That's Fit

Have you ever been at the gym, kicking butt on the elliptical, only to look outside and see a perfect, gorgeous day that you're missing because you're in a gym? Or, do you like the idea of biking for fun, fitness, or transportation, but have less love for some of the things that come with biking (seat pain, hunched over position, catching on chain, etc.)? If so, you might want to get on the wait list for the elliptiGO Glide Bike.

The elliptiGO is a cross between a bike and an elliptical trainer, "combining the best aspects of running and cycling to create a fun and effective means of exercising outdoors." Since you're in a standing position while riding it, you have increased visibility and a distinct lack of pain in the genitals (because, be honest -- how many of you have opted out of a long bike ride because you knew how bad your privates would hurt afterward? I'm always amazed that true cyclists can ever have sex!).

It's easily modifiable, so you can go at your own pace using your own stride. There are eight gears, allowing you to work really hard and go as fast as 25 mph, or cruise along at closer to 6mph.

Raisins are the perfect pre-workout snack, reports a study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. They taste better than commercial sports gels and have the same effect on performance. Raisins also help athletes meet their daily needs for vitamins, minerals, and fiber, says lead researcher Mark Kern, Ph.D. of San Diego State University.

Kern's research, gathered from a group of male and female cyclists, was designed to examine potential differences in metabolism and cycling performance after consumption of moderate glycemic raisins vs. a high glycemic sports gel. Through blood samples taken before and after exercise, performance was deemed no different between the raisin and gel trials. Minor differences in metabolism were detected.

The bottom line: Raisins appear to be a cost-effective source of carbohydrate for pre-exercise snacking in comparison to sports gels for short-term exercise sessions.

As fabulous as we at That's Fit think this blog is, the truth is there are hundreds of wonderful blogs on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. So in this feature, Fit Links, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye.

According to Crabby at Cranky Fitness, you may have a condition known as Bike in the Basement disorder if:

• you are still able to ride a bike,
• you have access to a bike,
• you live in a bike-friendly neighborhood,
• AND
• you still never ride your bike.
  
  

We can't have that, now can we? Especially not since spring has finally arrived and it's the perfect time of the year to get back out on two wheels. So if you're looking for a little motivation, check out these posts about getting back on your bike. You'll be so glad you did.

Here's a little test to see how awake you are this Monday morning. Watch the video and count the number of passes the players with the white shirts make. When the video is finished, you can see just how aware you are.

The commercial was put out as a public service announcement, warning people to keep an eye out for cyclists. My husband, who commutes to work every day by bike, is one of the more careful cyclists I've met, and even he has had some close calls.

The warm spring air means that more people will be out on their bikes, so be aware that you may be sharing a line with someone on a bike. And if you're a cyclist, make sure that you're following the rules of the road.

After winning the Tour de France seven times, Lance Armstrong is certainly worthy of a relaxing retirement. However, that doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Since his retirement, the 35-year-old has found himself constantly on the road, promoting LiveStrong Challenges, the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research, joining with Nike and Apple to publicize his involvement in their partnership, and trying to be home to spend time with his kids. Still, his crazy schedule hasn't stopped him from running marathons.

Cycling is gaining popularity -- more and more people are looking for ways to commute in a more eco-friendly manner, plus many of us like the added benefit of burning those calories.

If you're planning to ride your bike around to run some errands, you can wear pretty much whatever you want as long as it's comfortable and allows a good range of movement. However, if you're serious about taking up cycling as a sport, there are a few items you might want to pick up:

I grew up in Michigan, and every winter was COLD. The only fluctuation was in whether it was cold and dry enough for thick ice to form on the lake so we could safely ice skate, or whether it would just be cold and miserable outside.

I always looked forward to summer -- we had a pool, and the minute it looked like we wouldn't have another freeze, I would beg my folks to uncover it so I could get in. Now, the temperature when we first took the cover off was generally about 60 degrees, so I couldn't exactly spend a day swimming in it, but it was a step toward those summer days of swimming for hours on end, getting out only because Grandma said I had to eat something for lunch.

This got me thinking of what summer outdoor activities I look forward to most as an adult. I still love going to the pool, but now that I live in Florida, I love taking a vacation to the beach. I get up early (usually) and take a long run along the beach, and generally go for a couple more long walks in the sand during the day. Between that, throwing around a football, and jumping through waves, I get a great workout and have a blast.

What summer workout are you looking forward to most? Check out the gallery for inspiration and be sure to vote in the poll!

Spring is nearly here and you'll soon be dusting off your bike and pedaling into traffic. Most cities and smaller towns are not cycling friendly, and even in places with dedicated cycling pathways, you're often at the mercy of clueless cars zipping by.

Transport for London has instituted a creative cycle safety campaign by raising awareness of two phenomena called "change blindness" and "inattention blindness." Harvard researchers demonstrated our "change blindness" with a simple experiment. They had a planted passerby ask a random person on the street for directions. In the middle of their verbal exchange, two workmen would walk right in between them carrying a door. Quickly, one of the workmen switched positions with the planted passerby. Amazingly, over 50 percent failed to spot the switch.

Same goes for a sister-phenomenon called "inattention blindness." Possibly a contributing factor in motorists colliding with cyclists, when a driver is concentrating on something they can be blind to other events around them. Their brain is not looking for a cyclist, it is listening to music, talking on the cellphone, contemplating existentialism, raging mad about the traffic. Whatever, their attention is elsewhere making them blind to most everything else. Take Transport for London's awareness video test to see how susceptible you are to "inattention blindness." I failed miserably.

As you tool around this summer in a car, on a bike or as a pedestrian, be aware of humans and vehicles around you. Place them center stage in your vision. Thanks to Julie's Health Blog for her coverage on the topic.

How many of us have splurged on an exercise for the home? Not many, I imagine -- I know buying one sure wouldn't be practical for me. But here's something neat that I read about on Fitsugar -- An attachment for your regular bike that makes it a stationary bike! They come in two style:

• With the Blackburn TrakStand Mag ($159.99), you mount your back wheel onto the stand and remove your front wheel -- the, peddle away!
• With cycling roller ($169.99), you basically ride your bike indoors on a set of rollers. It's harder than it looks -- you have to be really careful to keep on a straight and narrow path.
  

Cool, huh? Would you try it?

My neighbor spent most of his working life as a long-distance truck driver. In the years we've lived across from him, we rarely saw him outside, except when he (maddeningly) parked his cab in front of our house on his weeks off. Then he retired, and a few weeks later, he bought a bike. Now I see him out on his bike every day, in every corner of town. He wasn't what a cyclist before, but he's proof that you don't have to be one to enjoy spending time on a bike.

Japanese bike manufacturer Shimano did some research to find out why non-cyclists don't like bikes. They found that, among other things, shifting gears while riding made some people nervous, as did intimidating bike shops. In an effort to turn these non-riders on to the sport of cycling, Shimano developed Coasting. Coasting is a line of low-maintenance bikes with auto-shifting gears and durable tires that urges people who have never rode bikes before to climb aboard and "lollygag" around town. No stress, no pressure, just try life on two wheels for a while.

These bikes remind me of souped-up versions of my grandmother's old bike. If they can get a whole new generation of folks out of their homes and cars and pedaling around, well then I say "Bravo."

A while back, Bev asked if you could pass Dr. Oz's push-up test or not. Could you? I could -- but barely; I finished with badly shaking arms.

Here's another fitness test: According to this article from the Daily Mail, and this post from Bev, the majority of people in the UK can't do 20 sit-ups, cycle for 20 minutes or touch their toes while standing up. I can do all three fairly easily, and while I couldn't touch my toes before I took up yoga, 20 sit-ups and 20-minutes of cycling has never been a problem for me, even when I was quite out of shape. But enough about me -- I'm curious, what about you?

Looking for the sleekest attire possible for your cycling exploits? Look no further than Peal Izumi's Microsensor mp3 bib.

Sure, like other bibs, this snazzy outfit will reduce wind resistance, protect your skin from friction against the bike, and prevent rashes by wicking away your sweat -- but, more importantly, it has a 512 megabyte mp3 player and embedded controls. That way you merely have to tap your leg to switch tracks, crank up the volume, and kick out the jams for the final sprint.

The only drawback is the price -- which, at $499, isn't exactly cheap. But if you're a serious cyclist, I can see how this could definitely improve your ride.

[via productdose]

Ever hear the phrase "go ride a bike?" Instead of taking that as an insult, how about taking it literally? One of the best cardio workouts I can think of that is also low-impact is biking. As long as the weather agrees, it's also incredibly refreshing.

This article explains the history and efficacy of biking as a form of exercise, and I couldn't agree more. The use of a stationary or recumbent bike is great for those winter months, but in the Spring, Summer and Fall, riding a bike outside (in a designated area if possible) is one of the most awesome workouts I can think of.

In fact, biking does not seem like exercise to me -- more like a fun activity. Yes, quality cycles can cost a pretty decent amount and can sometimes be hard to transport, but trust me on this -- it is worth the effort. There are plenty of months left this year to get on the cycling bandwagon. I highly recommend it.

If you're sport is road biking, then you've probably at least heard of a century ride. A century ride is a 100-mile course that you ride in one day, kind of like a marathon for bikers. And just like a marathon, the course may not always be straight or flat, so prepare for the terrain you're heading into.

Here's an excellent essay written by a woman after she completed her first century. She'd never been into cycling before she began and managed to (almost) complete the course with only three months training. And speaking of training, here's a great article to help you build up your strength and endurance gradually so that you're well-prepared for race day.

Have any of our readers completed a century ride? Tell us what it was like!

I spend a lot of time listening to internet radio while I work and, while I normally wouldn't pick up on Tour de France news as it doesn't rate very high on my interest scale, I have heard a lot about the famous cycling race over the last few days. The 2007 race has been called a disaster after several instances of doping were reported among a number of riders.

What I don't understand is, how do these cyclists assume that they won't get caught? According to this piece, a random sample of riders are tested each day including the race leader and the winner of the current stage, along with a number of other riders. I figure that athletes who show positive results for banned substances have taken them as they think it will help them win, and they must know that they will be tested at the end of the day and found out, so what's the point? Doesn't seem like a very intelligent strategy.

It's a shame that a few riders had to tarnish the reputation of the entire race, but perhaps this will make others smarten up next year. And in happier sports news, not a single one of the 5,500 participants at the Pan-American Games, which just came to a close, tested positive for any banned substances. Apparently these athletes have brains as well as brawn.