For all the weight lifters / conditioners + MTBers

mountaingirl sara said:
Great topic! Although I don’t weight lift and I absolutely hate gyms, I do yoga...and like a few of the other hooligans have mentioned, it’s a great way to compliment riding, running.....etc. Yoga isn’t just about stretching and flexibility, it’s also strengthening, toning and learning to breath. I’ve never felt/looked more fit than when I was riding mtb 2 -3 day’s a wk, running 3-4 days and doing/teaching yoga 4+ X a wk.
IMO bulking up is counter productive, my students who weight train have almost zero mobility, that’s why they come to yoga, to try balance that out. I have a new student who only runs (flat pavement:eek:), her low back, hamstrings and calves and even the soles of her feet will take a while to loosen up...but she’ll be a better runner for it!
Anyways, sorry for the long boring yoga pushing post:whistling:
Do what you love, life is short:thumbsup:
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Haha, I am very inflexible, no matter how much I stretch. Maybe time to start yoga.
I dont lift to try bulk up, im that way genetically , so might as well roll with it.
do what you love, life is short-sooo true. I love outdoors time so much, havent been inside my gym in months (theyre wierd places haha), winter/spring is the season for fresh air!
I do my weight training before or after work. Never waste a day off on it unless weather sucks.
 
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sir crashalot said:
Thought Id point out my own typo

Haha, I am very inflexible, no matter how much I stretch. Maybe time to start yoga.
do what you love, life is short-sooo true. I love outdoors time so much, havent been inside my gym in months (theyre wierd places haha), winter/spring is the season for fresh air!
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You prefer a GYN, hey...to each his/her own :Roflmao
Preach it Gary, I’m with you 100%! Dirt time is the best therapy:thumbsup: #optoutside #getdirty #natureisfree
 
mike said:
Right on, @Sidewalk. :thumbsup:

Rock climbing is a classic compliment to MTB. I'd say way more climbers ride than the reverse, FWIW. Good spine decompression, sharpens risk assessment and tolerance, survival mindset, etc. Kind of like weight lifting – your own weight. But I'd caution anyone about the risks of pulling hard indoors regularly – finger pulley, elbow, shoulder. Outdoors less an issue. Gyms are designed so falling climbers don't get by injured hitting holds. Ironically, many get injured by climbing overhanging stuff all the time. The mental advantage is what I enjoy about crossing MTB and climbing. When you've been gripped for hours, days or weeks at a time with life-dependent decision making, static physical strain and plenty of discomfort, rolling around on any surface under any conditions seems pretty do-able.

I digress. You could not get me to pump iron for anything. There are too many fun things to do... :geek:
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I was inspired to try it after dating a climber for a couple of months, but my fear of heights got in the way. After riding White Line in Sedona, I can't use that excuse anymore :facepalm:

One of my good MTB friends is a serious climber. He is teaching me the ropes (pun intended, even if I'm a former sailor) with the goal of being able to competently climb outside. That means: more time outside!

Then again, I am only ever "home" to sleep :ninja:

doublewide said:
LOL

BTW It's NOT about becoming an elite athlete, it's about bettering yourself.
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I read the question as someone who is looking for activities to do in order to pursue being better on a bike. If you take personal offense at my level of riding, then go right ahead. I'd like to think I have a certain level of expertise on the matter when it comes to bike fitness, specifically mountain biking. I don't mind sharing my methods at getting to where I am, as I don't mind watching other people improve (and perhaps, surpass me).

For virtually every single one of us on this board, myself included, the best way to get better on the bike is to ride more. My goal is to have fun.
 
I haven't done free weights since high school football and I'm the farthest thing from an expert but I can tell you from perusing MTB websites and magazines over the years....deadlifts, squats & kettle balls are what I see commonly mentioned along with core strength floor exercises (sometimes with a kettle bell or medicine ball). I personally just bought a set/rack of dumbbells for at home use as I want to start in on some basic stuff at home. Now getting motivated to use them religiously is the next step :whistling:
 
doublewide said:
LOL

BTW It's NOT about becoming an elite athlete, it's about bettering yourself.
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^^^ This! Pros are fun to watch and you can get ideas, but none of us will ever be there... Hell, most of us are closer to AARP age than pro status. And most of us don't want to be. But we can still get better and stronger. And there are things that will boost your stamina and strength in a short amount of time.

I can already tell that @Demetrio GQ is way past where I started. 5 flat miles were a 1/2 day adventure. I'd say I've improved more than anyone I know... Started from zero. :oops:
 
Played many years of basketball, eschewed gyms since and my upper body reflects the omission. Have had the pleasure of riding an average of four times a week for many years and pretty much loved every minute. When I did intervals, it was thirty seconds in as high a gear as possible up an incline like Big Red in Peter's, one minute rest, three times, then a three minute rest, three to five sets. Brutal for me, but I think it got me into the best riding shape possible at that time. If I had it to do again, this supplementary training would be excluded.
 
The only thing I can add to your initial post is that adding yet another activity with all that you do already is you have a solid healthy nutrition plan to fuel your insanity, and quality of sleep to recover and build back what you tear down is paramount! If you are already practicing this regimen than you are golden. We tend to forget that rest is so important! It’s like forcing yourself to drink enough water during the day, take a couple days off and enjoy the other things in life that are important for wellness:). Sometimes I have to force myself to do either! When you are as active as you are it is all quite the managing balancing act!
 
Sidewalk said:
I was inspired to try it after dating a climber for a couple of months, but my fear of heights got in the way. After riding White Line in Sedona, I can't use that excuse anymore :facepalm:

One of my good MTB friends is a serious climber. He is teaching me the ropes (pun intended, even if I'm a former sailor) with the goal of being able to competently climb outside. That means: more time outside!

Then again, I am only ever "home" to sleep :ninja:


I read the question as someone who is looking for activities to do in order to pursue being better on a bike. If you take personal offense at my level of riding, then go right ahead. I'd like to think I have a certain level of expertise on the matter when it comes to bike fitness, specifically mountain biking. I don't mind sharing my methods at getting to where I am, as I don't mind watching other people improve (and perhaps, surpass me).

For virtually every single one of us on this board, myself included, the best way to get better on the bike is to ride more. My goal is to have fun.
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I like your viewpoint- always have. But I put you in the same bucket as the pros I watch... I take a bit here and a bit there from what you accomplish, and file it away to see what's applicable to an old fat guy. Every now and then something works... :p

One of the cooler moments this year was seeing you come down Boy Scout in the WW50 as we were heading up. I'll never be there, but it was cool to see and I was genuinely excited that you had the gap you did over the #2. I started counting time as soon as you passed to see the time differential...
 
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Redman said:
My only advice.... don’t get married and have kids! Ask @DangerDirtyD why. You can kiss 99.9% of your ME time goodbye.
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LOL, the humor in your post not lost on me. Actually you can, all a part of this balance thing, it just may come a little later? With a lot of discipline and commitment, and don’t forget luck, isn’t that the underlying thing we are talking about here?
 
Redman said:
My only advice.... don’t get married and have kids! Ask @DangerDirtyD why. You can kiss 99.9% of your ME time goodbye.
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Orrrrrr

Have kids, start em off early...
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Then look forward to the day where going out with the kids means hitting the trail with them also @Cyclotourist and @Grego
 
hill^billy said:
The only thing I can add to your initial post is that adding yet another activity with all that you do already is you have a solid healthy nutrition plan to fuel your insanity, and quality of sleep to recover and build back what you tear down is paramount! If you are already practicing this regimen than you are golden. We tend to forget that rest is so important! It’s like forcing yourself to drink enough water during the day, take a couple days off and enjoy the other things in life that are important for wellness:). Sometimes I have to force myself to do either! When you are as active as you are it is all quite the managing balancing act!
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Chicken Nuggets of Wisdom™ :thumbsup:
 
Lots of great stuff! I used to do Yoga but then I got too busy with my previous job and stopped. I only went once a week for therapeutic restorative yoga (basically lower back stretches) and it was so worth it. I might just start that again. Too many posts to reference but I am in agreement if the activity is that fun for you, find time to do it. I dont mind losing a day of weight lifting to ride more.

I am HUGE on rest. I always make myself get 7 hours of sleep minimum. Try not to sleep more than 8. Anyways, really cool reading what you fine people do for fitness aside from MTB.
 
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