All the News That's Fit

Californians brought tofu and veggie burgers, wheat grass and echinacea to the forefront of American eating trends, so they must be a healthy bunch right? Not according to a report released this week by the state’s Department of Health Services; Californians are eating more and exercising less. According to the findings, published in the San Francisco Chronicle, the state agency surveyed more than 5,000 adults over a 13-year period and found that the number of overweight or obese people rose by nearly 50%. At the same time, the number of Californians frequenting fast food restaurants rose from a third to half the state population. A few more cheery facts for dessert?

The study also found that:

20% of Californians said they did not exercise at all within the last month.
Fruit and vegetable consumption by African-Americans dropped by 20% and is currently at the lowest level the state has ever seen.
Only 5% of adults eat enough fiber each day.
Only 30% of adults get the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables.
Reported rates of diabetes rose by more than 25% over the period of the state study.

The Left Coast is not Alone
A recent report by National Public Radio says one in every two Americans is overweight, and that this trend is increasingly accepted as the norm. Stadium blueprints from Boston to San Francisco include plans to accommodate wider waists, and airlines are designing seats to fit three buns, not two. Critics blame overzealous marketing for the fattening of America. According to the Department of Nutrition at New York University, American food industries produce and market enough food for each living American to consume 3,800 calories per day. (A healthy adult requires between 2,000 and 2,500 calories each day.) The United States Department of Agriculture is juggling conflicting responsibilities: advising Americans on how to eat well while boosting agricultural industry and profits-meaning sell more food.
Win Gear, Build Trails
Have a favorite singletrack trail that’s off limits? Wish you knew where to begin in the fight to improve mountain biker access? Start here. The New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) is holding a raffle to raise funds for better trails. Cool companies have donated great prizes, including an Independent Fabrication Deluxe Mountain Bike, a Spinergy Spox Wheelset, mountain bike weekend get-aways and more. All money raised goes to New England trails! The drawing will be held on October 3rd at Pedros Mountain Bike Festival

Who’s Tough?
Think you’re tough? Spanish cycling star Abraham Olano raced for a week, including three difficult mountain stages in the Pyrenees, with three broken ribs that made breathing excruciating. Olano—the defending World Time Trial Champion—was leading the Tour of Spain when he crashed on a wet mountain descent and fell over a six-foot embankment. He finished the day’s stage but later lost the gold leader’s jersey to Germany’s Jan Ullrich. He finally pulled out of the event last week so he could heal up before the World Championships in October.

Stoking the Stroke Machine?
Check with your physician or health care provider before you begin regular aspirin therapy. A study published in the September issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association found that low doses of aspirin may prevent the most common form of stroke in healthy women, but high doses may help bring on the most deadly type of stroke. The study examined the medication habits of 79,319 nurses over a 14-year period.

Technique

Less Jarring Runs
If you want to try running—as a cross-training activity or simply start on the path to fitness—but can’t get over the aches and pains that accompany a new sport, try this: First, run only on dirt roads or paths. Blacktop and concrete are much harder on your legs and feet. Also, mix walking breaks with short periods of running. Start with three minutes of running alternated with one-minute walk breaks. Gradually increase the time you run. Finally, run uphill. I know, it takes more energy-but uphill running means a softer foot strike (because the foot has less distance to go before it hits the ground on each stride) and therefore less impact stress on your body. Walk the downhills.
Gear

Unseating Old Seats
Check out this nifty saddle-measuring device we saw at the Interbike bicycle show in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. It was developed by Alessandra Mingrino, a doctor at the Istituto Veneto Di Scienze in Italy and brought to the show by Selle Royal (http://www.selleroyal.com), one of the world’s largest saddle makers. In the close-up photo you can see the sensor that’s draped over the saddle. You sit on this and pedal, and in red the computer screen shows the pressure points on the saddle.

The more points you have and the more concentrated they are in the soft tissue areas of your groin, the more likely you’ll experience discomfort on the seat. With this device, you can swap seats and immediately see how one type of seat might benefit an individual more than another. I used this tool and learned that my favorite seat happens to be one of the worst for my body type! Interestingly enough, Selle Royal’s new Lookin line of seats, which use a high-quality medical Gel, performed impressively, reducing pressure points to the minimum for most testers. Mingrino (you can see her there in the photo in the white lab coat) is using the device to test a wide range of cyclists to analyze seats and problems associated with them.

Off-Road Rig
How’d you like to tackle your local trails on this radical rig? BikeE’s FX recumbent ($1,495) is the first mass-produced ’bent we’ve seen designed for off-road use. With front and rear suspension handling the bumps, a new seat design for comfort and control, a mid-drive shifting system providing super easy gears, and BikeE’s time-proven extruded aluminum frame adding reliability, the trails could suddenly get a lot more crowded. http://www.bikee.com
A Butter Ride
Is your butt sore while riding your bike? Experienced cyclists know that smearing some lube on their cycling shorts liner (called a chamois) can prevent most cases of chafing and saddle sores. But petroleum jelly, used by some riders, is messy and can clog pores. Enter Chamois Butt’R, a water-soluble cream that washes out easily and protects against abrasion. (http://www.pacelineproducts.com)
Treat for Defeet
DeFeet’s wear-like-iron cycling socks have taken the sport by storm. They’re colorful, stay up in rain and are just the right thickness. But don’t forget the equally nifty socks by The Sock Guy. Although not as well known, they’re high quality and the tops aren’t quite as tight, so they won’t constrict your ankles.