fittness for the MTB

steamboat

hi all

whats the best traning i can do when im not on the bike to get me fitter for the bike?

thanks

weeksy59

SPinning classes/exercise bike.

You don't see Contador or Cavendish out jogging/rowing... they cycle.

Anonymous

Run on the spot, whilst leaning forward as though you're in the riding position.



Ahem, seriously though...
I found that running was great for developing sprinting endurance. It gets you used to sustained periods of very high intensity activity.

steamboat

thanks for all the advise, i did find a few bits for core and upper body stuff desigend for mtb riding

mtb crazy

aerobics would probably work aswell, anything that will get your heart pumping

Anonymous

weeksy59 wrote:

SPinning classes/exercise bike.

You don't see Contador or Cavendish out jogging/rowing... they cycle.

Well to be honest, I've never seen conquistador or cuttlefish on a bike either.

Rick_huggins

Drink plenty of Speckled Hen!

cooldad

Sit on the couch, drink beer and wear a shirt with Rooney on the back. Or is that football training? Never sure.

weeksy59

yeehaamcgee wrote:

weeksy59 wrote:

SPinning classes/exercise bike.

You don't see Contador or Cavendish out jogging/rowing... they cycle.

Well to be honest, I've never seen conquistador or cuttlefish on a bike either.

That's becuase you're 11 and have lived a sheltered life.

Anonymous

Of course I am. It's so obvious now.

springtide9

yeehaamcgee wrote:

I found that running was great for developing sprinting endurance. It gets you used to sustained periods of very high intensity activity.

+1
Biggest boost in fitness this year was training for a Half Marathon. It seems shocking your body by doing other activities really has a positive impact on fitness.

Other advantages of cross training is that it allows you to still do activities on what would be considered 'rest days'.

But it depends on how much time you have. If not much, some form of cycling will probably be best.

saprkzz

In my opinion the best fitness to improve MTB'ing is a road bike!, In our club the quickest people up the hills on a club ride is the roadies!.. you can actually tell who the roadies are in the group.

One of our guys struggled like mad on his MTB with fitness, lungs etc.. He started training on a road bike 6 months ago and lost around 3 stone in weight, and now he is really quick on flats and uphill. A wimp downhill though!! (Roadies in our club have nerves of a cat when downhill! )

nicklouse

saprkzz wrote:

In my opinion the best fitness to improve MTB'ing is a road bike!,

and visa versa.