| The bicycle is one of the best tools to use to burn | | | | usually very helpful. Yes they want to sell you a bike, |
| calories and lose weight. A 145lb woman riding 1 hour | | | | but most shops realize that they want to make you |
| at about 12 MPH will burn about 500 Calories, up the | | | | happy even more and if they sell you something that |
| speed to 16 MPH and the calorie burn increases to | | | | does not fit, you won't come back. Since they need |
| about 835 Calories per hour. | | | | your repeat business in order to stay in business |
| You can increase calorie burn by doing sprints now | | | | they will almost always do their best to make the |
| and then during the ride. | | | | bike you buy be the bike you will ride. |
| Since it takes 3500 Calories to burn a pound of fat, | | | | Here are some general rules, but not always a |
| then about 4 hours of cycling at 16 MPH will burn | | | | perfect fit since every individual is different. |
| roughly enough calories to burn 1 pound of fat. | | | | Buy a road bike if you are wanting to lose weight, |
| Cycling is very low impact, so it does not take the | | | | get fit, would like to ride with groups and enjoy the |
| toll on the joints like running does. | | | | speed and agility of road biking in general. If you do |
| Cycling can be done indoors on a stationery bike | | | | that also check with the shop about how to get into |
| when the weather is bad, with little or no change in | | | | the local bike club or group and have fun getting fir. I |
| your calorie burn. | | | | am a member of the Pecan City Pedalers in Albany |
| Personally I find indoor cycling on a stationery bike | | | | Georgia and also have contacts in clubs all over the |
| boring, but some find it quite fulfilling and there are | | | | US. I very much enjoy road biking. |
| now simulation machines that make it seem as if you | | | | Buy a comfort bike or hybrid if you are just |
| are going on a course rather than just riding the bike. | | | | interested in fitness and don't mind riding alone, don't |
| Some of these work with a trainer and increase | | | | really care about speed but just want to burn calories |
| resistance when going up hills and offer a variety of | | | | and get fir. These will usually have narrower tires so |
| course to keep the boredom down. | | | | they will go a little faster. They are a sort of cross |
| You can use the bicycle to do some errands and at | | | | between a Mountain Bike and a Road Bike. |
| the same time burn some calories that you would | | | | Buy a Mountain Bike if you live in an area where |
| never have had the chance to do otherwise. The use | | | | there are a lot of back roads that are not paved, |
| of a small bicycle trailer increases the number of | | | | road bikes and hybrids don't do the loose gravel and |
| calories burned as well as offer more opportunities | | | | grass thing as well as mountain bikes do. |
| for errands since you can carry much more and that | | | | Cruisers are OK, though not my own choice. That |
| allows you to expand the errand you can do. | | | | was the main type of bike that existed when I was |
| What I mean by that is that with my trailer I can | | | | a kid. These are sort of single speed bikes like we |
| carry up to 100 lbs. of groceries or tools or | | | | had back in the 50's and 60's Would be Ok for tooling |
| whatever. I have carried week's groceries back from | | | | around town, but they can be really rough on hills. |
| the supermarket. Pulling a 100lb load up even a small | | | | BMX Cruisers or 20" for racing. Racing BMX can be |
| hill will put a lot of extra resistance on the pedals and | | | | done at any age and after the first few times |
| improve your leg strength. | | | | around the track you will either love it or hate it. |
| Most people think of the bicycle as a totally cardio | | | | Most children love it, adults not so much. Personally I |
| workout, but that is not always true. Taking you bike | | | | enjoy it and love riding and even racing with my |
| up hills, especially with the extra load of a trailer will | | | | grandchildren. It gives a great workout and after 3 |
| definitely increase leg strength and it will also be a | | | | Motos (1 race) I feel like I have gotten a good |
| great way to strengthen your core. | | | | workout. |
| If you ride BMX or Mountain Bike then you will also | | | | If you try BMX, rent a bike or borrow one, most |
| build some upper body strength and your will burn a | | | | tracks have them at the track and will rent or loan |
| lot more calories than if you just ride casually. | | | | one for a practice race. Once you have tried it you |
| Depending on the type of cycling you plan to do | | | | will have to decide for yourself if it is for you. BMX |
| there may be some preparation needed and will | | | | Racing is not for everyone, but everyone is welcome |
| depend on what type of bike you want to buy. | | | | to try it. I think it is a lot of fun, but maybe when I |
| You should check with the local shop, they are | | | | get old (I am only 57) I will think differently. |