Did you know you can go Kayaking in Manhattan? I didn't up until a few years ago when a friend told me about it. Best of all you can do it for free! It's a great way to get some upper and lower body exercise and enjoy the city in a way you probably haven't done before.

There are three different free kayaking locations you can from depending on how far you'd like to ride.

The ride starts in Fort Lee where you'll head across into Manhattan via the George Washington Bridge, follow the Manhattan Greenway along the Hudson River until you arrive at one of the three paddling destinations.

When I first got back into cycling, my legs were ready long before my seat was. Around the 25 minute mark, the ride was fine, but sitting on the bike was not. The fix was not complicated: a better saddle and a decent pair of padded shorts.

After swapping saddles and learning what actually matters for comfort, I could ride for hours and still feel like riding the next day. Below are three affordable saddles under $50 that I have personally used, plus a quick note on my Cannondale stock saddle for comparison.

Activity:	Cycling, Hiking
Cycling Distance:	20.4 Miles
Hiking Distance:	2.0 Miles
Difficulty:	Moderate
Duration:	Less than 3 Hours

Activity:	Cycling, Hiking
Cycling Distance:	13.9 Miles
Hiking Distance:	3.5 Miles
Difficulty:	Moderate
Duration:	About 3 Hours

Activity:	Cycling, Hiking
Cycling Distance:	6.6 Miles
Hiking Distance:	Varies but at least about 1 mile
Difficulty:	Moderate
Duration:	1 Hour

I spent an embarrasing amount of time trying to find a bike helmet that didn’t make my already large head look even bigger.

A couple of months ago I decided I should start wearing a bicycle helmet again. I ride casually and sometimes commute, and I wanted something that would actually look normal with regular clothes. Not neon. Not covered in racing graphics. Something that looked like a normal human might wear it.

After a week of research I ended up choosing the Giro Hex. It checked every box I had: matte black, good ventilation, compact shape, and a visor that helped it look more casual.

Unfortunately the Giro Hex is no longer widely available. If you want the closest modern equivalent today, it’s the Giro Fixture II MIPS, which keeps a similar style but adds updated safety technology.

Before I bought anything I also wrote about the general criteria I was using when looking for helmets that actually look decent on adults. If you want the bigger picture, that post is here: how to choose an adult bicycle helmet that looks good.

Because here’s the reality: if you hate how a helmet looks, you will mysteriously “forget” to wear it.

A sweaty shirty can make you feel uncomfortable when working out or heading back home so I started looking for shirts that don't show sweat.

I remember the first time I tried to jog. It was horrible. My heart was racing and I was exhausted and I barely made it a block. Recently I have had much better results than that first attempt.

One day I was very impressed with my performance. I had jogged longer than I ever had before. It filled me with such great joy.

Walking home from my run led me through my town's crowded main strip. Past many businesses and restaurants with open air seating. Along the way I noticed a few people staring at me. Was my elation so obvious as to draw that attention? Not really. It was a very hot day and my jog had made me obviously sweaty.

Blaze Headlight and Superflash Taillight

I've been on a few bike rides this summer that wound up being longer than expected or I got a later start than I had wanted and wound up bicycle riding at night. As the days are getting shorter, that could happen more frequently.

If I get tied up, I don't want to have to miss my after work bike ride because it's too dark.

To increase my safety when I ride my bicycle at night I decided to get a bicycle light set.

After checking out different bicycle lights and reading many reviews I decided to buy the Planet Bike Blaze 1-Watt Headlight and Superflash Taillight Combination Bicycle Light Set.

Read more for the bicycle light set review and video of Blaze 1Watt and SuperFlash at night.

A lot of people avoid wearing a bicycle helmet for one simple reason. They think it makes them look ridiculous.

I used to think the exact same thing. A bike helmet made my big head look even bigger, and every time I tried one on it felt like I was wearing a mushroom.

But if you ride on streets, trails, or commute by bike, eventually you start realizing something. Looking slightly dorky for an hour is a lot better than cracking your skull on pavement.

So the real question becomes this: can you actually find a helmet that doesn't make you look like a bobblehead?