The Buffed Historian

My twenty-ninth book, Soldier of Rome: Nova Era (Book 5 of the Artorian Dynasty) , has been released! A new age has dawned for Rome. Following the brief reign of Emperor Nerva, Marcus Ulpius Trajan inherits the mantle of Caesar. A revered general and statesman, the senate a people of Rome greet his rise with an optimism not seen since the reign of Vespasian. Tiberius Artorius Castus, whose tenure with the Vigiles of Rome is ending, is summoned by Trajan to the Rhine. The emperor offers him a return to active service with the newly raised Equites Singulares Augusti, more commonly known as the Imperial Horse Guards. Rome eagerly awaits the arrival of its new, charismatic Caesar, yet Trajan must first secure the Rhine and Danube frontiers. He musters a division for an expedition against the Marcomanni in retribution for their invasion in support of the Pannonia Revolt, six years prior. For Tiberius, the campaign offers a chance at redemption, as the Imperial Horse Guards accompany Trajan

Pumping Iron, pounding steel, lifting heavy things and then putting them down, whatever you call it, I love weight lifting. Road cycling is my preferred form of cardio, but there is just something so satisfying about chasing "the pump". While machines and bars are fantastic, I do prefer using dumbbells for the majority of working out. During the pandemic, I built up a fairly respectable collection, ranging from 10 to 70 pounds (4.5 to 32 kg). Between those and an adjustable bench, I didn't really need anything else. The only issue was when it came to squats. Dumbbells are not practical when it comes to performing squats with any sort of weight. Thankfully, I already had a strong foundation from years of training. Plus, have you ever seen the legs on most cyclists? 'Ridiculous' is a term I've heard used more than once. But where did dumbbells come from? Moreover, why the a silly name? It sounds like a term of derision used on the childhood playground. To answer

  A Ride on Penny Farthing, by Joe Diamond  (Artist's page on DeviantArt ) I'm just going to say it, I love road cycling! It is fantastic cardiovascular exercise, great for the heart, lungs, and staying fit. It burns a lot of calories and avoids the jarring impact of running. Which is great for someone who in their early twenties snapped their ACL being stupid and required multiple knee surgeries (but we won't talk about that). There are drawbacks, of course. Cycling is very much seasonal, especially if, like me, you are averse to riding in the cold or rain (I admit, I'm a big baby when it comes to both). Bicycles also require maintenance and can be very expensive. Competitive triathletes and cyclists can spend upwards of $20,000 USD on their gallant steeds! My own Giant full-carbon road bicycle retails for around $3,000 USD. Thankfully, there are plenty of economic options available for the casual hobbyist who's not training for an Ironman. One can find a decent cr