I got asked yesterday to contribute to an article a guy is writing on strength training for mountain biking. His main question, as with most riders, is why should he? Why should you strength train for mountain biking?
So, I sat down and outlined why strength training is a MUST for anyone who is serious about becoming a better rider. So, in no particular order, here are my Top 3 Reasons to Strength Train for Mountain Biking:
All right, it’s been a while but I feel a rant coming on. Every once in a while I have to get something off my chest and sometimes people get offended in the process. Good, it’s been a while since I’ve pissed someone off…
One of my biggest pet peeves in life is when someone asks me “is your program for XC or is it geared more towards DH because around where I live we have a lot of XC riding.” There are 3 reasons this makes me want to slam my head into my keyboard.
1. I have a lot of XC riding where I live as well. Read more…
Last year about this time I came out with my Nightmare Before Christmas cardio training circuit. It was a simple but brutal 4 exercise circuit and I had a lot of great feedback from riders who found it effective for building strength endurance. In the spirit of the holiday season, here is my new Nightmare Before Christmas 2 cardio circuit:
Exercise #1: Kettlebell Swing
Exercise #2: Burpee with Push Up
Exercise #3: Russian Twist
Exercise #4: Jump Rope/ Jumping Jacks
Go hard for 45 seconds and then rest for 15 seconds while you switch to the next exercise. Go through the circuit 3 times for a total of 12 exercises.
This circuit will take you less than 15 minutes to complete and will work your hips, core, upper body and cardio in one compact package. Use it the next time the weather outside is frightful but you want your trail fitness to be more delightful…Merry Christmas!
Jumping rope is a great cardio exercise for mountain bikers because it builds lower leg power and endurance and forces you to maintain good posture in the process. While some groups do appreciate it (boxers and MMA fighters for instance) most people don’t realize just how great a tool it really is. Since you can get a jump rope for less than $10 (although I recommend spending a bit more if you can) it is something you can easily add into your routine tomorrow.
The first benefit mentioned is the lower leg specific power and endurance it builds. A lot of mountain bikers ask about how to deal with calf cramps and fatigue and nothing beats the jump rope for addressing those issues. It also builds trail flow as it works on foot speed and coordination, an important part of lower body athleticism.
The other benefit is that jumping rope forces you to stand up straight and maintain a tall spine. Read more…
Last week I started having some of my riders finish their workouts off with this little circuit for some extra cardio training. They seemed to really “enjoy” it (at least as much as you can when trying to catch your breath) so I thought I’d share it with your guys. Here it is:
