Fit as a butcher's dog.... but shockingly weak.

[Globalti]

I'm nearly 56 and I can ride 100 miles and average over 17 mph over hilly terrain yet this afternoon I tried to do some light gardening. I strimmed a small area of grass for 15 minutes and now my arms and shoulders are shaking like a leaf and then I tried to pull up some half-buried garden membrane and felt a muscle pull to one side of my spine.

I'm shocked and ashamed at how weak I am and how cycling-specific my fitness has become. Going to find a Joe Bloggs gym and join and do some light weights every week to try to rebuild some muscle tone.

*hides face in shame and embarrassment*

 

[ColinJ]

Get back out on your MTB - that will give your upper body a bit more of a workout!

I found that my upper body gave out before my legs on my longest MTB rides (45+ miles of serious offroad).

 

[ColinJ]

PS Did you decide to join us on the century forum ride tomorrow? (You didn't reappear on the ride thread so I wasn't sure if you'd remembered it.)

 

[Globalti]

Ah, no thanks Colin, it's either an afternoon shortie or a morning first ride with Clitheroe Bike Club, depending on how the back feels in the morning.

 

[ColinJ]

Ah, no thanks Colin, it's either an afternoon shortie or a morning first ride with Clitheroe Bike Club, depending on how the back feels in the morning.

Have fun!

It's a long time since I did any gardening. Probably because I don't have a garden ... I remember helping someone on their allotment about 20 years ago though, and it did me the same kind of mischief that you mentioned in your original post.

My upper body was pretty strong in my mid-20s because I was working as a factory labourer. I was bringing 5-10 tons of materials a day to my bench by hand pallet truck, working with them, then taking the finished products away again. Within 6 months of going from factory to university, I'd lost most of that upper body strength!

I have one of these at home:

(Er, that's a chin dip station, not a fit young woman! )

It is currently serving as a stand holding miscellaneous spare bike wheels, tyres etc. I must clear all that stuff away and start using it for its intended purpose again. At one time I could knock out 25 dips or chin-ups but I doubt that I could even manage one now.

 

[Ajay]

When I look at "proper" cyclists, built like a Schlek or Sir Bradley whizzing past me I think "you may whoop my ass up this hill, but I'd snap you in an arm wrestle". :-)

 

[amaferanga]

When I look at "proper" cyclists, built like a Schlek or Sir Bradley whizzing past me I think "you may whoop my ass up this hill, but I'd snap you in an arm wrestle". :-)

How good a living do you make form arm wrestling?

 

[Ajay]

How good a living do you make form arm wrestling?

As with my cycling, I'm an unpaid amateur.

 

[pepecat]

Come work in a library! Heaving books about all afternoon has done wonders for my arm muscles, and i've noticed it on rides as well, especially grinding up hills - my arms and shoulders don't ache as much as they used to.

 

[cyberknight]

Come work in a library! Heaving books about all afternoon has done wonders for my arm muscles, and i've noticed it on rides as well, especially grinding up hills - my arms and shoulders don't ache as much as they used to.

swap you for working in a car factory weld shop manhandling parts
On a more serious note i have a total gym in the garage but you can get ones that fold down and slide under the bed if space is an issue.
i have used it for over 10 years and its still going strong and certainly maintains and increases strength depending how you train..
http://www.totalgym.com/
had a quick look on ebay and like any exercise equipment people buy them and never use them.

 

[Doseone]

I remember seeing a picture of Michael Rasmussen sitting on his bed in a hotel after a Tour stage. He was clearly so fit (turns out he was getting a little help) but his biceps were thinner than my wrists.

If you want to build upper body strength and don't fancy the gym, swimming (front crawl) is great. You can use a pullbuoy between your legs to just work your upper body.

 

[Sittingduck]

I'm shocked and ashamed at how weak I am and how cycling-specific my fitness has become. Going to find a Joe Bloggs gym and join and do some light weights every week to try to rebuild some muscle tone.

I don't think light stuff/ high reps will do much for you. Google 'lifting heavy' or building strength. Might check this out and potentially save yourself some £ too...

 

[fossyant]

Don't talk to me about gardening . My knackered left shoulder is in agony after some serious hedge trimming - just can't hold much weight with it, and considering this was a petrol trimmer with an extended blade...

Need some gym work !!