Cycle Heroes Not Superstars

Teenage Memories

As a teenager one of my favourite TV programs was "Superstars", which pitted athletes from many different sports against each other in a variety of tests.

I wasn't a biker back then, football and swimming were my preferred activities. But I do recall how the cyclists taking part stood out. They were useless, regularly coming last and looking like a different species when compared to the well honed bodies of football or other sports heroes.

It might have been my memory was playing tricks but no a bit of research found this post.

http://www.thebikecomesfirst.com/when-joop-zoetemelk-took-on-tony-ward-remembering-the-tv-show-superstars/

Jook Zoetemelk, one of the greatest riders of all time, finished dead last in pretty much every event and could not even take part in the weightlifting he was so feeble. www.thesuperstars.org/comp/80international.html

The article finishes with pondering if today's cyclists would fare any better. I would guess the answer to be yes if those taking part were track cyclists who are at much at home in the gym as the velodrome. But road riders, especially grand tour champions would still, I'd bet, struggle.

The fact is that while cycling is great fun and can give you a strong cardiovascular system it is probably the worst, of all the major sports, at developing all around health.

Does it matter?

For Joop Zoetemelk no. He and any other pro cyclist would trade 1000 Superstars victories for one stage win, let along a Grand Tour.

But for the average or even elite Joe or Joanna riding a bike then yes it does. Good health is about far more than having a low RHR and a high FTP. 

"Strong" does not mean having a good pair of lungs and legs than can go on all day which is how we tifosi use the word when talking about riders.

It is now an accepted medical fact that endurance training by itself is not enough to keep you fit and healthy. Medical authorities including the US Government and WHO clearly state that in addition to cardiovascular exercise the ideal training regime also includes at least two strength sessions per week. 

Unfortunately these same authorities have been fighting a mostly losing battle to also get people to eat 5 vegetables/fruit and walk 10,000 steps a day so they seem to have pretty much given up on trying to persuade folks to do more even it is in their own best interests.  

The arguments are all well summed up in the UKs leading science weekly New Scientist
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24632780-600-why-strength-training-may-be-the-best-thing-you-can-do-for-your-health/#ixzz6K8jyiLsU

Most of the article is behind a paywall which is unfortunate as the its message should be something that everyone has the chance to read. (I will be happy to share a full transcript , just ask for one in the comments). Here are a couple of quotes..

"Strength training could add years of life and protect you from some
major killers. Having stronger muscles seems to decrease the chance of
getting cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. There is
even evidence that it can improve your memory and prevent cognitive
decline.

Its importance is so great that the UK government’s latest physical
activity guidelines emphasise muscle strengthening over aerobic
workouts. “It’s an urgent message that needs to get through,” says
Stuart Gray, who studies metabolic diseases at the University of
Glasgow, UK. “People need to know that strength training is important
at any age.”

"Advice from the American College of Sports Medicine couldn’t be simpler: it says that adults should perform strength exercises on all major muscle groups – legs, hips, back, abdomen,chest, shoulders and arms – at least twice a week."

Just riding a bike simply does not do meet these needs. Indeed just riding a bike can actually make things worse if it means you do less weight bearing activity such as walking or running.

So, unless you are planning a career as a professional bike rider, you would be well advised on health grounds alone to spend one hour less per week riding and spending it doing strength training instead. You don't have to go to a gym to do this. It is quite possible to do this at home with minimal equipment provided you get expert advice.

You may even be surprised. I took my own advice and ended up feeling decades younger noticeably stronger and losing aches and pains I thought I would take with me to the grave.

Not only that though. I also became a "stronger" cyclists, setting new personal bests at the age of 60. Looking back the reasons for this are now obvious and something I will share in another article