How many people ride a bicycle for exercise?

Rob43 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 01:11 PM

Hi, I own a bike but it is hard to get started riding a bike again. In Tennessee I hate all the hills I will have to go up. I'm not at all considered in excellent shape to ride a bike up hills.

Rob

lgvincent · #2 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 01:25 PM

I rode one about 20 miles a day until I wore a gear out and haven't been able to get it fixed. I liked going up hills. There is one really tough one a few miles from here that I'd go up each day. The fun part is going down the other side. I could hit 40 MPH coasting. Watch those potholes, though! I once hit one and slide a few feet on the asphalt (ouch!). Could only pedal with the right leg on the way home so it took a while to get there. I've still got the scars on my left knee and elbow.

Penny · #3 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 01:29 PM

Before I got so sick a few years ago, I rode a bike a lot. Now I have trouble staying on one. I have trouble balancing anymore, and really fear falling off. I wonder if it is because of all the medication I take. I miss riding my bike since I do not drive, it gave me a small sense of freedom to be able to go when I wanted.

Harold · #4 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 05:04 PM

Schwin AirDyne no hills, no traffic, and I can use my arms and/or legs.

Penny · #5 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 05:14 PM

After reading this forum, I started feeling guilty that I have not been exercising on a regular basis. Got my old exercise bike out of the garage and rode for about 15 minutes. I did not get dizzy or feel unbalanced, so tried riding my 10 speed again, didn't work!

I got less than half a block before I felt I was falling. Maybe if I ride the staionary bike for awhile, I'll try again.

am1977 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 07:08 PM

No, I don't generally exercise by riding a bike, though I think it might be a fun way to do so

. Actually, I thought you were talking about stationary bikes at the gym when I first answered this poll, but it wouldn't affect my vote anyway. I can't remember when the last time was I actually got on a bike

The only thing is, knowing me, I probably would end up getting run over by a car

. Sounds far fetched, but not if you know

me, lol

mg_2204 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 06:51 AM

I have one which monitors your heart rate, calories burned, you can choose different exercise programs, etc. A bike is a bit boring to use though. You must have a really nice collection of CDs to use it

I would recommend if you want one to buy it second hand. Because (1) you don't know if you're going to like it and (2) you don't know if you will use it on a regular basis and finally (3) if it will only catch dust and take up room for nothing.

KickStart101 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 10:05 AM

Ya, I still ride my bike, spring, summer and fall, but I don't
drive everyday, usually 2 or 3 times a week now. No hills
around here just inclines which get you working a little harder.

Hi Penny: That is weird about the dizziness. It could be your
medication or the combination plus other conditions. As long as
your sure it's not low sugar. I hope you ask your Doc about
the possibility of meds. Do you also feel dizzy when walking? I was just
wondering. Put vertigo in Google and see if that sounds familiar.
Ask your Doc about Vertigo also. I'm glad that you don't feel dizzy on the stationary bike. It is just as good exercise as an outside bike although can
get boring for some people.

Penny · #9 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 08:05 PM

[

"Hi Penny: That is weird about the dizziness. It could be your
medication or the combination plus other conditions. As long as
your sure it's not low sugar. I hope you ask your Doc about
the possibility of meds. Do you also feel dizzy when walking? "

I do have problems with dizziness anytime I exercise, bouncing on my exercise ball, sometimes even just walking into another room. I am anemic because of a combination of circumstances. I've had two heart attacks, cancer and the diabetes, and take a bunch of different meds daily. My doctor thinks the anemia causes the dizziness, and keeps looking for reasons for it. I've had about every test there is, but so far only found scratches on my stomach lining. I do sometimes get very low blood sugar, in fact it happened today, after a very high reading earlier. Anyway, I am afraid to be alone riding my bike because of the dizziness.

Mick · #10 (**permalink**) 09-15-2005, 07:28 AM

I'm a major cyclist. I own a Trek 7200 hybrid road bike, which replaced my 25 year old Schwinn 5-speed after it blew out a year ago. I also own a stationary bike, for use when the weather is too cold, rainy, snowy, etc., so I can keep the proper muscle groups toned year-round. I enjoy it very much, and even abandoned my car for most of this past summer in favor or riding to work most days. It's great exercise, low-impact, and tends to not give me lows the way some other types of exercise will.

Michael
T1 since 1965

KickStart101 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-15-2005, 10:46 AM

I am anemic because of a combination of circumstances. I've had two heart attacks, cancer and the diabetes, and take a bunch of different meds daily. Anyway, I am afraid to be alone riding my bike because of the dizziness.[/quote]

Wow, you sure have a full plate Penny. I sure hope you feel fairly
well most of the time. Ya, I wouldn't ride the outside bike either if
you feel dizzy and fearful on it. Not worth it. It would be Great if
your Doc could figure out exactly what's causing it. It could be the
anemia. Feel better.

KickStart101 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-15-2005, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

I'm a major cyclist. I own a Trek 7200 hybrid road bike. I enjoy it very much, and even abandoned my car for most of this past summer in favor or riding to work most days. It's great exercise, low-impact, and tends to not give me lows the way some other types of exercise will.

Hey Mick. Well, I'll say you are a major cyclist alright. You sound totally fit. Good for you and you're doing the air a favor also by polluting less. That
sure sounds like a fancy bike. I bet it cost a pretty penny. I just use a
cheapy $175.00(tax not included

) 12 speed. Does the job.

Dewey · #13 (**permalink**) 09-21-2005, 10:31 AM

I used to Love bike riding, but got out of it (for a while).

I also love roller & ice skating, but have put those on hold as well...(Actually, put alot of things on hold, but hopefully soon will be able to do more). I'd love to get back into all, as they're all great forms of exercise. My personal favorite is roller skating, though - great music, jam skating, etc.

DONS · #14 (**permalink**) 09-22-2005, 10:19 AM

I live in East Tennessee and still ride my bike, I just load up my bike and pick my roads carefully (few hills). I also have a recumbent exercise bike for bad weather. I find the recumbent bike soo much easier especially on my rear.

Lori M. · #15 (**permalink**) 09-30-2005, 11:24 AM

I bought myself a bicycle last night and took it out on its maiden voyage this morning.

I was only able to go for about an hour. I had been walking a good 2-4 miles per day for the past month or so and the weight isn't coming off, but my numbers are consistently staying in the 90's and low 100's

I'm going to try riding the bike in the mornings and walk some in the evenings after dinner and see if that makes a difference. I should've put on enough muscle by now to start losing weight.

Lori