Biking Update - October 4, 2008

This was a strange week as far as weight loss is concerned. You'll note on the weight graph to the left here that the graph suddenly went from linear to a ragged sawtooth. I was literally fluctuating by 4 to 6 lbs a day, when usually the change is more like 0.4 lbs per day in any one direction. The good news is I wound up down another 1.2 lbs for the week and am have now pretty much lost 45 lbs since the start! So I guess the moral of the story is all's well that ends well. I also have learned over the last couple of weeks that, for me, there is a huge difference in weight loss between 45 minutes of exercise a day, and 60 minutes of exercise per day. When I am up at 60 minutes, the weight comes off much more easily and seems to stay off. At 45 minutes, it comes off much more slowly and is eager to return. You'll note one big difference in the weight graph this week - actual numbers for the weights. I figure I have lost enough now to 'fess up and admit how badly I started out. This will also increase the accountability factor, which is so key to maintaining weight loss.

That being said, it was not a great week for biking. Actually, weather-wise it was a spectacular week for biking. Cool, clear, and crisp. But my schedule was not similarly clear - Saturday was taken up taking the Bible Quiz Team to a meet and then to Ellis Island and then I was scheduled most of the rest of the nights in the week. Today, CRChair has a commitment at church, so he and I will not be biking then either. But Nick and I are going to try and do some biking down by the Startford Beach. The foliage is starting to turn, so it is likely that we will have some really nice photos to take of the fiery New England scene. It is also getting chilly, so it is not unlikely that we'll be trying out some techniques for staying warm at the start of the ride and cool at the end of the ride. Techniques that are old hat to experienced riders, but discoveries for we neophytes.

Speaking of neophytes, the other things worth noting this week was my second published article over at MTOBikes.Com. It is a site dedicated to more hardcore riders than me, but I am trying to write the kinds of articles that I wish I had found as a newbie. This one is on options for lights to attach to your bike.