Zwift Chat

[Legs]

My primary fitness is still gym, building up the guns cycling is mostly for some cardio and keep keep some timber off. I may get out when the weather is better, but I hate riding in the rain or wind, so I won't be out this weekend
Quite a lot going on with life too so I don't have the time currently - my retirement didn;t quite take off yet, I'm back at a client for a few months to help deliver a project that was failing. I couldn't say no to the cash haha Girlfriend is moving in with me in August so lots of stuff to do to ge that sorted ... I need more hours in the day!

Was discussing this with some friends the other day. I'm not hugely blessed in the biceps department, I've never lifted a weight at a gym, but I really can't think of any practical tasks that I'm not strong enough to do. I helped a chap push his car up a hill last week, and we were being limited more by the grip on our shoes than by anything else. If I put on weight around my arms and shoulders (and, being an ectomorph, I'm not convinced I could), it wouldn't help me to do any of the things that I can do perfectly well already. I keep what muscles I do have actively used through cycling, running and other physical tasks like gardening.

On the other hand, I am fit. My friends who obsess over lifting weights in their pain caves, and getting bigger and heavier, seem to detest cardiovascular work. I can run 5k, cook and eat a soft-boiled egg or two in the time it would take them to run a 5k. They can't ride bikes fast because they are weighed down by their muscles and haven't developed their heart and lungs. They are going to be more prone to circulatory and respiratory illnesses in their old age.

I've got a beautiful wife who (amazingly) loves me for who I am, not for the size of my muscles, so I don't even feel the need to build up my guns through any misplaced notion that I need to resemble Johnny Bravo to attract a mate. And I don't think it's healthy to rate your own self-worth on the size of your arms. It's worrying and rather sad how awash the internet is with 'bigorexia' memes and body dysmorphia triggers.

 

[CXRAndy]

As we age, its beneficial to keep some muscular mass by doing some form weight training. The upsides stronger muscles, tendons and increased bone density.

Olly from GCN has added 5-7kg of muscle since doing gym work. He recognises loss of cycling peak performance especially climbing, but accepts this for the other benefits of having extra muscle mass as he ages (young 40yr old)

Ive always like having biceps, triceps and pectoral muscle development through weight training. I came late on life to cycling, but I do see the benefits of having a very good cardiovascular conditioning.

Its horses for courses, probably better to do both to maintain an overall good physique with decent cardio.

 

[JuhaL]

I really hope that Rouvy doesn't change much what it is now. I don't miss all those feature's what Zwift have, I think Rouvy have features enough. Hardware compatibility improvements are very welcome.

 

[CXRAndy]

Because they're different one is video of real routes the other virtual courses. They appeal to different interests.

As long as both are profitable, they will continue

 

[alex_cycles]

As we age, its beneficial to keep some muscular mass by doing some form weight training. The upsides stronger muscles, tendons and increased bone density.

Olly from GCN has added 5-7kg of muscle since doing gym work. He recognises loss of cycling peak performance especially climbing, but accepts this for the other benefits of having extra muscle mass as he ages (young 40yr old)

Ive always like having biceps, triceps and pectoral muscle development through weight training. I came late on life to cycling, but I do see the benefits of having a very good cardiovascular conditioning.

Its horses for courses, probably better to do both to maintain an overall good physique with decent cardio.

I used to enjoy the gym and hate cardio (I used to skip treadmill when It was on my program ). It wasn't until I started cycling in 2017 that I found a cardio activity that I actually enjoyed.
For a few years I did both, but cycling ramped up summer 2019 when I bought a road bike, then in 2020 COVID killed my gym and I've never been to look for a new one. Just don't want to be that close to a bunch of people indoors any more.

I do a very small amount of dumbell weights at home, but only just enough to prevent my shoulders from hurting. (Pretty sure what I'm doing is just maintaining the ligaments/tendons rather than building muscle though.) Shoulder pain was starting to become a problem until I started doing this. Now it really isn't. I guess it's just "joint maintenance".

I know I ought to run to help bone density, but I do so detest it. Running is what you do when chasing someone who just nicked your bike.

The main issue is, I think that going to the gym takes a significant amount of time. It's one of the reasons I fell into Zwifting and getting so fussy about outdoor weather. It's barely any effort or preparation and doesn't depend on the weather or light or busyness of the roads.

Having said that though. For volume work, outdoor is king.

 

[shimceltic]

The zwift cog and click available for 9.99 as a deal. Anyone got one and how does it work/compatibility with neo2t?

 

[Whorty]

Was discussing this with some friends the other day. I'm not hugely blessed in the biceps department, I've never lifted a weight at a gym, but I really can't think of any practical tasks that I'm not strong enough to do. I helped a chap push his car up a hill last week, and we were being limited more by the grip on our shoes than by anything else. If I put on weight around my arms and shoulders (and, being an ectomorph, I'm not convinced I could), it wouldn't help me to do any of the things that I can do perfectly well already. I keep what muscles I do have actively used through cycling, running and other physical tasks like gardening.

On the other hand, I am fit. My friends who obsess over lifting weights in their pain caves, and getting bigger and heavier, seem to detest cardiovascular work. I can run 5k, cook and eat a soft-boiled egg or two in the time it would take them to run a 5k. They can't ride bikes fast because they are weighed down by their muscles and haven't developed their heart and lungs. They are going to be more prone to circulatory and respiratory illnesses in their old age.

I've got a beautiful wife who (amazingly) loves me for who I am, not for the size of my muscles, so I don't even feel the need to build up my guns through any misplaced notion that I need to resemble Johnny Bravo to attract a mate. And I don't think it's healthy to rate your own self-worth on the size of your arms. It's worrying and rather sad how awash the internet is with 'bigorexia' memes and body dysmorphia triggers.

Body dysmorphia can be an issue and social media isn't helping. Too many kids these days are already taking TRT or stronger to keep up with social influencers who are jacked to the max (and definitely not natural).

I love the gym, I first started lifting weights with school pals in my teens and I've done it on and off for 40 years - always natural, never to be a body builder but always to look as athletic as time allowed. My time in the gym is social for me still, catch up with guys and girls I know and keeps me away from the pub After my wife died the gym was my lifeline - without that focus and safe space I may have done something stupid and may not be here today.

As for what we each choose to do to keep/stay/get fit, and what we each decide is fit for us, is an individual thing. I love my physique, I've always had decent guns, pecs, delts and I intend to keep them in good nick for as long as I can. I'm OK with my cardio - clearly not as fit as many on here, but in the general population I'm significantly fitter than the average 56 year old. I'd rather have muscle with some cardio than be skinny fat, which cardio alone can lead to.

THere has been some recent research that for healthy longevity of life, that adding weight training is more beneficial than solely doing cardio. Significantly better. As we age sarcopenia is an issue which weight training fights against. There is no one stop shop, and so I think my 4-5 hours a week on the bike plus 4 gym sessions a week is a good balance; it won't make me a cat A racer on zwift, but as I age it should help me stay stronger, more mobile and more independent.
Oh, and my guns look great in tight tops, the girls swoon

 

[Whorty]

I used to enjoy the gym and hate cardio (I used to skip treadmill when It was on my program ). It wasn't until I started cycling in 2017 that I found a cardio activity that I actually enjoyed.
For a few years I did both, but cycling ramped up summer 2019 when I bought a road bike, then in 2020 COVID killed my gym and I've never been to look for a new one. Just don't want to be that close to a bunch of people indoors any more.

I do a very small amount of dumbell weights at home, but only just enough to prevent my shoulders from hurting. (Pretty sure what I'm doing is just maintaining the ligaments/tendons rather than building muscle though.) Shoulder pain was starting to become a problem until I started doing this. Now it really isn't. I guess it's just "joint maintenance".

I know I ought to run to help bone density, but I do so detest it. Running is what you do when chasing someone who just nicked your bike.

The main issue is, I think that going to the gym takes a significant amount of time. It's one of the reasons I fell into Zwifting and getting so fussy about outdoor weather. It's barely any effort or preparation and doesn't depend on the weather or light or busyness of the roads.

Having said that though. For volume work, outdoor is king.

I hate the treadmill, so dull. If I do go on there it's for HIIT sprint sessions and not just plodding along mindlessly for an hour.

I'm starting to focus more on body weight exercises at the moment - pull ups, dips, multiple press up variations, inverted rows, bodyweight squats (maybe with a sandbag but high reps). I throw in machines/weights for exercises that I like.

Weights really helps bone density and sarcopenia as we age. Doesn't need to be massive volumes to get jacked like Arnie, but a couple of sessions of press up/pull up/dips/squats/lunges a week, 20 mins x 2 days a week, will make all the difference and is proven to help raise the Healthy Expectant Life figure, especially when combined with cardio.

Outside riding is dangerous - I stay mostly indoors where no bugger is trying to kill me!!

 

[Whorty]

Following on from last night’s discussion, did anyone else read the recent stories about UK average Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE)? Not average age at death, but the average age a Uk person stays healthy until.

It’s just under 61 years old.

So in the uk the average Brit will be ill and unhealthy from 61 until their death. That’s freakin scary!!

So I’m of the opinion any exercise is better than nought.

This drop in HLE us due to the obvious causes; obesity, drink, smoking, processed foods.

Thankfully we all seem to be above average (unless a major health issue hits us of course).

 

[ColinJ]

So in the uk the average Brit will be ill and unhealthy from 61 until their death. That’s freakin scary!!

It definitely IS scary - I only made it to 56!! It is sometimes possible to get most of the lost health back though.

Lying on my bathroom floor, close to death, lapsing in and out of consciousness was enough to convince me to change my ways if I survived. Which I clearly DID...

I'd had a 5-pints-a-night-every-night habit but haven't touched alcohol since. I have lost about 35 kg (5+ stone) in weight.

For obvious reasons, I am pretty motivated not to let things lapse!

 

[shimceltic]

What caused the bathroom floor situation? It's easy to just have a few cans/pints every night and cary on as normal without realising the consequences long term.

 

[ColinJ]

What caused the bathroom floor situation? It's easy to just have a few cans/pints every night and cary on as normal without realising the consequences long term.

I had developed a DVT in my left leg. A big chunk of that clot eventually broke off and got swept up through my heart, lodging in my pulmonary artery (a pulmonary embolism).

A very chirpy doctor insisted on showing me my CT scan. She said the artery had become so clotted it was the equivalent of poking a drinking straw through the middle of a black pudding and trying to pump blood through the straw. That didn't exactly fill me with joy!

Apparently, fitness from my cycling was probably what saved me. Over 30% of big clots like me (!) die before even getting to the hospital...

So, no booze for me now, and I keep the weight down and try to average at least 6-7 hours of cycling a week.

I really do need to do more strength work though. I have a typical cyclist's puny upper body. My neck and back give me far more trouble on long rides than my legs do. My legs are happy to tackle 6+ hilly hours but my back muscles scream for mercy!

 

[Whorty]

It definitely IS scary - I only made it to 56!! It is sometimes possible to get most of the lost health back though.

Lying on my bathroom floor, close to death, lapsing in and out of consciousness was enough to convince me to change my ways if I survived. Which I clearly DID...

I'd had a 5-pints-a-night-every-night habit but haven't touched alcohol since. I have lost about 35 kg (5+ stone) in weight.

For obvious reasons, I am pretty motivated not to let things lapse!

That's brilliant Colin, massive kudos for the hard work.