Losing upper body muscle

Walsh95
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Losing upper body muscle

Postby Walsh95 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:58 pm

As a (quite) junior rider, I've got the same dream as everyone else: become a climber/tt specialist and win the Tour de France as many times as Armstrong except without the drugs (:lol: I'll show him its possible), but I'm starting to wonder whether I'm built for it. I wouldn't describe my upper body as bulky, (actually I'm pretty skinny) but after years of cricket and rugby, I'm carrying a bit of extra muscle mass and, at 15, I'm not sure that I've reached full development.

I've got a decent sprint, around 60kph, but i find that i am also a good climber, with good acceleration and endurance on up to 15km mountains, and i really love steep gradients. on top of all of that I've also heard that Lord Voldemort :evil: armstrong started out as a bulky time trialler of the likes of cancellara, before becoming a climber. So my question is, am I more a sprinter or can I drop the upper body muscle which I fear will become more prevalent as I develop. If its worth anything my dad hasn't got much natural upper body strength and I've always been pretty much the same.

Cheers :D hope for some good news.

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QuangVuong
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby QuangVuong » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:07 pm

That dpends on your proportion of fast twitch muscle fibres. It sounds like youve got a balance of fast and slow. The more fast twitch youve got, the more of a sprinter you would be, unless youre able to push big gears at a high cadence.

The heavier you are, I guess you can say, the quickeer you can develop your legs.
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Walsh95
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby Walsh95 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:11 pm

Ok so I'm about 176cm and weigh 60 kg, which is a lot lighter than my non biker mates. And I think you're right, fast twitch and slow twitch, as I was a good sprinter and long distance runner when I was younger, but never excelled at either

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winstonw
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby winstonw » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:12 pm

http://bjsportmed.com/content/23/1/30.full.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or alternatively, just go and race. sports performance is determined just as much by your competitive spirit and determination to train hard, and supportive parents, as it is genetics.

Walsh95
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby Walsh95 » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:17 pm

Thanks I'll read that. Yeah, Im really keen to start, hopefully can get to pro level watever the method.

Walsh95
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby Walsh95 » Thu Apr 11, 2013 7:19 am

I was also wondering of there were any methods to lose upper body muscle? Because phil ligget mentioned on last years tdf that wiggins had "slimmed" down from his days as a "bulky" track pursuitist

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clackers
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby clackers » Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:20 am

Walsh95 wrote:I was also wondering of there were any methods to lose upper body muscle? Because phil ligget mentioned on last years tdf that wiggins had "slimmed" down from his days as a "bulky" track pursuitist
If you don't get enough calories, your fat goes and then existing muscle tissue. Sounds radical, though. :eek:

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foo on patrol
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby foo on patrol » Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:01 pm

Mate you're 15, you have a heap physical developement to go yet.

Go and train with commitment and race the same, don't go getting hung up on this hype. :idea:

Foo
I don't suffer fools easily and so long as you have done your best,you should have no regrets.
Goal 6000km

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toolonglegs
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby toolonglegs » Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:15 pm

Walsh95 wrote:Ok so I'm about 176cm and weigh 60 kg, which is a lot lighter than my non biker mates. And I think you're right, fast twitch and slow twitch, as I was a good sprinter and long distance runner when I was younger, but never excelled at either
At 60 kg's I think it would be fair to say that your built to climb... even if you put on a couple more cms and kilos in the next couple of years, especially as you will lose your upper body mass once you stop using it.
Start racing ... if your good you will make your way up and get noticed, good clubs will have people to advise you... and in a couple of years you will be over here in Europe with an amateur club. Hunt out races which suit your talents once you know what they are... but I will hedge a bet that they will not be flat crits :P .

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sogood
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby sogood » Thu Apr 11, 2013 4:14 pm

Seriously, just go and race and see what you can excel in and keep at it. If you remain serious, then it's a matter of finding a coach and join a squad. It's a tad ridiculous trying to predict one's future here.
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toolonglegs
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby toolonglegs » Thu Apr 11, 2013 4:23 pm

Motivation is the key :wink: ... here's a couple of clubs near me that love young Aussies ... racing here isn't flat unlike Brest and Belgium :P .
http://bac01.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.team-vulco-vcvv.fr/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Derny Driver
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby Derny Driver » Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:32 pm

Walsh95 wrote:As a (quite) junior rider, I've got the same dream as everyone else: become a climber/tt specialist and win the Tour de France as many times as Armstrong except without the drugs (:lol: I'll show him its possible), but I'm starting to wonder whether I'm built for it. I wouldn't describe my upper body as bulky, (actually I'm pretty skinny) but after years of cricket and rugby, I'm carrying a bit of extra muscle mass and, at 15, I'm not sure that I've reached full development.

I've got a decent sprint, around 60kph, but i find that i am also a good climber, with good acceleration and endurance on up to 15km mountains, and i really love steep gradients. on top of all of that I've also heard that Lord Voldemort :evil: armstrong started out as a bulky time trialler of the likes of cancellara, before becoming a climber. So my question is, am I more a sprinter or can I drop the upper body muscle which I fear will become more prevalent as I develop. If its worth anything my dad hasn't got much natural upper body strength and I've always been pretty much the same.

Cheers :D hope for some good news.
I agree with sogood and foo, you are talking rubbish mate, you are too young to have ANY idea what sort of a bike rider you may or may not be. You should not be aiming to be anything specific at your age. you should just be training hard, racing often and trying to be good at all aspects of the sport. That includes time-trialling, sprinting, and climbing. Whether or not you will be a champion depends not on your genetic makeup (as plenty of talented people do not make it), it depends on lots of other factors. Having a good work ethic in races is important, and the right attitude.
My uncle and a friend went to Europe as 18 and 24 year olds, my uncle thought he was a sprinter and his mate wanted to be a Tour de France rider. As it turned out, they ended up as a madison team and won 2 world titles among lots of other things. My uncle returned to Australia 18 years later as a millionaire.

So in short, you have no idea where cycling might take you so don't put your blinkers on at age 15. Keep all options open including track racing, mountain biking, cyclo-cross and road riding. The tour de France riders you idolise came from track (OGrady), MTB (Evans), triathlon (Porte) ...... if they can morph from one type of cycling to another in their 20's, then so can you. It is a mistake to specialise, especially at a young age.

Also, if you keep cycling you will lose your upper body mass anyway, and you will end up with the classic cyclists physique, all legs and ass and no arms or chest.

Good luck with it mate, love your enthusiasm and dream, but do what I said : Train hard and race often and try to be an all-round cyclist.

Cheers,
DD

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Metor
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby Metor » Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:38 pm

Start living like a cyclist, then you maybe become one, one day...

Walsh95
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby Walsh95 » Thu Apr 11, 2013 9:17 pm

Too long legs, how will this happen? What races would you recommend me competing in?
Thanks to everyone for your advice, haha having a crisis "what if?" But over that now

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toolonglegs
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Re: Losing upper body muscle

Postby toolonglegs » Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:58 pm

How will what happen?... Upper body mass?... That will disappear when you stop using it. Racing in Europe?... Work your arse off the next two years and get some good results, contact DNS1 and 2 ( division national ) clubs for France and see if they want you... There's many ways to people get to Europe... Some easier than others.
What races?... Race everything till you know what you are good at. Just think bigger than club crits if you are good in the hills etc... If you are good you will get plenty of advice along they way.
Just have fun and work hard :-)

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