Running Is Great
But Cycling May Be Better

If you’re thinking about getting fit, well done, but there are a couple of questions you need to ask before you start.

First question:

What is the evidence I am getting fit?

It’s a matter of intel. You need to know how to measure progress.

Second question:

How will I reach my fitness goal?

That is, what exercise will you choose? What will produce the best results?

Any exercise is good, but they aren’t all equal.

The Best Marker For Success

To answer the first question, the primary issue is heart rate or, to put it another way, how much your heart works during exercise. The American Heart Association (AHA) says heart rate is an important indicator to getting fit.

If you’re not sure what your heart rate should be, the AHA also provides a handy formula to calculate it here.

But that only answers the first question, “What is the evidence I’m getting fit?” Monitoring your heart rate is the answer, but you still need to decide which exercise you’ll use to get your heart rate up.

The Best Method To Succeed

Some people like swimming. Some like running. Some prefer rowing, but which is best?

Of all the possible activities to choose from, cycling and running are probably the two most popular, but the numbers indicate that cycling may be winning the race for prominence.

• People For Bikes offers great information on cycling in the US.
• Commuter cyclists in New York City increased by 35% in 2007 and by another 26% between 2008 and 2009.
• One of the fastest growing groups of cyclists are those over 50.
• In January 2014, MoneyWeb referred to cycling as the new golf.

There’s a reason for the increase in numbers and it may be more than just a matter of preference. [Read more…] about 20 Reasons Cycling Wins Over Running

It’s A Matter
Of Science
Not Feel

There’s only one way to buy a bike. Intelligently! Due diligence is required.

The shop owner will help you, yes, but remember that he makes a living selling bike. He is a businessman, not a teacher. His primary goal is to move products. If he doesn’t, he won’t be around long.

To the unexposed customer, the most obvious way to select a bike is to try one out. Hop on it and see what happens. In fact, test-riding several bikes to find the ideal set of wheels is actually recommended by Bicycling.com, but I’m not so sure.

On the surface, that sounds like sage advice, but if you’re new to cycling you won’t know what to expect. [Read more…] about How To Buy Your First Bike

A Snippet From
The East Coast Cycling
Newsletter

One advantage to being in a cycling club is members gain access to many different sources on training, equipment, and maintenance.

Sometimes this information is gained on the fly, during training rides, or over coffee afterward. Sometimes it’s delivered by mail, as in the weekly newsletter.

Following is a good example. It’s an opinion piece by Gray Braatvedt on bike shops and services that was included in the East Coast Cycling Club newsletter. His opinion is worth hearing. Not only is he an accomplished cyclist but he’s also owned and operated bike shops.

The piece was informative. It gave me a more informed sense of appreciation for the services local bike shops provide.

Before the article, though, following is a training ride video by the A-group from Suncoast to Westbrook and back. Due to a stiff south wind, the speeds were quite quick going out and much slower on the return.

It’s worth mentioning that when one rider had a puncture, they all stopped to help out, or at least keep company. That’s what club members do.

Now For Gray’s Insightful Article

There has recently been a flurry of comments about various mechanics in bike shops on the Chit Chat group and having owned a bike shop and being a bike mechanic, I’d like to weigh in with a few comments to ponder. [Read more…] about ECCC – Advice On Bike Shops And Service