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Carol Perkins: Under the desk bike chapter of life

Author is now in the neophyte phase with latest health machine, hoping she'll master it before it has to be relegated to the corner of her basement along with her full sized fitness bike and treadmill."
Next earlier Carol Perkins column: Carol Perkins: Another Valentine's Day is behind us

By Carol Perkins

The same doctor who told me I had trouble breathing at night because I had no neck also told me to buy an under the desk type of bike to pedal while I was working at my computer or watching TV. "It is better that you do this than walk at this time because you have no breath." He kept reminding me that I have no breath. The good news was the problem wasn't my heart.

Immediately, I ordered a desk cycle from Amazon. Whatever will help is worth the cost, but whatever will help only works if the person is willing to use it. Willing might not be the right word; capable is a better one.



"I can't wait to see this," Guy smirked as he removed it from the box and assembled it.

"That looks doable," I said. I moved the machine to my office and put it under my computer desk on the hardwood floor. Locking my feet into the straps that were guaranteed not to slip, I began pedaling, but my feet slipped off the pedals. Soon I figured out that I was not supposed to put my feet on the strap part; they were to go on the hard pedal with the strap at the top. Once I no longer had my feet in them upside down, I pedaled as hard as I could. That wasn't very hard. The first problem was that when I sat straight in my chair, with each rotation my knees hit my chin. Think of an adult riding a tricycle.

Another problem was that with each rotation, the machine scooted back and forth across the hardwood floor. I slung it from side to side and held on to the chair. I nearly fell out trying to catch up with it. My feet were in the straps and the straps were attached to the pedals and the pedals were going with the machine. Consequently, so was I. When my back was nearing the edge of the chair, I knew it was time to do something different before I broke a hip.

I grew smarter and placed the machine and my chair on a rug. I couldn't get any momentum going because to do so I had to lie back in the computer chair and keep my legs as straight as possible while pedaling. I was either too short or needed a taller chair. My tennis shoes also held me back. They barely fit into the harnesses and slowed down my ability to pedal, so I kicked them off and pedaled barefooted.

Maybe with more practice, I can get into the rhythm. With more practice, maybe I can burn calories while answering emails. With more practice, I might last more than two minutes without my feet slipping out of the pedals or my bottom slipping off the chair. Maybe just maybe this bike won't go in a corner of my basement along with my full sized fitness bike and treadmill. A big maybe!
(My new book, A Girl Named Connie, is available at Blossoms Florist and Boutique Unique, 507 Happy Valley Road, Glasgow, KY 42141, Phone 270-629-3597; the Edmonton/Metcalfe Chamber of Commerce, 109 E Stockton Street, Edmonton, KY, Phone 270-432-3222; and the Lighthouse Restaurant, 1500 Sulphur Well/Knob Lick Road, Sulphur Well Historic District, KY 42129. Phone 270-629-3597. And Also on Amazon.com)

Contact: Carol Perkins, PO Box 134, Edmonton, KY 42129. Phone 670-432-5756. carolperkins06@gmail.com


This story was posted on 2017-02-23 09:55:36
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