One of the most interesting things I see on a regular basis are cyclists who seem to have a little too much in the belly department. It's always a little humorous to see people dressed in the standard biking jersey and shorts carrying some extra weight. While these individuals are fairly active, especially those I see most days commuting to work, there are several reason I believe this to be the case.
Cycling isn't particularly a full-body exercise, especially if you're leisurely biking without an intent to treat it as working out. While it's great that you're biking to work or getting out on the weekends for an easy ride, not using your upper body at all just might lead to a slight pot belly. Having an overall good body of work would probably require working out the entire body.
Another idea is more psychological, in that people seek to reward themselves after exercising. Except, instead of rewarding, they use exercise as an excuse to maintain unhealthy parts of a lifestyle ("if I go to the gym, then I can have this chocolate bar/burger/etc"). Obviously these things don't cancel out, and good overall health requires a good diet as well.
Maybe so, maybe not, but these cyclists always give me a good chuckle.
Showing posts with label Biking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biking. Show all posts
Monday, May 25, 2015
Thursday, January 30, 2014
The Supposed Right of Way
A large portion of the country seems to feel that the pacific northwest is a somewhat more "progressive" society, full of hipsters and people who aren't downright buttoned-down and closed-minded. However, this doesn't mean that they are necessarily not assholes who believe that their self-worth comes above the worth of anyone and everyone.
I've noticed this a lot more as I get back into riding. While riding and other forms of non-solitary vehicular transport are more prevalent (in addition to exercising in general), a disproportionately large group of these people act as if they're above the law and above reproach. The prime example of this behavior is when the bike trail crosses any road.
When many bikers (and runners) reach these crossings, they choose not to stop and then just continue on through the crossing regardless of traffic. While some of these crossings have stop signs for cross traffic, most of these crossings just have a sign indicating that there is a trail crossing at that present location and no more. However, this does not stop the endless berating of these drivers who choose not to stop at these crossings that have no stop signs and let the bikers/runners pass.
It's quite obvious that those drivers owe the trail users anything and anyone who does stop at these crossings is only doing so out of courtesy, but yet it has come to the point where these runners and bikers, for some strange and unfounded reason, expect any and every car to stop at these crossings as if it were the law, and will actively curse out drivers who don't wait at every crossing to let everyone cross.
What is especially maddening about some of the cyclists here is how they feel like they're above all laws and that no laws apply to them. In many places it is illegal for bikers to use the sidewalk, so bikers must use the road and designated trails. That being said, many cyclists feel like traffic laws don't apply to them and bike around the streets as if they were pedestrians, with everyone yielding to their every whim.
What would be entertaining is to see these bikers and runners try to be "progressive" and everything in the LA area, where I started riding. I feel like they would be a lot more grateful for what Seattle has to offer them...
I've noticed this a lot more as I get back into riding. While riding and other forms of non-solitary vehicular transport are more prevalent (in addition to exercising in general), a disproportionately large group of these people act as if they're above the law and above reproach. The prime example of this behavior is when the bike trail crosses any road.
When many bikers (and runners) reach these crossings, they choose not to stop and then just continue on through the crossing regardless of traffic. While some of these crossings have stop signs for cross traffic, most of these crossings just have a sign indicating that there is a trail crossing at that present location and no more. However, this does not stop the endless berating of these drivers who choose not to stop at these crossings that have no stop signs and let the bikers/runners pass.
It's quite obvious that those drivers owe the trail users anything and anyone who does stop at these crossings is only doing so out of courtesy, but yet it has come to the point where these runners and bikers, for some strange and unfounded reason, expect any and every car to stop at these crossings as if it were the law, and will actively curse out drivers who don't wait at every crossing to let everyone cross.
What is especially maddening about some of the cyclists here is how they feel like they're above all laws and that no laws apply to them. In many places it is illegal for bikers to use the sidewalk, so bikers must use the road and designated trails. That being said, many cyclists feel like traffic laws don't apply to them and bike around the streets as if they were pedestrians, with everyone yielding to their every whim.
What would be entertaining is to see these bikers and runners try to be "progressive" and everything in the LA area, where I started riding. I feel like they would be a lot more grateful for what Seattle has to offer them...
Monday, March 12, 2012
Fixie!
Recently I had my single speed/fixie bike stolen from campus, which was less than desirable since it was a half-decent bike. I only used the single speed hub for that bike and never flipped the wheel to try riding a fixed gear bike.
Since walking around is a hassle (and I used to think walking across Penn State was no problem...), I ordered another bike. It also has the option of being fixed gear or single speed, but this time I left it in fixed gear. The first time I rode it I almost fell off just mounting the bike, since you can't just coast on the bike. I've gotten used to it, though stopping can be a little difficult at times since there is no rear brake and I can't coast. When I start taking my bike to 99 Ranch I'll have to go back to single speed so I don't get owned or hit by a car.
Since walking around is a hassle (and I used to think walking across Penn State was no problem...), I ordered another bike. It also has the option of being fixed gear or single speed, but this time I left it in fixed gear. The first time I rode it I almost fell off just mounting the bike, since you can't just coast on the bike. I've gotten used to it, though stopping can be a little difficult at times since there is no rear brake and I can't coast. When I start taking my bike to 99 Ranch I'll have to go back to single speed so I don't get owned or hit by a car.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)