Upper body workouts

[wayne1966]

Earlier this year I decided to get fit and lose weight.

Getting back on the bike after 17 years was a part of that. I had blown out to a massive 98kg. I am only 180cm tall.

Along with the cycling, I started doing some work on my upper body - with a trainer at the gym for 3 months or so (until the gym went broke), then at home on my own, mostly pushups and weights.

Anyway, I have lost 15kg, but I still have a fair way to go before I'm ready to do some racing. I did a little bit in my twenties, but not a great deal, and I would like to get into it again.

So about 3 weeks ago I started to gradually increase my mileage by commuting more regularly. I haven't had time for any long rides yet and I've only ridden the road bike a couple of times. But I think that the short 18km commute twice daily on the MTB is similar to interval training and will help get me ready for the summer criteriums.

I have found that I am getting more and more powerful on the bike, but my upper body is too tired to do any weights. The muscle tone that I was developing up top is wasting away, but my legs aren't having any such problems !

Has anybody had a similar issue ? When I was cycle fit in my twenties, I had massive legs and a really skinny upper body. I only weighed 66 kg and I don't want to out of proportion like that again. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers.

[Chelsea]

Sounds like you are doing very well, well done
I would say keep up the cycling and do some walking as well and maybe some light running or for a real good upper body workout get a night fill job all them lifting boxes and you get paid as well

[wayne1966]

Thanks Chelsea.

I couldn't fit in a night fill job as my day job is in Sydney so I don't really get enough sleep as it is. I'm on the bike to the station at 5am and home at about 7:30pm.

[daddio64]

Do you really want a bulked up upper body, just more wind resistance and weight that contributes little and means your legs have more work to do. Work on the bike will tone up both biceps and triceps and anything using your own weight resistance, like pushups and dips between 2 chairs, will keep things good when you can't ride as much. Also if you have time I would take the money you were giving the gym and give it to Mick Hull at Finesse Cycling ( http://www.finessecycling.net/ ) as I am sure he will have sessions at time that suits your schedule. Many of us carrying too much weight are finding this very good training that doesn't involve pulling the kilos up hills against real gravity. Good luck fella. Bill.

[Murphs]

I'm trying to get rid of my upper body...

[Andy H]

If you PM me your email address I can forward you some info that may help.

[cookie]

just do a simple bodyweight \ light dumbell (kettlebell) program a few times a week. Planks, pull-ups, dumbell press, deadlift, rows etc etc

You wont get big doing that sort of regime but it will make you stronger.

checkout http://www.bikejames.com/ he has some good basic programs to start on (mtb focused)

[PeZulu]

Curious to see how you go on a MTB in the crits 

[Stu Eddy]

If you PM me your email address I can forward you some info that may help.

Ha Ha stumpy, some would suggest you could only have one of these problems not both. You're either all legs or all torso but you definitely don't have the height to have both !! 

[Andy H]

Thanks Stu! Maybe I'll take Chelsea's advice and do some more walking to help build my upper body.

[Chelsea]

Andy you and Linda can go together in matching tracksuits with them little weights you hold in your hands and do power walking 

[Matt]

When I was younger I looked like my Avatar.  6 foot five and 11 stone!  If I turned sideways you couldn't see me.  I was trying to play rugby and lifted endless weights to no avail.  A strong wind would blow me over but I could compete because I had better than average cardio for a tight forward.  The year after I retired I stacked it on in all the wrong places.  Then (tragically 10 years too late) I discovered cycling, where looking like a praying mantis is an advantage.  I've dropped 12 kegs and still going.

Remember muscle is twice as heavy as fat. My advice is drop the weights and take up a bit of swimming or surfing for upper body tone. 

[wayne1966]

Curious to see how you go on a MTB in the crits 

Yes, point taken, PeZulu 

I'll have to start getting out on the road bike.

[Vic75h]

I do gym twice a week and focus on some lifting but more more explosive work outs such as Power cleans, Squat jumps, squats, calves, abs, clap push ups. I weigh around 75kg and as per the above wouldnt want to get any heavier and could still potentially loose another kilo or two.

[Chelsea]

I would of thought most of us get that upper body work out from drinking coffee after training and sometimes injoying a few reds at the end of the day