It's Tough Exercise to Look Tough on a Bike

[R Doug]

Here's a link to a neat article in today's Wall Street Journal.  It's about a man's experience of riding along side most of the Dakar Rally with Rawhyde Adventures (check out Rayhyde's website, cool stuff) and the work out routine he adopted to help with the demands of riding.

http://online.wsj.com/article/whats_your_workout.html

[Rogue]

That is a bad picture and looks gay.

[R Doug]

The two interesting tokens I got out of this is 1)  How cool would be to do that group ride!?  That's a bucket list item for me now.  And 2) the article is mostly about the fitness required and how the rider got in shape for the ride.  If I add up his regimen correctly, he does tai chi for 40 min incorporating some core strength exercises from his trainer 2 x a week and takes spin classes twice a week for cardio.  

My work outs during the week consists of 30 min. cardio on an elliptical trainer 3x a week and core exercises at 20 min. each 2x a week.  I can say that my time spent on core exercises has been a big help for long day rides on road and controlling the bike off road.  

Like the rider from the article, I too find it difficult to eat healthy with the hours put in at the office.  I typically start the morning with water followed by coffee and either a granola bar or a bowl of oatmeal.  At lunch, I typically eat out and try to make health choices (avoid fried food and incorporate veggies) and keep the calories between 400 and 500.

For dinner, I'll either pick up a sub from Subway loaded with veggies or stick to a bowl of cereal and skim milk and a multi vitamin.  On weekdays, I limit my daily calorie intake to 1600-1800.  One weekends, I let it go a bit and eat like a king (breakfast, snack for lunch, and go out to dinner with wife).  

How do you stay fit for riding or does it come into play for you in your life?

[mxvet57]

How do you stay fit for riding or does it come into play for you in your life?

They built pyramids faster than it took to build my stomach.

My body is a temple.

[atadaskew]

2) the article is mostly about the fitness required and how the rider got in shape for the ride.  If I add up his regimen correctly, he does tai chi for 40 min incorporating some core strength exercises from his trainer 2 x a week and takes spin classes twice a week for cardio.  


How do you stay fit for riding or does it come into play for you in your life?

I don't get the big deal about doing cardio only twice a week.  How's that worthy of a fitness regimen?  That does not seem enough for regular living, let alone training to ride a bike.

[black hills]

How do you stay fit for riding or does it come into play for you in your life?

been carbo loading for about 20 years now, I think I'm ready to race

[stew71]

About the only training I do specifically for riding is sampling coffee and bacon around town. I work out for the more strenuous activities like snowboarding and back country hunts.

[Meemuh]

They built pyramids faster than it took to build my stomach.

My body is a temple.

A temple to coffee?

[FJR1300]

Here's how you look tough on a bike.  



I wish he was still around to get pissed at me for posting this picture.

[R Doug]

I don't get the big deal about doing cardio only twice a week.  How's that worthy of a fitness regimen?  That does not seem enough for regular living, let alone training to ride a bike.

Agreed.  I believe what I do (cardio 3x week and strength 2x a week) is minimum.

[Rogue]

How do you stay fit for riding or does it come into play for you in your life?

I do bicycle rides about four times a week, two days of moderate riding, two days of moderate/hard riding for an hour--lots of hillclimbing.  Then five times a week I do core exercises for no more than 15 minutes.  That's all I have time for with work and all.  I can do more but then I would have to sacrifice something, which I don't want to.  In the summer time I ride bicycles harder and longer because there is more daylight available to me and the weather is warmer.

During the week, I watch what I eat very carefully.  No carbs except the muffins for breakfast.  I never go out for lunch.  I have a health shake, then ride my motorcycle with the time I save not eating hard foods.  Dinner, no carbs but lots of protein.  On weekends, I do what you do.  I let it go a bit, but still no carbs except for the occasional desert and foo-foo coffee.

This is enough for me to stay fit to ride my motorcycle.  I also want to stay fit to ride my road bicycle, which I enjoy quite a bit.  Finally, it's very nice to fit in normal clothes (not plus sizes) and look good in front of the mirror.  My wife loves it too.  

It was hard work to get where I am now.  But it's just maintaining my fitness not just for the sake of riding, but for a good lifestyle.  I hate the feeling of being unhealthy and looking at the mirror and getting depressed.  

[R Doug]

It was hard work to get where I am now.  But it's just maintaining my fitness not just for the sake of riding, but for a good lifestyle.  I hate the feeling of being unhealthy and looking at the mirror and getting depressed.  

Plus, there's the whole "These pants feel tight" thing.  

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Here's how you look tough on a bike.  



I wish he was still around to get pissed at me for posting this picture.

So sadly missed....

[GTS_Rider]

Still, admitted mostly couch-potato here, ehh, just to balance out the conversation...

I'm 'thinking' about about getting more healthy. It's the thought that counts, right?...    

 

[black hills]

Still, admitted mostly couch-potato here, ehh, just to balance out the conversation...

I'm 'thinking' about about getting more healthy. It's the thought that counts, right?...    

 

yea, I do one situp everytday , when I get out of bed. seems to be working..

[Rogue]

Plus, there's the whole "These pants feel tight" thing.  

 

I started reading GQ Magazine again just to see the latest styles.  The In-Thing now are "skinny pants", or generally snug fitting pants for men.  Remember when "Relaxed Fit" or "Loose Fit" was in?  Now it's the opposite.  They also cut them so they sit below the waist.  Oh man!  You really need to be in good shape to wear those!

The nice thing about being able to wear normal sizes is that when you buy riding pants, you can get the right waist that matches the length.  Before, finding a par of riding pants that fit my gut was difficult to impossible.  

[TuffguyF4i]

I started reading GQ Magazine again just to see the latest styles.  The In-Thing now are "skinny pants", or generally snug fitting pants for men.  Remember when "Relaxed Fit" or "Loose Fit" was in?  Now it's the opposite.  They also cut them so they sit below the waist.  Oh man!  You really need to be in good shape to wear those!

No.. you just have to be a skinny little rut with a womans body.  They look terrible and super eurotrash.  I wouldn't be able to get the waistline of those jeans over my thighs.

My workout program is cardio once per week, lifting using the HITT method about 3-4 times per week.  Plus of course, a healthy/active lifestyle.  

[Croak]

HIIT is where it's at for me.  Short, sweet, and to the point, get on with living your life, not endlessly preparing for it.  

Oh, and skinny jeans are an abomination, and I dread the day in the near future when they perfect the skinny bell-bottom.

[ConPilot1]

Want tough? Want Jeans?

Here ya go.

(pre-STN and ATGATT days + a few pounds heavier and a foot long ponytail  )

I miss this bike SOOOO much. This thing was a hoot, all around. I rode the piss out of this Kwak.

[atadaskew]

Want tough? Want Jeans?

... I rode the piss out of this Kwak.

No.

And who puts piss in a bike?

[NoGear]

I don't do any workouts right now......  I get up, and walk 3/4 of a mile to breakfast then 3/4 of a mile back.  I throw a 30 pound ruck on over top of my 60 pounds of body armor, then walk a mile to work. At dinner I walk 3/4 of a mile to the DFAC again and 3/4 of a mile back. When I leave work. I once again throw the 30 pound ruck over top of the 60 pounds of body armor and walk a mile back to my tent....... Now I can only wait another month and a half so I can do it when it's 100 degrees out. By the end of May I'll be doing it in 120 degrees. Before I leave here I'll be doing it in 130 degrees........    Would someone remind me why I gave up my retirement to do this again??????

[Croak]

No.

And who puts piss in a bike?

I don't know, but evidently, riding removes it.

[Rogue]

HIIT is where it's at for me.  Short, sweet, and to the point, get on with living your life, not endlessly preparing for it.  

Oh, and skinny jeans are an abomination, and I dread the day in the near future when they perfect the skinny bell-bottom.

I streamed a few movies on Netflix that went back to the 80's and 90's.

The male actors looked really skinny!  But honestly, they were at their ideal weight!

Our perception of "normal" has been biased towards a more heavier build because we're so used to seeing it.  Most restaurants give you at least two servings worth of food on most meals!  I hear people always say (and I used to say it too), this place have large portions therefore it's a good place to eat because you get more for your money.  The latter is true.  But should you really eat that much?  The local El Torito (Mexican food) have their standard Combination of one burrito, one taco, one enchilada plus rice and beans, and don’t forget the chips and salsa as standard.  All for $9!  I used to lap that up like there was no tomorrow, plus chips and two drink refills!  It’s a 1500 calorie meal when the standard FDA recommendation for a full grown adult is 2k calorie intake PER DAY!

[Croak]

What the hell does that have to do with silly hipster fashion trends?  

[atadaskew]

I don't do any workouts right now......  I get up, and walk 3/4 of a mile to breakfast then 3/4 of a mile back.  I throw a 30 pound ruck on over top of my 60 pounds of body armor, then walk a mile to work. At dinner I walk 3/4 of a mile to the DFAC again and 3/4 of a mile back. When I leave work. I once again throw the 30 pound ruck over top of the 60 pounds of body armor and walk a mile back to my tent....... Now I can only wait another month and a half so I can do it when it's 100 degrees out. By the end of May I'll be doing it in 120 degrees. Before I leave here I'll be doing it in 130 degrees........    Would someone remind me why I gave up my retirement to do this again??????

Well, on the upside as an FJR owner you're used to carrying all that weight around.

[NoGear]

Well, on the upside as an FJR owner you're used to carrying all that weight around.

Ouch!!!    

[Brad1445]

That is a bad picture and looks gay.

+1

[spd2918]

How cool would be to do that group ride!?  That's a bucket list item for me now.

For sure.  I wonder what it cost him.

My work outs during the week consists of 30 min. cardio on an elliptical trainer 3x a week and core exercises at 20 min. each 2x a week.  I can say that my time spent on core exercises has been a big help for long day rides on road and controlling the bike off road.  

I am doing the same things in preparation for track school.  Core strength is important for extended sport bike riding.

I don't do any workouts right now......  I get up, and walk 3/4 of a mile to breakfast then 3/4 of a mile back.  I throw a 30 pound ruck on over top of my 60 pounds of body armor, then walk a mile to work. At dinner I walk 3/4 of a mile to the DFAC again and 3/4 of a mile back. When I leave work. I once again throw the 30 pound ruck over top of the 60 pounds of body armor and walk a mile back to my tent....... Now I can only wait another month and a half so I can do it when it's 100 degrees out. By the end of May I'll be doing it in 120 degrees. Before I leave here I'll be doing it in 130 degrees........    Would someone remind me why I gave up my retirement to do this again??????

I had a truck in Iraq.  Cutbacks suck.  

[Rogue]

What the hell does that have to do with silly hipster fashion trends?  

Not really sure.  

I'm thinking if you can fit in "Regular" size blue jeans, you can easily fit into normal size riding pants.  

I think the "Loose Fit" fad began in the Hip-Hop world where rappers wore older jeans that didn't fit and fell mid-way down their butts and looked ridiculous but suddenly became hip.  The "Hipster" look is now in and this came from the Asian "Emo" style (they're all skinny-asses with long, fuzzy hair).  

[Uncle Leo]

What really is "in shape"? Look at NFL players and you learn right away that some of us were born to play the backfield and some were born to play the line.

I'm in shape.......round is a shape!

[dan88z]

What really is "in shape"? Look at NFL players and you learn right away that some of us were born to play the backfield and some were born to play the line.

I'm in shape.......round is a shape!

When my kid was in high school he wrestled heavyweight, he didn't look it but he was in incredible shape. 265lbs and could run 5 miles like it was nothing. His conditioning and power won him a lot of matches.

[alphabet man]

How is that a work out regime    in my late 30s and early 40's I ran some marathons and participated in a few triathlons, not a real athlete but I managed a a 3:20 marathon , 40minute 10K and a couple of respectable triathlons ( I wasn't efficient  in the pool)   I was running 40 - 60 miles a week depending on whether I was training for an event, swim 2K once a week and bike once a week 4 or 5 hours. Of course there were days when cookies and TV was the main event  

I wonder what the top Daker racers do

[atadaskew]

How is that a work out regime    .....I wonder what the top Daker racers do

More than taking spinning classes twice a week than the dood this article is about...

[zer0netgain]

I'm thinking if you can fit in "Regular" size blue jeans, you can easily fit into normal size riding pants.  

I think the "Loose Fit" fad began in the Hip-Hop world where rappers wore older jeans that didn't fit and fell mid-way down their butts and looked ridiculous but suddenly became hip.  The "Hipster" look is now in and this came from the Asian "Emo" style (they're all skinny-asses with long, fuzzy hair).

The problem is that they deliberately make sizes larger than normal to appeal to US vanity.  A size 33 often isn't really a size 33.

More so, jean are just uncomfortable in regular fit.  If you have MUSCLES on your legs, the thighs and crotch can be unbearable.

Even then, I NEVER fit off-the-rack motorcycle gear very well.  They presume all riders are lean or at least very athletic.  The average consumer ISN'T that active.  Heck, I have to FIGHT to get down to 185, and I've not been able to even get down to 195 for a prolonged period of time.  I'm not willing to spend 2 hours in the gym every day and starve myself, and as I get older, the problem gets worse.

I hit the gym for about 30-45 minutes every weekday.  I try to eat healthy and keep indulgences to a minimum.  Still, the fat about my midsection is the LAST thing to start coming off...always has been.

[falconati]

Lots of excuses in this thread, as well as bashing on trends they wish they could look good in.  Sad.

[stevent]

I try to eat small portions and no or minimally processed food and I walk and keep active. Other than that I don't worry about it. I guess it's just an attitude, I've always eaten and drank whatever I wanted and if the price of that is being overweight then I guess I'll pay it. I can still do the things I want to do and if someone doesn't like the way I look they can avert their gaze. It doesn't make one bit of difference whether you're a fitness buff or some lazy fat ass when your time is up it's up. No one's getting out alive.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Eat, drink, and be merry!

[tomek]

I hit the gym for about 30-45 minutes every weekday.  

I would not call it a workout , rather warm up .

[Rogue]

I hit the gym for about 30-45 minutes every weekday.  I try to eat healthy and keep indulgences to a minimum.  Still, the fat about my midsection is the LAST thing to start coming off...always has been.

The older you are the slower your metabolism is.  In addition, your body is storing and "saving" every ounce of fat you have.  Hence the ever expanding mid-section.  The bottom line is if you want to lose weight, you have to take in less than what you put out.  If you want to maintain your weight, you have to equal both intake and output.  The other big factor is your diet.  Or the average adult person's diet.  In the US, that diet is filled with calories and most of it are "empty" calories that go right into fat storage--your midsection first, then other places.  A person who is at or near their ideal weight will fit regular size, regular cut blue jeans very easily.  Remember when that's how they cut blue jeans exclusively?  The "relaxed fit" or "loose fit" is only a current fad to help heavier than normal people fit comfortably.  

Do an experiment if you will:  cut out all your carbohydrate intake.  Substitute veggies for carbs, eat lots of protein and dairy products (low fat).  Do that for a month.  No alcohol.  I'll bet your weight will drop.  It will drop even faster if you exercise.  

[Rogue]

I would not call it a workout , rather warm up .

30-45 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five days a week is a workout.  An hour is better.  In any case, it's better than being a sedentary.

[atadaskew]

30-45 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five days a week is a workout.  An hour is better.  In any case, it's better than being a sedentary.

I run on the treadmill for 30 minutes, varying speed and incline, before I start my workout.
5 days a week.

And on the weekends I spend most of the time outside skateboarding or cycling.

I think that maybe we should get honest with what we're doing and realize that there is a difference between 'working out' and really working out.  There is a reason the expression includes the word 'work'.

But yes, anything is much better than being sedentary.

[tomek]

I run on the treadmill for 30 minutes, varying speed and incline, before I start my workout.
5 days a week.

And on the weekends I spend most of the time outside skateboarding or cycling.

I think that maybe we should get honest with what we're doing and realize that there is a difference between 'working out' and really working out.  There is a reason the expression includes the word 'work'.

But yes, anything is much better than being sedentary.

 

My warm up is 30 minutes on some sort of cardio machine , there are 4 different types in my gym . About 450 calories burnt .

Proper work out is next .

Let`s get real , if you are on the north side of 35-40 years of age , somewhat overweight and out of shape that 30 minutes per day thing won`t do .  

[Rogue]

I applaud the athletes in this thread.

But let's also get real and honest.  Burning 400-500 calories a day on excercise along with  portion control and healthy foods is a very good thing.  

Last year I was riding 5-6 days a week and burning 1k calories on weekdays, close to 2.5k calories on my Saturday rides.  I was climbing hills, doing hill repeats, intervals, etc.  I was probably at or near the best shape I have ever been.  I started riding in groups with these super-fit athletes and I realized it was never going to be enough.  These guys were like machines and acted like it.  They rode hard five+ days a week and put in lots of time riding, working out at the gym, etc.  Their whole lives were consumed by this passion for super fitness.  For what?  So they can lead the next group ride and destroy everyone else behind them, or win the next time trial or the next triathlon?  Sorry but that’s not for me.  I prefer a balance in my life.  I love to ride my bicycle hard and fast but I also like riding my motorcycle, and doing a lot of other fun things.  My hat is off to the athletes of the world as long as they don’t feel the need to belittle those who are not willing to do the same thing and sacrifice the same things.

This year, I plan to do no more than four days of cardio burning 800-1,000 calories, plus short little core work outs during the week.  The rest of my time will be spent riding my motorcycle, spending time with family and friends, and sport-touring.    

[atadaskew]

But let's also get real and honest.  Burning 400-500 calories a day on excercise along with  portion control and healthy foods is a very good thing.  

Agreed.

Butt let's get back to the point, which is poking fun (after all this is StN!) at the dood that this thread is about, who goes to lamaze class or some such thing twice a week, poses on a bike for a photo and gets an article written about him.

[Rogue]

You need to find some connection up there near Hollywoodland and get your pictures taken and maybe even an episode of Cafe Racer done on you, your Rubicon, scooters, Ducatis, etc.  You are in the right neighborhood already and live the lifestyle.  Mulholland Hwy is nearby too.  Geez!    

[R Doug]

Agreed.

Butt let's get back to the point, which is poking fun (after all this is StN!) at the dood that this thread is about, who goes to lamaze class or some such thing twice a week, poses on a bike for a photo and gets an article written about him.

In the Wall Street Journal at that.  It was't in some local newspaper.

[atadaskew]

You need to find some connection up there near Hollywoodland and get your pictures taken and maybe even an episode of Cafe Racer done on you,....

 

There are so many people here with far more interesting stories.
Some of the ride reports are really outstanding.  Best one I've read has to be Mookie's insane 'spontaneous' trip in Mexico on his SuperMotard.