Cross-Train THIS, Bitch
The other day while reviewing the LeMond Revolution trainer the topic of cross-training vs. actually riding came up. Generally I don’t stop riding my bike in the winter (I’ve several times clocked more miles from November through February than February through May) but I don’t ride as hard core in the winter either.
My normal cross training routine involves lots of racquetball (and racquetball related injuries) and a good amount of lifting.
But I’ve got a new regimen thanks to Microsoft’s new Kinect system. The motion-capture-based game controller works with a number of great games and I’m using them to get the winter-time workout that I never got from the much-vaunted Wii.
In particular I’ve been playing Fighters Uncaged , a first-person street fighting game that uses actual punches and kicks as the interface for, well, punching and kicking.
After my first bout of fights I was panting, sweating and breathing harder than I have in months. Elbow punches, roundhouse kicks, ducking and jabbing–this is great. And it’s getting all of my muscles in shape.
I’m not sure how many people out in Hugger Land have Kinect and Xbox Live accounts, but I’m thinking of doing a gaming night for BikeHugger fans. If you’re interested in some online gaming, let us know in the comments.