• The Great Outbreak of the Great Outdoors, Becky Furuta Breaks It Down

    Submitted by Bill Plock on March 30th, 2020

    When the world shut down, we all went outside.

    COVID-19 closed offices and schools and restricted public gatherings, and drove everyone out of their homes and into the world. It’s like the Great American Recess, and it’s pretty amazing

    Don’t get me wrong: I’m not minimizing the very real impacts of the pandemic or the tragedy of the losses, but a crisis on this scale can reorder society in dramatic ways, and not all of them are bad. A global, novel virus that changes the way we live for months can reorient our relationships with the world around us. There are opportunities for less polarization and a revived appreciation for the outdoors and for life’s other, simple pleasures.
     Read more

    • Indoor Cycling, Different Types of Trainers for Your Pain Cave and Why.

      Submitted by Bill Plock on March 27th, 2020

      I have a theory. A lot of outdoor cyclists have very little knowledge about all the options now available to ride inside. Historically, they have either “ridden” at a fitness facility or they ski during the Winter as their bikes sit in the garage untouched. But now of course things have changed.

      This article serves to outline the various types of trainers and give you some basic understanding of them all and why one might be better than another for you! Read more

      • Ease Today’s Burden Starting With A Bike Ride Advises Becky Furuta.

        Submitted by Bill Plock on March 23rd, 2020

        The truth is, this is tough. We’re all struggling to some measure – some of us maybe more, and some maybe less. There’s no right way to worry. Everywhere we turn, we are inundated by news of the virus and its social costs. We’ve all experienced the disappointment of lost opportunities and cancelled events. It’s easy and even understandable to fill every moment with stress and anxiety and sadness. Remember, though, that feelings come and go like the breeze, and there are things we can do today to ease the burden we feel. For me, that starts with riding my bike.  Read more

        • Ideas on Having Fun and Being Motivated on Simple Indoor Trainers and Treadmills.

          Submitted by Bill Plock on March 19th, 2020

          What has felt like a forced spring break has come to a screeching halt as Winter returns just as it’s about to officially end. As bike paths empty and folks head indoors to workout at home, what will your training look like? What motivates you, and how do you stay motivated to train or even work up a good sweat? 

          Let’s talk about motivation. I offer you this perspective from teaching indoor cycling classes for 15 years and being an athlete who has been coached and understands the methods of training. As the owner of 303Endurance, I meet a lot of coaches and experts and equipment manufacturers with goals to help people be more fit. I also have progressed from owning a stationary bike with no feedback to now owning a smart trainer and using Zwift. I feel very qualified to speak about all spectrums of indoor training. I do not claim to be a coach, and this article is not about specific coaching modalities that result in individual fitness gains. Read more