It's a sick society where people drive to the gym ...

Here's an idea that won't cost you anything. Put your bike in the back of the Prius. You can ride part way to the gym, or not at all if the weather isn't cooperating. You may find you're able to ride further as you get in better shape, and maybe some days leave the car at home, but you've always got a flexible option.

 

Best quote ever: "it never gets any easier, you just get faster doing it"

 

And totally accurate. Not everybody understands that, but there it is.

 

That's an odd dynamic and truth about exercise and physical exertion.

In my 20's and 30's I use to run quite a bit. I was in shape, and at my best, I had very good stanima. From time to time I'd be at a track and running, doing my usual work-out. Sometimes someone out of shape, maybe overweight would show up and start to run.

Of course they would be sweating and struggling in a lap or less. I was just doing my "usual" work-out, not trying to show off or anything...just running. But often when I would pass them, or lap them...the "out of shape" person would give me a dirty look.

I always felt bad. I always wanted to say...don't give up, and that I realized that 1 lap or 1 mile...was as strenous and difficult for them, as 28 laps were for me...

I respected that for them, they were working just as hard as I was...but I always felt that somehow my very presence was disheartening to them.

As I've aged, and my abilities have declined I further respect that it's not so much where you start, or even all that you can or cannot accomplish....it's effort put in...

Hard work, exertion is the same...even if for various reasons the results or amount of result has changed.

Now when the 20 year old kid pass's me like I'm standing still? I try very, very hard NOT to give him a dirty look....

 

How about a compromise...bike there and back some (best weather) days and drive most of the way most days and then run, walk or bike from a shorter distance out. Parking a distance from where one is going is a good way to save gas/emissions in general, whether for gym, shopping, or work, etc.

 

A lot of it is attitude. But I've been both of those guys, and when your in shape you recover from that interval, when your not you may just suck wind. That other guy might need to stop and take a rest.

You're an inspiration Darell.

You guys are just spoiled. Some days I'm fine, but in the heat I don't bike as much. That last big hill home at over 100 degrees makes me walk some days. I know it will get easier for me in October

 

Wow, I'm happy I never saw you while I was training.

At the lake where I would go run around (at a good pace too), I would on an almost regular basis see a tremendously overweight guy walking the other direction. As such, we would pass about three times per lap. I would always slow that little bit and many times we would high five. I always said "alright." And he would always be smiling. And he also helped inspire me to keep going when I was getting tired. Because he was out of breath almost from when he started, yet he kept going and finished his workout. And we were both out there in the blazing heat, both dying of heat, with few other walkers and no other runners out there.

Oh, and I have to say that is a great quote from a_gray_prius, because that is very true. I always trained hard, and ended up getting faster.

As far as the transportation, the suggestion of a Ninja 250 was good. I'm more familiar with the Honda Rebel 250, which you could probably get a little more reasonable. I rode mine over 90,000 miles. It was one of the highest mileage Rebels around. I would suggest getting rid of the Mazda, and ride the Rebel, and use the PHEV Prius when you need a car. The Rebel would get over 100 mpg in the summer, but I was at about 140 lbs then. The Rebel can transport even a 300 lb person and should still get about 65 mpg. You can check out Honda Rebel 125 250 450 • Index page .

I had somewhat given up the Rebel because of the Prius though (mine is also a PHEV Prius), because licensing fees got so high. But if you're replacing a second car with a Rebel, the economics can't be beat. It is my understanding that driving the PHEV Prius to the gym can't be done due to scheduling conflicts.

 

Those are good choices. except maybe the 125cc rebel. I have ridden everything form a 25mph moped for a year of commuting, to 1200cc high performance bike. Anything below about 175cc is lacking in city traffic. Once you get into that class you have the ability to quickly move away from a hazard in a forward direction as well as stopping or turning. You also get a better suspension and real world sized tires that will handle obstacles and bad road surfaces better.

 

Actually you can't get the 125cc Rebel in the U.S., and what seems counterintuitive but is true is that it gets worse mileage than the Rebel 250.

 

It makes sense if you look at a typical BSFC map for an ICE engine. You are wringing a poor little 125cc's neck most of the time to keep up with traffic so are operating above the torque peak.

 

Segwaying back to the OP -
I probably average biking to the lap pool at our club house one out of five times. Otherwise I drive our PV solar recharged - electric party boat down to the lap pool.



Being a low fossil fuel person doesn't have to be hard, does it?



.

 

Maybe already mentioned, but how about an electric bike? You can still get a workout on the bike but not have to suffer too much. Plus you'll still have enough energy for a workout when you get to the gym.

 

was mentioned before but did not get any traction.. is he allergic to bicycles?

 

Life itself is dangerous. Just ride the e-bike with care, wear a helmet, drive on inclement days and go to the gym!

Or buy a new electric bike with larger diameter wheels that'll be less likely to get hung up on poor surfaces. I see 'em around town all the time.

If you don't mind being trailed by a cloud of two stroke oil, purchase a used Puch moped. If cared for, they'll go forever. I rode one nearly 10,000 miles and it was still going strong.

New things require so much energy to build that your "energy savings" issue is a moot point. Especially the more complex and expensive they become.

I don't mean to be abrupt, but you're way, way, way overthinking this (unless it's meant to be discussion of hypothetical options) In that case, buy a Leaf or a Tesla.

Also, you're assuming that you'll always be a "fat guy."

Adopt a temporary solution so you can not be a "fat guy" any more, and be able to "do hills." Then you can ride.

Have you made it to the gym yet? Are you walking? Riding somewhere? Just start doing something.

Perhaps this single minded 'getting to the gym is only solution' is what's keeping you from getting into better shape.

 

@Pinto Girl

you are such a motivational speaker (in good way!)

 

I think if he had walked the 14 mile trip (and not go to the gym), he would have lost weight easily. Someone I know went from a waist size 38 to 32 in 8 months because he had to walk about 6 miles a day to work.

 

Actually the big obstacle is all this worrying about how he gets there.

Poor health costs insured Merkins (and we insured probable future Merkins) about $2,000 per year each. That $2,000 is $2,000 of people making and doing stuff for health instead of making and doing stuff for healthy people.

1) Go to the gym regularly
2) Go to the gym in a more efficient way and/or use other exercise so you don't need to go to the gym as much.

 

Amazing! This guy just drove up and parked his fancy sports car in the no-parking space next to the handicapped spot, then walked into the gym. Supposedly to get some exercise?!?!

 

Thats a crappy crossfire. Ain't worth crap.