I Love Cycling!

[FerdinandFitbit]

                                                   

Recently, I moved very close to work and I found that I'm too lazy to walk (even though it's just less than a mile away) but I found it more exciting to ride my way to work.

I got a bike (of course it had to be green with black details) and I'm really loving it! Also, a while ago I was very busy working on my thesis for college, so I didn't have much time to go to the gym and cycling has been the answer to that. I ride my bike to work 5 days a week and on my days off, I get up in the morning and ride about 4 miles. This has made me gain resistance and has made me tone my body whitout taking much time.

I decided that I wanted to share my experience about this and also some tips of things to do and things not to do.

1. Find the right saddle height.
Lean against a wall, sit on the saddle, then hang both feet straight down,” says Todd Carver of the bike-fitting company Retül. "If your saddle height is correct, your heel should just graze the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke." If you have pain in the front of your knees after the first few rides, your saddle is probably too low. If you feel pain in the back of the knee, drop the saddle a little.

2. Drink responsibly.
It’s okay to glance down at your bottle before grabbing or replacing it, says former Tour de France rider Frankie Andreu, "but keep your eyes on the road as you reach. Don’t tilt your head to get the water into your mouth—tilt the bottle." "If something comes up while you’re drinking," adds mountain bike pro Todd Wells, "bite the bottle until you’re through the tricky part."

3. Your Preride Checklist

"Do this quick exam before every ride," says former ProTour mechanic Daimeon Shanks, founder of The Service Course, in Boulder, Colorado.

WHEELS They should spin straight and not rub the brakes. Make sure your tires have plenty of tread and no cuts or large nicks, and that they are properly inflated.

CHAIN Too much lube will attract dirt and grime, which wears out your drivetrain. A good test is to wipe your finger on your chain. It should come away with just a small amount of oil.

COCKPIT Check your headset by grabbing the front brake and rocking the handlebar back and forth. If you feel movement in your headset, loosen the stem’s clamp bolts and tighten the top cap until there is no more movement. Don’t forget to retighten the stem bolts before you ride.

Anyone else has any good tips for biking? Feel free to share them with us down in the Comments!

Source: http://www.bicycling.com/training/bike-skills/it-gets-easier-cycling-advice-new-cyclists

[WendyB]

Great tips! Alo great that you found something you really enjoy.

You should take a picture of that shiny new bike and share with us

[USAF-Larry]

I love bicycling, and for many years particitpated in long distance bike rides such as the MS 150, the ADA 75, and the Scioto River Valley Tour (a 210 mile ride). Unfortunately, a number of years ago I was in a car-bike accident (hint: I wasn't in the car.), which really slowed me down for a while. But, I still have a mountain bike, and love jumping on it for a 15 or 20 mile ride. It is very relaxing, it gives good exercise, and it allows me to enjoy the scenery that is missed when driving.  After I had additional spine surgery last February (to fix some of the problems from the orginal surgery), the doctor told me to get back on the bike and get some exercise.

[FerdinandFitbit]

I will totally make sure I take a pic of my bike and I'll share it here @WendyB 

@USAF-Larry it's just great right? I thought of going out to jog in the mornings but I don't really enjoy it as much as I do biking and also, I used to jog in the past but after a while, my legs started to hurt and I found out it was because of the impact you get on your feet mostly so I think biking is a safer way to exercise which creates resistance in your  body and lets you enjoy your sorroundings while you exercise.

I gotta say that I hate stationary bikes for that reason, because you're stuck in just one place. Outdoor biking is the best!

[MariamV]

@FerdinandFitbit awesome post! I's like to get a mountain bike and add that to my activities. Cycling is definitely so much fun and cycling instead of walking sounds like a great alternative if you ask me!