Good complementary exercise to cycling?
Andrew Swan
am losing general flexibility, e.g. when touching my toes. This is
despite me stretching my quads, calves, and hammies during and after my
training rides.
Also, I'd like to tone my upper body a bit, particularly in the
abdominal (i.e. beer gut!) area.
Lastly, some extra leg strength would come in handy for climbing and
sprinting. I'm guessing there's more effective ways to get this than
just riding lots of hills.
So what's a good complementary exercise to cycling? A cyclist friend had
yoga recommended to him ... but even then there are several types. Also
there's Pilates, which seems to be very popular right now. Would this do
what I'm looking for?
Any advice or suggestions appreciated.
&roo
P.S. I'm looking to avoid impact sports such as running.
Andrew Price
"Andrew Swan" <newsN...@andrewswan.com> wrote in message
news:YVgFa.305$um2....@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> So what's a good complementary exercise to cycling? A cyclist friend had
> yoga recommended to him ... but even then there are several types. Also
> there's Pilates, which seems to be very popular right now. Would this do
> what I'm looking for?
>
will do a lot to complement your cycling - but as with cycling the
improvement comes from the constancy in the sessions you do - ie it has to
become a part of your regular routine (yep, another time trap!)
Its not so much in the discipline you choose but in the quality of the
instructors - they need to understand you and work on your flexibility needs
progressively and so you understand and get to enjoy the process. As with a
badly set up bike having the capacity to cause pain or even injury, poor
instruction has the capacity to do the same.
Its not just your cycling that will improve - improving your posture and
flexibility is a huge investment in your later enjoyment of life.
best, Andrew
"But riding is my special gift, my chiefest, sole delight;
Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wildcat can it fight...
I'll ride this here two-wheeled concern, right straight away, at sight."
A B 'Banjo' Patterson - "Mulga Bill" 25 July 1896.
Trevor S
@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au:
<snip>
> So what's a good complementary exercise to cycling?
I swim. As to being complimentary or not I am not sure :)
Trevor S
Andrew G
great for anaerobics as well as flexibility
"Trevor S" <bi...@gates.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9396E9F641...@130.133.1.4...
Mike
> I've noticed that although cycling keeps me reasonably "cardio fit", I
> am losing general flexibility, e.g. when touching my toes. This is
> despite me stretching my quads, calves, and hammies during and after my
> training rides.
Sorry Andrew, but if you are already doing plenty of stretching,
it sounds like you may just be getting older. Putting on any weight?
Welcome to the club.
> Also, I'd like to tone my upper body a bit, particularly in the
> abdominal (i.e. beer gut!) area.
Since you are already fit, I would think weights would be the best way
to tone the upper body. Thats what I do, when I get around to it :-)
Swimming is very good for upper body, low impact, and gives an aerobic
workout too.
But more bad news, cycling DOES exercise the "beer gut" area.
> Lastly, some extra leg strength would come in handy for climbing and
> sprinting. I'm guessing there's more effective ways to get this than
> just riding lots of hills.
A stationary bike, with adjustable load, is more effective in that
you dont loose time getting there, and riding downhill again.
> So what's a good complementary exercise to cycling? A cyclist friend had
> yoga recommended to him ... but even then there are several types.
Yoga!? Thats a religion.
A bit like taking up born-again Christianity to improve your singing.
Also
> there's Pilates, which seems to be very popular right now. Would this do
> what I'm looking for?
Sure, if you want another fad to lighten your wallet. Something a bit
more conventional, and focussed on the upper body might be more
effective.
In the end, it has to be something you enjoy, and will
keep up. I don't know anything as good as cycling :-)
Megan Webb
http://www.pandf.com.au/ If you can get to any of his classes, they
are very worthwhile.
Mike <mi...@nospam.com> wrote in message news:<fVnFa.192492$Vi5.5...@news1.calgary.shaw.ca>...
Ollie
Mike
> Mike has clearly never practiced yoga or taken the time to find ot what is.
"Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)"
Yoga Yo"ga, n. Skr. y=oga union.
A species of asceticism among the Hindoos, which consists in
a complete abstraction from all worldly objects, by which the
votary expects to obtain union with the universal spirit, and
to acquire superhuman faculties.
Of course, some people will package some exercises and meditation
and market it as "yoga". I have nothing against either, just the
mystic label.
Ollie
extent, what Yoga is. I jumped the gun a little there.
I disagree with some of what you said, but but this is not the forum to
discuss those particular things, as their relevance to cycling is limited.
Feel free to email me personally if you want to- olli...@aardvark.net .au
To Andrew- I have found both yoga and asana (the bending and stretching bit,
it's most comon outward manifestation) usefull for mountain biking on both a
physical and for want of a better phrase ontological levle. It also helps me
to keep trim, it has a spiritual element to it, but does not require any
specific beliefe system to gain benefit from.
Ollienews:seRFa.174003$3C2.5...@news3.calgary.shaw.ca...
G
Andrew Swan <newsN...@andrewswan.com> wrote:
> Lastly, some extra leg strength would come in handy for climbing and
> sprinting. I'm guessing there's more effective ways to get this than
> just riding lots of hills.
Mate, the best excercise for hill climbing is to climb heaps more hills,
really! It isn't a power sport either, hill climbing needs endurance
(I'm assuming you are talking about real hills and not short sprinter
ones).
Sprinting is about power so weight training can help.
GK
Andrew Swan
> physical and for want of a better phrase ontological level.
Hmmm - had me running for the Macquarie Dictionary there - mistook it
for "oncological" at first, quite a different meaning! Since I'm still
not clear what you mean, and I'm still considering yoga, any chance you
could try for a "better phrase"?
> It also helps me to keep trim,
I've heard it can be quite physically demanding, not just bending into
unfeasible positions but a good workout as well.
> it has a spiritual element to it, but does not require any
> specific belief system to gain benefit from.
At the risk of getting off-topic, can you please resolve this apparent
paradox? And if I just wanted physical benefits, would I have to profess
interest in the spiritual side in order to be accepted into a class? Are
some kinds of yoga more inherently spiritual than others?
&roo
wood...@nospam.hotmail.com
Ollie
"Andrew Swan" <newsN...@andrewswan.com> wrote in message
news:GhgGa.199$Na5....@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> > To Andrew- I have found both yoga and asana (the bending and stretching
bit,
> > it's most common outward manifestation) useful for mountain biking on
both a
> > physical and for want of a better phrase ontological level.
> Hmmm - had me running for the Macquarie Dictionary there - mistook it
> for "oncological" at first, quite a different meaning! Since I'm still
> not clear what you mean, and I'm still considering yoga, any chance you
> could try for a "better phrase"?
mind a lot better (I was diagnosed as a child with ADD and of several things
I have tried yoga is the only thing that that has made any difference), I
find I have more energy, I a am calmer, more productive, I spend less of my
mental energy on winging to myself, when I have been practicing regular
yoga. In terms of mountain biking, I am better equiped to deal with the
mental battle of it- being able to remain calm in the face of my fear,
rather than panic lock up the brakes and slide into the nearest rut, is
probably the biggest thing.
These benefits are not garanteed just by going to yoga a few times. It's not
instant enlightenment. It requires consistent regular practice with a good
teacher.
> > it has a spiritual element to it, but does not require any
> > specific belief system to gain benefit from.
> At the risk of getting off-topic, can you please resolve this apparent
> paradox?
having gained greater "union with the univesal spirit", to use Mike's words.
I don't know wether or not any universal spirit actually exists. My
explanation is more bilogical. I think it's to do with tension being stored
in the body, and also a connection I have expereinced between breath and
mental state. That's an over simplification, but it will have to do.
>And if I just wanted physical benefits, would I have to profess
> interest in the spiritual side in order to be accepted into a class?
Very unlikely.
>Are some kinds of yoga more inherently spiritual than others?
I don't know.
If you interested purely in physical benefits such as fitness and
flexibility yoga might not be the thing to do, becaus is the teacher is a
good one, he/she will have his attention on teaching you something that you
are notinterested in learning, which would be frustrating for both parties.
I hope that has left you a little less confused.
Ollie