Welcome!

It's a new year and time once again to give a new look to this blog. New graphics and colors. Same bike writer!



This blog is created not only to track my own progress on my biking journey but it is intended to also assist others who have either osteo or rheumatoid arthritis or both like I do. I hope as you read about the progress I have made that it gives you inspiration and hope that you can overcome the dibilitating effects of these conditions.



If your doctor agrees that you should be capable of expanding your limits read on and don't be afraid, just listen to your body and give it challenges. Biking is a great non-impact form of exercise and greatly enhances flexibility and range of motion.



It's not a substitute for Doctor visits, taking your meds or otherwise getting off your health plan but it auguments what your Doctor does for you and can give you a better quality of life. Go for it!





Monday, March 12, 2012

Spring Has Sprung

We're off to a week of very spring-like weather.  Sunday's mild temps drove people outdoors in throngs.  Kensington had hundreds and hundreds of people out enjoying the great weather.  Not that we've had much of a winter this year but when temps climb to 66F + early in March you'll see a lot of people outdoors enjoying nature. While the trees won't leaf out for a few weeks yet and grass hasn't greened there are signs everywhere it's about to burst.  With spring rains coming and warm temps it won't be long till it's looking vibrant.


While I don't even want to say it, this is Michigan and we are likely to see snow yet into April, I woudn't like it but I also wouldn't doubt it will happen.  Spring she is fickle.

Riding the trainer indoors this winter has helped me to stay conditioned to riding.  After a couple of hour long rides in the last week outdoors I am not experiencing the normal first rides of the season ouchies.  My legs muscles are feeling good, I'm not sore in the saddle and most importantly I do feel stronger.  Hills and inclines that were quite challenging last year are proving to be less difficult than I remember them.  I had expected to lose some core strength because I was not cross training in the winter, but this does not seem to be the case.  Three major differences on a trainer compared to outdoor riding are that you don't have to use core muscles to hold yourself upright with balance on the trainer like you do outdoors.  The other is the terrain and the elements.  Indoors there are no hills or wind to cope with.  However you never have to stop at street lights or slow down for pedestrians either, so your time on the trainer is different.

I'm looking forward to building up to some much longer rides this year.



Wednesday, March 7, 2012

March Winds


Yipee for an outdoor ride today!  We had temps over 66F and there was no chance I would miss this opportunity, we had great weather yesterday and I couldn't get out so this afternoon was reserved for the Lakelands Trail with my niece Lisa.  Strong winds gusting to 45 MPH made our choice of trails a good one as this trail is mostly protected by woods and hills.  There were a few open areas to traverse and I could feel the wind push me around a bit but the trail goes east/west and the winds were from the south so we had neither headwinds or tailwinds in either direction.  We stopped for photos in an open area along side of Zukey Lake and it was frothed up with whitecaps.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Llamas

Last night I was scouting out a new route on the back roads and came across this llama farm.  These furry guys were very friendly and when I got out of the car to take some photos they were more than cooperaive and curious and came right up to the fence to pose.


This trio posed for me!  I didn't count but best guess is that there were about 15-18 of them on the farm.  I'm getting so excited for bike riding that I'm out scouting routes in my car.