Seven-time Tour de France winner
Lance Armstrong may have set aside
his spandex-clad
cycling career, but the record-holding athlete
remains as active as ever. We couldn't resist touching base with
him - between his running marathons and opening multiple 24 Hour
Fitness clubs - to see how he likes "retirement" and to snag
several frequent-flier-friendly biking and workout tips.
- Scott Steinberg
Do you have any fitness tips for all the road
warriors out there? Yes. Do yourself a favor and get into a
steady routine, even if that means taking the odd day off. Not
everyone has to be in the gym every day. Just get on a steady
program. Cycling isn't the only thing you should do to stay fit,
either, and it certainly isn't the only thing I do to work out,
myself. Try activities like
swimming, running, and
kayaking, which
burn calories quickly and help build cardio ability over time. And
if you ever feel like slacking, just check the scale, which is the
one thing we pretty much all have in our bathrooms. It never
lies.
What are things people should watch out for when
in the gym? I can't say it enough: Concentrate on your form
and technique when you're exercising. It's crucial. You don't have
to work with a trainer to maximize workouts, but if you don't have
proper form, if it's incorrect, you won't just wind up not getting
an optimal workout; you may be courting potential injury, which is
even worse. So if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask them.
It may seem embarrassing at first, but it's better than the
alternative.
Tell the truth: Is biking really that good of a
way to take off the pounds? Oh yeah. And stationary bikes
are available at virtually any hotel too. An hour of sustained
effort on one is enough for most folks. ... [Take] a Spinning class
if one's offered. Instructors generally do a great job of helping
you sweat off the calories.
How about some - ahem - food for thought: What's
the best way to balance your diet when you're on the road all the
time? That's definitely a big problem, as I know. I've spent
a lot of time in
Europe, though, and based on that, I've come to
the conclusion that they eat best, meaning I highly recommend
eating the way that Europeans traditionally do. They have a lot of
things like butter and
oil and wine in their diet, but it's okay to
enjoy those as long as you do so in moderation. Limiting portion
size is imperative, as well; they're much better about that
overseas than we are here. The next time you're at a restaurant,
try reminding yourself that you don't have to go overboard, even
when you're dining with an associate. There's really no need to
overdo it on your food intake.
Short Cuts
Favorite Manufacturer
Trek
"Still the best bike company in the world - we could see another
Tour de France champion riding one this summer."
2007 Prediction
America Rides On
“It’s doubtful there’ll be much of a dip in domestic cycling — we’ve still got what it takes to train champions.”
Top Cycling Spots Santa Cruz, California, and Vail, Colorado“Both are absolutely great places for mountain-bike
riding — frankly, for my money, you just can’t go wrong with either.”
Place to Be This Spring Tour de Flanders: Flanders, Belgium “I’m spending time with the Discovery Channel cycling team during Europe’s one-day classics to support George Hincapie and the boys.”