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Healthwatch 16: Bringing Outdoor Cycling Inside

KINGSTON — It’s not exactly prime time for getting on the bike and going for a ride, which is why one cycling instructor decided to bring the outsid...

KINGSTON -- It's not exactly prime time for getting on the bike and going for a ride, which is why one cycling instructor decided to bring the outside in.

It was early on a Sunday morning, the coldest day of the winter so far in Luzerne County and around the area, but inside Vive Health and Fitness in Kingston, it's nothing but blue skies and greenery up ahead.

Welcome to Live Ride, an interactive cycling class. It's Keith Swartwood's brainchild. He's a cycling instructor at Vive who took a spinning class a few years ago and fell in love.

"All of a sudden, I wanted to see what it was like to get out on the roads. And I bought a bike, and found a passion," Swartwood said.

Keith mapped out 10 to12 routes and strapped a GoPro camera to his chest, then enlisted some cycling buddies to hop on their bikes and ride. Each video is about a 45-minute tour through various townships in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Those videos are played during live ride classes.

"Outdoor cycling can be very intimidating, at first, to be out on the roads with cars. I think when people see it on screen, having fun in a group ride, we're together as a team, it's a little less scary."

Kevin Engelmen of Mountain Top was one of the class participants. He's also one of the riders in the video. He remembers this particular route went through Nuangola.

"It provides us an opportunity to train throughout the months to prepare for the outdoor season once spring starts again," said Englemen.

Kevin says it's the best way he's found to bring the outdoors in.

"You're getting the opportunity to climb up hill, you're going downhills, with Keith's instruction, he's providing that opportunity to feel like an outdoor cyclist."

And though it may look like a high-intensity workout, Keith insists biking is one exercise you can take at your own pace and your own resistance.

"Very low impact exercise, for anybody, as long as you can pedal or sit, you can get it done."

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