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01-13-2005, 08:48 AM

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".

Your hubby will love it!

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.

Lower too.

Is your daughter married yet? If not, tell her that the guys she brings
home will look at YOU to get a hint and what she'll look like when she's 50.

01-13-2005, 08:48 AM	#19 (permalink)
Roger Zoul Guest Posts: n/a	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". Your hubby will love it! 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. Lower too. Is your daughter married yet? If not, tell her that the guys she brings home will look at YOU to get a hint and what she'll look like when she's 50.