I have been blessed or cursed, (could never figure this one out) with being an athlete most of my life. Cycling started as a juvenile and developed into a mix of competitive, recreational and getting back into shape phases throughout the years. Once you are an athlete, the experience of having a body and mind that works really well, becomes addictive. Life has taught me that I can cure just about anything with endurance exercise, so the addiction is really just about keeping everything working really well.

 This hub is intended for a broad audience, with broad I don’t mean those of us with big butts, although cycling fixes this little problem fast. I mean broad in the sense of covering material from the perhaps interested cyclist, to the novice, to the serious cyclist and finally to the professional.

We have to start somewhere right? So, let’s do this in little bits, or should that read let’s do this slowly towards getting little butts? OK, let’s just say little bits of good stuff make little butts tight and big butts little. Back to the important stuff now, in chapter 1, I will try and cover why we practice cycling. Why do we do this, what do we get in return, the advantages and the dangers?

I am just a simple Engineer, so those with a medical, or a sports medical background, please help me out with your comments. What I do know, is that every time my cycling stopped for more than six months, life changed drastically, to the point where I almost got a divorce, changed my job and then jumping back on the bike cured all sins.

My Engineering analogy of this experience is simply that the way a good modern advanced lubricant works in a modern high performance engine, compares to the blood circulation in my body. Endurance exercise improves circulation, it cleans my lubricant, (I mean blood here) and it gets the stuff that each part of my body needs there fast. Simply put, it gives me the perception of continuous well being.

The medically educated crowd will tell you the following about cycling on a regular basis:

1.) Reduces the cholesterol levels in the blood.

2.) Increases the high density lipo-protein/cholesterol ratio in the blood as well.

3.) Reduces the chances of strokes and heart attacks caused by clotting.

4.) Reduces the chances of illnesses caused by high blood pressure.

5.) Is as effective as drugs in reducing high blood pressure.

6.) Makes obesity unlikely thus helping reduce the chances of diabetes.

Being a simple Engineer, I don’t bother about the above academics, I believe exercise is important from my own experience and below is what cycling does for me, in priority order.

1.) Provided one has not been blessed with extreme grey hair and baldness (for the guys), cycling can reduce the physical affects of age by more than ten years, both in looks and the way the body behaves. The body is amazing and it is never too late, you can always get it back.

2.) It makes guys really good in bed. (Listen up ladies!!!)

3.) It keeps everything in tone, starting with the legs, then the back to the extent where it solves back related problems with supporting muscles, the abdominals, the arms and the chest. The effects on the butt is the best!!

4.) Enjoying food without gaining unwanted weight. Cycling and eating has a kind of a proportional ratio. If you enjoy food, cycling is one of the best methods for burning it away. You can cycle to the extent (the professionals) where your digestive system can no longer keep up with the fuel and nutrients the body needs and there is almost no body fat or you can moderate your cycling to follow your diet towards keeping weight exactly where you want it.

5.) Psychological health. I once had a blood doctor who told me that we are made up of minerals and the brain has the ability to create substances which cause depression, or feeling well. All I know is the fitter I am, the happier I am, handling stress becomes easy and recovery from the worst possible life experience is fast.

6.) For those well past the novice stage, the competition and the circle of friends you can develop in this sport is both amazing and infinite to the amount fun you can have. For those in the novice stage, it is a new experience, outdoors, new friends and good health.

I can go on and on, but six is a good number, for the advantages.

So, how about cycling injuries?

Injuries per 100 hours:

Cycling 0.005

Soccer 0.060

Basketball 0.110

Football 0.190

Running 0.011

 There are a few dangers to cycling;

1.)    Road safety is always a concern, the solution being indoor training if you live in a high traffic dangerous area and taking the bike out into the country over week-ends. Unfortunately motorists develop a sub-conscious driving style, where they observe similar vehicles and they simply do not see us, until it is too late. One learns to ride defensive and avoid dangerous situations. I have been around and often listen to my friends complaining about vehicles on the road here in the US. I can tell you that the US is probably one of the safest countries I have cycled in. I have been lucky; all my falls were in competition, with never a serious injury.

2.)    If the bug really bites, it can get expensive in terms of equipment, gear and the time one spends on the sport.

3.)    Once you stop, the body starts changing for the worst, slowly but surely and quality of life deteriorates, simply because memory reminds you of the good times.

4.)    After endurance exercise, during the recovery process the male body produces more testosterone. Nuff said.

 Enough for now, in chapter 2 we will talk about how to get started, why those little narrow saddles work so well and how to get used to them, how to fit the right bike and the beginning stages of training. What levels of fitness you can achieve, with how much time spent in the week and how long to get into shape.

For the advanced cyclists, hang with me and help out with comments, we will get to the good stuff.

Finally, remember: Cyclists do it with cadence