Help! Biking to the gym!!??

[Pierzin]

My car recently broke down, and it could be a month or so until I can get it fixed.
My deal is this: There's two gyms I go to, both the same distance from my house(about 6-8 miles).

I know that bulking and biking don't really mix, especially since I am a hardgainer, but the alternative is taking the bus, which takes damn near all day to get anywhere.

I know it will take a huge amount of strength from me just to get there, which will take away from workouts, but at the same time I don't want to be setback and delayed from goals!

 

[once was fat]

Its better than not working out at all. It should take you about 15 to 20 min to get there. The hard part is going home after you haved biked 8 miles and worked out for another hour. I would eat a loaded protien bar right before you leave and then have a protein shake while your still at the gym post workout.

 

[HoldDaMayo]

how lean are you? what is your height/weight etc...

I would say you should be able to maybe spend 15 minutes in the locker room recovering, read a magazine or something... then go out and do your workout... just don't do any legs... and eat more of course...

 

[Pierzin]

My bodyfat is probably 16-17% right now, which to me, is incredibly high. (I can't remember ever having this much fat!)
I'm 5-8, 130.

 

[once was fat]

Your 5 feet 8 and at 16% body fat but you only weight 130lbs. This dose not sound right to me.

 

[HoldDaMayo]

hmm... that does sound strange... are you really skinny except for your stomach or something? or are you really like 5'5"?

Either way, sounds like the biking may really help lower your bodyfat%...

 

[MeatheadSam]

No it will not take a huge amount of stregnth from you.

Spin in an easy gear at an easy pace and let your cardiovascular system do the work and not the legs. If you can ride with your pedaling cadence at or above 90-100 rpm's then you will use very little power and your heart and lungs will do the work. Do not worry about going fast or you will affect power to some degree.

The best thing is that you will be warmed up and ready to go once you walk through the door.

I have done full blown leg workouts after a two hour bike ride.

BTW, I am also an avid cyclist so this is something I definitely know.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Originally posted by MeatheadSam

BTW, I am also an avid cyclist so this is something I definitely know.

Then you also know that 6-8 miles of road riding is practically nothing...barely enough to break a sweat.

For one month, Pierzin, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[HoldDaMayo]

wouldn't you say his body would become accostomed to the ride fairly quickly? It may even help his cardio recovery while weight lifting...

 

[MeatheadSam]

Originally posted by I Are Baboon
Then you also know that 6-8 miles of road riding is practically nothing...barely enough to break a sweat.

For one month, Pierzin, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Exactly! Now if it is done on an ATB or BMX bike it might take a bit more effort but a road bike it is about enough to get warmed up for a real workout.

Of course if I put effort into the ride and try to cover 8 miles in less than 20 minutes it turns into a gut buster.

Hell, some of my rides take me out an hour before I even start doing interval or speed work just to get into a good rythm and properly warmed up. A 3-4 hour ride out on the road is normal for me, sometimes I am out for 5 hours.

Biking is very low impact depending on the effort you put into it.

 

[tjwes]

Not a big deal really.Make sure you have a lot more carbs in your system pre-workout for more energy.I would also ingest more carbs and protein post -workout and bump up both macros a bit overall.

 

[bandaidwoman]

Just look at it as warming up on the way to the gym! (although 8 miles on knobby tires is alot after pounding your legs on a leg workout day). Good luck. My mantra is, you can never do too much biking....but then, I'm slightly biased.

 

[Randy]

Just invest into some home equipment.
Comes in handy for situations like you describe.

 

[Pierzin]

y'all are awesome!

meathead, IAB, bandaidwoman,

thanks. That will just have to work one way or another. I've done it before, but as is my usual problem, I did not eat enough. I have to consume over 3500 cals a day to make any gains, so as usual my diet is/will be the biggest challenge. Along with the freakin weather up here in Seattle- and that will be quite a test, as today it was freezing and I went out for a few miles and my face almost froze off riding into the wind. Dec & January are coldest up here!!
Planning on gettin a new bike from a friend of mine pretty soon, but now that will have to wait!
Yeah, ok enough whining, time to eat!

Mayo & Once, Yes, I really am THAT skinny, and yes, all of it is my gut. (although I may be 5-7.5! ) Beer and pizza will do that to you!
Now you know why I work out!!!!

Oh yeah, a couple dumbbells just might do it, but that's all I'd have room for!

 

[Randy]

Just wait till you hit 30, you won't have to worry about gaining weight.....It will come whether you want it or not

 

[MeatheadSam]

Another thing to consider, if you do a leg workout and your muscles are bloated with fatigue toxins (lactic acid) a nice easy ride home will get the blood flowing through the legs to help flush out those toxins. This equates to faster recovery.

I think riding to the gym will be a win win situation, except the cold you described! BRRR! Get a balaclava, and some good wind breaking gloves for your fingers. Gore windstopper works pretty good for me.

Some tips since you are not a cyclist:

Spin the pedals in circles not just on the downstroke. (need toe clips with straps or cycling shoes and clipless pedals for this however.)

Exhale with force to get more oxygen to the lungs while riding, your body will naturally inhale properly so just exhale forcefully.

Ride with a flat back (good posture) to keep the glutes involved more so you do not overuse the quads if it is leg day especially.

Ride in a gear that spins easily. If you find yourself exerting too much effort or feeling your heartrate is jumping up then back off and perhaps use an easier gear. Under no circumstances should you push hard enough to begin experiencing a burn in the legs if you want to minimize the effort of the ride.

If your breathing is such that you could not carry on a conversation or perhaps whistle while you ride then the effort may be too much to be a warm up/ no impact ride.

Hope the temps warm up a bit for ya.

Sam

 

[Pierzin]

Getting over flu

I have bike riding gloves,a scarf, some decent socks, a good hat
(which I wear under my helmet, though it feels tight even if I extend the straps out), all of which I need to stay warm enough.

I am incredibly out of shape! It took me an hour to cover that 8 miles! And then, I wasn't able to ride back.. I walked back for 2 miles. So I have work cut out for me in the endurance area.

I'm a wimp! eek! it's just another hurdle...

 

[Randy]

Meathead is right! Bike riding is excellent for your health. I lost my drivers license when I was a kid for 2 years. It forced me to ride my bike to and from work for those 2 years. It took me a half hour each way....total 1 hour a day. I was out of shape at the time, but quickly came to speed. Not long I was in the best shape of my life. I could ride up intense mountains up hill for miles and miles without resting. I was driving on streets like 30 - 35 miles an hour beating cars through the commute.. It was a good feeling . Nothing like it, it's a rush. After you get in shape you will find yourself going for bike rides just for fun

 

[Pierzin]

over 30

I am 33, and my metabolism hasn't slowed down yet.
I have to consume 3700 cals just to see any gains, so if I
add more carbs, that would bump me up over 4000 easy.
Oh yeah, and in part because of the flu, my weight is probably down near 123. ARRRGH! It was 136 back in Sept! God!

Eating that much is hard work!

While I consider myself pretty hardcore, I just got over the flu. We are expecting snow(and more cold weather) for about another week, so I am going to opt out until I consider it safe enough to follow y'alls guidelines.

By next Friday, I am hoping to have my car fixed. Yeahh!!!
At least between now and then, I can get in some more riding, even if I don't hit the gym. Gotta recognize your limits.



Cheers mates!
P

 

[Randy]

Man if your weight is only 123, you need to eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, and more eat.

 

[Randy]

Ask GoPro to set you up with some good VPX gain products.
That might help considerably as well.

 

[Pierzin]

New Perspective

Now that I have been without wheels for a week,
I have seen some changes.

Even though I did work out pretty good during the last summer and into part of the fall, my butt is feeling the effects of a lot of walking.
As I mentioned earlier, we've had freezing temps here which makes bike riding near suicidal, IMO, so I've been walking or taking the bus.
Randy, thanks for the tips. I find I have been in a rut with blinders on, so once things improve, I want to get out and ride!
HAHA!
Can't afford any more supplements now though, thanks.
Cheers
-P

 

[Randy]

Pierzin,

Sounds like you need some snow chains for your bike ..

 

[Trump]

If walking is easier than biking, then you aren't biking correctly.

 

[Randy]

I think he means walking is easier during the freezing weather.
If the streets are slick like ice, then biking could pose much more of a challenge than normal conditions.