I thought it was just me -- I visited my mom and went just over 3 miles on the treadmill at her gym -- and my feet ached for days. At home I was walking 2.5+ miles with no problem. Now I walk 3 miles 5 times a week and my feet are not sore at all -- but I bet if I went back on the treadmill they would be! That's great you're back on the bike, keep it up!
Sue on the Western Edge of the Great Basin
Good for you! It has been ages since I was on my bike. It is outside right now gathering cobwebs and my husband keeps threatening to sell it. I should actually get off my butt and on to my cruiser's cushy saddle to take a spin down town.
Really glad for our mild climate, I ride my bike almost everyday for work and errands. I ride for pleasure and exercise 3-4 times a week.
Today for instance, we road to the Farmer's market then I went for a 25mile ride with a friend, we stopped at this coffee shop halfway: http://www.bellvuebean.com/sat out in their garden and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery. Later in the day I biked to a friend's house to pick raspberries then into town for live jazz: http://www.downtownfortcollins.com/dba.php/jazz/
Love living in a bike friendly community (number 2 in the country according to a recent survey!
I'm still on the bike, even though every single road option around here includes HILLS. I can't ride as long or as far as I want because my poor little weak thighs (and heart) get worn out. However, on Friday I finally made it up the BIG HILL without walking my bike. I did have to stop halfway up and rest for over a minute to get my heart to quit pounding, but then I continued riding instead of just resorting to walking. So yay for me!
Everyone else, get or stay on your bikes, too!
Post a Comment