Legs and torsos are a blur as Ken Johnson (left) and Lynn Rush work-out on exercise equipment in Ken’s basement gym. Ken is riding a recumbent-style exercise machine with a built-in computer that monitors his performance while Lynn is working through a segment on the rowing machine.


TENDER MUSCLES
And a little sweat...

Ken and I started this exercise program early in December as a delightful winter diversion, and preparation for the 2010 bicycling season—itself aimed at preparing for a 70 mile bike ride some day near our combined 70th birthdays in October.

Lynn joined us shortly thereafter and, as a retired nurse, will be a welcomed companion on that early-Fall, geriatric adventure.

Here, Lynn and Ken each ride their personal road-bikes shown installed on trainers that allow lots of miles to be ridden—in place. By the way, the apparent motion in these photos is the result of using a camera shutter speed of ¼ of a second.

In the small photo (right) Ken is enjoying a little hot-rod tomfoolery on his Triton Ultimate, 3-Wheeled Cruiser.

I’ve come to really enjoy riding that little machine. I use it as a great cool-down after our 2-hour sessions.

Another handy gadget that has made an appearance in Ken’s gym is a blood pressure monitor. I was very surprised to note my blood pressure at the start of exercise one morning was a fuzz over 150. Ken guessed it would drop to about 120 after that morning’s workout. It dropped to 119 over 70 if I recall correctly.

My weight has slowly fallen to its current 167 pounds—as that layer of hibernation fat dissolves around my body. With Ken’s acute concern for health matters and Lynn’s nursing background we are paying close attention to the results of our exertions.

After all, our combined age exceeds 200 years.

It’s hard to believe that lofty number when I feel like 40 or thereabouts. Maybe even 30.

Hard to remember that long ago.

Ken (above) is using a home-made concoction consisting of some bent pipe, some cable, pulleys, fittings and assorted free weights in yet another device cleverly designed to extract more performance from our aging muscles.

For you photography enthusiasts this is an available light photo with the main light obviously coming from the basement window over Ken’s shoulder. His highlighted face is the result of the window light being reflected from the exercise gadget.

Note also how the composition is made more interesting by the low camera angle. I was sitting on the floor for this shot—relaxing, of course.