Category | Sports

Feel the burn

Published on March 11, 2008 by Aubrey Ingalls

    With the summer months approaching, consumers and would be
hard-bodies will soon be inundated with all manner of advertising for
the latest miracle diets, celebrity endorsed gimmicks, and even
surgical implants.  Sadly, some people will never face the reality that
dedication and lots of sweat are the keys to staying fit and looking
good.

Whether it’s a five mile run or a thirty minute workout at the gym, an elevated heart rate for a sustained amount of time is the surest way to burn calories and, consequently, lose weight.  The hard part comes the next day when the routine has to be repeated.  If a single workout was good enough to get us trim, then everyone would be the model of health; but, getting fit and staying fit is no easy thing.  So, to get the exercising season started with a bit of motivation and inspiration, here is the unique story of Crazy Dave:

    Normally a man of average fitness, Dave Dean was in his thirties when he decided that he needed to find a cardio workout that was low-impact and exciting enough to keep his interest.  Running, a knee-jarring exercise, was out and riding a bicycle was too boring.  So, he returned to the unicycle that he’d had as a child.  It took him a short while to regain his ability to ride and he was soon charging up a hill near his house.  “At first, I couldn’t get up the hill but I kept trying and kept trying and finally I did.  When I got bored with that, I rode up Kennesaw Mountain and when I got bored with that I rode up Kennesaw [Mountain] backwards.”  Incredibly, Dave has loaded a barbell with as much as 80 lbs. and rode his unicycle to the top of Kennesaw Mountain.  It’s no wonder his nickname is “Crazy Dave.”

    Dave has garnered some fame from his unicycling.  Most notable is his feat of riding to the top of Stone Mountain.  He is also often seen riding up and down Barrett Parkway.  As the owner of a local hair salon, Dave uses the uncommon sight of a man on a unicycle as free advertising.  “People love it,” he says.  “They always honk their horn and wave at me.”  The unicycle is not only a vehicle for fitness for Dave; it’s also his little “green-machine.”  Dave runs his errands on the unicycle and is often seen riding around with cases of water, groceries, salon supplies, and even in the drive-thru lane at the bank.  “It’s my little way of cutting down on vehicle emissions.”

    Crazy Dave’s daily fitness routine is almost as impressive as his unicycling.  Every morning for six days a week, he spends up to an hour lifting low to moderate weights for a high amount of repetitions.  Growing huge triceps and biceps is not Dave’s goal; his aim is to maintain his high level of overall fitness without losing his current muscle mass.  After the gym, Dave will ride the unicycle for an average of ten miles each day.  With the unicycle, he can tailor his ride to his workout requirements.  For quadriceps, he rides backwards; for hamstrings he rides forwards; he uses a large-wheeled unicycle when riding for speed – all the while his core body muscles are being worked.  The abdominal, oblique, and lower back muscles are essential when riding a unicycle and constantly act to balance and stabilize the rider.

    Crazy Dave doesn’t eat or drink anything crazy to supplement his exercise.  “Really, I eat whatever I want.”  Actually, Dave eats a healthy diet.  He avoids sodas and drinks lots of water, and every morning, before his workout, he eats a bowl of oatmeal.  He may not eat anything unusual, but he is always trying new and unusual feats.  His latest conquest has been his personal treadmill.  He can ride his unicycle on the treadmill at its fastest setting (with some elevation) or at its highest elevation (at a moderate speed).  According to Dave, “No one in the world is doing this, especially with eighty pounds of weight on their back.” 

    “Crazy” Dave Dean said,  “One time I rode thirty-five miles, non-stop, on the Silver Comet Trail.  And this isn’t like riding a bike, there’s no coasting on a unicycle, just constant pedaling.  When I got done, I was beat and had to rest for the rest of the day.”