Getting in shape for riding season.. exercises?

[bump909]

Might sound like a silly question, but I'd like to be a little more physically fit to help my endurance when riding. I'm not falling asleep on my bike or anything, but I'm curious as to how racers train.. shy of weighing in at 140lbs. Anyways, I have a gym membership, so why not try a few things they do to keep in shape. I know riding isn't the olympics, but I'm sure it will at least help me become a safer rider.

[rjh200]

Stretching, cardio and core training.

[bump909]

definitely will work on stretching and cardio.. does it matter whether it be running or cycling? what is core training?

[McBiggity]

i started a few months back for racing season-
Lot's of core training- abs/lower back.
Muscular endurance is key- Been doing alot of interval training on the stationary bike as well- Mid-way through March I'll step it down a level on the strength training to focus more on endurance.

i wrote up a pretty big post on another site a while back that was also posted on tony's website for a while as well.
I'll see if I can track it down

[benVFR]

Squats, lunges, calf exercises, dead lifts.

Bicycling should be better then running. When you're riding a motorcycle hard you're holding yourself off the seat with your leg muscles. Your quads... which are worked much harder in cycling then running, unless you are running uphill. Cycling doesn't hit your calves hard though.

Skiing/snowboarding would also be pretty darn good. That's the closest thing I can think of since on a motorcycle you are really holding yourself in position as opposed to constantly contracting/relaxing the muscles like in cycling/running/weight lifting.

[dave72370]

Jon,

I am right there with you. Traveling all the time and eating out all the time is starting to take its toll

[OreoGaborio]

yup, all good suggestion... one thing i did before the season started last winter & will probably do again are wall sits... did em all the time while waiting for the T on my way home from work.

[bump909]

sweet, thanks for the advice guys. much appreciated!

[HBerry]

Well I turned into a fat ass over the winter so I have finally gotten my ass out of the computer chair and I started running again last week. Last week I did 20 minutes a day for 6 days. This week I bumped up to 25 minutes a day.

[R7]

I'm lucky and get to workout 6 days a week from 7am-3pm

[bump909]

Originally posted by HBerry
Well I turned into a fat ass over the winter so I have finally gotten my ass out of the computer chair and I started running again last week. Last week I did 20 minutes a day for 6 days. This week I bumped up to 25 minutes a day.

i think i'll start at 5 minutes a day just so i don't over do it.

[breakdirt916]

Bah...you don't need to be in shape to ride a motorcycle. You need to be in shape to ride a bicycle. Isn't that what the engine's for?

[Currently]

Originally posted by R7
I'm lucky and get to workout 6 days a week from 7am-3pm

And you get paid?

[Awesome]

squat thrusts.

[FazerChic]

that should do it

[Paul_E_D]

All around fitness. Swimming, running, biking. If you don't need to be fit to ride your moto, you're definitely not doing the same sport that I am.

I just lost ten pounds! I weigh in at a jockey like 136.

I haven't found that there's any focus exercises that help reduce the initial lower quad sorenes. The problem is that I'm supporting my weight on legs that are bent way beyond 90 degrees on my bike. It's not good to train in that position.

[theothersean]

Skiing helps the legs and cardio if you ski moguls, riding a dirt bike is also good especially on the ice in the winter.. Splitting fire wood with an 8 lb maul is a good upper body work out then bringing it down the stairs and stacking it in the basement is a good all around work out. Plus you get the added benifit of heating your house.

[Paul_E_D]

Yah, those are good ideas. I snowboard all winter and swim/bike/run in the gym. It's helpful especially as the season wears on and I want to ride without making mistakes.

That first weekend is always brutal on my legs though... I think the 125 chasis isn't helping any. If any of you have tried one, you know it's a gymnastic feat to do more than 5 laps on one. What a RACK it is!

[R7]

Originally posted by Currently
And you get paid?

Yup Maybe one of these days I'll bring my camera in and take some pictures of the giant errector set I get to climb on all day

[Hardcore]

Upper Body---I do a lot of curls (the 12 oz type)

Legs---I do a lot of walking (from the couch to the frig + back to the couch) phew

Overall---I get plenty of rest(naps)

Eat Right---(cheeseburgers)

[OreoGaborio]

Chad, i'd say you're in shape cuz round is a shape.... but you're not even round, you're just......... a collection of odd shapes.

[Manny]

Originally posted by R7
Yup Maybe one of these days I'll bring my camera in and take some pictures of the giant errector set I get to climb on all day

I think you can keep the photos of the "giant errector" and you climbing it to yourself.

[Hardcore]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
Chad, i'd say you're in shape cuz round is a shape.... but you're not even round, you're just......... a collection of odd shapes.

don't be jealous just because you can't get that 12 year old girls body to grow!

[LowSider]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
yup, all good suggestion... one thing i did before the season started last winter & will probably do again are wall sits... did em all the time while waiting for the T on my way home from work.

Pete, touching the walls of the T sounds more like a way of catching the clap.



Get on the rowing machine.
Or throw a sheet of plywood down on your couch if you are training for the ironass.

[JeffL]

Originally posted by DrunkDriver
Pete, touching the walls of the T sounds more like a way of catching the clap.



Get on the rowing machine.
Or throw a sheet of plywood down on your couch if you are training for the ironass.

Plywood might be an improvement for those RR owners.

I'm going to be sore as hell and loving it once I get riding again.