But this choice brings some pros and cons, and because I've spent a lot of time on both, this year, with my virtual challenges, I've given a lot of thought to each and have started wondering, have I chosen the right exercise vehicle?
Of course, the biggest advantage of the spin bike is that it's an all-weather machine. Snow, rain, wind, and extreme heat and humidity are not a factor. My bedroom is always dry and mild. I don't have to contend with the elements. And, as an added bonus, I can watch TV while I spin.
But on a beautiful day, nothing beats being outdoors. Fresh air, mixed with the beauty of the scenery (living in Ottawa, there's no shortage of scenic beauty). However, with spring cycling, the pollen in the air is the cost of taking in the blossoming beauty, and I have to remember to take allergy meds before I hit the road, lest I suffer for hours afterwards.
(Sadly, I've forgotten the meds far too many times this season.)
I've mapped out a couple of routes that have become my staples, depending on how far I want to peddle. I have a 29-kilometre route (left image, below), which I typically take most mornings when I don't want to spend much more than an hour on the road, before work. I also have a 50-km route (centre image, below), which I take on weekends, when I have a bit more time in the morning. And I've plotted a 40K route (right image, below) for those in-between days, when 29 klicks don't seem like enough and 50 seem too long.
The 40-km route may become my standard route. It's basically my 29K route with an extra 11 kilometres that take me further south, on First Line Road, to Kars, and north, on Rideau Valley Road, back to Manotick.
(Actually, all of my routes include elements of the 29K route.)
These routes take me on country roads to the south and west of my neighbourhood and are very scenic. But in parts, they involve a bit of risk, as some speed limits are 80 km/h and some drivers see that as a minimum. Some of these roads aren't in the best of shape, with either no paved shoulder or where the shoulder is so broken up that I'm forced to cycle on the road.
Some roads have no shoulder and are so broken up on the edge that I have to move out into the middle of the road.
On my spin bike, I never have to make a lane change, never have to check behind me for approaching cars or faster cyclists. I don't have to deal with flat tires (I've had enough of those over the years, with the latest blowout stopping me last week). The biggest risk I face indoors is if a cat gets into the room and tries to get close to me. (I've accidentally hit two of our cats with my pedals, as they've dashed under me faster than I could come to a stop.)
The important thing for me to remember is that no matter whether I use my road bike or my spin bike, I'm getting lots of exercise—more than I've ever had in a six-month period.
Spin bike or road bike. Either way, I'm moving forward.
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