A nice thought

Mike Kruger said:

Bill H. said:

Gyms are better. They're air conditioned, ...

Quoted message said:

They're better socially, also, as there's usually a chance to strike
up a conversation with someone who's also there working out, and may
even be toned and attractive.

Which means those of us who are long-married can discuss with a spouse the
merits of a new bike versus a gym membership and get a fair amount of
enthusiasm for the new bike, even from a non-cycling spouse.

That's a rather clever scheme! ;-)

I cannot stand any gym work. Never could. My youngest daughter who's a
triathlete loves gym work as well.

I just cycle and walk. I have always cycled to work and I cycle about
4-5 days a week during the summer, 2 during the winter. It keeps me
(relatively) sane.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Garry Lee said:

I cannot stand any gym work. Never could. My youngest daughter who's
a triathlete loves gym work as well.

I just cycle and walk. I have always cycled to work and I cycle about
4-5 days a week during the summer, 2 during the winter. It keeps me
(relatively) sane.

I'm with you on this. I hate exercising indoors, period. I used to
lift weights and all that in the gym during the winter back in my racing
days, and I hated every minute of it. I used to ride the rollers or a
trainer in my basement, and hated every minute of it.

Here in Minnesota, winter time riding can be less than pleasant with
lots of snow and ice and much below freezing weather for weeks at a
time- hence the gym membership and the rollers. However, we have had 10
of the warmest winters on record with low snowfall amounts in the past
12 years. Winter isn't what it used to be here. Now it's like the mild
winters from when I grew up in Chicago, and year round riding is much
more comfortable.

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Garry Lee said:

I cannot stand any gym work. Never could. My youngest daughter who's
a triathlete loves gym work as well.

I just cycle and walk. I have always cycled to work and I cycle about
4-5 days a week during the summer, 2 during the winter. It keeps me
(relatively) sane.

I'm with you on this. I hate exercising indoors, period. I used to
lift weights and all that in the gym during the winter back in my racing
days, and I hated every minute of it. I used to ride the rollers or a
trainer in my basement, and hated every minute of it.

Here in Minnesota, winter time riding can be less than pleasant with
lots of snow and ice and much below freezing weather for weeks at a
time- hence the gym membership and the rollers. However, we have had 10
of the warmest winters on record with low snowfall amounts in the past
12 years. Winter isn't what it used to be here. Now it's like the mild
winters from when I grew up in Chicago, and year round riding is much
more comfortable.

Winter in Chicago is mild? Egads!

My gym experience is identical to yours, and now as a grown-up with a
family, job, house, etc., going to a gym to work out puts a huge hole in an
already busy day. I much prefer riding to and from work. I also do longer
rides on the weekend as time allows. I get my upper body work by pulling
junipers out of the front yard. Apart from riding, my only athletic
time-and-money-blower is skiing with my son on Sundays (our version of
church, I guess). That is far, far more enjoyable than running on a
treadmill indoors, both physically and psychically. -- Jay Beattie.

Mike Kruger said:

Bill H. wrote:

Quoted message said:

Which means those of us who are long-married can discuss with a spouse the
merits of a new bike versus a gym membership and get a fair amount of
enthusiasm for the new bike, even from a non-cycling spouse.

Ah-ha! Good point!

Recently being single again...well...I'm in a different camp.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Jay Beattie said:

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Garry Lee said:

I cannot stand any gym work. Never could. My youngest daughter
who's a triathlete loves gym work as well.

I just cycle and walk. I have always cycled to work and I cycle
about 4-5 days a week during the summer, 2 during the winter. It
keeps me (relatively) sane.

I'm with you on this. I hate exercising indoors, period. I used
to lift weights and all that in the gym during the winter back in
my racing days, and I hated every minute of it. I used to ride the
rollers or a trainer in my basement, and hated every minute of it.

Here in Minnesota, winter time riding can be less than pleasant
with lots of snow and ice and much below freezing weather for weeks
at a time- hence the gym membership and the rollers. However, we
have had 10 of the warmest winters on record with low snowfall
amounts in the past 12 years. Winter isn't what it used to be
here. Now it's like the mild winters from when I grew up in
Chicago, and year round riding is much more comfortable.

Winter in Chicago is mild? Egads!

Hah! This, of course, is a matter of perspective. I've lived in
Minnesota since coming here to go to college in 1977- so 18 years in
Chicago and nearly 30 years in Minnesota. Chicago temps are mild in the
winter, moderated I suppose by Lake Michigan and having a significant
"heat bubble." I don't recall ever experiencing -30F in Chicago,
whereas I've seen quite a few days in Minnesota where -30F was the high
temperature for the day. I've even been out in -45F snowshoeing on the
Gunflint Trail and in the Boundary Waters area around Ely- with mukluks
to keep your feet warm, it's not too bad.

Oddly, though, 0F here feels more comfortable than 20F in Chicago.
Winter is much drier here whereas Chicago's air always feels damp, and
feels more cutting when the wind blows.

Quoted message said:

My gym experience is identical to yours, and now as a grown-up with a
family, job, house, etc., going to a gym to work out puts a huge hole
in an already busy day. I much prefer riding to and from work. I
also do longer rides on the weekend as time allows. I get my upper
body work by pulling junipers out of the front yard. Apart from
riding, my only athletic time-and-money-blower is skiing with my son
on Sundays (our version of church, I guess). That is far, far more
enjoyable than running on a treadmill indoors, both physically and
psychically.

Absolutely! There are lots of ways to get good quality exercise without
spending a couple hundred bucks a year on smelly, badly maintained gym.

Ozark Bicycle said:

still me said:

On 3 May 2007 06:27:57 -0700, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

A friend of a friend is a "workout freak", spending hours every week
at 'the club' on the treadmill, in spinning class, aerobics, etc. Yet,
this same person not only drives literally everywhere (Less than 2
miles to the convenience store? Take the car!) and will spend time
cruising a parking lot looking for a close-to-the-door parking place.
Go figure!

Some of it is a time consideration. I can find an hour a day to
exercise, but just one hour. I don't have another half hour to walk to
the local store and back too.

Time is a consideration. But, why drive across town to the gym and
spend 45 min on a treadmill (and then back across town to get home)
instead of a ~45 min round trip to the convenience store/library/video
store etc.? Personally, I'd much rather walk or bike outdoors on
'errands' than spend time on a treadmill or 'exercise bike' at a gym.

There is no comparison : the gym bike will make you work a lot
harder. It is constant effort to keep the pedals spinning.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The people who amuse me are those that will struggle to find a parking
space 25-50 feet closer to the store - sometimes even sitting in their
cars and waiting just to avoid walking for an extra minute.

--

Hadron said:

Ozark Bicycle said:

still me said:

On 3 May 2007 06:27:57 -0700, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>A friend of a friend is a "workout freak", spending hours every week
>at 'the club' on the treadmill, in spinning class, aerobics, etc. Yet,
>this same person not only drives literally everywhere (Less than 2
>miles to the convenience store? Take the car!) and will spend time
>cruising a parking lot looking for a close-to-the-door parking place.
>Go figure!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Some of it is a time consideration. I can find an hour a day to
exercise, but just one hour. I don't have another half hour to walk to
the local store and back too.

Quoted message said:

Time is a consideration. But, why drive across town to the gym and
spend 45 min on a treadmill (and then back across town to get home)
instead of a ~45 min round trip to the convenience store/library/video
store etc.? Personally, I'd much rather walk or bike outdoors on
'errands' than spend time on a treadmill or 'exercise bike' at a gym.

There is no comparison : the gym bike will make you work a lot
harder.

That depends on the "gym bike", how the resistance is set, etc., etc.
It also depends on the terrain and conditions the real ride takes
place on (hills, headwinds, etc.).

Quoted message said:

It is constant effort to keep the pedals spinning.

It is also a constant effort to fend of the utter boredom.

John Kane said:

Possibly true possibly a photoshop deal but funny.http://thewoobit.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/02/gym_escalator.jpg

Rehab.

I enjoy the Escalator Challenge from time to time. Reading glasses
(airport, gate listings, etc.) add a new dimension, I've found. --D-y

In rec.bicycles.misc Hadron said:

Ozark Bicycle said:

Time is a consideration. But, why drive across town to the gym and
spend 45 min on a treadmill (and then back across town to get home)
instead of a ~45 min round trip to the convenience store/library/video
store etc.? Personally, I'd much rather walk or bike outdoors on
'errands' than spend time on a treadmill or 'exercise bike' at a gym.

There is no comparison : the gym bike will make you work a lot
harder. It is constant effort to keep the pedals spinning.

I somehow doubt that you can get a better workout on a gym bike. If
nothing else, they tend not to be comfortable to use for long periods.

If you really have a problem with coasting too much, get a fixed gear.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
Robot, n.:
University administrator.

Dane Buson said:

In rec.bicycles.misc Hadron said:

Ozark Bicycle said:

Time is a consideration. But, why drive across town to the gym and
spend 45 min on a treadmill (and then back across town to get home)
instead of a ~45 min round trip to the convenience store/library/video
store etc.? Personally, I'd much rather walk or bike outdoors on
'errands' than spend time on a treadmill or 'exercise bike' at a gym.

There is no comparison : the gym bike will make you work a lot
harder. It is constant effort to keep the pedals spinning.

I somehow doubt that you can get a better workout on a gym bike. If
nothing else, they tend not to be comfortable to use for long periods.

If you really have a problem with coasting too much, get a fixed gear.

Personally, when I work out, I really want to work out. I push myself
as hard as I can for the workout period. Walking to the store is not
working out. So, back to my original point - I don't have time to
waste walking to the store. Any free time I can pry out can go into a
real workout.

still me said:

Dane Buson said:

In rec.bicycles.misc Hadron said:

Ozark Bicycle <[email hidden]> writes:
> Time is a consideration. But, why drive across town to the gym and
> spend 45 min on a treadmill (and then back across town to get home)
> instead of a ~45 min round trip to the convenience store/library/video
> store etc.? Personally, I'd much rather walk or bike outdoors on
> 'errands' than spend time on a treadmill or 'exercise bike' at a gym.
There is no comparison : the gym bike will make you work a lot
harder. It is constant effort to keep the pedals spinning.

I somehow doubt that you can get a better workout on a gym bike. If
nothing else, they tend not to be comfortable to use for long periods.

If you really have a problem with coasting too much, get a fixed gear.

Personally, when I work out, I really want to work out. I push myself
as hard as I can for the workout period. Walking to the store is not
working out. So, back to my original point - I don't have time to
waste walking to the store. Any free time I can pry out can go into a
real workout.

That is counter-intuitive. Run to the store if you don't want to waste
time walking. If you don't think running at near sprint speed is a real
workout then we are on 2 different planets.
Gym bikes basically are not worth the bother.
Just get on a bike and think of the hardest place to ride and do it.
Today I rode 4.5 hours into the mountains and back, hard, and my legs
are telling me I got a good workout.
Bonus, finding stuff on the side of the road.
Another baseball cap for me today.
If you are really serious about wanting to go to the gym, then why not
ride as hard as possible and get warmed up before hitting the gym??
Are you going for muscles, cardio, weight loss, or what?
More information is always good for better advice, and there is plenty
to be found here.
Bill Baka

Ozark Bicycle said:

still me said:

On 3 May 2007 06:27:57 -0700, Ozark Bicycle

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A friend of a friend is a "workout freak", spending hours every week
at 'the club' on the treadmill, in spinning class, aerobics, etc. Yet,
this same person not only drives literally everywhere (Less than 2
miles to the convenience store? Take the car!) and will spend time
cruising a parking lot looking for a close-to-the-door parking place.
Go figure!

Quoted message said:

Some of it is a time consideration. I can find an hour a day to
exercise, but just one hour. I don't have another half hour to walk to
the local store and back too.

Time is a consideration. But, why drive across town to the gym and
spend 45 min on a treadmill (and then back across town to get home)
instead of a ~45 min round trip to the convenience store/library/video
store etc.? Personally, I'd much rather walk or bike outdoors on
'errands' than spend time on a treadmill or 'exercise bike' at a gym.

Quoted message said:

The people who amuse me are those that will struggle to find a parking
space 25-50 feet closer to the store - sometimes even sitting in their
cars and waiting just to avoid walking for an extra minute.

Perhaps multitasking is the answer:

-bdbafh

Bill said:

Another baseball cap for me today.

Do you really put on hats that you find on the side of the road?

Bill H. said:

Bill said:

Another baseball cap for me today.

Do you really put on hats that you find on the side of the road?

The maggots have infested his brain.

LOL

Michael Press said:

Quoted message said:

Mike Kruger said:

Which means those of us who are long-married can discuss with a
spouse the merits of a new bike versus a gym membership and get a
fair amount of enthusiasm for the new bike, even from a non-cycling
spouse.

What are gym dues? $60/month. It will take a while to buy a new
bicycle. A recently married acquaintance of mine with a good
salary made a deal with his wife. For every dollar he spent on
armament he would provide two dollars for her disposition.

$60 a month is $720 a year, $1440 in two years, $2160 in 3 years.

You can finance a nice bike habit for $60 a month for a recreational rider
or commuter.

Your experience may vary. I expect many guys doing criteriums are spending
considerably more.

--
Mike Kruger
An opinion should be the result of a thought, not a substitute for it.
[Jef Mallet]