Category: Bicycle Fitness

Achieving long-distance bicycling success in “The Ride of Your Life”

David Rowe says he was taking the leap from recreational cyclist to ultra long-distance cyclist when he rode the arduous Torture 10,000 century in Oregon a few years ago.

He wasn't surprised by the length or elevation gain — more than 13,000 feet. What surprised him was seeing so many sag wagons filled with the bikes of participants who had thrown in the towel.

“It was clear that they didn't think about what they were getting into.”

So David set out to write the recently published eBook “The Ride of Your Life.” It covers an aspect of cycling that doesn't get the attention it deserves — mental preparation …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/25/achieving-long-distance-bicycling-success-in-the-ride-of-your-life/

Bicycling and beer

It's probably not a bad thing that so many bicycle clubs factor in the local brew pub at the end of a bike ride.

It bears repeating that beer and bicycling are both good for the heart.

Iowa cyclist John Gray told the local newspaper that riding a bike and drinking beer just seems right; “The two things just go hand in hand.”

So if you're looking for justification for quaffing a couple of beers after a ride, check these facts presented by the Sioux City Journal. Just remember, says nutrionist Sarah Nelson:

“The key, here, is the darker the brew, the higher the level of antioxidant present ….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/10/27/bicycling-and-beer/

Fastest way to get around Vegas at CES? Bicycle

While the big suits of the electronics industry waited in traffic in their limos, taxis and rented cars last week, analyst Roger Kay found the easiest way to get around Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show was by bike.

The first thing Kay did when he landed in Las Vegas was rent a Cannondale mountain bike, which he used to speed from his hotel to meetings or to the convention floor.

CES is spread out between two convention sites (including the Sands Expo Center, home of Interbike) and dozens of hotels where industry gurus take meetings. Instead of spending up to an hour waiting for buses, taxies or just plain walking, Kay made the rounds on his bicycle…

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/01/13/fastest-way-to-get-around-vegas-at-ces-bicycle/

Protein waters explained and compared

I've noticed some heavy print and online advertising — including at this blog — for protein waters. They're generally touted for body builders who want to bulk up and endurance athletes like bicyclists who want to shorten recovery time.

In a recent article, the LA Times examines four brands — Accelerade, Isopure, Kellogg's Special K 2 O, and Stacker 2 Protein Water.

Nancy Clark, the sports nutrionist, says it's easy to add extra protein to your diet, even for endurance athletes and body builders, without resorting to buying water with protein added …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/12/24/protein-waters-explained-and-compared/

93-year-old fitness guru — Jack LaLanne

Before Chris Carmichael started advising Lance Armstrong or we had the Scarsdale or South Beach diets, people watched Jack LaLanne on TV to learn about diet and exercise.

Here's what the 93-year-old is saying now:

“Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Together, you’ve got a kingdom. If you have a Corvette, you don’t put water in the tank. The human machine deserves the same treatment. No cake, pies, ice cream, soda. Your hair is out of shape. Your skin is terrible. Your elimination is bad. The wrong fuel in the human machine does that. …

“Would you give your dog a cup of coffee and a doughnut?” …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/11/05/93-year-old-fitness-guru-jack-lalanne/

Prevent those common colds from interfering with bicycling

Ever since kids arrived on the scene in this household, fall has been the time of year when my head starts feeling congested and before I know it I'm suffering from a cold.

But considering myself a hard-core cyclist, I ride my bike through my illness. Then, more often than not, the cold turns into bronchitis or a sinus infection and that's the end of my fall bicycling for a couple of weeks.

I've run across some recommendations lately at UltraRob's Adventures blog and from trainer Chris Carmichael about how to prevent and control those colds and at least keep them from turning into something worse…

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/10/19/prevent-those-common-colds-from-interfering-with-bicycling/

Bicycle touring might be in the stars for you

This might seem a little odd, but there's an exercise book that recommends workouts based on your astrological sign.

“Zodiaction: Fat-Burning Fitness Tailored to Your Personal Star Quality” was written by TV fitness personality Ellen Barrett and astrologer Barrie Dolnick.

A newspaper story summarized findings for the different signs of the Zodiac and told which exercises were most appropriate for each group. Which signs are aligned with bicycling? …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/09/15/bicycle-touring-might-be-in-the-stars-for-you/

Doctor’s orders: No bicycling for at least five days

As you can imagine, I was a bit surprised when my doctor told me to stay off the bicycle for five days.

Bicycling keeps my resting heart rate below 60, it has beat my family's history of high blood pressure, and it makes me happy and sane.

The problem was that my prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests have been running a little “hot” lately. They've been creeping up, and my general practitioner recommended I see a urologist to follow up. When that specialist learned that I ride 75 to 100 miles a week, he ordered me off the bike for at least 5 days until I get another blood test for PSA…..

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/07/24/doctors-orders-no-bicycling-for-at-least-five-days/

How far can you ride your bicycle in 24 hours?

Forget about the dishes in the sink. Forget about mowing the lawn and posting your blog. Forget about sleep. If you had 24 hours, how far could you ride your bicycle?

More than 400 bicyclists met at the National 24-Hour Challenge last weekend near Grand Rapids, Michigan, to seek the answer to that question. It was the 24th meeting for the event.

Seattle resident Craig Ragsdale, 29, learned he could set the course record by covering 502.6 miles. Just as amazing, 67-year-old Dave Thomsen of Austin, Minnesota, bicycled 403.9 miles. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/06/24/how-far-can-you-ride-your-bicycle-in-24-hours/

The bicycle seat built for a 500-pound rider

A new mail order catalog for overly large people features, among other things, a bicycle saddle with a 500-pound capacity.

The East Valley Tribune (Phoenix) mentions the saddle in a story about branding a catalog for Casual Male XL, the nation's biggest chain of clothing and accessories for men's-plus sizes.

Apparently the company has jettisoned the names “big and tall” and “supersize” because of the negative connotations those names imply. In addition to extra large clothing, the stores and catalogs offer heavy-duty lawn chairs, extra wide toilet seats and more. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/06/04/the-bicycle-seat-built-for-a-500-pound-rider/