Woman Glow eMagazine: The first article I did February 2012

nancy / A Man’s POV on Aging, Featured in slider / adventure, challenge, goal-setting, healthy body, natural aging / 2 Comments

Greetings, everyone, from the Old Guy on a Bicycle!

Nancy invited me to be a special guest on her informative “Womanglow” eMagazine.  She found me via my website http://www.oldguyonabicycle.com, and felt after reading it, I could provide a man’s perspective on a variety of subjects. e.g., my bicycling adventures, challenges of aging, etc.  You can find my blogs on her website under the tab  “A Man’s POV”.

 My current passion is bicycling.  I took it up about 7 years ago after realizing I needed to take some immediate action to lose weight and to reduce depression.  I wanted to live a longer and healthier life.  After gaining a bunch of weight due primarily to lack of exercise, I began to slip into a depression.  Riding a bicycle was my answer and salvation. 

 For most of my adult life I was a jogger.  I even ran10-K and half-marathons over the years.  After many years and miles running, an old knee injury from playing football in high school gave out which resulted in a total knee replacement.  Following the surgery and physical therapy, I gave up all exercise for 5 years.  After this lengthy hiatus, I had to do something.  I tried walking, weight training and a few other exercises but all of them were boring to me.  I missed my runs!  It finally occurred to me that bicycling may be similar to jogging but it was not long before I realized that it was not like “riding a bike”!  I found it extremely uncomfortable.  I am not one to give up on an idea or endeavor so I went to several bicycle shops searching for a solution to my discomfort dilemma.

 After going to three bicycle shops, I finally found a sales person who took the time to talk to me.  The associates at the first two stores completely ignored me.  I can’t help but think perhaps my stature (5’5”), my weight (250 lbs.) and age (well over 50) made them think I did not belong on a bike.  The gentleman at the third store intently listened to me as I explained my bicycle riding quandary.  He suggested that I bring in my bicycle.  From what I described to him, he wondered if the problem may be how I fit on the bike.  When I returned with my bike, the salesman, who turned out to be the owner and also in his fifties, confirmed his suspicions as soon as he saw me positioned on my bike.  The bike was much too large for my body type.  He felt a new bike would be better than trying to force-fit the one I had.  He took a few basic measurements of my body and recommended a bike.  He even allowed me to take the bike home and test ride it before purchasing.  WOW!  What a difference!  I immediately went from an uncomfortable 4 or 5 mile ride to 10 or more miles per outing with minimal discomfort.   I bought the bike and within a couple months I was riding 20, 30 and even 50 miles in relative comfort.

 Ah!  I was once again exercising, enjoying the fresh air, and watching the beauty of Mother Nature’s fauna and wildlife as I glided in nearly total silence.   Bicycling did for me what jogging did.  It cleared my head and lifted my spirits.  I was alive.  Life was good again!  Oh yes, I dropped 50 lbs that year, too.

 If you enjoyed hearing about how the Old Guy became a bicyclist, let Nancy know.  Let her know, too, what you would you like to read about the Old Guy in future blogs?

 The Old Guy on a Bicycle

Thought to ponder: Life is too short to be anything but happy.  Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.  By Jose N. Harris – A story of faith, hope and love.

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