Getting the most out of short rides?

baldingboy

Hey all,

I'm a college guy who usually rides recreationally most of the time. Unfortunately, I've noticed my weight, strength, and stamina slipping because I haven't had as much time to get to the gym. Long story short, I've tried to start riding a little more and use that as my primary method of getting back in shape.

What do you guys do to get the most out of shorter rides? Like I said, time is kind of a premium and whatever methods you have would certainly help! My buddy does MMA and uses something called an elevation training mask, so I pre-ordered a new version of it on this site (http://www.fundable.com/training-mask). I have high hopes for it. Do you have any experience with products like this?

Thank you!

t.m.h.n.e.t

Ride hard - take a break - ride hard - take a break

pilch

Basically it looks like IMT - Inspirational muscle training, see here>>>> http://www.breathestrong.com/book/ I would think that you need to master 'breathing properly' first to get to get the most out of it... Ultimately it will help you to breathe stronger/more efficiently at higher loading, if you do it right.

Although it may help, i'm not sure it will be the complete solution for endurance/stamina/fatburning though, I think that you will need to do longer aerobic rides to help with this.

YeehaaMcgee

baldingboy wrote:

What do you guys do to get the most out of shorter rides?

Don't sit down at all, stay standing the whole time.

.blitz

baldingboy wrote:

Getting the most out of short rides?

Have thought about this a lot in the last year or so basically there are plenty of places nearby where it's possible to ride but they're not Typical Mountain Bike Locations.

Have a look round at what's on your doorstep and be inventive. Canals, cycle paths, land behind the local industrial estate, urban areas that are dead outside office hours. The lack of technical terrain can keep you focussed on the workout and for me at least it's better than a turbo trainer or a road ride.

For my own part there is a park a few hundred yards away with two football pitches that do nothing during the Summer months. I feel a bit of a tool sprinting up and down them on a MTB but there are embankments at either end and in terms of a workout it's not too shabby. There's also a cycle path into town which is deserted most of the time. Again I feel a complete prat riding it on a 140mm trail bike but I'm there for my own reasons.

No fuss, no bother, no need to kit up or get the car out just go

agg25

Ride faster!