Leg Work

sikracer75
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Location: Adelaide, SA

Leg Work

Postby sikracer75 » Fri Aug 06, 2010 7:05 pm

Just wondering if there are any suggestions for good leg strengthening exercises/workouts? On and Off the bike. Just getting into the sport and really enjoying every secind of it but i feel im lacking in the leg strength department. I know it will probably come over time but i want to try speed up the process...

Dr_Mutley
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Re: Leg Work

Postby Dr_Mutley » Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:41 pm

if your into it, go to the gym and do some RPM classes.... good fun and good conditioner for a new rider.... ive just started doing a few becaus eof the inclement weather, and beside the benefits of eyecandy, its actually helped my leg strength a bit... :D

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matth
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Re: Leg Work

Postby matth » Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:32 pm

Dr_Mutley wrote:beside the benefits of eyecandy, its actually helped my leg strength a bit... :D
hehe...

Weather permitting I have found interval training and hill work has really improved my leg strength.

Dr_Mutley
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Re: Leg Work

Postby Dr_Mutley » Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:35 pm

matth wrote:
Dr_Mutley wrote:beside the benefits of eyecandy, its actually helped my leg strength a bit... :D
hehe...

Weather permitting I have found interval training and hill work has really improved my leg strength.
yup damn weather... :)

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rpmspinman
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Re: Leg Work

Postby rpmspinman » Wed Aug 18, 2010 11:40 am

Another vote here for RPM/Spin classes. Makes it well worth doing if the weather is inclement like it has been for the past few days.
Cheers
Shav

My Bikes:
2011 Kona Dew Plus (commuter)
2012 Focus Cayo 2.0 (road)
2015 Cervelo S5 VWD

sikracer75
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Location: Adelaide, SA

Re: Leg Work

Postby sikracer75 » Wed Aug 18, 2010 6:16 pm

Are the classes reasonably cheap? I guess it would vary between gyms. Ill have to look into it a little more. Plus i need to join a bunch. Get some real k's into the legs. I plan on riding the tour challenge and ride like crazy but at this point in time i cant see it happening lol

betterthanwalking
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Re: Leg Work

Postby betterthanwalking » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:58 pm

Riding up hills with a low cadence really helps and is free. :mrgreen:

Gavin

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rpmspinman
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Re: Leg Work

Postby rpmspinman » Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:52 pm

Im with Genesis gym and am paying $15 a week for a full membership. Plenty of rpm classes going on during the week too. But yes, like Gavin said, use your bike for free if your looking to save a penny.
Cheers
Shav

My Bikes:
2011 Kona Dew Plus (commuter)
2012 Focus Cayo 2.0 (road)
2015 Cervelo S5 VWD

sikracer75
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Location: Adelaide, SA

Re: Leg Work

Postby sikracer75 » Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:02 pm

where is genesis?

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trailgumby
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Re: Leg Work

Postby trailgumby » Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:17 pm

Another vote for spin classes. If you are already a member at a gym, the incremental cost is zero. 8)

I wouldn't join a gym just to start doing them, though. I would invest in a fluid trainer and a set of Spinervals DVDs instead. However, a gym gives you other cross-training exercises which are useful not just for cycling but general wellbeing.

I do weights for my legs and core once a week on Mondays. Set the weights so that you can do sets of 20 by three times. Once you get to 30 in each set, you can then up the weights. I do:
* Seated Leg press
* lower leg extension
* calf press,
* hamstring curl,
* pelvic abduction (squeeze in)
* pelvic adduction (squeeze out)

For core I do:
* Back extension,
* ab crunches and
* core twists.

Where the machine permits (the first four above) I do each side separately and swap between each side without break. This stops me favouring my weaker left side inadvertently, whcih I am prone to do. Otherwise it's 30 seconds between sets.

Upper body is covered by my shoulder rehab program, which I do 2-3 times per week. And then there's 20 minutes swimming that I'm supposed to do for my shoulder 3 times a week, but have been neglecting.

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rpmspinman
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Re: Leg Work

Postby rpmspinman » Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:37 pm

sikracer75 wrote:where is genesis?
Depending on where you live there is one at Glenelg and one at Noarlunga.
Cheers
Shav

My Bikes:
2011 Kona Dew Plus (commuter)
2012 Focus Cayo 2.0 (road)
2015 Cervelo S5 VWD

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emu legs
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Re: Leg Work

Postby emu legs » Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:05 pm

Hi
+2 for RPM/Spin classes here,..I have cut back my from running 3 nights a week to 2 and have added 2-3 Spin/RPM classes at a great family owned gym called Enjoy located up the top of Magill Rd next to the Tower Hotel .The Instructors are truly Evil and will work you very very hard :twisted: ...On completion of 1 RPM class you walk out feeling like you have ridden at your limit on a typical 2-3 hr Bike ride.....Do it you will be a better sprinter/rider for it !! :D


Ps:Full membership with unlimited RPM/Body Balance and Pump is $600.00 with none of the usual/typical contracts and dirty tactics employed by Fitness First etc..
Last edited by emu legs on Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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rpmspinman
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Re: Leg Work

Postby rpmspinman » Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:02 pm

Very interesting emu. Thats just up the road from work. Not that I have anything against Genesis, they are great, but something closer to work has its benefits.
Cheers
Shav

My Bikes:
2011 Kona Dew Plus (commuter)
2012 Focus Cayo 2.0 (road)
2015 Cervelo S5 VWD

sikracer75
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:42 pm
Location: Adelaide, SA

Re: Leg Work

Postby sikracer75 » Fri Aug 20, 2010 6:34 pm

Yea i know the gym. I live in the area and get pamphlets( first useful junk mail i have come across) often. Still yet to look into it though. Also where would i find spinervals dvd's around adelaide??

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