What a difference a new bike makes! I traded in my old Schwinn for a Diamondback Clarity and took it on a Maiden Voyage to beautiful Lake Katherine. Illinois is having an absolutely beautiful Indian summer and we thought it would be great to get in at least one more bike ride while taking in some leaf peeping along the Cal-Sag Trail.
My biking buddy, Kathy, and I decided we would bike from the far west end of the trail and travel 10 miles east to Lake Katherine and 10 miles back for a total of 20 miles. It was a perfect ride for a couple of average riders like us. Along the trail, we saw such colorful red, orange and yellow trees. Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens was a gorgeous stop with it’s beautiful flowers and waterfall. The nature center features a menagerie of reptiles and animals as well as high powered binoculars - a great place to take your kids or grandkids while bike riding. The Little Free Library allows visitors to borrow a book to read while sitting near the peaceful lake. Found around the lake is a mile loop walk, trails for hiking, canoes and kayaks for boating and beautiful plants and flowers for those of us with a passion for photography or painting. What a great place to add to my list of activities worth repeating!
If you are shopping for a new bicycle, I would suggest purchasing from a bike shop instead of a sports or department store. A lot of times you can get pretty good deals in January after Christmas and before the new models come out in February, although I found mine on clearance in November. Additionally, employees at a bicycle shop are trained to fit you with a bike that is perfect for your needs as well as your size. What sold me on the Diamondback Clarity were the disc brakes and trigger shifters. It’s also really light which is beneficial when lifting the bike onto the bike rack.
You don’t have to log in thousands of miles to benefit from bike riding. You get the same cardiovascular benefit you would get from any other aerobic activity like walking, jogging, dancing, etc. Your muscles get a boost, especially your legs and hips, and it’s gentle on your joints. One of the best benefits of bike riding is stress reduction. Once you retire, it does take a while to retrain your mind and body to release all of the stress that has been building up for so long. You will discover that bike riding makes you feel relaxed and promotes great sleep. There’s nothing like exercising in the fresh air while taking in nature’s beauty.
What a difference a new bike makes! I traded in my old Schwinn for a Diamondback Clarity and took it on a Maiden Voyage to beautiful Lake Katherine. Illinois is having an absolutely beautiful Indian summer and we thought it would be great to get in at least one more bike ride while taking in some leaf peeping along the Cal-Sag Trail. 
My biking buddy, Kathy, and I decided we would bike from the far west end of the trail and travel 10 miles east to Lake Katherine and 10 miles back for a total of 20 miles. It was a perfect ride for a couple of average riders like us. Along the trail, we saw such colorful red, orange and yellow trees. Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens was a gorgeous stop with it’s beautiful flowers and waterfall. The nature center features a menagerie of reptiles and animals as well as high powered binoculars - a great place to take your kids or grandkids while bike riding. The Little Free Library allows visitors to borrow a book to read while sitting near the peaceful lake. Found around the lake is a mile loop walk, trails for hiking, canoes and kayaks for boating and beautiful plants and flowers for those of us with a passion for photography or painting. What a great place to add to my list of activities worth repeating! 
If you are shopping for a new bicycle, I would suggest purchasing from a bike shop instead of a sports or department store. A lot of times you can get pretty good deals in January after Christmas and before the new models come out in February, although I found mine on clearance in November. Additionally, employees at a bicycle shop are trained to fit you with a bike that is perfect for your needs as well as your size. What sold me on the Diamondback Clarity were the disc brakes and trigger shifters. It’s also really light which is beneficial when lifting the bike onto the bike rack. 
You don’t have to log in thousands of miles to benefit from bike riding. You get the same cardiovascular benefit you would get from any other aerobic activity like walking, jogging, dancing, etc. Your muscles get a boost, especially your legs and hips, and it’s gentle on your joints. One of the best benefits of bike riding is stress reduction. Once you retire, it does take a while to retrain your mind and body to release all of the stress that has been building up for so long. You will discover that bike riding makes you feel relaxed and promotes great sleep. There’s nothing like exercising in the fresh air while taking in nature’s beauty. 
Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteThank You - working on my photog skills!
ReplyDelete