The Red Brick Times

You may have read my rhymic trip report about the trip to Trenton, Ontario in July. What I didn't say was that I kept getting cramps in my upper legs when stopping at lights and tucking back in to take off. The muscle groups weren't used to this specific demand. Also, after about 150 miles (I usually go 200, then it is time to gas up again), the left knee was demanding to be stretched out and moved, and I had to be careful when I put the leg down for the first few seconds until it stopped hurting enough to hold me up.

Then when I got to Trenton and did back to back 13-hour days on my feet, and could hardly walk at the end of the second day, I said, "That's it." As Tony pointed out we are officially middle-aged. So my latest middle-aged crisis involves doing something to make it easier to enjoy my time in the saddle.

I got fitness-assessed last Friday at work. Strength below average. Weight way above recommended (sorry -"big bones" doesn't cut it any more). Cholesterol on the high side of sorta OK. Blood pressure just fine, thank you (good peasant stock). Flexibility average. Aerobic fitness poor.

So Today I got checked out on some of the machinery at the Fitness Center and started to try and maintain a routine. Twenty minutes on the bicycle (it adjusts the effort up and down like you are riding up and down hills), twenty minutes on the treadmill (brisk walk, 8% slope - felt good until someone came in and started jogging at full speed on the next one over), several sets of repetitions on four of the resistance training machines designed to strengthen legs, shoulders and arms (just for a start - I will pick up more of the machines as I become familiar with them). Fairly low weight and effort levels. I want to keep going back, not make myself so miserable that I dread the experience. I don't ache right now, but I know that I have been using muscles that don't do much work sitting at a desk.

We will see. They say exercise gives you a physical fit. I'll let you know if I seize up. I have another ride and two-day gig in Watkin's Glen the end of this month. I hope to have made some flexibility and minor strength gains after three weeks of workouts.
Posted 9:08 PM by Andy (0) comments

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