01-13-2005, 10:03 AM
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#31 (permalink)
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| Guest | Re: Spining, Spining, Spining
RonSonic wrote:
> 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
When Jim Ryun held the world record for (running a) mile it was
reported that he could only do one push-up. You wouldn't find that to
be the case today and (almost) all folks involved in training agree
that increased overall strength is a plus. As you say it is just a
matter of priorities and what should be emphasized most.
Besides it's fun to be strong :-)
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