Malorkan News

Many couples don’t exercise together because one partner is much more fit than the other. Riding a tandem bicycle is a great equalizer. The amount of work you do on a bicycle depends on how hard you push on the pedals. Pushing twice a hard on the pedals takes twice the work, so a world-class bicycle racer can ride with a novice and still get a good workout. Even a beginner will be able to keep up with the spinning pedals, no matter how fast they go. The less-fit partner just applies little or no pressure so he or she will not get tired. No matter how hard one partner tries to leave the other, you will always be together.

You can go faster together than the faster person can go alone. The more experienced rider sits in the front seat. If both are equally good riders, the taller one usually sits in front. The person who sits in the back copies the motions of the person in the front. At first it may seem strange not to have any control over steering, shifting or braking, but the you have the big advantage of being able to exercise only as hard as you like while enjoying the scenery.

Many cities have tandem bicycle clubs that organize rides and social events. They welcome newcomers and will give you lots of help when you’re getting started.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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Not getting enough exercise? It’s a common thing - we all realize this, and still many things get in the way of actually working out. We see individuals packed into gyms working out, and think : well, I have to drive to the gymnasium, pay for my member’s costs, then get to do some exercise. It seems like loads of trouble, isn’t there something I can do that’s not going to waste a lot of my time - maybe something that’s actually pragmatic?

You might consider purchasing a push bike, as cycling is a fantastic way to get fit. You can bike to the local shops or to work, so it’s very useful. It’s also cheap - there’s no gasoline called for and the running costs are negligable. It’s also eco-friendly. And not forgetting the small point of actually getting you in shape.

Yet lots of individuals are reluctant to get a bicycle since it’s just TOO much effort. As odd as that may sound, consider that they may be aged, live in a very hilly area or suffer from particular ailments that make cycling too much effort for their abilities. Also for a few individuals, it’s not pragmatic pedaling to their work simply because they sweat too much through the exertions of biking.

This is where e-bikes, or electric bikes come in. They give you a break on the tricky slopes simply by turning your hand on the grip and letting the electric motor kick in - pedalling is no longer required then. Then when you’re ready to switch to manual, just start pedalling. You get reasonable exercise and fresh air without breaking a sweat. E-bikes are also very cheap to run requiring only a daily battery recharge if you do around 20 to 30 kilometres per day, although most individuals require just two re-charges a week as they’re not doing this kind of distance. If you need to carry your bike around, consider a folding frame e-bike.

These days the real cost of buying an e-bike have come right down in price, so you can find yourself saving a considerable amount of money on bus fares, fuel, gym memberships etc. by buying and on a regular basis using an e-bike.