01-13-2005, 08:15 AM
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#13 (permalink)
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| Guest | Re: Spining, Spining, Spining
Maggie wrote:
> Roger Zoul wrote:
> > Maggie wrote:
> > :: With the weather in NJ, it is very difficult to get any riding
> time
> > :: in as I've written repeatedly. I have been going to the gym at
> least
> > :: three times a week in preparation for my 25 mile ride in May.
Last
> > :: week my trainer decided that I should use weights. I was told
that
> > :: the spin class would help with both cardio and leg muscle
> strength,
> > :: but I need upper body strength as well to eventually be in shape
> to
> > :: ride long distance. I started out with riding a bike for fun,
> ended
> > :: up in a gym taking spin classes and now I am on weight training
> > :: equipment working all the muscles in my body. When I arrived
home
> > :: last night I started to wonder how buying a bike could lead to
all
> > :: of this. My only goal was to buy a bike and ride for fun. I am
> now
> > :: spending more time at the gym and working on muscle toning. Some
> of
> > :: the machines look like torture devices. Is upper body strength
> > :: really that necessary for riding a bicycle? Or is my trainer
> trying
> > :: to convince me that I should get in shape and not just ride a
> bike.
> > :: She is a crazy person (as all trainers in my opinion) and she
> takes
> > :: pride in helping people strengthen, tone, look and feel better.
> Did
> > :: she use my goal of riding 25 miles to convince me to use the
> weights
> > :: or is it essential that I do? What does upper body strength
have
> to
> > :: do with riding a bike? Call me stupid, but I really don't think
> it
> > :: is that necessary. How much work are my arms doing when I ride a
> > :: bike. I want an answer to that. My trainer just tells me, its
> > :: important...end of discussion. So do you know? I am working my
> buns
> > :: off at that gym to ride in a 25 mile charity fun ride.
> >
> > You need to pull against the handlebars as you climb hills. Upper
> body.
> > Your neck can get tired when you ride long distances, that's upper
> body.
> > Your shoulders can get tired, too. Having strong abs helps you
> generate
> > power.
> >
> > Bottom line: keep going to the gym and lifting the weights (and
doing
> the
> > rest of it). Wait til you start seeing the results.
>
>
> My trainer said the same thing last night....."Wait til you start
> seeing results....you will be happy." She said she is going to make
me
> a "hot" woman. She said this in front of my 26 year old daughter who
> thinks I am going there so I do not get a heart attack and die. I
don't
> think my daughter wants to think of her mother as "hot". I know I
> never thought of my mother in that way. But Moms in the 50's and
early
> 60's wore aprons and stayed home alot. If I put an apron on, my kids
> would fall over in a dead faint. I will try all this muscle toning
> madness and see where it leads. Can't hurt I guess. Well maybe it
can.
> ;-) Maybe the upper body strength will help.
> Maggie
Your bones will thank you also, Maggie. As one of those 'mature' women
in the group I can tell you weight training has certainly helped me to
fight osteopenia (beginning of osteoporosis). One of my main worries
when riding the bike has been taking a bad tumble that could break a
bone. Of course, my cycling worries my doctor more than it does me 
Thankfully I've only taken one bad spill and it resulted in nothing
more than a scrapped elbow. Who knows, maybe the weight training
prevented a broken bone. Someone posted an article awhile back that
indicated cycling might help build bones too but weight training is
still probably the most recommended form of exercise to build bones.
Here's an article that has some of the benefits of weight training for
cyclists.
http://www.cptips.com/weights.htm
Beverly
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