In time.
I used to cycle a lot when I was young. Getting to and from school and in the holidays for pleasure. Motorcycling put an end to that. However, I’ve gone back to it. I wanted to reduce my blood pressure naturally, so getting a bit fitter seemed a good idea.
A couple of things have happened; the stone I put on this past few years has dropped off – within a period of six weeks and that little podge around my midriff is flattening out. The blood pressure is levelling out although still higher than I’d like. And, very interestingly, the prostate problem seems a little less acute.
All on five miles a day when I’m at home…
I got back into cycling just over three years ago when I was diagnosed with diabetes. I started off doing just three miles but gradually increased the mileage until I started cycling my 12 mile commute to work. To start with it was something of a chore but despite the constant threat of being wiped out by an incompetent driver, I really enjoy it now.
Also, if you can swim sixteen lengths of your local swimming pool, cycle 20k and run 5k you can do a sprint triathlon. Really brilliant for overall fitness but ‘warning’, totally addictive, you do one sprint and start thinking that you’re an ironman.
Running doesn’t interest me – in fact, I hate it. Likewise swimming. But cycling is good all round aerobic exercise and works for me. I’m starting to feel that I need to push a bit more. Five miles doesn’t even get me feeling like I’ve exercised now.
Running was the part that I was least keen on to begin with. I started doing the Parkruns with Mrs Stonyground to give her some support when she started running. It turns out that running is the part that I’m best at, or rather least bad at. Meanwhile Mrs Stonyground has been infected with the tri bug and has also become the Imelda Marcos of running shoes.
Anyway, keep up the cycling Mr. Longrider, done regularly it builds up a brilliant base level fitness. Winter is always a problem, you need to get some of those powerful USB chargeable lights or alternately a turbo-trainer or spin bike.
Fortunately, we have the Bristol – Bath cycleway, with only minimal road riding involved.
I’m all for cycling, as long as it’s not done on the pavement or road, (what other ‘sport’ is allowed there?).
Cycling isn’t compatible with pedestrians or motor vehicle traffic and the piratical behaviour of some, (most?), cyclists just encourages 4×4 drivers to do the same. If we have proper bike trails then fine.
I loved my bike when I was at school but we used off-road tracks, like animal runs. I’m not sure that cycling is good for the knees either!
I have to use a short section of road to get to the cycle path, there’s no option. I’m always nervous though as I am so vulnerable and traffic frequently cuts in too close.
Actually, it’s running that can damage knees, not cycling. Cycling involves an entirely different type of movement and doesn’t include the pounding effect.
LR,
Good for you. Literally. 🙂
I have a steep hill climb into work, so although only a few miles, it’s enough of a workout. Don’t want to arrive in appalling sweaty mess, but it keeps a) the tub at bay and b) you looking trim which is great.
More importantly, that little bit of exercise naturally and easily becomes part of your day without eating into other leisure time, so win all round.
I found that karate was hard on the knees. Combining swimming, cycling and running, my knees seem fine. Time will tell whether they wear out prematurely now but I think there seems to be a lot of mythology about the whole thing.