upper body exersice

[Tangled Metal]

Do you include core exercises with upper body? Does cycling help with the core muscles? The reason is I always tried to pick upper body exercises that recruited core muscles.

For example at the gym I used a freedom trainer whilst sat on an exercise ball. In case anyone doesn't know about this machine, it's a resistance weight machine where the pulleys operate on independent arms which can be moved to a wide range of positions. It's used for rehabilitation in a health setting typically. You can pull against the weights in many directions allowing for all upper body without. The best bit is the way it works complimentary muscles. What I mean is your targeting the lats but it uses the other muscles that usually work to a lesser degree with the lats. Also with the imbalance from the exercise ball it works the core muscles a lot too.

Of course not.everyone has access to this expensive kit. I suppose resistance bands attached to your door or wall or ceiling whilst the sat on a ball may be a cheaper solution. Whatever you choose I do recommend using an exercise ball to give you an imbalance which works your core as you work the upper. Many.useful exercises such as the plank with your feet on the ball. Or press ups with feet on the ball. I'm sure.many others too.

[AJ101]

If you've not done strength training before then I'd be wary of starting a weights programme straight out and getting injured. Either lift super slow with an instructor to guide you (5 seconds up, 5 seconds down will certainly give you an indication if your form is wrong and you've got a niggle that's going to get problematic). The yoga and swimming ideas are great. If you can do them twice a week ideally you'll definitely get benefits, especially from the Yoga if you get a find a good teacher. Your hamstrings at the very least will be grateful!

[Ray]

Despite my slightly tongue-in-cheek scepticism earlier in this thread, it has made me think, and I've now enrolled in a Pilates class at the local authority gym. Too early to tell what effect it might have on my cycling, or my overall well-being, but in the meantime I'm quite enjoying being vastly outnumbered by flexible women doing pelvic floor exercises. Also, I'm now going to dig out my Swiss exercise ball from the bottom of the wardrobe and pump it up!

[Ray]

I'm now going to dig out my Swiss exercise ball from the bottom of the wardrobe and pump it up!

Done it! Sitting at the computer, I'm having a bit of gentle core exercise, and there's no possibility of slumping - or not without falling off, anyway. And I'd forgotten how much fun it is.
Can't wait for the grandkids to come round - they'll really have a . . . what's the word?

[bigjim]

Gym at least three times a week. No cardio [boring] normally, but lots of upper body stuff, usually free weights or bodyweight stuff such as chinups and wide pullups. The gym is my hidy hole in the bad weather as it has a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. I also do the odd Pilates class here as well. If I'm desperate for some boring cardio I'll use the pool or one of the excercise bikes.
I do find all that core stuff helps my hill climbing on the bike.
We were just talking today in how the Gym seems to be the new pub for old guys like me. Somewhere to gather where we can have a moan and put the world to rights. Fills a social gap for me since I retired.

[loch eck steve]

I'm now going to dig out my Swiss exercise ball from the bottom of the wardrobe and pump it up!

Done it! Sitting at the computer, I'm having a bit of gentle core exercise, and there's no possibility of slumping - or not without falling off, anyway. And I'd forgotten how much fun it is.
Can't wait for the grandkids to come round - they'll really have a . . . what's the word?

Going to the 3 year old grandson'a birthday party this afternoon , couple of hours running round with him i'll be shattered !