Indigo one
Regular
If I want to get fit shouldn't I ride a heavy bike with incorrect saddle height to maximise my effort rather than a custom fitted helium filled carbon fibre racing bike...or am I missing something?
Getting fit...
- Thread starter Indigo one
- Start date
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Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
Well it's your back and knees I guess.
Surely you'd ride further and more often with the helium filled carbon sexy beast than you would on some horrible Apollo BSO thus getting fitter, faster.
Surely you'd ride further and more often with the helium filled carbon sexy beast than you would on some horrible Apollo BSO thus getting fitter, faster.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
If you want to get fit, you ride your bike often. To want to ride it often, it probably ought to be an enjoyable experience.
Get a bike that you like riding, not one that's a hateful steed. If you really want to suffer, get a nice bike and take it to the local bike shop. They can make the brakes rub continuously if you hand over some cash.
Get a bike that you like riding, not one that's a hateful steed. If you really want to suffer, get a nice bike and take it to the local bike shop. They can make the brakes rub continuously if you hand over some cash.
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
Agree. I have a medium-weight hybrid for most travelling and a heavier but incredibly comfortable semi-recumbent for fun. I can feel myself burning the calories and improving my leg and core strength on the 'bent, it is lovely to ride and now I can conquer hills on it that I would not have contemplated when I first went out on it (though I would tackle them on the hybrid) (these aren't huge hills!). My two sisters were visiting at the weekend and had leg-envy!
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
Yes, I didn't get the 'bent because it was heavy. I wanted the comfortable riding position for my neck, and knew so little about bikes that it didn't occur to me to think it might be heavy (this was quite a few years ago and the choice of 'bents was more limited). I just test-rode it (on fairly flat streets!) and loved it and then didn't ride it much for about 10 years as I couldn't carry it up the steps at the station! I know a lot more now, but I'm also a lot fitter with stronger legs - and I've used cycling in the last couple of years to strengthen my legs on purpose as I'm a skier and had very uneven strength between my left and right legs. Both legs are now stronger and more even.
Still can't carry the 'bent but that's partly because it's very awkward to carry and I now have a chronic shoulder condition!
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
A heavier bike is better for training/exercise, but that doesn't mean low quality bikes are any good for it. Only one of my Raleigh bikes is a lightweight (531c frame) but all my bikes have good quality wheels/hubs and gearing systems that make them a pleasure to ride, so what if they're a bit hefty.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
How people come to such conclusions such as riding a heavier bike is better for training is beyond me... if you want to increase intensity, press harder on the pedals.
BTW, you should train in the position in which you intend to ride most, or at least in the position in which your performance is most important as adaptations are specific!
BTW, you should train in the position in which you intend to ride most, or at least in the position in which your performance is most important as adaptations are specific!
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
You'll still expend the same energy, but on the featherweight hi tech bike youll go a lot faster.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
I just got a flash of a Camel on a bicycle there, the question being would a Camel ride a recumbent.Forgive my ignorance, but what is a 'semi-recumbent'? Can we see a photo?
I can completely see why you said 'left and right' there, but that does rather make it sound as if you've got four legs.
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
That looks a lot lighter than mine:Allow me
Obviously I look far prettier riding it than the young gentleman here.
Well if you count Mr G's I do have 4 legs... er...I can completely see why you said 'left and right' there, but that does rather make it sound as if you've got four legs
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Didn't Giant do quite a nice semi cucumber?
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
I don't particularly need or want to go faster. The 'bent goes very fast downhill anyway! I have a reasonable speed and the Spirit is not a slow machine, just not a racer - takes a different set of muscles which I have taken time to develop.
