Posted by Robin on July 08, 2001 at 14:08:00:
In Reply to: Re: Bike rider posted by Steve on July 07, 2001 at 09:04:40:
Hi Steve,
Gosh, did I mention touring cross country this summer? Might have been a bit far reaching and/or unrealistic at this stage in my training and development. My daughter and I did a 3 day, 87 mile stint (Sedalia to Jefferson City) on Missouri's Katy Trail in early June. There's nothing like first hand experience to let one know how much one has yet to learn! Stephanie can't cycle as hard and fast as I can, so it was difficult to get to the few and far between points where lodging was available before dark. Services were non-existent for 25-35 mile stretches in many instances - too far when traveling with an easily exhausted and overheated child. There are advantages to rail trails - relatively flat and no auto traffic, but I found that to be outweighed by the disadvantages - lack of services, few shady or grassy places to pull off and camp or rest, and almost complete isolation. I'd put up with motor traffic and steeper hills for lodging, restaurants and convenience stores more generously placed!
My next cycling adventure will be a solo trek of the NC mountains while Stephanie visits her dad. Haven't decided exactly how to go about it, but am weighing two ideas - 1) a motoring/cycling adventure spread between the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and the Smokey Mtn. region of Western NC 2)nixing the Highland Games to take the bus to Asheville, cycle camp around the Smokeys and back home to Durham - this is sounding like the more appealing of the two presently, tho it might be a bit much to tote an additional set of mountain tires. I'd miss a lot of nice off road opportunities. Anyhoo, when I'm sure that I can knock out 60-75 miles a day (minimum) cross state, I'll start planning for the long haul - that cross country tour. :)
Diabetes-wise, yeah, good bg levels! So far, I've not noticed hard riding banging me down to any scary extreme - the numbers just stay smooth and normal (they don't behave that way when I don't exercise and cycle regularly) and that benefit seems to extend for a 24 hour period or longer beyond the finish/stopping point. I do have to be more conscientious about packing food and juice than perhaps a non-dm cyclist would be - I haven't gone dangerously low in transit, but am terrified of the idea! I've also finally conceded to having cell phone service. The need for one was hammered into me on the Katy Trail - there were next to no pay phones! If you don't know exactly how far you're going to get until mid-day or later, you want to be able to phone ahead and make sure you can get in at your intended stopping point or have the ability to make a new plan if that one falls through.
I haven't researched the Zone Diet in any depth, but the 40-30-30 ratio sounds like a reasonable balance to me. I loosely follow dietary recommendations by Sidney Baker, MD in his book, "Circadian Prescription". He suggests emphasizing protein intake for breakfast and lunch, then emphasizing the carbs for supper. Also increasing intake of phytonutrients, 'healthy' fats, fibers and complex carbs. I only have a fuzzy idea of how or why it works (he says and provides cites to indicate that protein supplies the fuel for the body's daytime biochemical activities and carbohydrates support the night time chemistry), but it has worked very well for me along with getting more exercise regularly.
Cycling is a whole new world in so many ways. There is time to look at things and really see them that you don't get when whizzing down the interstate in a car. It's not nearly so difficult to stop or turn around if you decide you really do want to visit that museum or historical marker over there. To tie it all back into the opening topic of this thread, I also was never so aware of how much I wasn't taking into consideration while whizzing around seeing the world from behind the windows of my sedan. It's really amusing to watch how so many folks in their fancy 2 and 4 door vehicles will mow down whatever is in their way just so they can get to the next destination a few seconds or minutes faster. Do they never ask themselves why - why is it so important to get there so quickly without regard to how we go about it or who we mow down in the process? Probably not - I can't honestly say that I did until I started doing things differently...
Robin