Have I mentioned how much I like my new bike ?? I love to ride. I've ridden every day (well, not today ... ) and am increasing my distance and speed. ....... and confidence. I stick to the roads in Cobble Creek and the bike path that is accessible after crossing the golf course and following the river. I have a sturdy helmet, flashing lights on the front and back, a bell and a holder for my phone. I capture my ride on the Strava app.....( you can follow me if you have a boring life) and Paul can follow me in real time so he knows where I am when I need rescuing. I ride for at least an hour+ and now that I have padded bike shorts, I can ride more comfortably even longer. I hope to work up to about 2 hours but will have to retrace my route a few times since I'm not ready for the roads in town. According to studies, bike riding for seniors is wonderful for balance, muscle strength, improved brain function and slowing of the aging process......providing you don't get hit by a truck.
People think that an e-bike is wimpy but they are wrong. I don't use the assist around the neighborhood or on the flat parts of the path. I use a high gear ( the bike has 8 gears and 4 assist levels) for more resistance and when I get tired or the hill seems steeper, I add the 1st level assist. My legs let me know that I'm getting a good workout. Because the bike is so heavy and I have my chubby body to propel, I burn a few calories. Yesterday it was windy and I managed to ride for an hour with pedal assist despite 20-30 mph winds and stronger gusts. If I had been on a lighter bike, I would have managed about 3 feet or been blown over.
In other news..... fall has come to the San Juan mountains. We headed out on a Jeep trail on Sunday. We thought the leaves would be past peak but there was still a lot of color. We took the bumpy high road to Telluride but our favorite restaurant was closed .....
And then today, winter arrived......
It didn't last long but the mountains are snow covered once again and the wind and temperature made for a cold day.....and no bike ride. We had reservations in Bryce Canyon NP this week but the long range forecast was very cold so the motorhome got winterized instead. It's to be near 70 next week so golf is still on the calendar.
A belated Happy Birthday. Just a kiddo at 76. I am approaching 79. Anyway you look great and I admire your bicycle skills. They say you never forget how to ride a bike....not true! Claire got a bike in FL and loves riding it around our community (no hills) and encouraged me to try it. I had not been on a bike in probably 40 years and I was very nervous. I don't think the tire took more than one revolution and I fell. Badly scraped elbow, but it scared me off from trying again. I do not need a broken arm or broken anything! So I will stick to walking.
ReplyDeleteYou pictures of those blue, blue skies are fabulous!
I love reading about you and the e-bike! I agree that it's great for balance and exercise. Keep the shiny side up!
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