Recently I posted (Scroll down a couple or seven postings) about my new Brompton folding bike. This (photo above) is my t'other bike which I have had for a number of years. I have recently had wider tyres with a more robust tread fitted. This change from narrow street tyres makes the bike more comfortable and capable on rougher bush tracks and rail trails. Although I use the Brompton early-ish every day for my daily exercise I sometimes like to stretch my legs further and do a longer ride. The above photo was taken on the first ride out on the new wide tyres. The performance was excellent and I was well pleased.
As I type this we (That is New Zealand) have entered a 7 day lock down (Auckland) and a 3 day lock down (The rest of NZ) as we now have an outbreak of the dangerous Delta variety of Covid 19. Biking, sailing etc is now on the back burner as we ride this virus out. Christine and I go for our second jab of the Pfizer vaccine on Saturday - what can I say? - Put on your mask, your common sense and 'Rock on,' is what I say.
10 comments:
This too shall pass. I'm hoping for my third jab, maybe by November. I suspect a Covid jam will be like the flu shot--an annual thing. Maybe they can combine the two for one visit...
Yes George you are correct "This too shall pass" and in the long term everything should return to 'normal'.
In the medium term things are still dangerous (especially for old buggers like me) - I read in this mornings newspaper that in the United Kingdom, despite its high vaccination rates and relative to New Zealand relaxation of shut down rules, they are still getting 800 cases Covid 19 ending up in hospital per day and about 100 deaths per day - sobering stuff. This may be the 'new normal' we will have to get used to - which will happen when the death rates reach the infection and death rates of the annual flu.
NZ has ordered another round of vaccines that will be used for 3rd jab booster shots next year - I will certainly be lining up for mine.
Take care George and thanks for your comment.
Take care, Alden.. I'm going on my first flight tomorrow in 2 years.. only Scotland but beyond excited.. :o))
PS. Nice bike, but consider going electric, you will NOT regret it..
Thanks Steve and have a great time in Scotland - I'm jealous - you are coming out of lock downs and we are full on into it all again!
I like the idea of an electric bike but as an overweight ex heart patient I need the sort of exercise that makes me sweat. If I had an electric bike I would find every excuse under the sun to simply run the battery flat every time I went out and just enjoy the effortless ride - not good for my heart.
Everyone says that until they buy one and see the actuality... motor won't work unless you pedal.. they're limited to 15mph (in the UK anyway) so over that and it's hard work.. the kicker is that they are so pleasant to ride you do far more miles than you would normally... got mine end May and have already done 1300 miles....
I have had a ride on an electric bike and I must say they are a tempting option. They are very popular in NZ especially with the 'grey nomads' who travel around the country in their camper vans. I can see the attraction. 1300 miles is a good old distance - time to ride it to Scotland and back?
Hi Alden,
I agree with you regarding: as an overweight ex heart patient I need the sort of exercise that makes me sweat.
As soon as you will have your electric bike you will not have sufficient exercise anymore. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak 😊.
At the other hand when you live in hilly terrain it may extend your possibilities and you will use the bike instead of a car, which is also good for the environment climate etc.
In the Netherlands more electric bikes are sold now than conventional bikes. A grey wave is biking now who was not capable of doing so before. There are some negative effects though. The poor bike handling of this group of people results in increased accident rates of which many are fatal. This is understandable because the speed is relative high (25 km/h) and the bikes are very heavy (28 kg) often more as twice as much compared to a conventional bike.
So be wise and careful.
Personally I am not so wise, did some climbs and high speed descents in the French Alps this summer. Still love it 😊
Hi Ben - Yes, despite the attraction I really don't need an electric bike. My two NON electric bikes are now part of my daily exercise and I wouldn't be without them. A hard workout on one of my bikes every day is helping me to maintain the weight loss I have made this year (from 95kgs to 83kgs) and is part of the plan for reducing my weight further and maintaining this.
Steve obviously loves his bike (and all power to him) and so obviously do the new grey wave you mention in the NL. If an electric bike gets people out of their chairs and out into the world for a bit of power assisted exercise and fresh air, that has to be a good thing - that's great - but for me and my situation - old style is best.
Your weight loss is great! Keep on going and progressing.
The good thing is that on a bike you only need LSD, long slow (steady) distance to reduce fat. LSD is forgiving to your joints and muscles, only your bum will hurt 😊. I think that reduced weight with the same muscle strength helps with sailing as well.
Renée and I discussed the electric bike issue. So maybe in 5 years or so we might buy electric bikes for touring in hilly, mountainous terrain.
The reason is a very disturbing phenomena. Although we are quite fit, aerobic power output will decrease with age even when we train it every day. From 35 till 70 it reduces with 0,8% /year (so I have about 30 % less power than in my thirties). The sad thing however is that somewhere between 70 and 75 years of age the decline becomes 3 % / year ☹.
We are lucky that the reduced power output is not so obvious in the flat Netherlands.
Yes, Long, Slow, Distance is the key to losing weight combined with a reduction in food (I have been over eating for years).
As in most things weight is crucial in small yachts for boat speed- its all about the power to weight ratio. But the advantage of this ratio is on a 'fine edge' in a small yacht as weight is required in strong winds to keep the boat upright - so the whole scenario is a balancing act in more ways than one.
And yes as you point out aerobic power output decreases with age - as does muscle mass along with much else. I am determined to keep going as long as I can - probably until things start falling off the body, which will probably be the time to get an electric bike or god forbid a mobility scooter! I wonder how a mobility scooter would go with a yawl rig?
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