Since many of you seem to be interested in cycling, I thought I'd publish some of the lessons I've learned in the last couple of years, as I've taken to the road. I hope that these pointers will be helpful to those of you beginning to incorporate (healthy) exercise patterns into your lives. Yes, all of this has happened to me. . . .
1) Your bike
Invest in something good. Do not let people convince you that you want a hybrid, if you don't think that you do. If you've done a decent amount of indoor cycling, you probably want a road bike, no matter how flimsy the tires appear. Get your bike fitted to your individual body, despite how tiresome that process can be.
2) Attire
Don't purchase traditional cycling attire, as non-cyclists will mock you (as you zoom by in matching gear) and cyclists will expect just that much more from you. Beware, wide-legged spandex get caught in the bike's spokes and chain. If you clip your shoes in, remember to clip out. If not, you will find yourself falling from a stopped, standing position, and your cycling partner will say something like, "Did you just fall? What happened? You were just standing there!"
3) Cycling speed
The goal, according to Bike Shop Guy (BSG), is to cycle at 90 revolutions per minute. On an indoor bike, you can check your cadence, or you can purchase a unit for your bike. If you pedal slower than 90mph (as I am wont to do, feeling more comfortable with increased resistance than pedal speed), according to BSG, "Your legs will get big."
4) Braking
Do not do this too abruptly. If you do, you will fall into your bike (that's right, not "off," but "into" the handlebars), resulting in trauma to the chest cavity and a reduction in your blood oxygen levels. This is not fun. Also, you (I) cannot hydrate and brake at the same time, so choose to drink only when the coast is clear.
Pedestrians, runners, and automobiles represent grave danger in the gradual-braking game. Do not expect anything more from pedestrians than a deer-in-headlights presentation. I have never found myself more aggressive than when faced with pedestrians in my path--they have options, and at 20 mph, I don't. So, I've actually yelled out terms of endearment, such as "Move!" and its creative cousin, "Don't just stand there!" It's fascinating the anger a little danger can inspire.
5) How to Change a Flat
6) Competing
If you choose to enter a road race (or triathlon), the worst that can happen, according to my physical therapist, is a "DNR." I stared at her in disbelief as she said this to me. "Oh, wait, I'm sorry," she said, correcting herself. "I meant DNF" (Did Not Finish).
Since many of you seem to be interested in cycling, I thought I'd publish some of the lessons I've learned in the last couple of years, as I've taken to the road. I hope that these pointers will be helpful to those of you beginning to incorporate (healthy) exercise patterns into your lives. Yes, all of this has happened to me. . . .
1) Your bike
Invest in something good. Do not let people convince you that you want a hybrid, if you don't think that you do. If you've done a decent amount of indoor cycling, you probably want a road bike, no matter how flimsy the tires appear. Get your bike fitted to your individual body, despite how tiresome that process can be.
2) Attire
Don't purchase traditional cycling attire, as non-cyclists will mock you (as you zoom by in matching gear) and cyclists will expect just that much more from you. Beware, wide-legged spandex get caught in the bike's spokes and chain. If you clip your shoes in, remember to clip out. If not, you will find yourself falling from a stopped, standing position, and your cycling partner will say something like, "Did you just fall? What happened? You were just standing there!"
3) Cycling speed
The goal, according to Bike Shop Guy (BSG), is to cycle at 90 revolutions per minute. On an indoor bike, you can check your cadence, or you can purchase a unit for your bike. If you pedal slower than 90mph (as I am wont to do, feeling more comfortable with increased resistance than pedal speed), according to BSG, "Your legs will get big."
4) Braking
Do not do this too abruptly. If you do, you will fall into your bike (that's right, not "off," but "into" the handlebars), resulting in trauma to the chest cavity and a reduction in your blood oxygen levels. This is not fun. Also, you (I) cannot hydrate and brake at the same time, so choose to drink only when the coast is clear.
Pedestrians, runners, and automobiles represent grave danger in the gradual-braking game. Do not expect anything more from pedestrians than a deer-in-headlights presentation. I have never found myself more aggressive than when faced with pedestrians in my path--they have options, and at 20 mph, I don't. So, I've actually yelled out terms of endearment, such as "Move!" and its creative cousin, "Don't just stand there!" It's fascinating the anger a little danger can inspire.
5) How to Change a Flat
6) Competing
If you choose to enter a road race (or triathlon), the worst that can happen, according to my physical therapist, is a "DNR." I stared at her in disbelief as she said this to me. "Oh, wait, I'm sorry," she said, correcting herself. "I meant DNF" (Did Not Finish).