Tried to become a committed cyclist this past year you know, to improve health and find a good hobby that doesn't involve spending money on my car!!!

But having started working, now university and the dark nights setting in.. oh, and the extremely expensive trend of designer cycle wear and accessories etc and the fact that cycling on a public carriageway makes you very so slightly worse than hitler! (in the eyes of most, not all - but most is bad enough!) :bang: ..I haven't bee keeping up on the cycling very well.

Not a very competitive or aggressive person to enjoy most sports and never have cared about the likes of football or rugby...

At the same time, I'll probably spend the rest of my life as I do now as someone born in the 90s and beyond - looking at a computer screen, sitting down.. so I think it's probably wise now to find something good and get into it in this respect...

What do you do / recommend? Considering something at a local leisure centre but would consider people with experience of all that sort of stuff and Fiat Forum hasn't let me down yet for advice on general stuff!

:worship:

Nintendo Wii?

If you don't want to spend lots on gear, why not try walking ? free and simple

werdna I've never really imagined that'd do my lungs 'much' good, despite knowing obviously it does count! What should I know about it that I'm missing so far? Thanks for your reply

A doctor told my Dad that a good brisk walk was as good as riding a bike for a couple of miles. Of course you have to swing your arms and push yourself..ambling is not enough.

I run, 3-6 miles 4-5 times a week.

I used to have a gym membership but given it was a 25 min drive each way I figured a pair of shoes was cheaper and felt less like a job. However I also own a cross trainer in front of a telly for days that it's too awful to consider going outside in shorts.

Tbf you need to find something you enjoy as if you don't you won't keep on. For me I used to downhill mountain bike but stopped when we got a house/mortgage as I didn't need to be off work with broken bones. I liked being out and about in the woods so ended up running in them instead (saw a deer, a red kite and some squirrels this morning before work not many people could say that).

It helps for me that I have a forest commission wood a 10 min run away which I have about 10 different routes around of varying lengths depending on how much time I have that day to keep it fresh. If I lived in a city I wouldn't run. The main thing for me is that it's 5 hours a week of my time, the running is secondary to just listening to some music and digesting whatevers going on in my head on that day.

Every morning (depending which office I'm at) I take a long walk to the office, usually walking past it and coming back again 15mins later, go buy some lunch or look in some shop windows. When I get home I take the dogs for an hour walk and then I also sporadically go to the gym and do mostly cardio

Yep, walking is the way to go. I can never understand why people spend loads on designer gear & expensive membership to gyms etc when simple walking is free & very good for you. I'm 60+ & although I have a dodgy hip & a dodgy knee on the other leg I still manage to walk all over the place. On long hauls I use a walking pole. I used to swim a lot, but for a few reasons I stopped, mainly due to location & overcrowding. Still get a few strokes in now & again.

SB1500 said:

Tried to become a committed cyclist this past year you know, to improve health and find a good hobby that doesn't involve spending money on my car!!!

What do you do / recommend? Considering something at a local leisure centre but would consider people with experience of all that sort of stuff and Fiat Forum hasn't let me down yet for advice on general stuff!

:worship:

Click to expand...

As people have said it's got to be something you enjoy..,
but of course there are 101 things you've never tried.. - ( me neither)

I always cycled until I got a moped / motorbike then car,

a change of job in my 40's meant commuting on a bike,
got me VERY fit in a short time.., :worship:

I'm the sort that can't sit still anyway..,
and tend to stand for 8 hours a day - without workng on cars/bikes in my spare time..,

Gyms are all about mindset.. I just can't stick to it.. I need to see the SKY

Walking is good, as is cycling.. neither are
high impact ( excluding Vol--'s)

which can take it's toll on your legs over time,

maybe just see what the leisure centre do over a winter,
plenty of styles of exercise class.., tried a few myself..
and once the spring comes you may want to be back on the bike..,

Charlie

I don't.

jimboy said:

Still get a few strokes in now & again.

Click to expand...

Focus Owner said:

I don't.

Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

Aye it's good for you....

Yet another sensible conversation derailed :devil:

werdna said:

Yet another sensible conversation derailed :devil:

Click to expand...

Welcome to FIATForum

Ach, it's always good to inject a bit of levity to the forum, after all we are all big girls & boys......

I'm saying nothing. You can say what you want !!

I use a treadmill and a cross trainer. You can also use your body weight doing push ups, sit ups, burpees, leg raises..... that kind of thing

We decided to go to swim weekly now and do some of that indoor cycling. It'll do for the winter. Personally I think doing it twice a week each would be better but it ain't free sadly!

I go for a dander around Stormont at lunchtime during the week and then saunter around Belfast zoo on a Saturday.

If anyone fancies a treat then you could do worse than this:
http://www.physicalinitiative.co.uk/

It's a good for if you're starting out or wanting some enthusiasm for fitness back.