New toy at the Y

After being out a year, I returned to my (semi-)local YMCA to get back to regular exercise, and I found a new toy: a cycling simulator. The thing is based on a standard exercise bike, but also has a hi-def LCD screen, steerable handlebars, and a rudimentary gearshift that allows you to change 1 up or down per use. When you ride, the screen displays a course in front of you, other riders, and the usual suspect exercise statistics. I have a blast doing the race courses, and running over the other riders  All told, it beats the h3ll out of the old style bikes and watching "Leave It To Beaver" re-runs on the public bube-tube, and custom made for cycling freaks like me. Oh, and for you roast beef fans, my wife sprung a new recipe on me late last week: roast beef in pepperoncinis. I'll post the recipe details when I get home tonight, since I didn't bring them to work...

Hey Bob, The new exercycle sounds pretty cool --- kind of like a video game. I'm getting a new Garmin GPS unit for my road bike where it shows you racing against yourself on a training course. I have a 20 mile loop I ride all the time called the Morgul to Bismarck loop. The loop was well know back in the days of America's version of the Tour de France which was the Red Zinger classic, later known as the Coors Classic.  I can do the loop in a little over 1 hour so it will be interesting to watch my progress (against myself) throughout the course. The GPS will also track heart beat, cadence, elevation changes, wind, power output, speed, etc. Technology is amazing, isn't it? Boner