If you filled your car up with craptastic gasoline, it would not run very well. Something similar could be said about the human body, and if you happen to be attempting to set a new World Record for bicycling around the world, your body running poorly is quite serious indeed. According to Mark Beaumont from Scotland, the man who just set that particular World Record, both the United States and Australia offered no healthy alternatives for him to eat, so he had to fill up on junk food. "There were no healthy options - and it had a massive effect on my mental focus and body strength," Beaumont told The Guardian. In Australia, that meant eating Mars bars and tins of baked beans. He doesn't specifically say what he ate here in the States, but McDonalds and Burger Kings were probably lining the streets wherever he went. Granola stations, as you may already know, are in shorter supply. Oh well, he made it around the globe and smashed the previous record by 81 days.

[Source: The Guardian via Treehugger]

Some studies could be stopped before they are even started. Studies like this one, where scientists used mathematical models to figure out "the wave" that is common during sporting events. Others are bound to reach a conclusion that we already knew. Take, for instance, a study on health in London, which shows that by walking and riding your bike more, you will improve your health (and don't forget about this study). We knew that already right? But, just to what extent could your health improve? Here is some real data for you to consider:

A separate paper uses London travel data to identify four archetypal car using groups in London: Claire, a 10 year old girl; Lucy, a 40 year old mother; Tom, a 50 year old man living and working in outer London; and Derek, a 78 year old man. It calculates the increases in physical activity and energy expenditure that would result if they transferred their car journeys to walking, cycling and public transport, with occasional trips by taxi. By doing so, they would expend an average of 139,300 kJ of energy a year, equivalent to an average of 4.5 kg of fat. Lucy would reduce her risk of breast cancer by 25% and increase her life expectancy by between 1 and 2 years, while Tom would enjoy a 20-40% reduction in the risk of premature mortality and around a 30% reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes.

Those are some pretty huge improvements, which is why this is a separate post from the rest of the date I found in the same source article. So, why not get out your walking shoes and take a hike down to the bike store!

[Source: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine via Scientific Blogging]

There is absolutely no good reason for me to get an Ergo Bike Premium 8i. It would be just too embarrassing! I am not nearly good enough a rider to consider challenging anybody with any real skill. I like to ride for fun, though. If you consider riding a stationary bike too boring, but need or want the exercise, maybe you should consider one of these for yourself. This stationary cycle allows you to socially network yourself with other people who enjoy bike riding and who might be a tad competitive. Using an internet connection, people with the Ergo bike can stage rides together, watch their heart rates and breathing statistics and do it all on virtual versions of the world's best rides. Using VoIP connections and video, riders can interact with each other to give support or to talk a little smack.

Alternatively, the bike records how many watts your are putting out, so if you ever decided that you'd like to make your own electricity, well... now you can see just how impractical it may be. Unless you are in really, really good shape that is. In a very real sense, your mileage may vary.

[Source: CNET News]