Fitness... Hard to Get, Easy to Lose
November 09, 2009
Fitness is like going to Vegas with a pocketful of cash. It probably took you a while to get it, but you can sure lose it in a hurry.
Yup, we are back from all the big shows and yes, they were great. For me it always seems the show period is a time where any planned fitness efforts get tossed in favor of hanging out with some work or industry friends and enjoying a cold beer or two. Combine that plan with too many late night dinners and eating out 3 big meals a day and you’ve got a recipe for a fitness catastrophe. By the time I return home I feel like a big fat slug.
So, upon returning back from all the travels, I set myself a couple of goals — and my training or fitness plans are back on full throttle again.
Fitness really is hard to gain and easy to lose. Maybe this gets even tougher as you get older. I'm working at it though. I've been on my bike at least 5 times a week, and have added some winter cross training (running) back into my plan with 4 workouts a week there too. I've committed to a couple of events to really motivate me and have even set a personal goal to drop 10 lbs before that first big event (the California International Marathon) in December. Oh boy, what was I thinking??
SO... in a nutshell, yes I'm on a "get fit fast plan", but man... fitness hurts.
Props goes out to all of you that do work at it…You riders that DO have a plan in place and do follow it. I know how hard you have worked at getting fit. And how hard you probably continue to work at it, even to maintain the fitness levels you have. Good on ya!
So, as Thanksgiving rolls around the corner, followed by Christmas and even more big family dinners remember a few key things... The opposite goes for anything that goes down our throats. That's where the plan reverses. When you are talking weight, it is easy to gain and hard to lose. So, watch the balance and use the simple plan - try to work off more than you consume and you'll be fine. Just don’t take a few months off or you will be doing what I’m doing now... working harder at it than I should be.
You can always ride all winter long… just back down the pace, leave your heart rate monitor at home and go out and have some fun. Take the long scenic route. See some new stuff… chat with friends and enjoy! Seeya out there!
Steak Sauce
Time to Start Bike Commuting
November 04, 2009
Commuting to work, school or anywhere is a fun, efficient and green way to get from point A to point B. It does take some serious willpower to battle through the cold, wind and rain of the Winter but I know I always feel better for doing it. We are now into November and the fall colours are slowly fading to a winter gloom. In Vancouver BC though, we are three days into Bike To Work Week. Put on by the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC), Nov. 2-6th is the time to ride your bike. The VACC is partnered with Norco Bikes and local retailers to offer commuters tech support, warm drinks and a few prizes along the way.
Riding in the winter sounds like a daunting task - and it is, but this week, there are people to help. Whether you are cold, tired or have mechanical issues, anyone in Vancouver should find help along major routes. Now is the time to grab some wet weather clothing, strap on some fenders and lights then hit the road. If you want leave a few minutes early, grab something hot to drink while getting your bike fixed, checked or lubed.
If now isn't a great time to start commuting by bike, when is?
Free From The Chain
November 04, 2009
The bike chain is a symbol of the bicycle. The connotation that is held between the bike and the chain is nested so deeply that it is iconic. The chain is synonymous with the bicycle. This fact is for good reason too, the bicycle chain has used the same basic design since the early 1980s. Yes, they have become lighter, stronger, narrower and more efficient since then, but ultimately we are using the same basic technology.
Over the past decade or so, there has been slight diversification from the traditional chain drive including a hydraulic drive and shaft drive among others. None have really caught on though. Well, now there is a new option. Myself along with everyone at Norco is pretty excited about it- The Gates Carbon Belt Drive. Gates has been making automotive belts for decades and has made the shift into the cycling world.
There are three different Norco models for 2010 that are using the Gates Carbon Drive. There is a 29er Singlespeed mountainbike, a Singlespeed urban commuter and a 8 speed, internally geared commuter. What are the advantages of such a system without a chain? Well there are no moving parts in a belt so lubrication is not an issue and there is no mechanical wear on rollers resulting in 'chain stretch'. The belt is efficient, light and durable offering many advantages over the traditional.
I will be honest, before riding a belt-drive I never noticed the mechanical nature of a chain. I always thought that it was smooth and efficient. Well, throwing a leg over the Judan the only way I can describe it is fluid. The liquidity of pedaling motion is silky smooth and seemingly effortless. The last time I tried something so drastically different was the first time I rode with disk brakes. All of a sudden, the standard that I had grown up with , v-brakes, was obsolete - an underpowered, high maintenance paperweight. Could the Chain also succumb to this plight?
There are certain things about a singlespeed bike that take some getting used to. Taking the Jan Ullrich approach to cadence instead of the Lance Armstrong technique means that climbing is a one way ticket on the Pain Train... But, who doesn't like a challenge right? Plus, with no gears, cables, lube or chain there is very little to go wrong. After a few rides on the Judan, It hurts a bit on the ups and the gear can top out on the downs but I am coming around. The climbs are building strenght and the high cadence seems to be evening my pedal stroke. Also, coming from a 26" wheel, the 29s make the bike seemingly float over everything.
There are still some advantages to the chain. The obvious one is that it works with a conventional rear derailleur while the belt drive is locked with an internally geared hub or for those who dare... Singlespeed. The only real way to decide is to try it for yourself. Swing by your local dealer and throw a leg over!
Dustan
