Great job C3Baker!
Sabaray, sound like a good plan. I fully support the gym shorts at the restaurant - just make sure it’s not a swanky restaurant. 
Nrdsb4, that being the case, go for either the Specialized S-Works Mtn bike shoe or upper end Sidi mtn bike shoes (Dominator and up). The 2 companies have very different fit characteristics but are both top end. I’ve ridden Both brand’s high end models. They’re great. In pedals, go for SPeedplay Syzr or Frogs. Ease of cleat set up, and degree of float translate to very easy on the knees.The Syzr is newer technology and design, but I really like Frogs too.
Good morning!! Is anyone planning to see “That Sugar Film”? It’s a documentary where a guy eats 40 tsp of sugar per day & tracks the effects on his weight & health. Sounds fascinating - I’m hoping to convince DH to go with me tomorrow.
Nrdsb4, I checked my shoes. I have specialized Riata mtn bike shoes and spd pedals. I’m very happy with both. My local bike shop was very helpful when I bought these last year. I also noticed that my bike shoes ran really small. I’m a full 1 or 2 sizes bigger than my street shoes so it is good to go in and try them on. My lbs also put my pedals on my bike and cleats on the shoes. I think I paid a nominal amount. They talked about how I biked and offset the cleats and had the pedals set loosely so I could clip in and out easily.
I’m wondering what kind of bike you have now? I found that when I upgraded my bike, it was so much easier and enjoyable to bike. I don’t have a fancy bike, just a fitness hybrid. I had an old mountain bike before. My H found when he upgraded (he rides 3+ times a week) he found a new bike a big difference.
Hi everyone – I had posted a few weeks ago about problems with getting an effective fitness routine, and I wanted to stop in quickly and say thanks.Thanks to all the excellent input, I re-prioritized things so now I am concentrating on intensity and caloric burn, not on steps or miles. I’m learning to find my physical boundaries and figuring out which to push, and which to respect. My knee complained pretty loudly about running between certain parts of the route, so I gave that up, for example.
So now I still walk most every morning but I created a route that doubles the hills I cover and shortens the time a little. Then in the afternoon or evening I do intervals on my elliptical, but again, I’m doing about 30 minutes instead of 45. Every other morning I work for just a little while (15 minutes or so) with hand weights on core balance exercises. I will have to figure out what to do in a few weeks when school starts again, but I think I can still fit it all in.
I was excited this morning, because I realized (listening to podcasts, distracted) I had finished the biggest hill on my route and had not noticed, because I had just chugged along right up it!
Hmmm…haven’t broken out the gym shorts for dining out yet. There’s always a first time for everything, though!
Gertrude, I would like to see that film. Please report back and let us know what you thought!
greenbutton, glad to hear of your success! Kudos!
@deb922, that’s something I have also been thinking about. I have a Trek hybrid “comfort” step in bike. It was $700-$800 I think? Gosh, maybe it was only $500+ or so, I can’t remember! Bought last September. I wanted a decent bike, but didn’t want to go crazy without knowing if I’d actually enjoy it and use it regularly. Now that it’s clear that I do, I have been wondering if I need to consider graduating and retiring this one to my lake house to use on weekends. I don’t know…
Nrdsb4- I know you probably know this, but three words- Richardson Bike Mart! I believe it is one of the best bike stores in the country! Tell them Lance sent you. (kidding)
^^^^LOL. Would they chase me out of the store? 
Yes, I do all of my bike shopping there. They are good peeps.
Greenbutton, fantastic - sounds like you figured out something that works for you!
Went to lunch time spin class. Substitute instructor than my usual. The workout was a little different. I still sweated but I feel like she did not offer as much variety. No varied positions on the handle bars. Often in one position (like standing) for an entire song - just adding more resistance. It was a little more boring, but still good.
Made me think. What would the bike/spin experts say to look for in a good spin class?? Ours are geared at employees (campus fitness center) who have not long periods of time for a class - so warm up to cool down is 30-40 minutes.
Strength training today, no ride.
Variety is a good thing, Nrdsb!
Greenbutton - kudos.
^^^Yeah, my legs were just too dead. Thought it might be counterproductive to tax them too much.
So arms got a good workout. And did some of the dreaded planks…God, I hate planks.
Nrdsb4, I might think about a better bike. You are enjoying this and seem to want to expand what you are doing.
I have a bike shop in the area which will rent bikes so you could try out some different models and see what you like. My regular bike shop will let us take a new bike out for a day to test drive it. They keep asking my H to try a fat tire bike, but he is in there regularly and they know him.
I think if you really enjoy biking, if you would get a more streamline bike and can handle the positions to ride, you would find biking much easier than you are finding now. I’m happy with my bike but if I wanted to bike more I would spring for a road bike. Mine is fine for what I do. But it’s not really my thing, I like doing other stuff more.
My back is feeling better and I’ve been golfing and walking. Will try to run this weekend.
sabaray, you haven’t experienced elegant dining until you show up after a ride wearing your bike kit lol! I also love the looks I get when I walk into Home Depot after a ride wearing a pink Sturdy Girls jersey.
@deb922, I think you may be right. I do have a horrible history of disc problems in lower back and neck. The main reason I chose my particular bike was because it is more “upright,” so less stress on my low back. Is there a high quality bike for people in my position? The other kinds of bikes appear to force you to bend over more, and that is absolutely not a good thing for me.
@Nrdsb4, if you are going to be riding on a combination of paved bike paths, packed gravel and dirt trails, and want to move up to a performance bike, a cyclocross bike might be perfect for you. They have a high performance road bike style frame that’s a bit beefed up, the same size wheels as a road bike but with wider tires and a performance road bike drivetrain. They are a go anywhere type of bike except for narly mtn bike trails. Talk to your lbs about them and try one out. If you think it might be for you, there are some choices you can make: aluminum or carbon fiber frame, cantilever or disk brakes, and changing the gearing from the traditional 50/36 chain rings to 50/34 and the rear cogs from 11-25 to 12-27 or 28. If you don’t think you will need the 35 mm or so tires than come stock for cyclocross racing, you can readily put 25-28 mm tires on the rims. I have 2 sets of wheels and tires for my cyclocross bike: 1 set is for racing with 35 mm tires which are great for rougher, muddy, looser, ruttier trail conditions and 1 set with 28 mm tires for road use and use on well groomed gravel and dirt paths.
@abasket, here’s what I look for in a good spin class:
- An instructor that stresses proper technique - body positioning, spinning, cadence. Who understands real world outdoor cycling and teaches to that model.
- An instructor that has a structured workout but allows everyone to set their resistance levels based on their own abilities and fitness levels. No constant telling everyone to move the resistance knob the same amount for everyone instead of allowing everyone to find their own set points based on the type of drill.
3.An instructor that coaches instead of yelling commands. - An instructor who focuses on a cycling workout and doesn’t try to combine with upper body resistance training while on the bike.
BTW Nrdsb4, Cannondale and Specialized make very sweet cyclocross bikes. No reason to look at any other brands.
@Nrdsb4 : you might want to consider going to a bike shop to be fitted for a bike, if you have back and shoulder issues. I ride a lot (although I don’t use clipless pedals, since I’ve fallen over multiple times even without them) and the difference between a bike that fits me (see my photo) and my previous bike (a Surly Crosscheck, lovely bike, which almost fit me) was sore shoulders after a twenty mile ride.