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What do you love about cycling? We asked Elizabeth Begosh, who will be racing this weekend in the Wachovia Liberty Classic bicycle race in Philly this weekend, to tell us what she finds most rewarding about her sport. She came up with five top benefits, plus one:
1. Cycling satisfies my need for independence. Riding out of the city on the bikepath is one of the most liberating things to do. There's a great sense of accomplishment in a ride. I first learned how to achieve goals through cycling.
2. Cycling has allowed me to learn more about myself. It makes me more honest with myself; I feel more in tune with my body ; I have a better self-esteem/ body image because of what my body can accomplish through cycling; and I know how to look inside myself to find the strength to persevere through tough times.
3. Cycling has a community that has given me a number of great friends.
4. Cycling has allowed me to travel to many places I never would have gone. I have raced all over the States and Canada, many European countries, and hopefully this year Japan.
5. Cycling is less stressful on the body than other forms of exercise. Many women that race come from other sports such as running.
Honorable Mention: 6. Most people list this first: Cycling burns calories! Food becomes more enjoyable after a long ride or a hard race.
Share your thoughts on cycling! (And here's incentive: We still have www.bike-to-work.com water bottles to give away, with a Clif bar in each one! So tell us why you bike and we'll send you one. Available while supplies last!)
YVONNE: Very insightful, Elizabeth. Thanks for putting the feelings into words so well, especially the part about cycling making you honest with yourself. I think I understand what you mean. There's something about being out in the middle of nowhere with just your bike and some nourishment on our back. If you want to cross those miles to your destination there's not much you can do to get there but pedal.
What about safety? I looove cycling but sometimes I wonder if it's smart to be out on these long trails with no one sight. You look up on many of these trails and you're in the woods.
Posted by: Jenice on June 1, 2004 10:59 AMThat's a really good point. I would tend to run or cycle on paths too, since I don't really enjoy riding in the street.
Posted by: April on June 1, 2004 11:00 AMHey Girlfriends,
I went bike riding this week end for the first time in about a decade. It was fun and quite liberating. Not at all like riding a stationary bike in the gym. I hope to get confident enough in my riding to use it as my preferred mode of transportation.
Posted by: Kimberly Garrison on June 1, 2004 11:35 AMLiz was being modest when she didn't tell you that she placed (I believe) 10th in the Liberty Classic here in Philly in 2003. I hope my posting this doesn't embarrass you, Liz!
I was returning this past Sunday from a ride to Valley Forge & back and stopped in Manayunk to eat a bar. The Saeco pro team sped by and I said "Break over" to myself, and proceeded to give chase. It took 3-4 miles, but I caught them (they had slowed down a bit by then!). I was chatting with the ones who spoke better English (they are from Italy). It was exhilarating, and the pros were very nice. There aren't too many sports that an average person can just walk up to the pros and chat!
Kevin
Posted by: Kevin Gruenfeld on June 1, 2004 02:58 PMI lost over fifty pounds last year through dedicated cycling. Good thing too as a routine stress test last November indicated partial blockages in my left coronary artery. An angiogram confirmed the results and my cardiologist recommended bypasss surgery. The surgery was successful and both the surgeon and my cardiologist attribute my quick recovery to the excellent shape I was in due to the cycling. It's really scary to think of what might have happened had I not decided to start riding. I'm now fully recovered and back riding those long miles, each one of which I treasure more than you can know.
John Kearney
Posted by: John Kearney on June 2, 2004 10:32 AMThe best gift my husband ever gave me when we were dating was a 3-speed touring bike from Sears, circa 1975. I kept that bike for 20 years! Unlike Elizabeth and Yvonne, I ride an inexpensive and slightly rusty touring bike on weekends in exotic locales like Ocean City or Pennypack Park, but I love it. That's the great thing about biking--you can do it at any level and enjoy it.
Posted by: mari on June 3, 2004 12:52 PMCycling has changed my life! I was an overweight middle-aged wife/mother/teacher. I re-discovered the bike and now 40 pounds lighter I can out ride any teenager! Thanks Colnago!
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