New York Chapter "W"

Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Rochester, NY

Exercise, It Does A Body Good

This is the time of year when our bikes take a rest from its summer exercise routine, and so do we. The fall ritual of putting our precious babies to bed for the long winters nap has since long passed. Since our spring ride is still a few months off, we should consider some exercises for our bodies so we will be ready for our first motorcycle spring fling. Our bikes will be ready, but are we?! While most of us want to look like Arnold the 'Terminator' on his manly motorcycle, we should really strive to look more like Lance Armstrong the Tour de France bicyclist! Let's face it; our winter exercise routine probably includes finger exercises with the TV remote and lifting weights, 12 ounces at a time. We should plan the winter months to get off the living room couch to be ready for the motorcycle couch, our Goldwing.

Check with your doctor to make sure you are ready for some cardio and weight lifting exercises. This is the most important first step. Don't leave home with out it!

Watch your diet, try NOT to adhere too closely to the motorcyclist mantra of "Ride to Eat, Eat to Ride" or at least watch your intake. Don't follow the ever so popular see food diet.

See food, eat it.

Set up a program that will include both cardio exercise and weight lifting for muscle tone. Cardio can include riding a stationary bike, spin class, or a treadmill. Weight lifting for muscle tone means less weight with more repetitions. Again, first step is to consult your doctor.

Leg exercises will help you getting your bike off the center or side stand, and moving it around with ease. Exercises should strengthen your quads, hamstrings, and calves. Also strong legs may be useful if you find yourself in an unsavory place. This may be a new mantra, "Run to Live, Live to Run".

Stomach muscles can also help to relieve back pain. The more baggage you carry up front causes stress to the back. If you listen to most experts, exercise will make muscles larger, therefore based on that theory, most of us must do a LOT of stomach exercises! Do sit ups, not sit DOWNS!

Chest and back are the next largest muscle groups to work on. It gives added strength to our upper body for moving our motorcycles with less strain to our body. It also helps look macho with our newly purchased tight t-shirts that we just added to our collection of other unworn shirts.

Biceps and triceps are the arm muscles needed for strength as well. Make sure you balance your exercises so you don't look like Popeye the sailor man. These sets of muscles will go well with your massive chest when you wear your vest and t-shirts.

Set up a schedule to work cardio at least 4 times a week and work the muscles groups together such as backs and biceps, chest and triceps and some legwork mixed in. These sets of muscles compliment each other and will have the most benefit for you. Most of these exercises can be done at home or most health clubs will welcome you with open arms, if you have an open wallet.

 The exercise routine will make your first motorcycle ride exercise match your newly exercised body. Remember, exercise, it does a body good. Or was that milk?!

In the famous words of Arnold, "I'll be bock".

Practice Safe Riding

Gary Mandak

Chapter "W" Educator

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