Cycling Makes You Fit...

[Packy]

Sometimes, anyway.

[Gardenarian]

I'm trying to become more of a bike rider, but it's tough! I'm 55 and in pretty good shape, but cycling requires a certain set of muscles that are apparently underdeveloped in me.
Actually, when I think back, even as a kid I had trouble keeping up with the others.
Anyhow, I enjoy my long slow bike rides (long for me is about 12 miles, but I'm getting better.)
I sure make the other cyclists look good :)

[ApatheticNoMore]

Yea sounds like close to how I like to spend time (only I walk more than bike) and very broadly healthy (some exercise, some sunshine, some company (depends on whether I got along with the company but) - can't speak toward the healthiness or not of the bistro food - but I don't go out to eat often enough to stress that).

[KayLR]

I would totally join that club. I agree with you, though, I would probably opt out of the meal part. Maybe a stop for hydration/chatting.

I like the concept, though, of a riding group for older women.

[Miss Cellane]

I like the idea of a women's bike group.

But I'd like to see:

1. Instead of men checking tires, etc., someone teaching the women to do this on their own. And how to make basic repairs, fix a flat, that sort of thing. Or a short lesson each week on things like how to shift gears efficiently and when.
2. Instead of the goal being eating out, biking to an historical spot in town, or a nature spot, or park, or something other than food. Maybe bring a lunch and ride to someplace nice to eat it.
3. Doing this during the daytime, somehow. But that's because I really dislike biking at night. Car drivers are bad enough with bikes during the day. At night, when bikes are harder to see, it gets scary on the road.
4. Or at least vary it up a bit. One week, meet on Saturday afternoon and ride to a nature preserve. The next week, do the evening bistro ride. Just riding on city streets in the dark isn't the main purpose for biking.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I like the idea of a women's bike group. But I'd like to see: 1. Instead of men checking tires, etc., someone teaching the women to do this on their own. And how to make basic repairs, fix a flat, that sort of thing. Or a short lesson each week on things like how to shift gears efficiently and when.

and call the club "like a fish needs a bicycle club"


2. Instead of the goal being eating out, biking to an historical spot in town, or a nature spot, or park, or something other than food. Maybe bring a lunch and ride to someplace nice to eat it.

I'd like the picnic part, but I find it utterly ridiculous to pretend I don't eat. Oh I'm a woman, I subsist on air, and when I go off my diet, it's a lettuce leaf, and then I feel guilty about the lettuce leaf all day, because it probably contains a whole calorie or something.


3. Doing this during the daytime, somehow. But that's because I really dislike biking at night. Car drivers are bad enough with bikes during the day. At night, when bikes are harder to see, it gets scary on the road.

kinda, but the time periods that are ok for biking are probably pretty limited. If you do mid-day it's TOO HOT in summer (noone wants to come and get heat exhaustion). If you do morning well a lot of people like that, but you'd never see me there, because not a morning person, prefer sleep. So I think evenings are best but you run the risk of running into sundown if you aren't careful in the planning during evening.


4. Or at least vary it up a bit. One week, meet on Saturday afternoon and ride to a nature preserve. The next week, do the evening bistro ride. Just riding on city streets in the dark isn't the main purpose for biking.

yea, and if your going to do the restaurant do a round trip and circle back to a part of town with restaurants maybe so you aren't riding in the night.

[bae]

http://www.cyclofiend.com/working/images/wb048-1Ice%20cream%20any%20one.jpg

[Alan]

I'll bet she doesn't get very far on those flat tires.

[Miss Cellane]

Perhaps not, but I'd be a lot more enthusiastic about a bike ride if there were ice cream at the end of it. Bistro dinners? Bah. Ice cream? Yeah!

[ApatheticNoMore]

Perhaps not, but I'd be a lot more enthusiastic about a bike ride if there were ice cream at the end of it. Bistro dinners? Bah. Ice cream? Yeah!

I'm not sure what a bistro even is (like a coffee shop? like a steak house?), if it's eating a whole steak or something does seem a bit too much after (unless it's quite intense I guess) and especially before exercise (I mean are you trying to cause yourself to be groaning in pain?). Sandwiches or salads after moderate exercise ideally in nature sound like my perfect date :) If that's what it is, where do I sign up?

[Miss Cellane]

See, a bistro type dining establishment is not where I want to show up in cycling clothes, hot and sweaty from riding my bike. I guess that's why I thought a bistro as the weekly destination was odd.

[mm1970]

Sometimes, anyway. There is a local bike shop that a woman in her 70's owns. She does not ride bikes, but says she really likes cyclists, in general. She has started up a "women-only" bike night, and they say it is intended to get the Ladies started in cycling, especially those who are intimidated and overwhelmed by club rides, due to lack of experience & fitness. Anyway, here is what they do, by their own reports: They meet at the bike shop once a week, just before closing time. Mechanics(men) are on duty to check the air in the Lady bike tires, adjust the seats if need be or whatever. Then, the 12-15 or so ladies, mainly in the 30-50 age range, depart the bike shop, ride 3 or 4 miles on city streets less traveled, and stop at a trendy, funky sit-down bistro to Eat. Each week, they ride the 3-4 miles to a different trendy, funky bistro, to eat. Riders are advised to have lights on their bikes for the return trip, since it will be long after sunset by the time they finish eating. I figure that some of them opt just to have transportation from the restaurant back home, rather than ride All The Way back to the bike shop in the dark, and then home. Sounds like a really fun way to get fit, and have some girl chat and yummy, delish, and scrumptious food, don't you think?

I think it can be, yes. It all depends on what it takes to get you interested. It can start with short rides and dinner at a bistro. But then what?

For many, it moves on - to riding to the grocery store or beach, riding your bike to work, signing up for a 30-mile ride. Or maybe a triathlon?

Seems to be how it works around here, anyway.

[Tiam]

Sometimes, anyway. There is a local bike shop that a woman in her 70's owns. She does not ride bikes, but says she really likes cyclists, in general. She has started up a "women-only" bike night, and they say it is intended to get the Ladies started in cycling, especially those who are intimidated and overwhelmed by club rides, due to lack of experience & fitness. Anyway, here is what they do, by their own reports: They meet at the bike shop once a week, just before closing time. Mechanics(men) are on duty to check the air in the Lady bike tires, adjust the seats if need be or whatever. Then, the 12-15 or so ladies, mainly in the 30-50 age range, depart the bike shop, ride 3 or 4 miles on city streets less traveled, and stop at a trendy, funky sit-down bistro to Eat. Each week, they ride the 3-4 miles to a different trendy, funky bistro, to eat. Riders are advised to have lights on their bikes for the return trip, since it will be long after sunset by the time they finish eating. I figure that some of them opt just to have transportation from the restaurant back home, rather than ride All The Way back to the bike shop in the dark, and then home. Sounds like a really fun way to get fit, and have some girl chat and yummy, delish, and scrumptious food, don't you think?


I LOVE that idea.

[CathyA]

I'll bet she doesn't get very far on those flat tires.

LOL! I was thinking the same thing!

[awakenedsoul]

I think it can be, yes. It all depends on what it takes to get you interested. It can start with short rides and dinner at a bistro. But then what?

For many, it moves on - to riding to the grocery store or beach, riding your bike to work, signing up for a 30-mile ride. Or maybe a triathlon?

Seems to be how it works around here, anyway.

Yeah, I started by biking to work. I took the bus the first seven miles, then rode the bike bath for the last six miles. Now I bus and bike to the gym each morning. I just mosey, though. I allow extra time so I don't have to rush. I'm seeing a lot more bicyclists on the roads these days. It seems like people are biking to save money on gas.

[Marion]

I see plenty of cyclists in the streets of Paris, there's a rent-a-bike system called "Velib" and you can pick up one at every major street corner, use it and leave it when yoy've reached your destination.

I don't use them because I hate riding bicycles and I think it's dangerous with the reckless car drivers we have in town, but they are very popular.
As a pedestrian, I admit they can be a nuisance when they ride at full speed without looking where they are going because they are on their cell phones. The cops don't do anything about it, so Parisian cyclists are quite unpopular with pedestrians and car drivers.

In theory, it's a fantastic idea, and I hope to see more and more (civilized) cyclists and less and less cars.

[Spartana]

I think it can be, yes. It all depends on what it takes to get you interested. It can start with short rides and dinner at a bistro. But then what?

For many, it moves on - to riding to the grocery store or beach, riding your bike to work, signing up for a 30-mile ride. Or maybe a triathlon?

Seems to be how it works around here, anyway.one plus to this! Everyone has to start somewhere and who knows where it will lead. And in any case, it's a great way to socialize and get at least get some exercise. Some of the women who start off doing a social ride to a bistro may be doing something like this eventually: http://www.skalatitude.com/p/wow-women-on-wheels.html

[Spartana]

I see plenty of cyclists in the streets of Paris, there's a rent-a-bike system called "Velib" and you can pick up one at every major street corner, use it and leave it when yoy've reached your destination.

I don't use them because I hate riding bicycles and I think it's dangerous with the reckless car drivers we have in town, but they are very popular.
As a pedestrian, I admit they can be a nuisance when they ride at full speed without looking where they are going because they are on their cell phones. The cops don't do anything about it, so Parisian cyclists are quite unpopular with pedestrians and car drivers.

In theory, it's a fantastic idea, and I hope to see more and more (civilized) cyclists and less and less cars.They have something similar in the Netherlands or maybe it was in Denmark - or both. Forget what it is called but I used it and loved it. But I think that riding there - even in Amsterdam or Copenhagen - is much different from Paris. Lots of off road bike paths and very bike-friendly car drivers.

[Gardenarian]

I just got back from Cape Cod, and rode on the fantastic rail trail (bike trail) they have there. What a difference having shade, less wind, and no mountains makes! I was easily able to ride 30 miles in a day.
This is a beautiful trail, through woods and cranberry bogs, bridges over streams and marshes - just great.

[lhamo]

We recently relocated my office and I am now a 30-40 minute bike ride from home, depending on whether or not I make all the lights. I'm trying to bike as many days as I can, getting my workout out of the way along with my commute. I'm actually planning to continue running and weight training as well, but need to figure out how to work that into my schedule/routine -- most days I don't really feel much like going to the gym after I've already biked home through traffic.

Beijing also has a recently established bike sharing system, but the nearest bike stand to my house is too far away to make that a practical option. I would love to use it if it was practical, though -- have already lost one nice bike to theft in the last year (left it at the subway station overnight when I had a late night at work, and it was gone by the time I got back the next day).