BICYCLE RIDING AS A HOBBY AFTER 55 YEARS OF AGE

 BICYCLE RIDING AS A HOBBY AFTER 55 YEARS OF AGE

‘BICYCLING IS PART OF THE FUTURE! THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SOCIETY THAT DRIVES A CAR TO A WORKOUT AT THE GYM’.  BILL NYE, US Scientist

This blog is dedicated to Mr. Nagarajan of Lantrasoft who has motivated me toward this hobby!

My wife and I had been through Scandinavian countries recently on a holiday. We were impressed at the number of cycles on the road in Copenhagen far outnumbering the cars. Cycles were used everywhere for commuting, pleasure, and transportation. People of all ages were on bicycles. In fact, the only motorized 2-wheelers we saw on the road were only the food couriers.

The first question that comes to your mind as you read about cycling as a hobby is - is it for me? Will I fall down and hurt myself?  

Most people will agree that provided you do not have any major illness concerning your heart or neurological or joints, it is perfectly safe for you to take up cycling. If you still entertain any doubts, it is probably better to consult a physician before you take up this hobby.

What are the advantages of cycling?

1. It is certainly an exercise that is faster than being on the treadmill. Plus it gets you outdoors. So you see more of the world at a slower pace than from a car / motorized vehicle. 
2. It works as a weight loss tool. The slow exercise keeps you fit.
3. The heart is one of the organs to be affected in the older age group. Cycling keeps the circulation moving and the lungs working,  thus helping to maintain the heart in a fairly good condition
4. Undue weight gain can be associated with old age. Cancer can occur in the obese and old age. By reducing obesity, cycling can avert cancer.
5. Cycling keeps your muscles in good shape, strength, and tone. So it keeps you strong for your age.
6. Cycling is done in groups, family, Rotary, neighbourhood, or church. So it gives you the company of many others with the same hobby.
7. Cyclo-thons are arranged to highlight various causes by companies. By taking part in them, you complete the required distance, and you have a psychological sense of achievement, more when you get a certificate and medal at a senior age.
8. Cycling is also good for your brain. It keeps you alert on the road, to the vehicles around you, about the potholes, and also to avoid the stray dogs on the prowl!
9. Cycling after a while as a hobby is a sheer joy! Nothing compares to the joy you experience as the wind on your face, the braking to pass others go past, being alert all around you, and finally looking at the distance you have covered at the end of your cycling!

What do you need to get started?

1. Motivation from the inside is the first one. Whatever you may read, you have to be convinced that this is good for you and that you need it. This is vital to keep the cycling habit a constant and consistent one.
2. A good cycle is the most vital priority. Cycles for exercise and pleasure are different. Cycles are individualized. It is best to visit a good cycle shop with a budget. Cycles are hybrid and off-road types. Hybrids are cycles that have a suspension; this is optional. If you are only going on the road for exercise and pleasure, the ones without suspensions are good enough.
3. Accessories are as vital. A helmet, goggles to keep the dust particles off your eyes, good rechargeable front and rear lights, a loud bell/horn, a bright light-reflective jacket, a face mask to keep the dust off your mouth, a water bottle, a cycle air pump and a pouch for keeping money / your mobile with a downloaded app for measuring your distance and time as well as for playing music as you journey on the road. Cycling shorts have inbuilt padded seats for comfort. Gloves for riding too add to the comfort.
4. I have also rigged up a video camera to the helmet to take videos hands-free, of the journey when I need one. This is optional naturally.

How do you get started initially?

1. Get a professional cyclist or an enthusiast to adjust your seat height which should be at your hip level with only the tips of your toes touching the ground.
2. Join a group of cyclists in the neighborhood if there is one. 
3. Choose your time for the ride. I prefer the early morning time when there is minimal traffic on the road. My preferred time is too early to permit me no companions to ride with.
4. Ride short distances on good roads first.
5. Increase your distance first and then duration later over months. 
6. When you are happy with your hobby after a few months, seek a professional cyclist's advice to increase your speed too.

HAPPY CYCLING!

YOU ARE WELCOME!😊😁