Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Hase Pino Tandem Semi-Recumbent


Hase Pino tandem just arrived.  In red....

Cool bike!!  Can't wait to show this.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

Monday, April 16, 2012

Getting a new bike? Easy. Getting in shape? A lot harder. Be kind to yourself.

A friend and customer wrote me this morning, following a weekend with beautiful weather.  My reply to him follows his note.

On Mon, April 16, 2012 11:03 am, t_d_@____.com wrote:

> I like the bike [Volae Tour] but do not like hills.  A physician friend mentioned
> decreasing muscle mass in old folks.  Still, I've got to drop 15 pounds to
> give myself and the machine a fair shake.  That loss would, on hopes, be
> fat and not muscle.
>
> Thanks for the advice.

Hi T_D_,

The best hills are the ones with a view (which means they're the high ones).

Be kind to yourself, always.

View yourself as a "beginner" athlete, at the start of a new athletic career that you want to last for decades.

Ride/exercise well within your abilities, of technique, of your muscles, of your heart and lungs.  Take it easy.  Ride so you always have enough "breath" that you can keep up a conversation.  The trainer's term for this is "conversational pace."

On hills, shift to low gear and take ALL the time you need.  Ignore the riders around you.  Walk up hills if you feel any discomfort.  If you feel pain, stop, rest, relax, hydrate (water).  As you ride, over the months and years, your muscles and cardio will improve and you'll be able to do more.  Also, right now and over the years, you're getting to know yourself in a new way; listen to your body; let it tell you what it can and can not (yet) do.

Stretch after every ride.

Lose 15 lbs?  Okay.  If you're serious, I recommend Weight Watchers.  My sister did it and got great results.  Follow the program, be disciplined, and you'll get healthier.  Forget about losing weight, focus on being healthy and your weight will move to the correct level.

Eat lots of fresh veggies, fruits and nuts -- broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, salads, fruits, nuts :-).

All best,
Robert

# # #

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Bicycles Seats May Affect a Woman’s Sexual Health.


Source

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-Reproductive Health Assessment, Cincinnati, OH, USA University of Vermont College of Medicine, Colchester, VT, USA Alaska Urological Associates, Anchorage, AK, USA Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.

Abstract
Introduction.  Cycling is associated with genital neuropathies and erectile dysfunction in males. Women riders also have decreased genital sensation; however, sparse information exists addressing the effects of modifiable risks on neurological injuries in females. Aim.  This study assesses the effects of bicycle setup and cyclists' attributes on GS and saddle pressures among female cyclists. Methods.  Previously, we compared genital sensation in competitive female cyclists (N = 48) to that of female runners (N = 22). The current study is a subanalysis of the 48 cyclists from the original study group. Nonpregnant, premenopausal women who rode at least 10 miles per week, 4 weeks per month were eligible for participation. Main Outcome Measures.  Genital sensation was measured in microns using biosthesiometry measures of vibratory thresholds (VTs). Perineal and total saddle pressures were determined using a specialized pressure map and recorded in kilopascals (kPA). Results.  Handlebars positioned lower than the saddle correlated with increased perineum saddle pressures and decreased anterior vaginal and left labial genital sensation (P < 0.05, P < 0.02, P < 0.03, respectively). Low handlebars were not associated with total saddle pressures or altered genital sensation in other areas. After adjusting for age and saddle type, low handlebars were associated with a 3.47-kPA increase in mean perineum saddle pressures (P < 0.04) and a 0.86-micron increase in anterior vagina VT (P < 0.01). Conclusion.  Handlebars positioned lower than the saddle were significantly associated with increased perineum saddle pressures and decreased genital sensation in female cyclists. Modifying bicycle setup may help alleviate neuropathies in females. Additional research is warranted to further assess the extent of the associations. Partin SN, Connell KA, Schrader S, LaCombe J, Lowe B, Sweeney A, Reutman S, Wang A, Toennis C, Melman A, Mikhail M, and Guess MK. The bar sinister: Does handlebar level damage the pelvic floor in female cyclists? J Sex Med **;**:**-**.
© 2012 International Society for Sexual Medicine.


Have fun, stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson