Does everyone think I've got puny, puny arms?

Crapaud

I like to think that I'm reasonably fit.

On Saturday morning we had a burst pipe in the close, and haven't had any water to the building. By this morning I smell eye wateringly pungent. So this morning, under the pretext of 'going for a swim', I went to the baths for a shower. To carry this off I had to , obviously, go for a swim.

I managed 4 lengths (25m pool) before I started sinking, had a short rest and did another 2. It was plain that that was my limit as my arms were starting to bonk. I could barely lift my towel to dry my head. Pretty poor stuff.

Nuggs

If it helps you feel any better, my wife is heavily pregnant and swims 50 lengths twice a week...

rhext

Is bonking in the swimming pool allowed? I'm fairly sure the ones near me frown on it!

pottssteve

rhext wrote:

Is bonking in the swimming pool allowed? I'm fairly sure the ones near me frown on it!

My local pool used to have a sign which warned against "Heavy Petting", but it didn't say anything about aquatic nookie. However, a post coital ciggie was out of the question as smoking wasn't allowed either.

innocenti

A cyclist with poor upper body strength? How unusual!

Stewie Griffin

I swam for my School so I thought that after years of not swimming I would still be OK. 3 Lanes, fast, medium and slow, well I thought, Captain of the School Team, I shall warm up in the medium lane. I did 8 lengths in total, 6 of which were in the slow lane. I had to stop every other length to recover.

Actually, I should go back and practise, perhaps next time Im off the coast of Trinidad with the tide pulling me away from the direction I wanted to be going I wont poo myself so much. I made it back on my own without calling for help though :P .

prawny

My arms are massive still 8)

I haven't been swimming for a while though, might be interesting to find out what happens.

DavidBelcher

innocenti wrote:

A cyclist with poor upper body strength? How unusual!

Don't knock it. Gives you a quality excuse for shirking pusher-off duties when helping out at time trials.

David

sonny73

I'm a skinny b*gger and I always say to myself that my skinny lanky arms are simply the product of a genetic pre-disposition to being a true mountain goat that or I look at a picture of a T-Rex for comfort
In saying that I used to be a really strong swimmer as a kid, but then I didn't do any serious swimming for years until about 7 years ago. Joined a gym did 2 lengths and was fooked. Still stick at it because after about 10 sessions I was doing plenty of lengths again

freehub

Sonny73 wrote:

I'm a skinny b*gger and I always say to myself that my skinny lanky arms are simply the product of a genetic pre-disposition to being a true mountain goat that or I look at a picture of a T-Rex for comfort

The thing is, those arms are quite large.

sonny73

freehub wrote:

Sonny73 wrote:

I'm a skinny b*gger and I always say to myself that my skinny lanky arms are simply the product of a genetic pre-disposition to being a true mountain goat that or I look at a picture of a T-Rex for comfort

The thing is, those arms are quite large.

Fair point, but he still looks like he'd be sh*te in a boxing ring or a pool.

Crapaud

Nuggs wrote:

If it helps you feel any better, my wife is heavily pregnant and swims 50 lengths twice a week...

freehub

Sonny73 wrote:

freehub wrote:

Sonny73 wrote:

I'm a skinny b*gger and I always say to myself that my skinny lanky arms are simply the product of a genetic pre-disposition to being a true mountain goat that or I look at a picture of a T-Rex for comfort

The thing is, those arms are quite large.

Fair point, but he still looks like he'd be sh*te in a boxing ring or a pool.

I'd imagine that thing would be a good boxer, well the T-Rex would always wind, with it's super fast reflexes and the ability to shred you or anyone to pieces who disagreed with him.

hammerite

Swimming is a technique thing, nothing to do with how strong you are really, if you have the technique sorted it's a lot easier. Coupled with breathing at a good rhythm you'd be fine. As for the sinking thing, being a cyclist you probably have quite heavy legs, so they're difficult to keep afloat! I know this feeling well.

I bet your arse hurt the first few times you rode a bike any serious distance, same thing with swimming and your arms really.

If you went a few more times the 4 lengths would soon become 16, 64...........

I say this as a really bad, slow swimmer, but I can keep swimming for a few miles if I want/have to.

Matt the Tester

don't worry lol are you used to swimming? if not thats why it's using muscles you probs havent used in a long time

Crapaud

hammerite wrote:

Swimming is a technique thing, nothing to do with how strong you are really, if you have the technique sorted it's a lot easier. ...

My arms are really quite spindly. They have neither power nor endurance. I was doing the breast stroke, as it's the only one I've been able to master, and the sinking came from my arms not being able to lift me out of the water. I can still feel it in my triceps, lats and pecs.

FWIW, I quite enjoyed it. I can't see me swimming regularly ATM, but I think I'll go back to it during the winter (the baths are a decent distance away that I can include a short cycle there and back).

White Line

Cool, so what swimming pool was this? Just so I know never to go there again ...

I've not been swimming in a few years.

Crapaud

White Line wrote:

Cool, so what swimming pool was this? Just so I know never to go there again ...

I've not been swimming in a few years.

Eastwood.

You not been to the new pool in Castlemilk, then?

dbmnk

I think you will find yourself pretty good at arm-wrestling, however
- all those sideverse pulls in the handlebar going up hill will give you an endurance advantage in arm wrestling. Just wait for the tribal tattooed to burn out of ATP, and you'll lay him down nice and easy.

White Line

Crapaud wrote:

White Line wrote:

Cool, so what swimming pool was this? Just so I know never to go there again ...

I've not been swimming in a few years.

Eastwood.

You not been to the new pool in Castlemilk, then?

Good. Don't think I've ever been there. Chances are I never will. Phew. :P

Nah, I've not been yet (despite it being a five minute walk or a minute bike ride away). I hope they didn't make it shallow like all the rest of the refurbished pools. The 12' was truly awesome. Ah ... good memories in that place.

keef66

I try to have a lunchtime swim twice a week. First time I tried it I needed a breather evey few lengths, and was wobbling like a newborn giraffe when I got out. Now I manage 50 lengths without a break and can still talk / breathe / walk when I get out. It's great for core strength and helps with flexibility / back pain.

Sadly I don't enjoy it like cycling, so it will always be a chore, but I know it does m,e good