Patrick Garner, R.N.

Patrick Garner is an R.N. who has worked for NorthBay Healthcare for more than 20 years and has been an avid cyclist for more than 30 years. He is experienced in multiple aspects of cycling, such as bike commuting, road riding, touring and mountain biking. He has been involved in organizing events such as bicycle races, centuries and bike tours and is the Captain of Team NorthBay.

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Spun

July 19, 2016
 

The spring 2016 issue of Wellspring includes an article titled, “Spin to Begin.” It details one of the most popular offerings in fitness clubs: indoor stationary cycling, commonly known as spinning. I was interviewed for this piece in connection with the opening of NorthBay’s new HealthSpring Fitness Center, which opened July 1. As one of the new club members, I was there for the opening and began a new routine of exercising indoors. It has been at least a decade since I stopped going to a local gym where I first became a fan of spinning.

I did not attend a spin class on opening day, nor during the other two days I went to HealthSpring that first week. I actually did not even look at the schedule for a spin class as I was getting plenty of miles in the saddle riding outdoors. Besides, there were plenty of other activities I wanted to participate in at HealthSpring including doing laps in the pool and using the rowing machine. One morning when I showed up to exercise, however, I glanced at the class schedule and saw that a spin class was about to begin. So I joined in.

The subtitle of the aforementioned Wellspring article on spin classes was, “Intense Workout a Great Start for Want-to-be Cyclists.”  I would say that it is an intense workout for already-practicing cyclists as well. I attended three classes in two weeks and there is no doubt that it has benefited my outdoors cycling performance.

My schedule during this period has not allowed me to do as many long distance rides as I would like in order to prepare for an upcoming two- week, 1,000-mile bike tour, but I am not worried. I feel strong and confident that I will be able to do 70 to 110 miles per day for 12 days, as planned.

The intensity of spin classes, which run less than an hour, definitely has value. The ride that I would normally do for intensity (from my home, then up a super steep climb in Mix Canyon, and back home) would take me two-and-a-half to three hours to complete. I can ride to and from the fitness center and do a spin class in under two hours easily. I am definitely going to keep spinning in my routine.

For NorthBay employees who are members of HealthSpring, if you are able to include a bike ride to and from your workout, you have the privilege of parking your bike inside the bike cage, conveniently located between VacaValley Hospital and HealthSpring. The bike cage is secure and covered, protected from the elements and out of sight. To access the bike cage, contact security to be provided the combination to the padlock.  If you are not an employee, HealthSpring members are provided bike parking in front of the center, just bring a cable lock.

 

Tags: bike

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