Since April 1, 2019 I have taken up the mantle of riding a bike, three to four times a week. If for nothing more than the hope I can shed some weight and live a bit more healthfully. And since that intrepid date I have indeed lost over twenty pounds and have gained a new interest and love for cycling at the age of 65 years old, soon to be 66 on Monday, October 28. Over twenty pounds lighter and having cycled to just about 1,000 miles this new journey or interest has impassioned me to write a blog about the experience; my thoughts, my encounters, the connections with others on the trail, and the hope I will be able to keep this trip moving forward. We shall see.
I purchased a Cannondale Adventure Hybrid Road Bike about six years ago. My wife and I enjoyed bike outings and short trips around Palm Coast, but an avid cyclist I was not. After knee replacement surgery and the lecture about dropping weight to ease the stress on my joints, I attempted all sorts of diets and even enrolled in a gym, all to no avail. The diets were temporary, and the gyms were noisy.
The motivation to begin this new effort came about when my youngest daughter challenged our family to participate in a Lose It contest to drop weight for her wedding in September. I figured that exercise was probably going to be keen, so with careful eating choices I took up the road cycling effort to participate in her challenge. It was actually interesting to compete with my wife and daughters in this project and riding the bike three to four times a week was becoming a habit I looked forward to. When my riding went from five to ten to twenty miles, the joy and cycling reached a new climax for me. To think I could make a twenty mile ride four times a week was overwhelming to say the least.
I eventually lost twenty pounds for the wedding and proudly walked my daughter down the aisle a bit more svelte than I ever thought would have been possible. The sheer enjoyment of cycling did that for me, and without the punishing, depriving and painful dieting plans that were expensive, and in the long-term were ineffective.
In Florida, where I live, there are beautiful trails that are maintained, and quite safe. My trail of choice is to cycle five miles to the Lehigh Rail Trail which is a six mile path to Route 1 in Bunnell, Florida. I return on the same path for a trip that is just over twenty miles. When we stay in Albany, NY, I picked up an inexpensive road bike and continue my cycling on wonderful trails throughout the Capital Region of New York. Specifically, the Hudson-Mohawk Trail from Watervliet to the City of Albany which is about ten miles round trip so riding it twice keep me at my twenty and on task.
I am hoping to continue a blog about this experience and inform others of the joys and sorrows of riding, and the thoughts and contemplations that accompany me on my journey.
Until tomorrow.
I purchased a Cannondale Adventure Hybrid Road Bike about six years ago. My wife and I enjoyed bike outings and short trips around Palm Coast, but an avid cyclist I was not. After knee replacement surgery and the lecture about dropping weight to ease the stress on my joints, I attempted all sorts of diets and even enrolled in a gym, all to no avail. The diets were temporary, and the gyms were noisy.
The motivation to begin this new effort came about when my youngest daughter challenged our family to participate in a Lose It contest to drop weight for her wedding in September. I figured that exercise was probably going to be keen, so with careful eating choices I took up the road cycling effort to participate in her challenge. It was actually interesting to compete with my wife and daughters in this project and riding the bike three to four times a week was becoming a habit I looked forward to. When my riding went from five to ten to twenty miles, the joy and cycling reached a new climax for me. To think I could make a twenty mile ride four times a week was overwhelming to say the least.
I eventually lost twenty pounds for the wedding and proudly walked my daughter down the aisle a bit more svelte than I ever thought would have been possible. The sheer enjoyment of cycling did that for me, and without the punishing, depriving and painful dieting plans that were expensive, and in the long-term were ineffective.
In Florida, where I live, there are beautiful trails that are maintained, and quite safe. My trail of choice is to cycle five miles to the Lehigh Rail Trail which is a six mile path to Route 1 in Bunnell, Florida. I return on the same path for a trip that is just over twenty miles. When we stay in Albany, NY, I picked up an inexpensive road bike and continue my cycling on wonderful trails throughout the Capital Region of New York. Specifically, the Hudson-Mohawk Trail from Watervliet to the City of Albany which is about ten miles round trip so riding it twice keep me at my twenty and on task.
I am hoping to continue a blog about this experience and inform others of the joys and sorrows of riding, and the thoughts and contemplations that accompany me on my journey.
Until tomorrow.
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