If any of you are interested in getting into shape... (some pics)

[WilliamPitt]

Let me tell you about my new bicycle.

I bought it a little less than a month ago, inspired by several friends of mine who ride to or for work. I have ridden it every day since I got it, sometimes only a few miles and sometimes as many as 10-15 miles. I ride mostly on the bike path along the Charles river, and try to get out in the mornings.

Now, I have led a pretty sedentary lifestyle for too many years. I worked in office cubicles for a long time, and then out of my apartment when the writing/news thing came along. To make matters worse, I have an astonishingly large level of enjoyment for beer, and perhaps an even bigger taste for anything involving cheese. I also smoke (less than a pack a day, but still).

The result? Beer gut, deflated muscles all over the place, and not a lot of wind.

So I got this bike, and have been riding every day, and do just a little bit of weight-lifting after every ride. I feel better than I have since I was in high school. My beer gut is gone, my muscle tone has returned, I am sleeping like a baby, and I have dropped weight. I went out and bought size 34 pants on Saturday, and I need a belt to keep them up.

So.

If any of you are interested in getting into shape, I cannot recomment bike riding enough. It helps every muscle group from your toes up, and is an amazing amount of fun.

Some pictures from my ride this morning:



The machine.



Boston at dawn from the Massachusetts Avenue bridge.



The old Charles Street bridge.



Part of the Charles River bike path.



The bike path down the center of Commonwealth Avenue.

[matcom]

1. and here I was hoping for Will Pitt 'buff' pics

preferably posing with a cute furry puppy a-la "Hoff" style :hide:

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. GMTA!!

I was all like,"Where are the 'look at me!' pics???"

[matcom]

4. what do you think this IS?

MySpace?

:rofl:

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. I guess we should be all embarassed now..

:rofl:

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. Will Pitt is this season's David Hasselhoff!

:applause:

More pics!

[matcom]

14. this is kinda what I had in mind

[VelmaD]

15. What is he doing...

to that poor puppy? Pervert!

[Rosie1223]

17. You just know

someone is going to photoshop Will's face onto that pic.

:rofl:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Nice pics, and a good idea.

But what if one is so out of shape that riding a bicycle would probably be fatal? I have a bicycle; it's in my garden shed with deflated tires. If I pumped up the tires and actually attempted to ride the thing, I'd probably make it halfway around the block before I fell off it onto the street in a fat, gasping heap, flopping about like a gaffed carp. And then there's the spandex bike pants. If it's not illegal to wear spandex, it should be.

[WilliamPitt]

5. Start slowly

A turn around the block one day, then two turns the next day, etc.

And yeah, leave the spandex at home. I do. ;)

[Crazy Dave]

6. I'm seriously thinking of using a bike for my work commute

Well, sort of. I work out of my house and my best client is only a mile and a half from my house. I seriously think a bike might be quicker as I can ride it through a parking lot and miss a light that has a longer wait than the entire trip. You won't get a ticket for "cutting corners" that way either. That's one of their favorite things to write tickets for in this city.

[WilliamPitt]

10. Do be careful

I don't know where you live, but street riding in any quasi-urban environment can be perilous.

The fourth most dangerous thing on the road is a car, but that can be mitigated if you're a good driver, because you can predict what they'll do (until they open a door without looking first and destroy you).

The third most dangerous thing on the road is a bus, which can't see you.

The second most dangerous thing is a cab, which will actively try to kill you.

The most dangerous things on, near or around the road are pedestrians, who simply don't pay attention. Even on bike paths, they wander around in lala land.

[Crazy Dave]

13. Mostly on the route I would take...

...the danger would be from people backing out of their driveways fast and without looking. Even in my car it happens frequently.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. Funny, this pedestrian says the same for bikers.

Y'all think you own everything on the road and near the road. You run red lights with impunity, blast through crosswalks, even though we have the right of way, terrorize sidewalks, weave through traffic causing everyone around you to worry about what the fuck you're going to do instead of paying attention to what's in front of us.

I think city bikers should have to get a license plate if they want to run around in the streets and they should be forced to obey ALL the same rules that cars do.

[WilliamPitt]

28. No doubt

I see a lot of bikers I'd like to bonk on the head for doing that. I try to ride the roads as if I were in a car. At a minimum, I'm protecting myself that way.

[Rosie1223]

8. Nice Pics

I wish I had such beautiful scenery on my commute to work.

Congrats on the weight loss, too.

[VelmaD]

9. nice pics

Though I was hoping for at least one of the new and improved you. ;)

BTW, here's a public thank you for inspiring me to get back on the wagon. I had been doing so good and was in such good shape...and then I let things go for too long...I've been back exercising the last few days and I feel a TON better. Thanks for the little nudge. *smooches*

Next time we're in teh same zip code we can compare abs. *snort*

[Ravenseye]

11. I'm not a huge fan of Boston

I really didn't enjoy living there. Yet, I've got to say one of the few things I miss is the path along Memorial. One of the most beautiful views of a city in the country, is of Back Bay from that angle. The cool crisp air of the New England morning, the crew's on the water rowing, the sun rising behind the city. You captured it perfectly.

Great place to ride a bike, or walk, or run, etc.

[taterguy]

18. Which side are you on?

Bicycles are fueled by food, which is generally produced by American farmers

Cars are fueled by oil, made by those progressive folks in the Middle East

Bikes allow you to appreciate this nation's beauty, like the pics you posted and this shot from Virginia's New River State Park

Why do you hate America?

[underpants]

19. Funny that you should post this

Tomorrow is my "1/2 birthday" and I promised myself that I would get back into actual shape by my 40th birthday so tomorrow morning at 5 AM I will be out pounding the pavement. I got close a couple of time the first 6 months but this summer has been nothing but viruses and horrible allergies/sinuses (my doctor says this is normal the first year of nonsmoking). I am back on it tomorrow. I mix in a bike ride once a week just to relieve some of the stress on the knees and such.

Feels great doesn't it Will? Really clears the head, it really allows me to set my schedule for the day in my head.

[cwydro]

20. Fantastic pics!

and congrats on getting into shape!

[flvegan]

21. Some great advice hidden in your post...

if you can find a way to really enjoy whatever exercise you choose, your chances of success are tenfold.

Congrats on your newfound spirit and your lost, er, inches.

[SOteric]

22. Wait, - so you're saying

your beer gut is 'Gone with the Schwinn?'

[matcom]

25. HA!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:spray:

[Deja Q]

23. Can't bike anymore.

An ear infection partially crippled my balancing mechanism.

[reyd reid reed]

24. GREAT pictures...

makes me want to go out and get on a bike myself.

:hi:

[Writer]

26. That is one nice road bike, sir.

The city I live in here in Colorado has bike lanes and trails everywhere. Perhaps the most bike friendly city I've lived in. The Colorado foothills also provide a bit of extra challenge, but I have to agree - cycling is a terrific whole body sport. Since my knees have worsened I have switched from running to cycling and I do not regret it.

Happy cycling!

Writer.

[WilliamPitt]

27. Thanks

At some point I'm going to have to swap out the tires so I can ride when the weather turns.

[idgiehkt]

29. very purty.

My bike is on my screen porch and both tires are flat. I haven't ridden it in two years. Here if you ride a bike on the road people think they have a God-given right to run you over. It's bad. I hate it here.

Your pictures make me so homesick for when I lived in a civilized town and you could ride all over the damn place without feeling threatened. Heck, I lived in SC and rode nearly every day for over 3 years and only got hassled a couple of times.

[WilliamPitt]

30. Where are you?

Boston is widely considered to be one of the worst places to ride.

[Shine]

31. Congrats, Will! Good for you.

I am a big afficianado of cycling myself, but I've only been doing it for about 6 yrs. Get this: I signed up to do the CA AIDS Ride back in 2000 (from SF to LA in a week, 575 miles) before I even had a bike!! How's THAT for crazy?! Trained for 6 mos, raised a bunch o' money for a good cause, and discovered a sport that I am really good at and LOVE! A win/win all around. You're right, it's a great way to keep in shape. I have a 27 speed roadie Cannondale, tricked out with a special seat, clipless pedals, custom stem and handlebar.

I live in the Santa Cruz mountains and we're lucky to have lots and lots of beautiful roads to cycle on out here. In fact, I've been training all summer for an organized century bike ride called the Surf City Century this coming Sunday. 100 miles in a day. It's an annual benefit ride for the Santa Cruz AIDS Project. :thumbsup: I feel blissfully happy when I'm out on my bike, with the breeze on my face.

I wish you all the best and safe riding. Don't forget: ALWAYS wear a helmet!!! Even on a tame little bike path, shit can happen, trust me. My helmet saved my life last summer as I was turning a street corner. Tire slipped in some water, hit my head on the curb, cracked my helmet. If I hadn't been wearing it, who knows what could've happened??

Be safe, be well, have fun!! :hi: