The Fit Nation

https://ift.tt/TfJx2iy This is about a delightful YouTube video I just watched. The host of “active towns” interviews Tatiana in Carmel, Indiana. She had a bad fall on a bike as a child and was afraid of bikes as an adult. Since her husband was an avid cyclist, she wanted to give it another try. The video shows her progress, from timidly riding in a parking lot, to being a confident cyclist who uses an electric assist cargo bike for all her errands and travel. Since her husband also bikes everywhere, she says they have not driven their car in months (which is why I said “nearly” car-free). They lived in Minneapolis at the start of this adventure, which is a bike friendly city by North American standards. They then had a stint in the Netherlands experiencing biking there, so when they came back they decided to move to Carmel, Indiana, a town of a bit over 100,000 that is about 20 miles (32 km) north of Indianapolis. Carmel is one of the most bike friendly c...

https://ift.tt/z1tLUa6 Since yesterday was scheduled to be a longer ride, and I’m running out of days to meet the Strava climbing challenge , I decided to try for 1000 m of climbing in a day. Mountain runners call this a “vertical K”. I chose the biggest climb in our area, up to Henry Coe state Park, about 16 miles of climbing out East Dunne Ave. The last time I did this on a recumbent was probably over 30 years ago. I had no electric assist for that one, and climbing the last steep stretch known as “the wall” required pulling up on my clipped-in shoes on the pedals. I made it, but ended up with a bad shin overuse injury that took a couple of years to go away. I was hoping to avoid that this time: No clipped-in shoes but electric assist would. I made it just about to “the wall” but was running low on battery. I had to leave enough in reserve to kept home because there was still some climbing on the way back. So I came up short of Henry Coe,...

https://ift.tt/IgtOkwN I signed up for a challenge to climb 7000 m (23000 ft) for the month of June on Strava . Trouble is I didn’t sign up till June 19th. I figured I’d already climbed a lot this month, but I forgot I don’t climb much by myself on the recumbent, so it turned out I only had 2600 m under my belt, so in the last 11 days of the month I needed 4400 m more. I’ve been scurrying since then and so far I’ve gotten another 2277 in as of yesterday, now I need 2076 more in 5 days. Note to self, next time join at the beginning of the month! Last Thursday I rode to the Northwest of Morgan Hill on a nice day. Up Half Rd Past Andy’s Orchard Saturday I meandered to the Southwest on a foggy morning. It didn’t lift till I was almost home. Coming down Tennant ave on the way home, the fog just burning off Tuesday my group ride started from Mendoza Ranch parking lot at Harvey Bear County park. I love this ride on beautiful roads ...

https://ift.tt/ec1wU87 Cycling for a Quiet Mind: 60 Minutes Cycling Routine That Will Change Your Day This was an interesting and helpful book by Gerardo Regalado who writes under the pen name Captain G. It is for people who have perhaps had difficulty quieting their minds with conventional approaches like meditation. He explains how he is often able to achieve a quiet mind while cycling. This is not something that can be forced, but we can take some simple steps to prepare the ground so it is more likely to happen. He also connects this to Zen practices from the website https://zenhabits.net/ from Leo Babauta. Gerardo is also familiar with the relevant neuroscience, and explains that what we are trying to do is quiet the brain’s “default mode network” which I have discussed previously . I come from a different background perhaps than the target reader, because I am experienced enough at meditation that I am able to readily quiet my mind during conventional s...

https://ift.tt/2xPUIlv The weather’s been hot lately, highs in the low 90s F (33 C), but that’s not till the afternoon so it’s best to get my rides in early. Yesterday I had a pleasant late morning cruise to the Southeast of Morgan Hill and on San Martin rural roads. These long stretches with light traffic are good for practicing my mindfulness. I’m doing better at “staying in the present moment” on my rides but still wander off in thought a lot. Heading Up Tennant towards the East foothills Sotuhbound on Foothill ave, now in San Martin Passing the entrance to Harvey County park on San Martin Ave San Martin ave turns into New ave after this corner South on New approaching Church which is the Gilroy city line West on Church enjoying the downhill run West on Maple Ave Back in Morgan Hill on Murphy Ave. This farm lets food trucks park here on Saturdays, with a variety of choices. Morgan Hill’s popular soccer fie...

https://ift.tt/VaJhMDw Summer is approaching fast, and for us the first sign is always that our hills are no longer green and are now golden, which they will remain until the next rainy season in the fall. But the weather has been delightful for riding, not too hot until later in the afternoon when I am already finished. I do have to be a little careful about ride length because some pollen is in the air that gives me allergy headaches. Not too bad if I keep rides under 3 hours. Last Tuesday my group did its “Taco Tuesday” ride for the 1st Tuesday of the month. We head south to San Martin, then turn east, and turn back north on the east side of the valley and up the Coyote Creek trail all the way to Metcalf Park, looping back over Malech road and back downtown for lunch. Cochrane road on the hill that goes past the Almaden reservoir dam Heading out on the trail The trail bends west towards the Santa Cruz Mountains Taking a break at Metcalf park On Sa...