Biking indoors
November 14, 2008 by lisagriffis
Filed under Uncategorized
My bike's indoor home.
When I started my weight loss mission I tried to do it on a budget. I didn’t take up a sport that cost too much. I bought this bike 14 years ago and it collected dust for years until I started riding 3 years ago. It only cost me about $130 dollars to make it stationary and it was money well spent. It is my first choice of a cardio workout in the cold winter months. I put a TV downstairs to help with the boredom. Not only do I get a good workout and I watch the news on the Today Show while I am riding.
The bike is a street hybrid, which makes it a chore to get the heavy bike down the steps so I wait until I can no longer ride outside to bring it to it’s winter perch. I set a cooking timer by it so that I can time my workouts. I wish I had the odometer installed on the back wheel and not the front but I didn’t think of it at the time. The setup I bought at the local bike shop has the front wheel stationary and therefore I have no way of knowing how fast I am going. I also got a cushioned seat, which makes for a more pleasant workout.
This year, I have ridden nearly 1,500 miles. I even did 105 miles in six and a half hours a couple weekends ago. Time on a bike is time well spent.
That said, the worst40 miles I did all year are the three nights I spent on a stationary trainer.
It’s hot and humid here in South Florida. Even in the evenings when I get home from work, it’s above 90 in the summer. Not a lot of fun. So, I borrowed a trainer and hooked up my bike.
Even with Kathy Griffin to distract me, the air conditioner turned to ‘fridged’ and the ceiling fan running at full speed, the trainer was brutal. It was an absolute grind. Ten miles on the trainer was worse then 30 miles on an actual road.
I missed the thrill of the road. I missed the feeling of speed as I zip along the road. Usually on the road, I can find someone to ride with the help with the miles. At home, there was no one to pace or chase.
After three attempts, I gave back the trainer. To beat the Palm Beach heat, I start riding when the sun comes up and am off the road by ten.
I don’t know what I’d do if I lived up North where it is darn near impossible to ride for three to five months of the year.
Good on ya for putting in the stationary hours. The next time you’re in Palm Beach, let me know and we’ll put in some road miles. The Palm Beach Bike Tours staff has bikes in all sizes and styles for visitors.
—Matt
Hi Lisa: I have one of these “on order” for myself right now. I added biking to my walking regimen this past summer. I was up to about 50 miles per week, but since it’s become cold and snowy here in Michigan, I haven’t been on the bike. I did start an aerobics class to try and compensate, but decided nothing seems to get my heart rate up as well as the bike. So - I decided to try one of these stationary get-ups as well. I hope I’m as successful with it as you have been.
-Jon