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What is your weakest link re: your cycling


Rob's picture

By Rob - Posted on 19 July 2010

Feet
1% (1 vote)
Calves
1% (1 vote)
Knees
9% (13 votes)
Thighs
14% (19 votes)
Butt
1% (2 votes)
Back
28% (39 votes)
Stomach
3% (4 votes)
Lungs
14% (19 votes)
Heart
3% (4 votes)
Head
9% (13 votes)
All of the above
13% (18 votes)
None of the above
4% (5 votes)
Total votes: 138
hawkeye's picture

but would have put knees as second in line. Sad

Shoulder is surprisingly good, considering the trauma it's been through in the last 12 months, but still lacking in range of movement and work arrangements at the moment are limiting the amount of rehab work I can do. Only another three weeks and then back to normal. Smiling

Weights training is helping with all these areas, plus core... slowly.

BT's picture

Probably something to do with my frame being a bit too small. Then my knees also and maybe my hands some days.

Hop fiend's picture

being asthmatic some days just getting gulpfuls of air can be a struggle

ae93gti's picture

I did find though, the more I rode, the better it got, I guess cause I was building up some core strength. I didn't do anything over 2 hours though and it's all now gone to pot since I haven't been on my bike for 11 weeks through injury, be back soon.......

hawkeye's picture

my asthma manifests as a dry tickling cough, worse in winter with the cold air. Doesn't usually bother me when riding, just when I stop, or try to talk soemtimes. I don't get the wheezy "I can't get enough air" sensation. That would scare the cr@p out of me.

It can make life quite difficult for a few weeks after a headcold though. It can be a bit hard to be effective at work if you can't talk to anybody.

chica's picture

i get a sore lower back after hill climbs. i have to get off my bike and stretch it out as it then progresses across the other side of my back and even pedalling on the straights starts to hurt. I found it a real 'pain' on the weekend doing a team event and had to get off my bike once or twice each lap to stretch. Any suggestions on what others do to prevent or overcome lower back pain either before, during or after a ride?

Rob's picture

@chica... having to get off and stretch that often sounds a bit odd. I'd probably point the finger at bike fit, but wouldn't know what precisely to recommend. I'm sure someone else who actually has a clue will be along to explain Eye-wink

hawkeye's picture

Partly bike fit, but mostly core strength and the way your brain fires your muscles. From what you describe of where it starts and then spreads - and it being a repeating pattern - you possibly have an assymetric pedalling pattern.

I'd suggest going to see Martin Krause at Back in Business Physiotherapy in North Sydney. I was referred to him by Steve Hogg, who cut short my bike fit session and told me I needed to go get straightened out before he really could do anything for me.

It worked. Smiling I didn't actually need to go back and see Steve. Now I just need to keep up with the maintenance exercises and it stays away.

Matt P's picture

Your L-back pain after a hill could be indicative of weak L back muscles plus tight hamstrings and hip flexors.

You pilates classes should be addressing these areas however.

Otherwise, its time to join Paul and me at the gym!!!! Eye-wink

chica's picture

@ Hawkeye and Rob - i thought about bike fit and also my pedalling technique. I think i will try working on parts of the body first and if that doesn't improve then will look at professional help.

@ Matt P - weights/core session in the spare room as soon as Paul gets out of the shower. Will continue with the pilates as well. I'm concerned about hitting the gym with you guys as i already have probs fitting into my clothes Eye-wink
i think you are right though re the hip flexors, i'll look at some stretches that are specific for this area.

forgot to add that it doesn't happen every time i ride, but would say 70% of the time on a ride that has climbs it will rear its head, sometimes i can ride through it and others i get off and stretch.

thanks guys

unclebullbar's picture

Stupidly I agreed to join in with a mate on his mass gain weights program about 6 weeks ago. Starting at 101kg and cracking 106kg this week, I need to reassess and stop lifting so much - otherwise bodymass will rapidly become my downfall.

Lach's picture

Not that I can do too much about it at 6'7", but dragging 105+ kg uphill is my biggest cycling weakness. Makes for good speed downhill, but so often in races I bomb past people on downhill bits only to have them cruise past as soon as I start grinding uphill. How would Contador go with an extra 30 or 40 kg in a pack on his back? (Well.... he'd probably still beat me uphill, but you get my drift.....)

Matt P's picture

That means long legs and therefore extra leverage!! Sticking out tongue

Anyway, wait until you get to 120kg. Thats fun to drag around and fling off drops and jumps!

PINBALL's picture

fling of jumps yeah right!! Eye-wink more like falling with style -wish id seen it, 120 kg on those little neck bones ? as if i can talk.
i would have to say gonads, ie not being big enough Shocked

muvro's picture

My hands would have to be my worst link, second being my back and tie for third being lungs and legs.

My hands get bad pins and needles, I don't know exactly the prob, probably holding on to the bars too tightly. But when it happens, I have to remove my hand from the bar and clench my fist a few times. Then it goes away until it happens again. It's a real PIA!!

Brian's picture

muvro, is your saddle at the correct angle? Sounds like weird question but if your saddle is pointing to far down at the front then you end up putting too much force on your hands. Your arms shouldn't support you at all, if you are set up in the right position, so they could be nice and relaxed for the best control. If your saddle is pointing too far down at the front to make it comfortable then its the wrong one for you.
Cheers
Brian

tonyc's picture

A mate once said to me that my arms were about to explode because I was holding the bars so tight ,he said that I'm wasting all my energy through my arms and needed to relax more and try and only steer the bars and not rip the grips off.I find by doing so everything flows much smoother.
Worth a try anyway
Regards Tony C

tonyc's picture

Montana I think you need some one to look at bike set up (e.g. seat placement or handlebars to low ,maybe even try rotating your bars back a little.All things you can try your self with an allen key ,But mark where they were first .
Regards Tony C

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