Gym Workout - Any Point?

"Mike the Unshavable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm 50, a lifelong cyclist and have never set foot in a gym in my life
(except at school and that doesn't count!).
I used to regularly take part in audax events (upto 400k), but following a
series of minor illnesses, a few years ago, my fitness dropped off, and
now
although I've getting my 'endurance fitness' back (my weekly mileage is
creeping back up), my average speed is nowhere near what it was 10 years
ago, and I'm still rubbish on hills (motto: No Hill Too Steep To Walk).
My wife has the opportunity to let me go to the gym for 'free' (I
presumably get the hard sell)over the Chrismas holiday period:
Could I ask the gallery if they think this might be worthwhile for me,
and,
if so, what excesizes I might benefit from?
I've never really understood the sense of driving 5 miles to the 'leisure
centre' doing 10 miles on an excersize bike, and then driving 5 miles
home.... Here's your chance to convince me!

Mike - Leicester

Well during the winter months, my son's coach sets him gym exercises to do.
This is in conjunction with his daily cycle commute to and from college.
It's part of strength building over the winter months ready for next
season's racing. My son *won't* go to the gym, so last winter we invested in
a multi-gym which takes up a large part of our garage. The offspring is more
than willing to go out there, stick some loud music on and do his gym
exercises. So he doesn't drive to the gym, and what we spent on a *large*
multi-gym/cross-trainer thinggie is a lot cheaper than a formal gym
membership.

Cheers, helen s

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I'm 50, a lifelong cyclist and have never set foot in a gym in my life
(except at school and that doesn't count!).
I used to regularly take part in audax events (upto 400k), but following a
series of minor illnesses, a few years ago, my fitness dropped off, and now
although I've getting my 'endurance fitness' back (my weekly mileage is
creeping back up), my average speed is nowhere near what it was 10 years
ago, and I'm still rubbish on hills (motto: No Hill Too Steep To Walk).
My wife has the opportunity to let me go to the gym for 'free' (I
presumably get the hard sell)over the Chrismas holiday period:
Could I ask the gallery if they think this might be worthwhile for me, and,
if so, what excesizes I might benefit from?
I've never really understood the sense of driving 5 miles to the 'leisure
centre' doing 10 miles on an excersize bike, and then driving 5 miles
home.... Here's your chance to convince me!

Perhaps it's worth doing because while you're at the gym there'll be
people there to keep an eye on you, so if things go pear-shaped it will
be easier to deal with. That's assuming a particular level of fitness,
though, so you may be well ahead of the 10 mile ride.

--

Hywel
http://kibo.org.uk/

Mike the Unshavable said:

I'm 50, a lifelong cyclist and have never set foot in a gym in my life
(except at school and that doesn't count!).
I used to regularly take part in audax events (upto 400k), but following a
series of minor illnesses, a few years ago, my fitness dropped off, and now
although I've getting my 'endurance fitness' back (my weekly mileage is
creeping back up), my average speed is nowhere near what it was 10 years
ago, and I'm still rubbish on hills (motto: No Hill Too Steep To Walk).
My wife has the opportunity to let me go to the gym for 'free' (I
presumably get the hard sell)over the Chrismas holiday period:
Could I ask the gallery if they think this might be worthwhile for me, and,
if so, what excesizes I might benefit from?
I've never really understood the sense of driving 5 miles to the 'leisure
centre' doing 10 miles on an excersize bike, and then driving 5 miles
home.... Here's your chance to convince me!

I go to the gym about 3 times a week. I would say go for it. You will
never regret it and you'll feel great once you get your fitness up to
scratch. Besides, it is a very sociable thing to do.

Mike the Unshavable said:

Here's your chance to convince me!

Mike - Leicester

Sounds like you doing a fair bit of cardio on the bike already, so if
you join a gym don't let one of the trainers talk you into more cardio
you don't need. I use the gym at work to augment my cycling, which
means a lot of leg work; press, lunges, but not extenstions. Too much
pressure across the knees and not a really helpful exercise for
cycling. So far I've felt stronger when I climb and able to push a
slighty bigger gear and it's only been 4 months. In addition to the
above I also work out muscles that cycling doesn't really; stomach,
back, triceps, etc.
You probably could buy a pretty good home gym for the same price as
some gym's yearly membership, but they are a good social hangout, going
to the gym concentrates the mind and avoids distractions like the
phone, tv and house work. Plus if it's a good gym then the trainers can
be a real help. If it's a bad gym the trainers can be idiots. So I do
suggest visiting a couple if you have the chance, see if they do a free
first session.

Laters,

Marcus

Mike the Unshavable said:

Here's your chance to convince me!

Mike - Leicester

Sounds like you doing a fair bit of cardio on the bike already, so if
you join a gym don't let one of the trainers talk you into more cardio
you don't need. I use the gym at work to augment my cycling, which
means a lot of leg work; press, lunges, but not extenstions. Too much
pressure across the knees and not a really helpful exercise for
cycling. So far I've felt stronger when I climb and able to push a
slighty bigger gear and it's only been 4 months. In addition to the
above I also work out muscles that cycling doesn't really; stomach,
back, triceps, etc.
You probably could buy a pretty good home gym for the same price as
some gym's yearly membership, but they are a good social hangout, going
to the gym concentrates the mind and avoids distractions like the
phone, tv and house work. Plus if it's a good gym then the trainers can
be a real help. If it's a bad gym the trainers can be idiots. So I do
suggest visiting a couple if you have the chance, see if they do a free
first session.

Laters,

Marcus

It's supposed to be the case that we lose muscle mass as we age.
Certainly at 50 I intend to building muscle along with the cycling.

So I would take up weight-training.

Mike the Unshavable said:

I've never really understood the sense of driving 5 miles to the 'leisure
centre' doing 10 miles on an excersize bike, and then driving 5 miles
home....

That's because there is no sense in doing that, but if it's a /decent/
gym it will have a lot more than exercise bikes and treadmills.

Cycle your 5 miles there and back rather than drive and that's your 10
miles exercise cycling, which leaves you time at the gym to do something
useful. If they can teach you how to use free weights then that will
set you up for them into the future. The folk I know who are into the
science of exercise say free weights are *the* best way to do all sorts
of useful things for your muscles and fitness, as long as you know what
you're at.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Err, why not cycle to the gym? It'd be a good warm-up and cool-down.

"Mike the Unshavable" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I've never really understood the sense of driving 5 miles to the 'leisure
centre' doing 10 miles on an excersize bike, and then driving 5 miles
home.... Here's your chance to convince me!

Gyms can be useful for rehabilitation after injury - using flexibility
and stretching excercises - though these can do more harm than good
unless done correctly. Gyms can be useful for increasing general
strength though opinion/reserach is divided on whether or not weight
training is particularly helpful for cycling. I go to the gym twice a
week or more - if I can find the time and energy. However I do think
that cycling is the best way to get good at cycling so don't be too
dissapointed if you don't notice massive improvement in your
performance on the bike. Cycling-specific excercises are not easily
replcated in a gym.

Cardiovascular training though can be done very effectively - but I
would not say that gym work is partcularly suited to endurance
training, as the workouts you will do are focussed on
speed/strength/fartlek/intervals due to the nature of the hour long
classes. Even if you use the cardiovascular machines such as stepper or
treadmill it's inlikely that you will want to step or run for more than
45 minutes at a time on a machine!

I would say go for the gym if you'd like to improve and maintain
general flexibility, and strength but don't expect cycling-specific
strength to massively increase. You may benefit from interval type
training which could help with speed on the bike and also hill climbing
where greater intensity of effort and higher heart rate work is
required, (this is why spin classes suit some cyclists) but don't be
dissapointed if cycling-specific endurance and stamina does not
increase significantly.

If it's cardiovascular endurance you really want to improve, rather
than speed and sprinting ability, but you can't ride, although you will
not be using cycling specific muscles, your heart and lungs will still
get a good endurance work-out from another activity such as
low-intensity, longer-period running, or swimming. Maybe you would get
greater benefit from these?

NOTE: Gym instructors are not necessarily knowledgable about cycling,
the training needs of cyclists or endurance athletes in general. If you
do decide to use a gym be aware that you probably know more about your
own body and what excercises you need to do to imrove your cycling,
rather than your general health, than they do.

I forgot to say, of course brisk walking is also fine for building
endurance and doesn't cost anything! If you can't ride or want to do
something different one weekend, and you have the time, long walks at a
reasonable pace will increase endurance and stamina, and get you used
to braving the elements again - especially if you're not a runner!

quote='Peter Clinch'Mike the Unshavable said:

I've never really understood the sense of driving 5 miles to the 'leisure
centre' doing 10 miles on an excersize bike, and then driving 5 miles
home....

That's because there is no sense in doing that, but if it's a /decent/
gym it will have a lot more than exercise bikes and treadmills.

Cycle your 5 miles there and back rather than drive and that's your 10
miles exercise cycling, which leaves you time at the gym to do something
useful. If they can teach you how to use free weights then that will
set you up for them into the future. The folk I know who are into the
science of exercise say free weights are *the* best way to do all sorts
of useful things for your muscles and fitness, as long as you know what
you're at.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/[/QUOTE]

As a rugby playing cyclist, going to the gym has been part of my training 'reigme' for years. Free weights are definitely the way to go, IF you are taught how to use them properly, if you use them incorrectly they can cause more harm than good.

Best thing to do is cycle to the gym (that's your cardio warm up), and then do an overall workout, Shoulders, chest, back, legs and arms. Of course you will focus more on the legs than any other oart, but don't neglect them. The best excercises for legs are squats and dead lifts, but these need to be done using correct form, people at the gym should be able to help you with that, although they will try and get you to do lunges, and use the leg press machine (adequate, but nowhere near as good as free weights).

Since it's winter and likely to be cold and wet, then I'd certinly go.

Bryan

Why not spend the money on your bike and spend the time cycling, rather
than going to the gym? Unless you live in a flat area perhaps and have
no opportunity to thrash yourself on hills.
OK so it's winter but I always find winter riding a pleasure esp if
wearing the right kit. However [censored] the weather after 5 minutes you are
warmed up and enjoying it. The wetter and colder it is the more the
pleasure in a cafe stop or getting back home to a warm shower - you
can't lose!

cheers

Jacob

Quoted message said:

Why not spend the money on your bike and spend the time cycling, rather
than going to the gym? Unless you live in a flat area perhaps and have
no opportunity to thrash yourself on hills.

Because it works other muscles? Because you can gain strength (leg strength even)
that you can't on a bike?

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 19:56:53 -0000, Mike the Unshavable
<[email hidden]> said in
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I've never really understood the sense of driving 5 miles to the 'leisure
centre' doing 10 miles on an excersize bike, and then driving 5 miles
home.... Here's your chance to convince me!

"Let's have a minute's silence for all those Americans currently stuck
in traffic on the way to the gym to ride a stationary bicycle" -
Congressman Earl Blumenauer.

Oh, and the cycling gives cardiovascular fitness benefits over and
above those of comparably fit people who don't cycle.

On the other hand, I quite like doing weights. But to be fair you
could just buy a Swiss ball and a set of dumbbells and work out at
home. I will be working to get back to the ab crunches with the 20kg
weight under my chin after I've recovered from the hernia op, as I
have definitely gone a bit flabby around the middle. 34" waist and
only just over 6' tall! Fat [censored]...

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"To every complex problem there is a solution which is
simple, neat and wrong" - HL Mencken

you know? said:

I will be working to get back to the ab crunches with the 20kg
weight under my chin after I've recovered from the hernia op, as I
have definitely gone a bit flabby around the middle. 34" waist and
only just over 6' tall! Fat [censored]...

You wish.

More pies and BEER for Mr. Chapman. We'll soon have you back up to
fighting weight.

Tim

Just zis Guy said:

On the other hand, I quite like doing weights. But to be fair you
could just buy a Swiss ball and a set of dumbbells and work out at
home. I will be working to get back to the ab crunches with the 20kg
weight under my chin after I've recovered from the hernia op

D'y'reckon there's any link between the first part of the paragraph and
the last two words, then? ;-)

--
Nobby

Just zis Guy said:

On the other hand, I quite like doing weights. But to be fair you
could just buy a Swiss ball and a set of dumbbells and work out at
home.

The folk I know wot endorse free weights very highly (brother who is a
senior college lecturer in health and fitness and a pal who is
indecently good at a bigger range of sports requiring mucho technique
than anyone has a right to be) both emphasize that though it's the Dogs'
for a workout you /do/ need to know what you're doing or risk doing more
harm than good. So if the folk at the gym can teach this then that's a
good reason to go, at least until you've learned.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On 20 Nov 2005 23:48:08 GMT, Nobody Here <[email hidden]> said
in <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On the other hand, I quite like doing weights. But to be fair you
could just buy a Swiss ball and a set of dumbbells and work out at
home. I will be working to get back to the ab crunches with the 20kg
weight under my chin after I've recovered from the hernia op

Quoted message said:

D'y'reckon there's any link between the first part of the paragraph and
the last two words, then? ;-)

Sort of: the latter was caused by my failure to recognise that two
years of not doing the former might have an impact on my ability to
lift 2cwt of wet sand....

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"To every complex problem there is a solution which is
simple, neat and wrong" - HL Mencken