A Tale of Two Bikes

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it? Yes, that's a picture of my brand new bike. Took it for a 50 km initiation ride within a couple of days. And yes, below is a picture of a spinning bike. Okay, so it's not mine, but I get to use it whenever I want at the YMCA.

Outdoor versus indoor riding. Same pedaling motion, and that's where the similarities end...for me. The comparison between the two was academic until I took to the road and experienced the differences for myself.

Here's my quirky list of differences:

1.  Look at the beautiful seat on my bike, white with a pink stripe. The spinning bike's impersonal seat caused me great pain in the derriere, years ago.
2. Ride like the wind when you go downhill...oops...not so fast, watch out if you're on the road. I love speed, only when the bike is stationery.
3. Huffing and puffing up the hill, on my last gear. Too bad you can't turn the crest into a valley with the flip of the fingers. Now, on that indoor machine, we'll huff and we'll puff, and we'll keep going. But when no one's looking, maybe the tension lever might just drop a notch or two.
4. How about those cyclists who glide past you and no amount of pushing and pedaling with my little feet will make me go any faster. Now you come to my spinning class and I'll show you a trick or two about speed.
5. There's nothing comparable to the breathtaking beauty of a nature ride. However, a spin class takes my breath away...literally.
6. When you ride indoors, you never have to worry about being caught in a downpour or wonder if your water bottle has turned into an ice block. And oh...load up on the sunscreen.
7. The night before an outdoor rendezvous, gotta pack and gear up. Helmet...check, water...check, snack...check, spare tire...check, and the list can go on and on. Now for my spinning checklist. Gym bag always packed...check.
8. Hey, how about the treat at the end of a road trip? A loaded brunch to replenish all the calories lost. Now how about breakfast after my Sunday class? A leisurely coffee with a reward or two to replace the fat I lost in that one intense hour.

Okay, the comparison ends here. I can't get enough of both. If you love cycling too and have an interesting comment or two about either the outdoor or indoor kind, feel free to comment and connect with me.