Case Reed

Starting cardio as a beginner with joint concerns is smart, especially after being sedentary. Your doctor's advice to go low-impact is spot on, so focus on activities like biking or brisk walking that won't pound your knees. With your bike and park access, those are perfect options, and you can even do marching in place or gentle yoga flows in your apartment on off days. If I were starting over, I'd begin with 20-30 minute sessions five days a week, alternating between biking and walking to keep it varied. For week one, bike at an easy pace where you can chat comfortably, aiming for 10-15 minutes, then walk the rest if needed. Build up by adding two minutes of slightly faster pedaling each week, like increasing from a casual 8 mph to 10 mph on flat terrain. Track your heart rate with a simple app or watch to stay in the 50-70% max zone - calculate max as 220 minus your age, then multiply by 0.5 to 0.7 for your target. Listen to your body and stop if your knees flare up, maybe icing them afterward as a precaution. Progress gently, perhaps incorporating hills in the park by week three for added challenge without impact. Consistency beats intensity here, so after a month, you'll notice better endurance without the joint wrecking.

Thanks for the clear recommendation—sounds like that pick will stay flatter for wet-on-wet, and the clean tear-out is exactly what I needed. I'll try a 9x12 pad and see how it holds up with multiple layers. 👍