other sports

Come on folk, I know that people here must do other sports than just biking (well, some do at least). List them here. I'm kinda curious if there'll be any trend.

For myself my other main sport is rock climbing. If you've never done it, you should try it. And remember that outdoor is different than indoor, in my mind there's little comparison. Indoor climbing is only used for training when it's wet or cold.

Well, I too rockclimb, but not seriously. I started this past winter, and since I live in MN that means climbing in the gym. I have yet to get outside, it seems like such a chore--drive 45 min. to the nearest place then set up a route, then climb, wait, climb more, drive all the way back--it seems to by a day long adventure. I don't have that much time to commit to it, so for now I run to the rock gym whenever I can (I try for once a week , but settle for once about every other week) and enjoy a good 2 hour climbing session. I looked for a weekend trip or something to try outdoor climbing, but summer is so busy as it is that nothing seemed to work out. Maybe after my weeklong bike outing to Chicago I'll be able to spend more time enjoying the wonderful sport of rockclimbing. I love indoor climbing, so I bet once I try outdoor I'll be hooked! Cimb on--and ride on ;)

Hmm, It does take time to accually get outdoors to the crag. Noramlly for me that means a half hour to an hour drive then maybe a half hour to 45min walk in. It doesn't bother me too much (When I used to live with my parents and it was at least half hour dive to an hour to get anywhere, and I like the hike), but if you go out then you should be prepared to commit the day to it.

How about bouldering? Some times the areas are more accessable and there's no time committed to getting ropes set up. When I go craging I'll take the day, bouldering I don't want to be climbing for more than a few hours.

Hope that you get out soon, I recommend going out doors at least once before the summer ends to see what it's like. Good luck and crank hard.

Hey

I rock climb too. well i haven't done it in a bit because i keep re-injuring my poor little shoulder. I get the same "zone" feeling rock climbing as i do mountain biking. Just me and nature! I usually climb at the gym but on occasion get outside in Gatineau Park nearby (about 45 min drive to the site) and i have climbed in the Adirondacks.

My other sports are: road cycling, running, downhill skiing, cross country skiing. and i would like to learn some volleyball. i have played a couple of time and i really like it!

Happy riding!

Han-grrl

Hey, any paddlers out there?

I got a used kayak at the beginning of the summer and it's been a hoot! I'm still a beginner, of course, and I'm talking flat water and bay kayaking vs. whitewater. Still, I'm thrilled just being out on the water in my little boat. Also, it's a nice counterpoint to cycling--mainly works the upper body, though the core muscles are a big factor and lower body comes into play for stabilizing and swinging the hull.

I've been teaching myself from a book so far--read a chapter, go out and try the techniques, read another chapter, etc. But I may take a class or two before the summer's over.

As with rock climbing, paddling can involve some effort to reach the "playground," but once you're there, it's every bit worth the trouble. On the water, "Life is but a dream."

Hi,

I used to rock climb in my college days and it is a wonderful sport. Since about 1980 I've
been doing Aikido, a traditional Japanese martial art, similar to jiu jitsu.

I'm not sure whether Aikido helps my cycling more than vice versa but knowing how to take a
high fall has sure saved my butt on a bike several times. You've still got to wear a helmet.

Dita

I kayak, also flat water but think it's a wonderful complement to the cycling. I just recently moved back from CA. to VA. and I'm thoroughly enjoying the scenery by way of my bike and kayak. The best of both worlds for sure! :D IpedLnpadL

I've rock climbed some. Hope to get back into it when the weather cools off a bit. Enchanted Rock is an excellent place in Texas. Also love backpacking. Getting away from the rest of the world, carrying everything you need on your back. Walking the trails and all you hear are the birds and the wind blowing through the trees. It can't get much better. Has anyone ever tried sky diving? Lately I've been thinking about it.

Vicki

I just recently discovered this site, as to other sports, I live in northern Ontario, last year I was able to bike until Dec 10, we got tons of snow, so then i could snoshoe. i use the newer type aluminum shoe rather than traditional. i play broomball, slopitch and ball hockey in summer. Biking and snoshoeing I love to do on my own, feels peaceful, clears my mind whatever. Paintgirl

moutain bike
tele ski intermediate
alpine ski expert
class 3 rafter
hiker/backpacker

penny s

I have to tell all of you what I did a couple of weeks ago. I went skydiving. It was my first jump, tandam. It was awesome. It is hard to explain what I felt as I was freefalling then floating down once the parachute opens up is so peaceful. Most of the people I have told about it think I am crazy but say they are proud of me.
Why did I do it? Because I am 39 years old and I am not getting any younger. I'm a wife and a mother but I also want to be just me sometimes and do whatever I want and not worry about what ifs anymore. Life is too short to sit at home and dream about all the things I want to do. I have already paid for my second jump and will probably go before the month is over.
If anyone out there is thinking of doing a jump or anything else adventurous I say go for it.

See ya in the wild blue yonder.

Vicki:cool:

Wow! Skydiving, you're brave, not crazy. May all your safe take offs have equal numbers of safe landings.

Hmmm, I noticed a common theme. Does anyone play any team sports? Didn't think so. I don't. Probably has to do with always being last picked in gym class ;-)

My significant other plays women's pro football, yes, tackle, not flag. She also rides a bike which helps to keep the legs fit and loose.

Interesting question Trek. I do not, can not, will not ? play team sports. I have always prefered indy sports to team. I have no talent when it comes to working with others to win. I never really enjoyed PE unless it was gymnastics or something like that. Happy riding, and climbing and hiking and kayaking and what other passions one may enjoy!

waterlili,

I just do individual sports; aikido, cycling, hiking, a little weight training in off season.
Nothing competitive.

TREK420

I do 2 team sports, broomball, which is my favorite, and softball. Softball often drives me crazy, standing around waiting for something to happen,. broomball is great, because we have only a few spares, so you play most of the time, and you can run like crazy, and make things happen.I sucked at basketball, only played football at family gatherings, I had 8 brothers and sisters so we were a team, fought all the time. paintgirl

I used to play softball (slow-pitch womens and co-ed) and (womens fast-pitch). I loved it. Played for about 7 years. Then I just got burned out. I played in a co-ed game last summer on my sister's team. It just wasn't the same. I've lost the desire to play that sport. Now my favorite sport is riding my bike.

Vicki Just go ride!:cool:

Funny, I've noticed that most riders prefer individual sports to team sports but I'm the other way around. I love basketball and soccer although I'm burned out on soccer right now.

My husband and I played co-ed together while we were dating and up until I started having babies. Now that my babies are getting old enough to play soccer I can live through them :) . But, I've been riding bikes in the dirt ever since I learned how to ride a two wheeler and I love being out on my own, checking out the scenery.

I think my next sport might be golf. I'd love to try that out.

Cheers,
Kristina

Assassin_x
I do another sport any body out there do karate
I do that at night 4 times a week for three hours. It is my other passion beside riding my bikes. I started riding again because of karate. I also tried rock climb once it was not for me but you do make it sound great. what do you feel when you get to the top and look around. What do you think is the best part of your other sport.:) Williamtash

Hi,

I do Aikido, another martial art. It's great for range of motion, and the cycling gives me endurance which you do not get from Aikido because it's not an aerobic sport.

Plus Aikido falls help in case you endo ;-)

TREK420

I swim when the mood strikes me. I was a distance swimmer in college, but now it's more dealing with stress. Nobody can bug you when you're head's in the water. :p

Veronica

trek420

How long have you been studing in your system? The karate give me the consentration and building my leg up and flexbility. It is also fun. every know and again I get ti kick a young males ego.:D I use to do tournament but not really any more that is for the young and my rank and age puts me with people that have studied for 20 plus years. I have their age but nut the time studing. That makes it really tought. I also found I don't think that what I need or want from my karate. It is kind of like when I ride my bike I do everything for me and it is the freedom of mind and my mind againist pain and hills and distance. And of course the fun that the big thing:D


williamtash

" How long have you been studing in your system? "

more or less since 1980 (the more is a 4 years of Karate before, the less is taking time from training of for college) currently training for my Nidan (2nd degree black belt)

"The karate give me the concentration and building my leg up and flexbility. It is also fun. every now and again I get to kick a young males ego.:D "

The focus is key in cycling and you can get that from MA.

yep, it's fun when guys think I throw like a girl...yep, throw YOU like one ;-)

Not too much problem with that since my instructor is a woman the men who train in our dojo respect women Udansha or they would not travel across the planet to train with her.

"I use to do tournament but not really any more that is for the young and my rank and age puts me with people that have studied for 20 plus years. I have their age but not the time studying."

keep training, it's a lifetime sport, and keep riding too!

TREK

Trek,
I have been at it about 4 1/2 shodan in okinawan kenpo. Mr instructor is a man and He good. He train with 8th Kyoshi Vic Coffin. He is the only that got me back to riding because of the MD I have and to keep me walking longer. Thw other two instuctors are women plus me so we rule the dojo. The men are ok their just look at my size which is 5' and 98lbs and think I will brake. I hope you get your nidan that great. I like the idea of a women dojo that sound great. karate and biking will always be a big part of my life. So you tain on in mind and spirit

Williamtash (sandy)

Quote:

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Originally posted by williamtash
Assassin_x
I do another sport any body out there do karate
I do that at night 4 times a week for three hours. It is my other passion beside riding my bikes. I started riding again because of karate. I also tried rock climb once it was not for me but you do make it sound great. what do you feel when you get to the top and look around. What do you think is the best part of your other sport.:) Williamtash

---

What questions, it does feel fantastic when you get to the top and look around. I took me a while to get used to heights, at first it was a hindrance, but I feel that I can deal with it now. It took sometime to get used to, but I started looking back behind me and I started thinking "this is beautiful" instead of "holy c**p I'm high up!".

Climbing can get your adreniline pumping sometimes, but the most gratifying climbs are ones where it's you and the rock, you just move up it concentrating on every hold and enjoying the movement of your body. Those are the ones that you look up and you can't beleive that you're at the top!

I love just getting out there, I love the rock. My favorite type of place in the world is out on the granite expanses by the ocean near Halifax. Always loved it, and could you imagine my joy when I found that you could climb that rock too!

Thanks for asking, thanks for giving me an excuse to talk about climbing :p

" My instructor's a man and He's good. He trained with 8th Kyoshi Vic Coffin. "

I think I've heard of Vic Coffin. If I was to do a "hard style" I think it would be Kenpo, it's beautiful but my knees are shot and can't do the kicks.

"He is the only that got me back to riding because of the MD I have and to keep me walking longer."

My sensei , Pat Hendricks, 6th dan cycles also as well as yoga to cross train she encouraged me to bike too to get my wind up for my previous tests.

"I like the idea of a women dojo that sound great. "

Actualy the dojo is mixed, just our head instructor is a woman. We have a few women senior students also but mostly men. I have been to workshops that were women only but I do not think I'd like a all women dojo because let's face it gals...if you ever had to "use it" would probably be a man and would not like to flip out "arrrgh , he's so tall, will this work?". The guys in our dojo are great.

"karate and biking will always be a big part of my life. So you train on in mind and spirit"

well said!

TERK420

I've lifted weights about 7 years. I was leg pressing 815lbs & squatting 215lbs & I'm 41, 5'3.5", female & 123lbs with 14.8% bodyfat. I started feeling thick, so I thought I'd go lighter with the weights and get into biking! :D

I'm also learning to golf. I've taken about 6 lessons, golfed 18 twice & the first score was 125 and the second 109. At least I improved!! :D

Your teachers name sounds like a name that I have heard. What state do you come from. I come from North carolina. I went off my bike today trying to get my clippless right pedal to work right. he shop found out I needed a shime on my right foot because my feet are so small. It is going to make working tonight the pits because we kumita tonight. Some of those kid want to kill you and I don't wear pads very often to those scrapes are going to get hit. Kyoshi Coffin says alot of names of high ranking black belts that is why I may have heard the name. Ask your sensei If he has heard of Kyoshi: I am usually surprized at who either know him or have heard of him or who has competed against him
Well got to go I have a little one that wants a book read my grandaughter. She already think she needs to be at the dojo and she is 2. She likes to kei:rolleyes:

"What state do you come from. I come from North carolina."

California

" Ask your sensei If he has heard of Kyoshi: I am usually surprized at who either know him or have heard of him or who has competed against him"

She may have heard of him but would not have compteted. There are no competitions in Aikdio

I'm intrigued by the martial arts thread. My gym is going to be offering two martial art forms (doesn't say what) but the instructor has been in MA for 30 years and he is very intense (he's also a personal trainer - one of the few I would work with). I'm mostly interested in the ability to focus - can anybody talk about that? Also, how does MA help your cycling? Your day to day life?

Thanks

Hi ,

You wanted to know how MA can help you cycling?
Well You have to use everything you have to do it.arms legs hips
strenght training. It also makes you have to focus past the pain of you body and draw from your center. You have to focus on what you ar doing at all times. That and it is just fun and you know that you can handle yourself in a great many situation.
You really want to check out were and how he got his rank
Who was hus sensei was. If he studied a single system or is he mix and matching his. That is not good. You want a clean system
not one that fits the instuctor. If you get what I mean. You also might want to talk to grasshopper she is in MA as well as me and she what her veiw point it.

"My gym is going to be offering two martial art forms (doesn't say what) but the instructor has been in MA for 30 years and he is very intense (he's also a personal trainer - one of the few I would work with). I'm mostly interested in the ability to focus - can anybody talk about that? Also, how does MA help your cycling? Your day to day life?"

What a lot of questions and so little time on my coffee break but let me dig in.

First, there's a huge diff between a personal trainer and a martial arts sesei and while I'm sure this guy/gal is great I suggest you check out a lot of classes in your area before deciding on a style/instructor.

I'll continue with things to look for and things to avoid when I get my next break ;-)

more thoughts:

MA offers cyclists range of motion, flexibility, balance, fast reaction time, spatial skills, and good falls for when you endo.

I find is that for Aikido anyway, Aikdio calm feels good, calm yet prepared. I've tried meditition and I feel a little dead.

It's a lifetime practice, find a teacher, style and school you feel comfortable and safe with, shop around, talk to people, watch the class.

I agree with Trek - It's a lifelong practice. I've been studying Karate and Ju Jitsu for 9 years and many days I feel like a beginner. My original school was traditional and wonderful. When that sensei moved and the school closed, I jumped into a contract with one of the largest schools in the area and learned that many many schools are just contract generating aroebics classes. They make you feel like you're learning something and get your heart rate up, but in truth you might as well be jazzersizing. It's like any sport...lots of people can play but not that many are good at teaching the real art!! Ask around. Ask about his teaching history. It doens't sound like you're looking for a cardio kickboxing class (not that there is anything wrong with them!). To really learn the art, is a special thing and requires a special teacher with a lot of experience.

Karate is the greatest thing I've done for myself. When I started practicing I'd recently broken my back and lived in daily pain. I give a lot of the credit to the life I have now to what I learned in Martial arts. It's effected everything I do!!

Wow, thanks for all of the info! I didn't realize that there was so much to know!

Dogmama said " I didn't realize that there was so much to know"

It's like cycling, it's something you can do your whole life. After over 20 years I'm still learning.

As for choosing a style at the high or advanced end I feel that most styles are more similar than they are different.

Aikido, a "soft" style becomes direct and powerful as you advance, Karate and other "hard styles" have fluid throws, sweeps and other moves.

What's most important is that you find a teacher and school that you feel comfortable with. How do they treat beginners? With patience and respect? Do the advanced students look inspiring.

good luck and keep cycling too!

"Grasshopper sed " It's a lifelong practice. I've been studying Karate and Ju Jitsu for 9 years and many days I feel like a beginner...To really learn the art, is a special thing and requires a special teacher with a lot of experience"

8-) my goal after training since 1975 is to get ONE technique sorta-kinda right each day. You're so right, it's a lifelong goal.

Similar to looking for that perfect LBS things to look for in an exceptional school are:

does the teacher inspire you? How involved are they? Does the head instructor only show up once in a while or often? Beginners in our school get daily attention from our head instructor, a 6th degree black belt.

watch advanced students. you should feel a sense of "wow! I'd love to be able to do that"

most important, how do they treat beginners. You'll be one for a looooong time. are instructors patient? do they stress safety? How do they deal with injuries? Are they respectful of students limits or push training while hurt?

beware of schools that have classes that are off limits, you should be able to watch both advanced and beginning classes. It's one thing to put you on automatic payment for convenience, but avoid contracts at all costs.

style is not so important, all are good. Look for the right school and teacher.

good luck and keep cycling!

Haha!! I know exactly what you mean!! I've felt the real "flow" of karate ONCE in my training...ONE TIME. And I've tried and tried to recreate it but I haven't. The funny thing is that it wasn't even a move I'd spent a lot of time studying. My body just gave the perfect reaction to an attack from my sensei. It even shocked HIM! I'll never forget that feeling.

My sensei use to wisper something in the ears of students he promoted to black belt. It was a secret "inspriration" they said. When I was promoted I finally heard it "congratulations, now you're ready to start learning." Not what I expected to hear on the day that I got my black belt - but he was so right!! Trek is right too - you'll be a beginner for a long time, but being a beginner in martial arts is a highly respectful thing to be.

Dogmama, if martial arts interests you - go for it! research it like you're buying your first bike - but go for it! Another thing to watch out for is schools that seem to be "making up belts." If there's constant belt tests - with you paying for each one - let that be a red flag. Shady MA schools can feed on our own ego - and make tons of money doing it. Ask questions and trust your gut.

wondering if any of us have ever taken a fall off your bike and does the MA help? (I did, it does)

also...more related to the biking...anyone going to the SF Grand Prix?

420

Living in the flat land and close to the beach - in-line skating is the one activity I could do for hours on end without batting an eye -

Just me, the wheels and some great tunes - the very thought of makes me want to leave the office right NOW!

I also run, hike, backpack and weight train all year round. Winters I snowshoe and mtn bike as much as the weather will allow. The cool thing about Colorado is that I can often mountain bike and snowshoe in the same day. I'd like to get into adventure racing but need to work on my water skills. Took my first kayaking class last winter but never mastered the roll. I'm a little afraid of water so it might take awhile! I also play volleyball which, now that I think about it, is the only team sport I play anymore. :)