What's so appealing about cycling?
I don't really get the whole cycling thing. I think it has something to do with the pain in the butt I get whenever I ride a bike and, if I'm being quite honest, I just don't look that good in lycra.
Anyway, can someone tell me what they find so appealing about cycling? First one to convince me gets two passes to see The Program, the new biopic about Lance Armstrong and his Tour de France wins, his heroic comeback from cancer and his cheating scandal.
I love riding, and try to ride 3 times a week, doing about 120k pw. I only do the sort of excercise I love (eg hate gym) and cycling offers exactly it. It helps that I ride in a regional seaside area with lots of undulations, and with forest or coastal scrub lining much of the roads. The intensity of the ride will vary according to the gradient of course. Some of the destinations are iconic - my favourite is a hilltop lighthouse with a breathtaking 360 degree panorama.
I used to ride as fast as I could, trying for a 'best time' most of the time. I've relaxed that now - the bike computer clearly describes the effect of ageing, and have reduced the intensity according to how I feel. Also, there is something extremely satisfying when you finally reach the top of that bloody hill and enjoy a fast descent. A 2 hr ride also gives you so much time to think, about anything that's happening in your life, it's meditative. Another option I use far less is the mountain bike on the beach at low tide or bush tracks.
There is also group riding. This is tricky as you need to be of the similar capacity to keep up or not get ahead. Riding in the draft of the bike in front of you requires ~30% less effort, hence everyone speeds up. Great when it works, and social at the cafe after the ride.
Finally, what is the hangup about lycra, I don't get it? It's a material that allows sweat to 'wick' away from your body and evaporate, which is great. Shirts have deep pockets and knicks have padding for comfort and minimising moisture - very practical and you just wouldn't wear anything else if you spend enough time on the bike.
There is some danger as many of the roads contain insufficient verge to keep the cars distant and occasional bike hating motorists or quarry trucks with trailers can be scary. But, you just get used to it thru repeat exposure and honing own behaviour to minimise risk. I just love riding, it leaves me feeling fit and satisfied.
I do not love Lance Armstrong, not the obvious failure of of the cycling bodies that virtually colluded - echoes of FIFA and another examplar of corruption permeating our lives. Pity no one got done for the financial crisis, jails should have filled. Where's the movie on that topic?
Yess I agree that motorists should give bikes a stack of room and respect those that ride.
I used to do a lot of bike riding in the early days, nowadays, I just ride down to the shops and my wife and I go for fun rides in the parks and along the river, nothing dramatic but very pleasant. Would hate it if I had to give this up due to health problems. We just wear trackies, but I thought lycra is the normal attire for all serious riders.
More than a little disappointed with how Lance Armstrong turned out, and no way would I be interested in going to see a movie about this cheat.
Good on you Kopernicus, hope you keep on riding for a long time.
I have no time for the likes of Armstrong either --
My Friend that rides still wears Lycra and always has and he is 77 and very fit
....never trust a man who is crazy enough to wear Lycra! Ughhhhhhhh...............shows everything they have got - and everything they haven't got! Do they realise this??? lol lol
The Lycra pants are padded in the crutch region Foxy so what you see is actually enhanced....not so crazy to a male way of thinking? But yeah, if you are a female looking at the man(hood) in the Lycra you would be foolish to trust that what you see is actually what is.
Queen fat bottomed girls cycling race ......yummy yummy.
Come on foxy wiggle your bum
Yep knew about the cyclist padded crutch arrangement but believe greater concerns lay or sit in the bike seat nether regions and all's I can say are 3 words -
"Pudendal Nerve Entrapment' - Sounds nasty'!
Always many sides to any story/theory about, well just about everything really, and always the 'fore and against'arguments to be held .....And having no medical expertise can only wonder about the 'fact or fiction' of the following articles but they may hold interest for some when 'googling' time permits:
'Is Biking Bad for the Bedroom'.
'Biking and Sex - Avoid the vicious cycle'.
'Can Bicycle Seats Affect Your Love Life'.
Just sayin'
Not sure Shetso, I wonder if it was the riding that gave Armstrong the problems?
We all know that it's bad to bicycle in the bedroom. Indeed we also know that sex while biking can be vicious. Tricycle sex is gentler. But I didn't know that bicycle seats could affect my love life....is this some sort of new sex toy?
Well Shetso, you're obviously unaware of the tremendous amount of research going into this, it rivals NASA. The project is termed Stupendous Piudendum, usually shortened to Stupid. The results have verged on the bizzare. My previous saddle had a cutout in the middle that could accomodate a cheese and bacon sandwich and a downward curved nose, presumably to free the sacred sac.
This is ofcourse of far grater import than sending another bloke to the moon.
Yes Kopernicus, I am very aware of the amount of research going into the Stupendous Piudendum project, and there is no conclusion in sight since it's such a vast area of study.
As a scientist I can safely agree with the following:
The main symptom of pudendal neuralgia (PN) and pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE) is pain in one or more of the areas innervated by the pudendal nerve or one of its branches. These areas include the rectum, anus, urethra, perineum, and genital area. In women this includes the clitoris, mons pubis, vulva, lower 1/3 of the vagina, and labia. In men this includes the penis and scrotum. But often pain is referred to nearby areas in the pelvis. The symptoms can start suddenly or develop slowly over time. Typically pain gets worse as the day progresses and is worse with sitting. The pain can be on one or both sides and in any of the areas innervated by the pudendal nerve, depending on which nerve fibers and which nerve branches are affected. The skin in these areas may be hypersensitive to touch or pressure (hyperesthesia or allodynia).
Possible symptoms include burning, numbness, increased sensitivity, electric shock or stabbing pain, knife-like or aching pain, feeling of a lump or foreign body in the vagina or rectum, twisting or pinching, abnormal temperature sensations, hot poker sensation, constipation, pain and straining with bowel movements, straining or burning when urinating, painful intercourse, and sexual dysfunction – persistent genital arousal disorder (genital arousal without desire) or the opposite problem – loss of sensation. Read the rest here:
http://gain.org.au/gyn-conditions/pudendal-neuralgia/
Women, especially those who are sedentary and advancing in years suffer this ailment much more frequently than cyclists.
Very few cyclists do because these days, designs and positioning of the saddle prevents this. A wider saddle with an absent or flexible nose can be obtained and will decrease pressure to the Pudendal Nerve. Gel saddles can be helpful, as can tilting the saddle downward.
A cyclist can also change their riding position. A more upright posture while riding will shift the pressure from the front of the perineum to the ischial tuberosities. It also helps to keep your hip flexors and hamstrings flexible with regular stretching.
I am not a cyclist myself boating is my thing and even there one can be prone to PNE.
Some more research needed Shetso??
Maybe this is better exercise for people
I don't understand it either --well not the competion thing --I used to ride a push bike --for fun but then I used to do a lot of Diving / swimming / sailing / boating / hiking but NOT in competion as I can never be interested in having to be the best I just wated to do it because I liked it.
I have a friend that is a Bike rider still and he used to be in competions from a very early age and still loves it. I can not stand to hear or watch ANY sport on TV