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Quote of the Day: Thomas Jefferson Wants You to Exercise and Have Fun
“Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.” — Thomas Jefferson
Tom, I don’t kegel or dance the quadrille, but my brand new NordicTrack indoor bike arrived yesterday, and I’m all in on exercising in the afternoons, just as your bewigged eminence recommended.
You were a gadget lover yourself (your decoder machine is totally dope), so I know you would appreciate my indoor exercise bike, a marvel of electronic and mechanical ingenuity. In the comfort of my living room, I can pedal through Paris or the wilds of Peru, virtually of course, as I watch the scenery go by on a 22-inch high definition screen. (You’re probably having trouble following this, aren’t you, Tom?)
When there’s a hill on the course, my bike’s resistance will increase and my bike will elevate; when the terrain goes down, my bike will decline and resistance will decrease. (I think I’ll stay away from San Francisco.)
I’m an insomniac, so the bike is ideal for me. In fact, last night at 2 a.m. I took a ride along the shore of Lake Como, Italy. Nice scenery.
It has built-in Google maps (I’ve lost you again, haven’t I, Tom?), so I can plot a course anywhere in the world. I plan to cycle around the town I grew up in, Compton, CA (yes, Tom, the U.S. has now spread coast to coast), through my college town of Eugene, OR, and around my new home town of Portland.
If I wish, I can join one of the “spinning” classes occurs in real time. That is, the instructor is live on my screen and can actually recognize me as I cycle. When he wants me to push it, he can control the resistance and incline of my bike, even though he might be in Erie, PA, and I in Portland. (I can also override him.)
I think I’ll ride in the countryside and leave off the spinning classes for awhile.
Tom, have you eve heard of anything as cool? I know, I know, you wrote the Declaration of Independence, and that’s kinda cool, I suppose.
Below is a shot of the screen. Those are the rider’s “virtual” handlebars just visible at the bottom of the screen. The big handlebars are the rider’s actual handlebars. The guy in front of the rider is the trainer, who is leading the rider through Utah’s Monument Valley. (I’m sorry, Tom, I know you’re totally confused by now, but that’s what you get for allowing yourself to serve as my foil.)
To leave this post on a high tone, let me end with a Jefferson quote that suggests he might have sympathized with most of us here on Ricochet.
Published in General“I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
Confucius say, “Man on bicycle…” Uh, never mind.
This is the Quote of the Day in a two-for-one price deal. We have plenty of openings this month if you would like to share a quotation to educate, honor another, celebrate yourself, brag about your new acquisition, or just so you can rant. Our sign-up sheet is here.
Or, if you’re looking to write something a bit more creative, you might try our Group Writing Project this month: It was a dark and stormy night…
What is this thing you call a bike? – Tom
A Draisienne, Tom, but with a few added elements.
“
“Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.” – Thomas Jefferson
“A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body, and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks.“ – Thomas Jefferson
But what about Bob? Does he have a little doggie treadmill to workout with you?
Is Bob asleep at 2am?
Bob is sound asleep upstairs on the bed with Marie. I’m downstairs eating, reading, writing — and now biking through Tuscany.
Jose, I have a virtual Bob on a virtual treadmill. We’re all happy.
Here’s stripy dog with our new exercise bike:
That’s how she likes to hang out when we’re peddling through Tuscany.
Jose, it’s a good looking dog, but I‘m new to exercise bikes so I want to see yours. Do you still ride it most days?
We have an Echelon. My wife, the triathlete, usually uses it. I climb stairs.
I heartily approve. I use the Rouvy service with one of my touring bicycles mounted on a Wahoo Kickr Snap trainer, but it’s the same general idea. I get to ride on “real” video routes all over the world. I, too, take the hilly routes in moderation. It’s good to see the competing services that are catering to people like you and me.
But for me the trainer is for the winter months or rainy days. At this time of year I’m out on the roads, taking in the fall color.
Retic, I plan to use my NordicTrack bike during my long nights of insomnia. I hope that instead of eating a bowl of cereal, I will go for a ride instead.
Jose, the little saddle that came with my NordicTrack was a killer. I’ve purchased a bigger and softer saddle. All the difference. . . .
I don’t think it will be much of a difference to her; she usually doesn’t use the saddle.
John Quincy Adams not only was a dedicated walker, but he also regularly swam the Potomac! I’ll stick with the walking.
Umm… Compton may have changed a bit since you left. I wonder if the NordicTrack simulator captures a realistic ambiance for Compton. Does the NordicTrack come with a Gat or an AK? You know, for verisimilitude.
Here’s a tune to accompany the tour of your ancestral home for a guy straight outta Compton. Language warning, obviously.
drlorentz, what I think you get is Google’‘s street view. That is, it’s a series of photos, not a video. But I don’t really know. I haven’t tried it yet.
I do think I’ll stick to a virtual tour of Compton.
Now that I am retired and not exhausted at the end of a long work day, I work out on my ConceptII indoor rowing machine every day. Rowing is easy on my joints, and the seat is more comfortable than a bike would be. It is an old one without the video, and is pretty boring. I fight the boredom by listening to my Rush Limbaugh podcasts while rowing. It’s under my second-floor bedroom window, so I can watch the evergreen trees in the next yard over, and talk to the kitty when she is on her window perch.
RushBabe, I’m having trouble with the seat. It’s uncomfortable. I assume I’ll become adapted to it as the days go by.
I just took a 26-minute virtual ride through the dessert area around Moab, Utah, with my virtual trainer, a young woman who encouraged me to work hard and “feel the burn.” I took a ride around Lake Como, Italy, yesterday. I really do like the videos.
Naked.
Edit to clarify: JQA used to skinnydip in the Potomac. I assume Susan wears clothes on her walks.
What’s important is whether they are wearing masks.