JD™ Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 This topic is a typical excercise in making a tiny bit of knowledge go a long way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 This topic also shows that people have their priorities wrong. First things first, riding.....it's the best thing you can do, ride as much as you can, ride on horrible wet rocks, ride street, ride because its fun ride because it's a challenge. Forget the weights, if you havn't actually entered a comp yet weights will do you no good. The people who say don't do any cardio are fools too. Honestly, if you are just starting to want to do comps, don't go down the whole training route, to me, that's just for the people who want to go far in the UCI international comps, training now will make riding seem like training rather than the fun that it should be. going to the gym and trying you get bigger muscles will make you worse at comps unless you know exactly what you need to do. Most of the people giving you advice have probably never entered a comp, I have and going to the gym is a waste of time unless you're ultimate goal is to be world champ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnowden Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) Most of the people giving you advice have probably never entered a comp, I have and going to the gym is a waste of time unless you're ultimate goal is to be world champ. Mate I can't even trackstand yet so save it, he asked about fitness advice, for trials advice shove it I can't help. I know I can't and I'm not pretending to. Edited July 18, 2011 by TheSnowden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 He specifically asked for advice on how to get fit for comps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowcloud Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Forget the weights, if you havn't actually entered a comp yet weights will do you no good. Weights/resistance training make you stronger and develop neural pathways, and in turn make you more explosive, protect from injury and give you greater work capacity. The people who say don't do any cardio are fools too. Agreed. going to the gym and trying you get bigger muscles will make you worse at comps unless you know exactly what you need to do. Exactly why I gave him the power and strength advice. Low reps high weight will only pack on "useful" muscle mass i.e. myofibrillated hypertrophy, compared to mass gain when training for size bodybuilding style i.e. sarcoplasmic hypertrophy. He specifically asked for advice on how to get fit for comps. Yes. He also asked for gym routines which I gave general ideas for. I might have never entered a trials comp but I have read a lot on sports science from strength and conditioning coaches for successful professional athletes. If you are going to the gym and enjoying lifting weights anyway you might as well do it in a way beneficial to your sport. Also there's nothing wrong with healthy eating whoever you are. First things first, riding.....it's the best thing you can do, ride as much as you can, ride on horrible wet rocks, ride street, ride because its fun ride because it's a challenge. Brilliant. Best way to get good at something is to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I can see you know your stuff and are giving sound advice, but my point about weights doing more harm than good when he hasn't done comps before is because I have seen many people focus on getting power before they have got any control. At comps, the most important thing you can have is control. Technique is more important than being powerful in my view. Once you (he) have ridden comps for a bit, starting to get lots more control on natural and slippery conditions, then would be the time to start getting the weights done and getting the power. "power is nothing without control" and all that. If they find the gym enjoyable, then fair enough, as long as they don't think that is the answer to getting good on a bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 At comps, the most important thing you can have is control. ...especially if you're riding anything below Red/Expert. Most of it is just fiddly, annoying stuff where the hours spent on your bike will be infinitely more valuable to you than any hours spent in the gym. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve sturt Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 If youre spending time at the gym when you could be out riding, all the strength training in the world is going to be pretty useless if youre fiving the section as soon as you enter it. As Ali said, getting your technique dialled would be of way more benefit than strength training. A bit of cardio would not do any harm either. At a comp, you ride up to 20 sections in less than 6 hours. It doesnt sound like much, but when youre wrestling the bike and the terrain for a day, you need the fitness to get through the last few sections. The best way of working out what you need to work on is to enter a comp and find out first hand what to expect. Like i said in a previous post, dont worry about not being ready or good enough, there are enough categories to suit all abilities Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowcloud Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I can see you know your stuff and are giving sound advice, but my point about weights doing more harm than good when he hasn't done comps before is because I have seen many people focus on getting power before they have got any control. At comps, the most important thing you can have is control. Technique is more important than being powerful in my view. Once you (he) have ridden comps for a bit, starting to get lots more control on natural and slippery conditions, then would be the time to start getting the weights done and getting the power. "power is nothing without control" and all that. If they find the gym enjoyable, then fair enough, as long as they don't think that is the answer to getting good on a bike. Ah makes sense! I bow to your superior experience and completely agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnowden Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 The combined knowledge here we could write a bloody book...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casualjoe Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 The idiots guide to getting good at comps (without doing any comps) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtchell Posted July 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 seems theres alot of different opions here, i,m not going to not go to the gym as i feel more strength is going to help eiether way. riding yes is the most important which sits at the top of my list, cardio ? ?? i understand jogging is different to trials but surely raising fitness through other ways other than riding has got to help ?? Theres so much info though thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradJohnson Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 So recently i,ve found my self hopping about on my bike thinking whats the point :-/ Dont get me wrong i love riding and probably the best thing i,ve done for myself. But i need some sort of goal so ive decided to enter comps as from next year. But i need to raise my fitness levels, lose the fat and become stronger ( in a way become an athelete). I,ve quit smoking, began jogging and hit the gym 5 times a week. I jus need some advice on what i should be training in the gym to aim my riding, and how far should i be running. Should i be jogging every day as well as the gym ? Also should i start riding more natty to prepare for comps ? . Any advice or tips/routines would really help as i feel theres no order or even benefit to the way im training at the moment Thanks P.s sorry if its a little long winded This is exactly how i feel, i don't like putting the effort in and getting nothing out of it so i'm gunna get my self a new bike and get my fitness up and ride as much as i can and train for a competition. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Will a new bike help? Surely you can get fit on your current bike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Evil1 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 For what its worth I thought id add my little opinion in here. Ive been riding for 15 years, competiting the whole time and over last few years doing shows too. I agree will Ali, riding is the best form of training and fitness you can do for trials, by far. If you cant get out and ride for a while, because of the weather, work,bike damage etc then go running, cycling,swimming and gym, or if its something you enjoy then by all means do it aswell, but I find if you have the chance to ride for a hour or two, take that rather than anything else. Important point that Ive been really noticing and making sure of recently, is the importance of stretching properly before and after a ride, helps a lot! Hope this helps a bit Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnowden Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Will a new bike help? Surely you can get fit on your current bike? his wallet wants to lose weight too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtchell Posted July 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 his wallet wants to lose weight too... lol, but would any changes help to a bike apart from ovbs such as double discs? example a higher stem ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnowden Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 lol, but would any changes help to a bike apart from ovbs such as double discs? example a higher stem ? single disk on front and hydro rim brake at rear is best brake set-up as far as i've heard cos disk on the rear wheel the rotar is likely to snap and brake something, i think that's what i've heard, dont know if anyone else can clairfy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 You'd be doing pretty well to snap a rotor. Dual disc on mod is awesome, definitely the ideal setup in my opinion! As soon as I switched to dual disc from a rear HS33 it was just way better to ride. Still great bite and hold, but loads of modulation, no noise and virtually no maintenance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnowden Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 You'd be doing pretty well to snap a rotor. Dual disc on mod is awesome, definitely the ideal setup in my opinion! As soon as I switched to dual disc from a rear HS33 it was just way better to ride. Still great bite and hold, but loads of modulation, no noise and virtually no maintenance. Touché Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Swales Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) You'd be doing pretty well to snap a rotor. Dual disc on mod is awesome, definitely the ideal setup in my opinion! As soon as I switched to dual disc from a rear HS33 it was just way better to ride. Still great bite and hold, but loads of modulation, no noise and virtually no maintenance. A 26" spoke, on the other hand... Rear discs are sweet on a 20", but a bit 'wobbly' on a 26" I've found. +1 for just riding your bike. Weights and the gym etc. will help, but only if you have a decent level of control on your bike first. The best way to get good at riding comps, I reckon, is to ride comps and practice in between times. Ride, ride, ride. Edited July 19, 2011 by Ben Swales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Do stretching, ride a lot of rocks. Job done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OAP Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Get your tights on and go join the ladies ..... YOGA (Y) If you don't stretch before and after a ride your a fool and no matter how you train or how much effort you put in it will all go down the pan when you injure yourself. Also as you get older this will matter more and more (take it from me). I've done Iyengar yoga for about 9 years and i've seen many so called 'fit' blokes crumble in a 2 hr yoga class. An added benefit is you also get a good understanding of how your body works and it helps you quicken your recovery time if you do get injured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 About natural riding, I've recently been introduced to a new approach by a fellow rider who's insanely controlled on tough terrain. Up until now, all the natural I did were usually "semi-urban" moves if that makes sense - jumping from one rock onto another, preferably moves which require a fair understanding of terrain, precision but mostly strength. This was fun, but after a while got boring. What he showed me seemed pretty uninteresting - he pointed me to some tiny rocks which were barely sticking out from the ground and set a section. I was hooked for the whole day trying to negotiate the course which consisted of small rocks all of which had an area smaller and narrower than a shoe. At first it seemed very easy and safe but required absolute precision and control - no correction hops because there just wasn't any room. After a few days of riding sections with this guy I could feel my bike control shoot up dramatically. The rocks I used to ride before all seemed piss easy and even more boring than they did before. So based on that my advice would be not to ride natural like it's just oddly shaped walls but look for something that challenges your precision and control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 About natural riding, I've recently been introduced to a new approach by a fellow rider who's insanely controlled on tough terrain. Up until now, all the natural I did were usually "semi-urban" moves if that makes sense - jumping from one rock onto another, preferably moves which require a fair understanding of terrain, precision but mostly strength. This was fun, but after a while got boring. What he showed me seemed pretty uninteresting - he pointed me to some tiny rocks which were barely sticking out from the ground and set a section. I was hooked for the whole day trying to negotiate the course which consisted of small rocks all of which had an area smaller and narrower than a shoe. At first it seemed very easy and safe but required absolute precision and control - no correction hops because there just wasn't any room. After a few days of riding sections with this guy I could feel my bike control shoot up dramatically. The rocks I used to ride before all seemed piss easy and even more boring than they did before. So based on that my advice would be not to ride natural like it's just oddly shaped walls but look for something that challenges your precision and control. Agreed - to add to that, theres more than one way to get up a rock. Go up the harder side, try a sidehop to your wrong side, gap to hook from another rock, try and turn around on the top etc etc. If you just gap to the top then off again you're missing the potential for loads of much harder riding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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