Motorbike fitness & the benefits of getting stronger.

[Throttled]

Just watched the latest Fortnine video, which is about the benefits of strength training for bikers;

 

 

This matches my experience. About 18 months ago I was diagnosed with a health condition which explained why past attempts to get fit failed. I cannot do stamina work, so instead, I started to do strength training at the gym. I have done a bit in the past, but hated gyms, that were full of thugs or in far too expensive leisure centres. The present crop of gyms that have taken over retail park units, that are full of clean equipment, not too posery, have a wide range of people as members and cost mid £20 a month are great.

 

The strength training I do, is to work out a maximum single rep and then rep 80% of that about 5 times with the arms and 10 with the legs, over four circuits, over 14 fixed weight machines, covering all parts of the body, arms, legs, back, stomach, chest. After 18 months, I added up the total lift of one session, and it came to 81,100lbs (36.2 imperial tons) or 36,786kgs. If I can do that at 57 years old, goodness knows what the scary people who do the big loose weights manage. Without bothering to cut out much food and drink, I have lost over 2 stone.

 

My last long tour, to the Isle of Man, included two motorway trips batting very high winds. It is the first tour I have done, with no pain. No numb bum, no sore hips, back, anything. The video explains why and my experience is that the video is spot on. There are huge benefits to getting stronger when it comes to riding a bike, which is not just about being able to lift the bike back up, if you drop it. Improving core strength alone, makes sitting on the bike over longer periods easier. Highly recommended.

 

Edited March 10 by Throttled

[Simon Davey]

Thanks for the write up. 

I follow FortNine, but I keep avoiding that video because I'm usually watching after dinner whilst scoffing chocolate. 

Edited March 10 by Simon Davey

[Simon Davey]

@Throttled

Now I'm actually sat at my desk and paying attention, I must add, we are of a similar age and you have my utmost respect for persevering with your goal and training as you have. I'm no slim Jim, but I'm not breaking the scales, and since suffering with sleep apnoea I also struggle with stamina.

Maybe I really should just buy that darned multigym I keep looking at...

[Throttled]

It was a struggle. I actually started a get fit before the pandemic, dragging myself along once every two weeks, to not much affect. I then got my COPD diagnosis, hugely delayed due to the pandemic and that kick-started the need to make an effort. Late 50s is kind of last chance saloon. I would recommend keeping a track of achievements, as that has helped a lot, by setting goals, like can I do 10 stone, my own body weight (getting more likely as I lose weight), max the machine? I do a test every six months, to see if I can increase the single maximum rep, which is not always the case.

 

What also helps is noticing the benefits, like picking up a coffee table when my father wanted his carpets cleaning. It is huge and tiled and in the past, I could never have done that so easily. The Fortnine video has revealed another benefit I would not have otherwise noticed.