Bike/Walk Central Florida Newsletter #10 — Feb. 17, 2011

How many of you go to a gym to exercise or work out?  How many of you ride your bike for fun?  Why not combine the two and multiply the benefits? I live three miles from the Oviedo Y where I work out three times a week.  I used to drive my car to the Y and then ride a stationary bike for 15 minutes to warm up for exercise.  One day it dawned on me, I could be using that human power to get me back and forth to the Y, save money and exercise at the same time. Now I ride my bike.  It takes me about 15 minutes each way, just a few more minutes than driving.  I save gas and get more exercise.  When you consider the time I used to spend on the stationary bike, I actually save a little time overall compared to when I drove.  Here are the numbers:

• Three miles each way = 900 miles a year
• Gas saved 45 gallons – reduced emissions
• Money saved at $0.50 per mile = $450
• Calories burned at a moderate pace = 50,000 per year

My bike is a Giant Cypress DX Hybrid which is good for commuting, but almost any bike will do.  I dress for my workout and put on extra layers if it’s chilly.  A good, lightweight windbreaker is a must.  I prefer to wear a helmet but that’s a personal preference.  I try to set a moderate pace, around 12-14 MPH on the way to the gym.  By the time I get there I’m warmed up ready for my workout.  On the way back I sometimes adopt a more leisurely pace.  After all, I’ve earned it already.

Let the Bike/Walk Central Florida community know what your experience has been integrating your walking, biking and gym workout.  And happy exercising!  All kinds!

PS:  If you need help selecting a route, or if there are essential elements missing like a bike rack at your gym, let us know.  We’re here to help.

BWCF Member Bill Carpenter

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Cycling Savvy Course Scheduled for March 

• March 11, 2011: CyclingSavvy: Truth & Techniques (6:00 pm)
• March 12, 2011: CyclingSavvy: Train Your Bike (8:00 am) and CyclingSavvy: Tour of Orlando (12:30 pm)Clean Air Ride

  Saturday, March 19th, in Inverness, Florida:  the Clean Air Ride along the Withlacoochee Trail.  Start in Inverness when you feel like it (there’s no mass start) anytime between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m.;  the Withlacoochee Trail is 46 miles long – do as much or as little as you like and enjoy the numerous SAGs along the way!

  Fund Raiser and Ride to Help Cure Diabetes

  Put your wheels to work for a good cause – ride the Tour de Cure on March 6th in Lake Nona. On Saturday, February 26th, St. John’s Cycles will host a fund raiser for Tour de Cure!  All proceeds from donations sold in its parking lot will go to the American Diabetes Association. Registration fees to ride in the Tour de Cure will be waived for riders who sign up on the day of the sale! St. Johns is giving all the credit to the Seminole Cyclists in an effort to exceed last year, when the Seminole Cyclists were the top fund raisers of the 2010 Tour de Cure. Between now and February 21, 2011, you can drop off items for donation at St. John’s Cycles for a big sale on Saturday, February 26th. All funds from selling your donations will go to the Tour de Cure under the Seminole Cyclists name.  You can also purchase a raffle ticket!  St. Johns Cycles is located at 1732 Rinehart Road in Sanford.  Contact them at 407 323 1550!

  Oviedo Walking Tour

  February 19th take a walking tour of historic downtown Oviedo. Get a sense of what to expect on this year’s tour by listening to highlights from the 2010 tour offered by the Oviedo Preservation Project at http://oviedotraditions.org/

  Tim Bustos is New FBA Director  

  Click here to learn more about Bustos, who starts work on March 7th, just in time for the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC on March 8th – 10th.

  Walk Buddies

  Bike/Walk Central Florida wants to help folks looking for fitness walking buddies. The idea is to match people who live in the same neighborhood. Contact Brad at [email protected].

  Recurring Rides 

  First Fridays: Take it to the streets bike ride to promote civility: 6 p.m. on the First Friday of each month. Check our Facebook Fan page for start locations.

  UCF Bike Bus: Downtown Orlando to UCF, then UCF to Downtown Orlando. Follow bike bus in real time via GPS at http://commuteorlando.com/bikebus/

  Ride With Steve: Beginner ride. Meet at Winter Garden Wheel Works in Downtown Winter Garden, 8 a.m., Saturdays. – Sponsored by Winter Garden Wheel Works  .

  Pancake Rides: St. Johns Cycles has re-started its Pancake Rides. You start from the shop at 1732 Rinehart Road in Sanford at 8:00 a.m. for the 60-mile option or from Valentine Park in Orange City for the 30-mile option and pedal to DeLeon Springs State Park to enjoy breakfast at the Old Sugarmill Restaurant – this is the place where hot griddles sit in the middle of the tables – you’re brought a pitcher of pancake batter and you make your own.  You need to RSVP to [email protected].  Call 407 323 1550 for more information!

  See our Calendar for other family rides:

  www.bikewalkcentralflorida.org

  S-Cargo farmers market rides featuring utility bikes and trailers

  Ice Cream Socials: night rides through Downtown Orlando

  Unless specifically designated as a trail ride, our rides take place on public streets. Headlights and red rear flashers are required for night rides. Helmets are encouraged, and are required for children under 16.

  We observe all traffic laws and traffic signals.

  Our rides are typically 10 to 15 miles, roundtrip, and average 10 miles an hour, a comfortable pace for most adults and teens. May be too fast for younger children and adults with health issues.

  These rides are social in nature.

  For longer, more aggressive group rides, subscribe to Hal Downing’s group ride newsletter by emailing [email protected]

  If you have a social ride you would like us to help promote, please email me at the address below.

  Brad

  Brad Kuhn

  Executive Director

  [email protected]