Women on bikes...especially "older", is what I want to see.
After seeing what commuting by bike has done for my health and attitude, I wish it on all "older" women. In my day dreams I see more and more women get the courage to get back on a bike. This tweet link from Gabe Klein just lit up my morning!
http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2011/10/ferraras-fantastic-femal...
(I imagine some of you are thinking "Oh no, not more old people on bikes" lol. Yes, we do ride slower, but as I say, it is all about the ebb and flow.)
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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I regularly check out this blog and aspire to be even half as chic when I'm their age:
http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/2011/10/bicycle-chic.html
I love this thread! Thanks for posting.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Gregorek on
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Yes Martha, that is the ages I am talking about....and beyond! I will send you off an email someday.
Michelle
Martha Williams said:I've photographed lots of "older" women. Not sure what age constitutes "older," but check them out:
http://bikefancy.blogspot.com/2011/03/anne-wacker-ave-and-wabash-dr...
http://bikefancy.blogspot.com/2011/09/n-wells-st-w-goethe-st-chicag...
http://bikefancy.blogspot.com/2011/04/kathy-with-suzy-schnauzer-web...
Also, if you are an "older" cyclist, I'd love to photograph you! Email me mafaw1@gmail.com
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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on
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Article from Road Bike Review -
Protect Your Bones: Cycling and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis will affect one in three women during their lifetime. We're facing "an osteoporosis epidemic," says Dr. Jean-Philippe Bonjour of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). What's responsible? Mainly, changes in diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
In osteoporosis, bone tissue deteriorates, causing low bone density. As the bones become increasingly porous and fragile, they break more easily. Difficult to detect, osteoporosis can sneak up on you. Often, there are no symptoms until the first fracture.
If you're a keen cyclist you may think you're protected from this debilitating, and sometimes fatal, disease. But when it comes to bone health, not all exercise is equally beneficial. The IOF has a list of weight-bearing activities that promote bone health. Unfortunately, cycling isn't on it.
Research shows that recreational cyclists who don't cross-train could be placing themselves at risk for this bone-thinning disease. Cycling is a great aerobic workout but it's not weight-bearing exercise. Unlike hiking, cross-country skiing or running, you don't have to support your own weight to ride a bike. Add to this to the minerals you lose through sweating while you cycle, and you could be heading for osteoporosis and the possibility of bone fractures from low-speed falls.
After women reach the age of 30, bone density declines, but if you're active and healthy, the calcium you need to rebuild bone density is replaced regularly. As you approach menopause your body replaces less and less calcium. But you can slow bone loss by eating a healthy diet that includes dairy, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables; and by participating in activities that include impact, gravity forces and vibration -- like hiking, running, dancing, and skipping rope.
The good news about cycling is it keeps your cardiovascular system humming, builds leg and arm muscles, helps you maintain a healthy weight, and it's easy on the joints. Here are some preventive measures to help women take care of their bones:
Throw in some cross-training: Walking, hiking, dancing, gardening, tai chi, skipping rope and running are good weight-bearing activities. Add them to your exercise routine a couple of times a week.
Do yoga: Poses like the cobra promote a flexible and healthy spine. RBR's Yoga: A Quick and Effective Program for Cyclists is a great resource.
Do weight training: This is also good for bone health. Make sure you include routines to build both lower and upper body strength.
Get the daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D: They provide added protection. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends 1,000-1,200 milligrams of calcium a day. A blood test will determine if you’re low on Vitamin D and require supplements.
Don't smoke: Smokers lose bone density twice as fast as non-smokers.
Can the soft drinks: Carbonated drinks are high in phosphorous, which blocks calcium absorption.
Eat a healthy diet: Eat a natural, balanced diet that includes several servings of vegetables and fresh fruit a day. Vegetables like broccoli and spinach are good sources of calcium. Fish that contains bones, like canned salmon and sardines, is another good source.
Drink in moderation: Alcohol reduces calcium absorption. If you drink, don't have more than one a day.
Laurel-Lea Shannon is publisher of www.WomensCycling.ca, an ezine that promotes recreational cycling and encourages women of all ages to get outside and ride. RBR has partnered with Women’s Cycling.ca to take the female focus on cycling issues in Women on Wheels. The column will run each month in RBR Newsletter.
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awesome! Me too.
Holly said:
I regularly check out this blog and aspire to be even half as chic when I'm their age:
http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/2011/10/bicycle-chic.html
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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on
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Some friends in their 50s and 60s (including men) whose exercise was almost exclusively cycling for years learned this lesson the hard way. When one took a fall on a group ride and ended up suffering a broken leg, he learned that he had osteoporosis. It wasn't a hard fall, and if his bones were in better condition, he probably would have been fine. A few others in the group whose exercise was similarly biased towards cycling went for bone density tests and were shocked to have similar results.
I've discussed this with my orthopedist, who is also a cyclist, and he emphasized the importance of weight-bearing exercise. He also mentioned that forms of exercise that involve some degree of impact, even very low impact, are more beneficial for the bones than non-impact exercise. He said that plain old walking is one of the best, especially since it's part of the daily routine for most of us.
Julie Hochstadter said:Article from Road Bike Review -Protect Your Bones: Cycling and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis will affect one in three women during their lifetime. We're facing "an osteoporosis epidemic," says Dr. Jean-Philippe Bonjour of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). What's responsible? Mainly, changes in diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
In osteoporosis, bone tissue deteriorates, causing low bone density. As the bones become increasingly porous and fragile, they break more easily. Difficult to detect, osteoporosis can sneak up on you. Often, there are no symptoms until the first fracture.
If you're a keen cyclist you may think you're protected from this debilitating, and sometimes fatal, disease. But when it comes to bone health, not all exercise is equally beneficial. The IOF has a list of weight-bearing activities that promote bone health. Unfortunately, cycling isn't on it.
Research shows that recreational cyclists who don't cross-train could be placing themselves at risk for this bone-thinning disease. Cycling is a great aerobic workout but it's not weight-bearing exercise. Unlike hiking, cross-country skiing or running, you don't have to support your own weight to ride a bike. Add to this to the minerals you lose through sweating while you cycle, and you could be heading for osteoporosis and the possibility of bone fractures from low-speed falls.
After women reach the age of 30, bone density declines, but if you're active and healthy, the calcium you need to rebuild bone density is replaced regularly. As you approach menopause your body replaces less and less calcium. But you can slow bone loss by eating a healthy diet that includes dairy, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables; and by participating in activities that include impact, gravity forces and vibration -- like hiking, running, dancing, and skipping rope.
The good news about cycling is it keeps your cardiovascular system humming, builds leg and arm muscles, helps you maintain a healthy weight, and it's easy on the joints. Here are some preventive measures to help women take care of their bones:
Throw in some cross-training: Walking, hiking, dancing, gardening, tai chi, skipping rope and running are good weight-bearing activities. Add them to your exercise routine a couple of times a week.
Do yoga: Poses like the cobra promote a flexible and healthy spine. RBR's Yoga: A Quick and Effective Program for Cyclists is a great resource.
Do weight training: This is also good for bone health. Make sure you include routines to build both lower and upper body strength.
Get the daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D: They provide added protection. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends 1,000-1,200 milligrams of calcium a day. A blood test will determine if you’re low on Vitamin D and require supplements.
Don't smoke: Smokers lose bone density twice as fast as non-smokers.
Can the soft drinks: Carbonated drinks are high in phosphorous, which blocks calcium absorption.
Eat a healthy diet: Eat a natural, balanced diet that includes several servings of vegetables and fresh fruit a day. Vegetables like broccoli and spinach are good sources of calcium. Fish that contains bones, like canned salmon and sardines, is another good source.
Drink in moderation: Alcohol reduces calcium absorption. If you drink, don't have more than one a day.
Laurel-Lea Shannon is publisher of www.WomensCycling.ca, an ezine that promotes recreational cycling and encourages women of all ages to get outside and ride. RBR has partnered with Women’s Cycling.ca to take the female focus on cycling issues in Women on Wheels. The column will run each month in RBR Newsletter.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on
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Copenhagen Cycle Chic just recently had a great post featuring women of a certain age in Ferrara, Italy, riding stylishly on their bikes.
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Julie...Anne - Thank you for the posts! With my new found cycling love, I thought I had my exercise needs all covered by biking everyday and everywhere. Thank you again for sharing the wake up call!
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It's always good to keep a balance and not rely exclusively on any one type of activity for our exercise needs, as much as we may love that one activity.
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Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on
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There's a book: "Bike for Life: How to Ride to 100" that has lots of overall health information geared for cyclists.
Reviews/purchase here:
http://www.amazon.com/Bike-Life-How-Ride-100/dp/1569244510
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bike-for-life-roy-m-wallack/1006901940
I received it as a gift, found it very informative.
The above links are for your convenience, I'm not selling anything.
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Geez, I just noticed that my link below was what kicked off the whole thread... Early Onset Alzheimer's is settling in faster than I realized....
Michelle Stenzel said:Copenhagen Cycle Chic just recently had a great post featuring women of a certain age in Ferrara, Italy, riding stylishly on their bikes.
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Check the next-to-last post on page 2.
Michelle Stenzel said:
Geez, I just noticed that my link below was what kicked off the whole thread... Early Onset Alzheimer's is settling in faster than I realized....
Michelle Stenzel said:Copenhagen Cycle Chic just recently had a great post featuring women of a certain age in Ferrara, Italy, riding stylishly on their bikes.
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