Road cycling to fitness
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Been in US for a week. No exercise, eating out lunch and dinner every night, and after my dry January I have to confess I made a bit of a pig of myself on the booze front :)<br><br>
Here's the thing, back in the gym yesterday for KBs dips, pull-ups etc - post weigh-in still 82kg!<br><br>
Need to back on the bike quickly as my event is now re-arranged for end of Feb. So bloody windy at moment though I'll probably have to shift it indoors. -
Still 82kg been doing gym, watt bike and proper cycling when I get the chance. Leg recovery is improving but i need to get some more mile under the belt. Here's hoping for some better weather. <br><br>
In meantime have been mixing high reps of leg press, lunges, squats in between sessions on the watt bike to increase stress on the legs and try to recreate how knackered they will be after 4 hrs of cycling. Will find out if it works at the end of the month! -
<p>Cookie, have you been adding any weight variations to your accessory work (lunges, squats etc)?? Sneak some Kettlebell work in there son! lots of stuff you can do for le :whistle: gs, core and especially back - which I guess would be helpful given the contortions you put yourself through on a bike </p>
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Cheers - yeah I need to be careful with my back so leg press has weights, and single leg squat with KBs as long as I have one of big Swiss Balls against my back and the wall.<br><br>
It's a weird concept - but almost all the reading around cycling is pretty dismissive of weight training. Hours on the bike count more than hours in the gym. The thinking is you don't need very strong legs - just strong enough to to turn the pedal - but they need to cope with periods of continuous stress then quick recovery, across long stretches of time.<br><br>
However I do enjoy going down the gym for sake of general fitness - otherwise you only get fit for one thing! -
<p>assume the strength/power you need for cycling can be built up through cycling, given the very nature of the action and the ability to 'load' the pedal anyway.</p>
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<p>I'm no cyclist, but do enjoy getting out on my ancient mountain bike that weighs a ton, I probably wouldn't know myself if I was riding a real bike on some of the 20km rides I do haha</p> -
<p>that's interesting Cookie, guess it's pretty similar in all sports/activites - doing more of running, cycling etc is the way to get better at whatever your chosen sport/exercise is. I wondered about the weights as your body is in some unusual positions and it could be a good way to strengthen your back and core?</p>
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<p>Played rugby with a cycling nut many moons ago. He was fit but kept getting cramp in his calves as he wasn't used to all the running. Funny how fitness sometimes doesn't translate quite as well as you'd hope!</p>
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<p>But pretty sure evil shit like burpees will help you with nearly anything!</p> -
I love going cycling, getting pretty addicted to it, but I I'm not sure it's all that great for functional fitness. Good for cardio vascular conditioning for sure, but for training muscles - it's a very restricted and specific excercise that is continually repeated so I try to mix things up in the gym a bit - but nowhere near JKs definition!<br><br>
While training over the winter, (when I can) I've noticed the old leg muscles are definitely recovering quicker. Did two good sessions this week (40km each) within only one rest day in between - previously I was needing 2-3 days recovery. <br><br>
I really can't wait for Spring when I can do a bit more, especially in the evenings. It's very frustrating looking forward to cycle all week while at work, only to find it's blowing a gale and raining over the weekend. -
<p>Hang in there bro, you are setting a great foundation for when the weather improves and you can do more riding!</p>
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Did the 120km today. I am in bits. Had to cycle into a brute of a NE headwind for much of the return which was cold as well as hard work. I did it in a shade under 5 hrs, I could find out exact time but that would involve moving.<br><br>
I now plan to eat my own bodyweight in pasta as soon as I can raise myself from horizontal. -
<p>Hey Cookie, good effort mate. If you ever feel the ride was too long spare a thought (blatant plug incoming) for my cousin who is cycling the length of NZ to raise money for his nephew.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.facebook.com/RideforDallas/?pnref=story'>https://www.facebook.com/RideforDallas/?pnref=story</a></p>
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<p>He is a mountain biker but don't hold that against him :whistle:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Paekakboyz" data-cid="561570" data-time="1456703791">
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<p>Hey Cookie, good effort mate. If you ever feel the ride was too long spare a thought (blatant plug incoming) for my cousin who is cycling the length of NZ to raise money for his nephew.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.facebook.com/RideforDallas/?pnref=story'>https://www.facebook.com/RideforDallas/?pnref=story</a></p>
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<p>He is a mountain biker but don't hold that against him :whistle:</p>
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<p>There is some crazy people out there.</p>
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Got a mate whos running the length of the south island!!</p> -
Bloody one holiday and one bout of Manflu later and my fitness is shot to buggery.<br><br>
Got out on the bike today for first time in ages. Now the clocks have gone forward it's great to cycle in the early evening. Cold crisp sunny day - beautiful. Also tried out my new jacket, thin, light, windproof and breathable - just kept at a nice temperature, amazing bit of kit!
