June, 2008

Let's Ride

by Rhonda Brown

You’ve pedaled with all your might to climb that hill, thighs burning, lungs aching . . . and now …. it's time to collect your reward.

The wind first caresses your face as you ease downhill . . . the breeze whips your face as you accelerate. All your cares, all your burdens -- for these few moments at least -- tumble off your shoulders. Such is the joy that Cyndie Berman experiences when she rides her bicycle.

Cyndie, mother of three, is not one of the avid riders that you see in spandex bike shorts whizzing by in a train of riders on weekends. For her, cycling is a social activity as well as an opportunity to exercise. “It’s sort of like my gossip fence,” she says.

Since most of her day is taken up with carpooling and endless errands, this is the time she carves out for herself. And precious time it is.

Regularly she meets a friend on her hybrid bike, and they ride a large loop through several neighborhoods, pausing on their route for breakfast at the Arboretum before heading home. “I hate working out in a gym," she says. "Riding through a quiet neighborhood allows my friend and I to ride and talk at the same time.”

Cyndie says her leisure rides allow her to see the many details in nature that one might miss speeding by in a car. But most of all, working really hard exhilarates her -- and then there's the immediate gratification of coasting down that hill. “I feel like I’m flying with the wind in my face and there’s such a feeling of freedom.”

If you were to ask Mike Stacks why he enjoys riding so much, he answers, “Because I get to eat unlimited amounts of food. In the winter when I’m not riding, I can only eat one dessert a day.”

Stacks has been cycling for 23 years. By day he is a financial advisor, but on the weekend he is one of the spandex-clad riders that you see on group rides early in the morning. Spring through Fall, he logs in approximately 150 miles per week which constitutes about 90 percent of his fitness regimen. In addition to great exercise and implicit permission to consume copious calories without guilt, Stacks also enjoys the social aspect of the sport.

He thrives on the camaraderie of his group training rides, exploring various road routes. Among his favorite is riding from Pineville to Indian Trail and back.

Although he mostly rides for leisure, he has also participated in various charity events such as the MS 150, one that he particularly likes because of the destination. For years this event has brought many Charlotteans together in September to ride a two-day 150-mile trek that concludes in Myrtle Beach. It is a successful fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis.

Another popular event that is coming up in July is “24 Hours of Booty”, a ride benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation and other cancer organizations. It is in the scenic Myers Park area. It’s like one big party. You’ll see people who are happy to have been cured to people dressing up in costumes. Don’t let the name fool you. You don’t have to actually ride the full 24 hours!

Lisa Johnson, who has also participated in fundraisers gets a kick out of the diversity of riders and the types of bikes you see. “You see everything from a Huffy to a $10,000 bike.”

Lisa began biking while in college for exercise and to alleviate stress. Now a trainer at the YMCA, she bikes as a key component of her triathlon training. Her goal is to ride a couple of times a week and go for 35 miles.

She advises beginners to connect with a group, such as the YMCA that sponsors “no drop” rides, meaning someone is designated to watch out for you and no one is left behind. There are also many clubs in the area, from beginners to experts.

Matt Britz, biking enthusiast and employee at Bike Sport has some helpful advice for those potentially interested in biking but have no idea where to start.
According to Britz, the first and best thing to do is to consider what you want out of biking. It's what he tells people who walk into his shop.

“Close your eyes and what do you see," Mike says. "Let the movie run through your head. Do you see yourself on a country road, by a lake, in the woods, or maybe riding in the neighborhood with your kids? What are you wearing? Are you really sweating, or are you on a more leisurely ride?” Britz explains that these very images can lead you to the most appropriate purchases to ensure that your riding is more comfortable and fun.

When looking at equipment, the choices are endless, and that’s why it’s helpful to narrow down those choices with these questions.

There are the knobby tired vehicles—mountain bikes, used for off road riding.
There are the skinny tire, small seat road bikes. Somewhere in-between are the hybrids. Hybrids do a bit of both—trail and road, but are not extremely specialized.

“Hybrids are a great place to start, especially when you are not sure exactly what you want to do," Britz says. "It is important to understand that they do not do anything extremely well, but provide for riding on many surfaces. Even among hybids some lean more to off-road and others to on-road. Many buy a hybrid and eventually upgrade later to a more specialized road or mountain bike, but still keep the hybrid because it’s just a good all round bike.”

There many myths and lots of misunderstanding about bikes. Why are the seats so small? Why the need for spandex? Why do prices vary so wildly?

Mike explains that like most anything, you get what you pay for. If you want to ride in the neighborhood with your kids, that’s one thing, but if you plan to venture out on the road or trail ride, then it’s important to consider purchasing from a retailer who ensures you get the proper fit and a bike that will meet your needs.

Take a bike from a department store, for instance. You wonder what is really the difference between this $200 bike and what is sold in a specialized bike store?

Britz explains the difference. “Mostly it’s the parts. Very soon, you’ll be soured on the activity when you’re out somewhere having mechanical problems.”

Another major difference is the lack of proper fit. At a department store, a buyer is forced to choose between limited sizes. In reality, what's in stock may be all wrong for your body type and cause you great discomfort when you’re out on lengthy rides. Britz says a beginner should plan on spending no less than $500 for a good basic bike. For mountain bikes, it could be much more. Add another $100 for the helmet and other creature comforts to make riding more enjoyable.

Depending on your level of seriousness, you could spend thousands of dollars on customizing a bike. For most of us, that’s not going to happen, but by all means, a good fitting by a professional should be done for optimal enjoyment. This is even more critical if you have certain injuries, aches and pains to work around. In the professional fitting, you’ll be put in a special stand to have a biomechanical fitting to determine the most comfortable and efficient position.

Along the lines of fitting, let’s discuss the seat.

A big fat seat may look comfortable, but less is more when you’re on a road bike. The biggest factor is making sure your seat bones are properly supported, according to Britz. The more upright you sit, such as on a cruiser, the bigger the seat should be. When you’re leaning over, such as on a road bike, the weight is distributed a little differently, and there is the need for a smaller seat. “There are anatomical seats in three different sizes for men alone,” explains Britz.

Women who typically have wider hips generally prefer a woman-specific seat, but again, if she haves narrow hips, she might opt for a man’s seat. Anyone who has done much riding knows how miserable it can be if you have an ill-fitting seat.

If you wonder if those spandex shorts are a styling statement, they do have a specific purpose. When you are on long rides, you want to protect against chafing and that’s where this style shorts come into play. These shorts also have built in padding that add a great deal of comfort while on the seat. The specialized bike jerseys are also great for keeping you dry, and the back pockets can hold necessities such as energy bars.

Mountain biking is another popular pastime. If you think you’d like to try it before committing to a purchase, consider visiting the U.S. National White Water Center and rent a bike and enjoy the more than nine miles of trails. You first want to ensure this is for you, since a good mountain bike starts at around $1500.

Mike Ester, bike shop employee and mountain bike rider has been riding for about eight years. He favors the trails at the Springs Greenway in Fort Mill and he also frequents Francis Beatty Park. “I am not the fittest guy in the world,” he says. Although one may think of mountain bikers as daredevils, jumping over rocks and flying downhill at rapid speeds, Ester claims that you don’t necessarily have to push yourself that hard if you don’t want to. “It you get to a hill that’s just too steep, there’s no reason why you can’t get off the bike and push a little,” he says.

Ester prefers mountain biking over road riding because he loves being out in nature. Although occasionally he’ll ride with a buddy, he mostly enjoys the serenity of being by himself in the woods.

Folks have many and varied reasons for riding, and lest you think most cyclists are throwbacks from the hippie days, think again. People from all walks of life ride these days—teachers, bankers, lawyers, doctors, moms, dads and kids.

Whether you use your bike for transportation to work, fitness training, or to spend time with your kids on a Sunday afternoon, it’s a great activity. All ages can participate with relatively little training. What better way to get fit, connect with friends, and enjoy this beautiful area in which we live than taking off on a bike?

That’s a lot of bang for the buck.

Rhonda Winstead Brown
President, Total Champion®
www.totalchampion.com