Category: Fitness

Another solitary place

August 20, 2022

Several weeks ago I wrote a post about my solitary place where I go to pray. It was up on a Peak overlooking our town. Today I thought I would share an image of one of my other solitary places I have – on my bike.

As I have shared before, I have been cycling for more that 35 years. I really enjoy getting out in God’s creation to just ride. It is partly about fitness, partly about getting alone time and partly about stopping to spend time with God in prayer.

Today I just rode slowly around town on my single speed bike. I checked out the sport at the local park, had a look down the main street to see what was going on and paused at our local lake to sit and pray. This is the picture above.

For me I find cycling like this very relaxing. I can just roll my legs over slowly (10-20kph) and enjoy the scenery. Yes a level of fitness is involved, but as I get older it is more about stopping and taking time out to have a mental break too.

As someone who has worked as a Pastor, Chaplain and Companion Carer, I talk to a lot of people. I also listen a lot too. And being quite introverted, I find I need to build in to my schedule some solitary places and hobbies to recharge my mental energy.

How about you? Have you got any special places you go to? Or have you got hobbies that help you recharge your energy? My two places are walking up a Peak and riding around in God’s creation. Both things keep me mentally, spiritually and emotionally fit.

Be blessed today,
Dave

Cycling with God on my mind

May 31, 2021

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One of my hobbies is cycling. I have done it for almost 30 years now. I originally started it because I had Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in my knees, feet and ankles. I saw it as a way to strengthen my legs and get fit at the same time. Prior to getting RA I was a runner.

When I was younger it was normal for me to ride 40-60 kilometres per day. I would aim to 200-300 kilometres a week from Monday to Saturday and have Sunday off for rest and church. My goal was to average 30 kph pace for my rides.

These days I usually ride for time. Mostly I ride for 20-40 minutes and it is at a much slower pace than in used to be. Now in my mid 50s I am happy to cruise along at 15-20 kph. Funny how we mellow as we age!

Now I have three bikes that I rotate depending on how I am going and what time of the year it is. I have a racing bike for times when I want to go faster, a mountain bike for when I want to ride the trails, and a single speed city bike that I use as transport.

Depending on what gym sessions I am doing at the time I ride from 2-3 times a week. If I am doing three gym sessions a week I alternate gym and cycling 3 days each. If I am doing a 4 day split, I only ride 2 times a week.

Cycling for me is much more than fitness these days. It gets me out in to God’s creation and I often find myself praying and reflecting as I ride. I get fit physically and spiritually as I ride. It is nothing for me to ride off on a trail in town and pause to look at God’s creation or just sit and pray for a while.

I am hoping cycling is something I can do in to my old age. I would be great to still be riding well in to my 80s or 90s.