What Does A Cyclist Really Look Like?

Yesterday I met a nice young cyclist from NYC (we'll call him BikerNY). It was a beautiful day here in the Hudson Valley, and he was out taking advantage of the nice end of August weather! I asked what made him ride up to Nyack. He said he mentioned to his city friends that he wanted to cross the George Washington Bridge, and they all suggested taking the ride up to Nyack, NY. So, he did. I met him outside The Nyack Village Theatre on Main St, where he stood with his running sneakers, button up, and gym shorts. The only thing that gave away he was traveling by bike was the helmet I saw dangling off his backpack.

Conversation continued and there was mention of a certain local coffee shop, where all the bikers gather. BikerNY chuckled while saying his friends told him he HAD to stop in there once he got to Nyack, and so he took their advice. He however said he wasn't wearing enough spandex to enter and continued on his way. I of course had to laugh at this comment, as it brings up a common question, "What does a cyclist look like?"

I'll answer a question with another question. Do you ride a bike? What do you look like?

BikerNY didn't have on any fancy bells and whistles of a 'cycling' outfit, and he rode his bike all the way from the West Village to Nyack NY. So, don't worry if you don't have some fancy bike, with clip on pedals, and a super cool spandex racing suit. The important part is that you are out there riding, and enjoying your ride!

Send us your photos, and show us What A Cyclist Looks Like to you!

Wanna Go Ride Bikes?

Remember when you were a kid, and you'd call up your friends to "go ride bikes"? Remember when you were an adult, and you did the same thing?!?!

What's the hardest part of exercising? For me it's the 'getting started' part! I, like many of us, sit for 8 hours a day at a desk job. And then, like many of us, I get home only to sit some more thinking, "It's too hot out for exercise...", or "I'm too tired...". Of course I'm exaggerating (or at least I like to tell myself that...).

Just yesterday, I was cleaning out the closet (which can be considered exercise to me!), and at the very bottom of the boxes and clutter, I found my old basketball. I knew what my next move was. Drop the boxes, grab the ball and head to the courts!!

It was that simple. An hour later I returned home feeling GREAT! That's when it hit me, exercise doesn't just mean running, walking, cycling, or going to the gym. It could also mean shooting some hoops, throwing a frisbee, throwing a baseball, dancing...etc. The key here is, you can get your exercise and enjoy it to. If running isn't your thing, then don't run! We tend to consider exercising, work. It doesn't have to be.

Now if you've read this far, you're thinking, yes, tell me something I don't know. And, honestly that's what I was thinking too. But, the truth is, we shouldn't look at exercise as a chore. We should focus in on activities that we enjoy. If you don't know what you enjoy, now is the perfect time to find out! It's summer, there are lots of groups you can join. Find a local hiking group, kayaking group, cycling group. Call up some friends and see who wants to throw a frisbee around. As we get older, we don't think to call up our friends and ask if they want to "come out and play" as we used to. But the question is, why not?