01-13-2005, 08:03 AM
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#24 (permalink)
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| | Re: Spining, Spining, Spining
On 13 Jan 2005 04:24:08 -0800, "Maggie" <lbuset@allsecretarial.com> 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.
Here's a guy who has an Olympic gold medal to establish how well and fast he can
ride 25 miles http://mitglied.lycos.de/grischafan/tdf02_hamilton5.jpg and
http://www.e-tourmagazine.com/news/n...7-2311463.jpeg and
http://www.whileseated.org/photo/img...8/DSCN1893.jpg . And, oh, by the
way, the second picture shows him on his way to fourth place in the Tour de
France with a broken collarbone in 2003.
So you tell me how important upper body strength might be.
Fact is, given reasonable health you could do a 25 mile ride with no preparation
whatever. It'd turn into a bit of a death march by the end, misery and slogging
and suffering. But, you could do it.
OTOH, all of this got you off your butt and working out in a way nothing else
has, didn't it.
You should (we all should) just plain get into shape, and the bike is a part of
that program, in fact it belongs at the center of it for me. Exercise without
targets, objectives, an event or a sport is either too boring or requires far
more self-absorption than I can possibly muster. Just being in shape isn't
enough motivation for me. My humble schedule of local competitions for the
upcoming year is enough. And if I don't get to be the fastest fifty year old in
town oh well, I'll be in pretty damn good shape.
Back to the upper body strength, even Tyler Hamilton would do better with a
little upper body work out. At least he wouldn't get hurt so bad when he
crashes.
Ron
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