Keep It Moving!
Hello friends and happy fall. I love riding this time of year - the temperatures are often perfect, fall foliage is popping off, and the fitness built up over the summer makes turning the pedals feel easy. Well, normally…
I have had another type of fall. I took a hard spill back in August and shattered my shoulder, which has kept me off the bike for two months. It’s been hard to miss out not only events but even just the casual weekend cruises with friends.
For the first month I did basically zero exercise, and when I gingerly climbed back on the trainer in the garage, it was pretty laughable how much fitness I’d lost. (That whole ‘use it or lose it’ thing is a reality - particularly as we get older!)
The last few weeks, however, I’ve been exercising every day, getting out for hikes and riding the trainer. The more I do it, the better I feel. You know how it is!
All that to say, as the days get shorter and colder, I encourage you to establish a routine to keep exercising in some capacity.
If you can keep riding outside, fantastic. If not, no worries - just commit to a regular program of some kind. For some folks, a spin class is a good solution, with a schedule and social elements built right in to a program that isn’t reliant on weather or daylight. For others, yoga works great.
Here in Colorado, I’ve been enjoying hiking in the foothills, as the endorphin-creating cardio workout comes naturally whenever the trail points up. This weekend, I did The Incline in Manitou Springs for the first time, which is a 2,764-step slog straight up the side of a mountain. And by steps, I mean straight-up wooden steps built into the mountainside. I enjoyed the camaraderie with strangers as we labored out way up the thing, sweating and complaining and admiring the views. It felt a lot like a good ride, in many respects.
Now that I’ve been hiking regularly, when I get on the trainer my legs feel a lot better. I see a lot more hiking in my future through the winter, plus maybe even a little XC skiing if conditions allow.
As much as we love cycling, it’s nice to take a break for the bike now and again. Just don’t stop moving your body for too long. It’s a lot easier to keep it moving than the restart from months of being static. Have fun and we’ll see you out there on the bike next year.
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