Thanks to needing to take my mind off of something at the end of June, I’ve started biking again. I bicycled a lot as a child (mostly as a means to get into town to spend money I shouldn’t have), but haven’t done much since recovering from my last knee surgery in 2002. Mostly this was because my bike was in need of major work and wasn’t worth investing the money in. However I didn’t want to spend money on a new bike if I wasn’t going to bike enough to warrant it. But thanks to needing to take my mind off of something, I threw caution to the wind and got a new bike and I am loving it!
As I wasn’t sure if I would bike much, I went to the local bike shop and got a lower end hybrid (Trek 7000). My last bike was a hybrid as well and I enjoyed it because it went a decent speed on concrete and also allowed me to play a little off the road. I’m typically not gentle with things, so it seemed like a good combination again. My usual romp is through Mine Falls Park, which is right near where I live. A nice long set of paved and dirt trails without motorists and great for a hybrid.
Since I’ve gotten the bike however, I’ve ridden almost every day. As an ADD person, I was wary of losing interest in riding but so far that hasn’t hit me. Maybe it’s the variety of the paths I can take through Mine Falls Park or just the scenic beauty of it. The time I spend biking is great, not only is it more outside time and fresh air, it really sets me at ease and lets the brain process stuffs. And even if I get a flat tire, I don’t mind the walk home to fix it since it is such a nice area to ride in.
The exercise part has been very welcome too! Biking is one of the better exercises for my bad knee so this is a great way to keep it stretched and happy. Being a computer nerd, it’s easy to get into the zone and forget how many hours you sit in a chair. However I find myself looking forward to biking every day. I’ve put over 150 miles on the bike so far (averaging 6 miles a day) and it’s easy to feel almost daily how much stronger the leg muscles get from all of the work. The only downside to all of this is it has cut into my shapely figure by 12 pounds so far. :-P
Now to find something to do in the winter months when it’s too snowy to ride…