Exercise your pedal power and go biking

Biking

People ride bicycles for all sorts of reasons.

Sara Lewis bikes for recreation and transportation, putting pedal to the asphalt during many miles around the Williamsburg area where she lives.

Penny Rich and Kirk Moore are avid mountain bikers who like scenic trails. The James City County residents are members of the Eastern Virginia Mountain Biking Association and bike to relieve stress, stay fit and socialize with a network of friends they've made through the sport.

Art Wolfson and Elaine Cardwell, both York County residents, annually ride to benefit multiple sclerosis research and services for Hampton Roads residents.

Overall, biking is an excellent form of exercise that keeps you fit mentally and physically, says Kelly Cox, a certified personal trainer and director of operations at Riverside Wellness and Fitness Center in Newport News.

You discover new places you would never find while riding in a car. At the same time, you increase your metabolism, strengthen your immune system, increase your resistance to fatigue, lower your risk of heart disease, decrease tension and help you sleep better.

"Just 30 minutes of exercise per day has also been shown to improve mood, reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress," says Kelly.

SARA LEWIS

Home: James City County

Age: 53

Family: Husband Ken Schmidt; daughter Elizabeth 21; son Lewis, 18

Career: Freelance writer with two part-time jobs, including communications director for BikeWalk Virginia and park interpreter at New Quarter Park for York County Parks and Recreation.

Pastimes: Reading, writing, bird watching, biking and walking

Bike: Diamondback Insight performance hybrid bike and it's the best bike I've owned; it's easy to ride and now my husband has trouble keeping up with me!

Why bike? I bike to get around and avoid wasteful, short trips in the car. I'm also concerned about my health and the health of the planet and bicycle riding is the perfect solution. I get in a recreational/exercise ride of 10 miles once a week.

Biking benefits: I have to push myself to get out there sometimes, but when I do I'm glad that I did. I feel so free and young and energetic when I'm biking. I love to look at trees, the river and birds. You can see the environment in a way that you can't when you're going five times faster and closed up in a car. I've gotten to the point where I feel claustrophobic in a car.

Worst biking moment: At the intersection of Jamestown Road and Route 199 when people speed through talking on cell phones as they go. I worry they don't see me.

Biking gear: I'm thinking about buying a red helmet and starting a Red Helmet Club, sort of like the Red Hat Club. The club motto would be "Females Over Fifty Keeping Fit!"

Related topic galleries: Williamsburg, Vehicles, Heart Disease, Hampton Roads, Virus Diseases, Jamestown (Jamestown, Virginia), Hobbies

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