Fitness Journal
Fitness Journal: Fit It, Don’t Trash It
When did we become such a throwaway society? For most people, once a cell phone, computer, appliance or even a bicycle frame breaks, they are just chuck it into the trash instead of taking the time to fix the item. For many products it remains cheaper to buy a new one than it is to try to repair the broken one. This fact is especially true with electronics, but bike frames are a bit different. Depending on the type of break and material, a frame can be repaired and often for a fraction of the cost of a new frame – even carbon fiber. Read more
Fitness Journal: USA Pro Cycling Challenge
Our coverage of the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge:
The Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Part 1: Gunnison to Buena Vista
The Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Part 2: Buena Vista to Aspen
Watching the Queen Stage – Spectator Information for Gunnison to Buena Vista
Watching the Queen Stage – Spectator Information for after Buena Vista to Aspen
Inspired by the USA Pro Cycling Challenge to Climb Some Colorado Mountain Passes?
USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Strider World Cup Answers the Challenge
Fitness Journal: Transform a Belly of Flab With a Bag of Sand
There was a workout routine we had been hearing about, and had mixed opinion about. It was called the “sandbag training,” which essentially is a sort of weight lifting routine but instead of lifting metal or other solid weights, it involved using a bag of sand. Read more
Fitness Journal: Old Timer Looks to New Technology
Naturally, as I am cycling more, I see these fantastic new two wheeled machines on the roads and in the bike shops. Naturally, I try to justify buying one of these sleek new bikes. My angular racing frame probably seems a bit outdated compared to these new carbon frames and surely it is not as stiff as it was 24 years ago when I first raced it. I’ve wondered how much extra effort I have to put into my ride to overcome those 64 steel spokes whipping through the headwind like egg beaters. My SLX steel tubing flexing at the bottom bracket every time I lunge into a sprint across an intersection is costing me precious speed. But this isn’t an excuse, this is an opportunity; an opportunity to buy a new bike. Read more
Fitness Journal: Test It Before You Ride It: Part I
When I bought my first mountain bike 20 years ago, it was common practice for the local shop to let you take the bike around the parking lot for a ‘test ride’. This was back when there were U-brakes; thumb shifters; no suspension; and a mid end bikes were $500 and high end bikes were seldom over $2000. You got the feel for the bike and if the frame fit you, but it was not a real good indication as to how it would handle on the trails. Read more
Fitness Journal: Test It Before You Ride Part II
You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it out for a test drive, but surprisingly this is exactly how many people buy bikes. This isn’t surprising for lower-end bikes, but then the numbers are well north of $1,000 this is just crazy. Why wouldn’t you test a bike first? Read more
Fitness Journal: Wearing the BodyMedia Fit
Trade shows, especially for journalists, are a time for getting work done. Meeting exhibitors and seeing product. It’s easy to lose sight of your fitness routines. As the Consumer Electronics Show approached and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) approached me to wear an activity meter and compete for the journalist who takes the most steps, I was intrigued. There are a few shows including CES and the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) where I know I log a lot of steps because I’m running (sometimes literally) back and forth between several spread out halls to get to appointments and to see the show. I’ve always been curious just how many steps I’ve taken and calories I’ve burned at these shows. Now I had the perfect tool to give me the answer. Not only that, but immediately after CES I was headed to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, and was curious to see how that show compared in steps and energy output. Read more
Fitness Journal: Let It Roll With the Tru-Trainer
If you are familiar with cycling, you are probably familiar with the training device called ‘rollers’. Rollers are a very simple training aid consisting of three aluminum or plastic drums which the rider can only maintain their balance while riding. If they cyclist stops pedaling, they fall over. This might sound a bit dangerous and unnerving to learn, but if you can master riding rollers, not only will you get a physical workout, your handling and pedaling efficiency will greatly improve. Read more
Fitness Journal: Is Cycling a Pain in Your Rear?
Are you an avid cyclist or just starting to ride your bike for fun and exercise? Is your rear end sore when you are finished and keeping you from riding your bike more often? You do not have to take this pain sitting down. After you have adjusted your seat, changed your seat to one that is more comfortable and even upgraded to a good pair of padded cycling shorts, your soreness may still exist especially on longer rides. A product that you may want to try is chamois cream. Read more
Fitness Journal: Can You Keep a Secret?
Do you participate in a sport or fitness activity regularly? Do you enjoy trying out the latest technology? Can you offer technical praise or criticism of a product? Can you keep a secret? I you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, you might be a perfect candidate to become a ‘wear tester.’ Read more
Fitness Journal: Water, Water (Bottles) Everwhere – Here’s on Hands On Test Recap
Over the past month we rode, we drank, we tested. We tried out many water bottles and wrote up the findings. Read more
Fitness Journal: Can’t Buy it? Built It!
About a year ago my friend, Sean, and I were at Tam Bikes in Mill Valley, California when I noticed a bike which caught my eye - a belt drive mountain bike by Spot Brand. I immediately feel in love with the belt drive concept due to the simplicity, but I was not in the market for a single speed mountain bike as I already owned a few. But if you can’t buy one, the next best thing was to build it, which is exactly what I did. Here is the story of building up a bike. Read more
Fitness Journal: Pedal Talk - To Clip or Not to Clip
There comes a point in a cyclist’s life when they decide to make the move from platform pedals to a system that connects them more with the bicycle. This is sort of a “Zen-like” experience of being one with the bike. This attachment is however more mechanical than metaphysical. Read more
Fitness Journal: Joining a Gym, Sign on the Dotted Line
When it comes time to joining a gym, you need to sign on the dotted line. In this way gyms and cars are a bit alike. As with cars, it begins with sales. Membership at many gyms, particularly larger chains, is handled by salesmen. Unfortunately, like their auto counterparts, gym salesmen are viewed as deceptive. While many salesmen are hardworking and honest, there seems to be many that are willing to meet a sales quote at any cost, even if it means lying or omitting information; then there are those who just don’t know anything and end up giving the wrong information. Read more
Fitness Journal: To Gym or Not to Gym
There are several questions you should ask yourself when it comes to deciding on whether or not to join a gym. Read more
Fitness Journal: Should You Join a Gym?
I have only heard someone say “I love my new gym” once, and that came from someone who had too much disposable income to spend on an outrageously pricey workout facility. Exercise and staying fit should be an accessible and affordable (and, dare I say it, fun) activity, but as times have changed and we have traded working in the fields for the office, gyms have become an expensive but necessary evil in our modern sedentary lifestyles. But working out in a gym should be rewarding and enjoyable, right? Read more
