By Coach Rick Schultz As a cyclist (really, as a typical person), it's extremely common for us to experience tight muscles in our daily lives. A tight muscle is a short muscle, and a short muscle cannot provide the power that a long muscle can. So, we need to stretch out those muscles to make them long again. The three tightest muscle groups that can affect us roadies are our … [Read more...] about Three Tight Muscle Groups to Stretch Out this Off-Season
Strength Training
Retaining Strength with Aging Improves Quality of Life
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. If you don't exercise regularly and vigorously, expect to lose a significant amount of muscle strength as you age, and expect that loss of strength to reduce the quality of your life. A 15-year follow-up study showed that older people who lift weights at least twice a week had a 46 percent lower death rate within the study period, a 41 percent lower … [Read more...] about Retaining Strength with Aging Improves Quality of Life
Our New Stretching & Core Strengthening eBook!
In Stretching & Core Strengthening for the Cyclist, our new 57-page eBook, Coach Rick Schultz and Amy Schultz clear up the confusion and take the guesswork out of knowing what to do, and how to do it, to implement a stretching and core strengthening program. Amy Schultz is completing her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, is an accomplished cyclist and has done extensive … [Read more...] about Our New Stretching & Core Strengthening eBook!
Muscle Loss from Inactivity: 34 Percent in Just Two Weeks
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. A study from the University of Copenhagen shows that wearing an immobilizing knee brace for just two weeks caused men in their 20s to lose 22 to 34 percent of their leg muscle strength, while men in their 60s lost 20 to 26 percent (Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, June 26, 2015). It took them six weeks of exercising on a bicycle 3-4 times a week to … [Read more...] about Muscle Loss from Inactivity: 34 Percent in Just Two Weeks
How Should Older Riders Train?
By Coach Fred Matheny Question: I've been racing for four decades, averaging about 700 hours of training each year. But now I'm 59 and sometimes feel the motivation is just not there. I heard that a 67-year-old finished El Tour de Tucson (111 miles) in 4:51. He had significantly reduced his on-bike training to 4 days per week and lifts weights the other 3 days. Do you … [Read more...] about How Should Older Riders Train?