Fitness Friday: Bike-a-go-go

Happy Friday droolers!

Do you realize it's about 12 weeks until Christmas? I can't believe how fast this year is going.

Don't miss out on this great autumn weather; get outside with the family and have some fun.

I recently saw Cape Gazette reporter Ron MacArthur's coverage of MS: Bike to the Bay, an annual event which took place last weekend. (It's in Friday's Cape Gazette - go pick up a copy.)

Did you see the pictures of the two girls riding ElliptiGOs? How cool!

So, I did some research about these new biking devices.

According to the website, ElliptiGO was invented because one of the founders, Bryan, "lost the ability to run for fitness because of hip and knee injuries. Basically, a lifetime of contact sports and endurance athletics had caught up with him and by the age of 32 he was forced to engage in low-impact exercise."

When Bryan couldn't find a bike to suit his needs, he called up former engineer Brent, and asked Brent to build a device.

As they say, the rest is history. The first ElliptiGO was delivered to a customer in 2010 in California, and now the trend is spreading across the nation.

Joining the trend will cost you about $1,799 for the 3G model, and the costs rise from there. Car racks for the ElliptiGO are similar to prices for bike racks.

Watching these new bikes in action was amazing, and of course, now I really want one. Guess I better start saving my pennies!

Family bike trip

If you aren't ready to join the ElliptiGo craze, why not plan a family bike trip. Now is the perfect time to explore your region by bike. Just make sure to take the safety precautions, including helmets for everyone. If you have a tyke, make sure the helmet fits properly, and you may want to consider elbow and knee pads if he is a daredevil-type of kid.

Biking combines strength training and a great cardio workout. Even just biking recreationally for about an hour can burn up to 100 calories.

According to the Mayo Clinic, bicycling and other aerobic workouts can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, cancers and type-2 diabetes, among other ailments.

"The healthy-living organization Care2 reports that even moderate or light bicycling stimulates the brain to produce endorphins, which boost your overall mood and serve to relax the body and mind."

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/103485-biking-good-cardio-exercise/#ixzz27m7PsX4Z

Besides all of these benefits, a family bike trip creates memories, helps families grow closer and shows kids outdoor activities are fun.

In Delaware, Sussex Outdoors is working to spread the message that families need to get kids outside. Besides a great time, kids who play outside get more exercise, fresh air and can have less stress.

This is a great program that needs everyone's support in order to work. More trails, bike paths and outdoor recreation areas are needed in order for all residents to have access. Bus services need to be increased to get kids and families to our state parks. All of this requires a broad range of support and funding.

Voice your support by using the region's state parks. Tell government officials what recreational opportunities you would prefer. Getting outside is the first step to happier, healthier kids and families.

Now that you have my two cents, get out there and go biking as a family!

See you on Monday droolers!