Core/Abs Exercises

[violette]

Wow great advice. I've been training since the begining of March and when biking, my back is strong and I can do climbs longer. I think I'm doing it right but I'll hire my trainer to give me some pointers on how I'm doing.

All the web sites that you all posted, I think I've seen them all, that's where I got my routine. I have the Bicycling magazine, that's what got me started on abs after seeing the core section.

Keep the links coming!

[han-grrl]

Watch out for crunches, even on the ball. They compress the spine and the discs in particular. Twisting crunches (i.e, oblique crunches or bicycle crunches) are even worse as they flex and twist the spine. This actually "corkscrews" the spine so the discs are really squashed.

Sport movement, is actually NOT twist based. Sometimes it really appears tha ways, but even golf swings or skate skiing, the power COMEs from the center, but the movement is actually a shift in weight from the center from one leg to the other. Its actually not a twist at all.

Many trainers spend too much time teaching the spine to rotate when they should actually be teaching it NOT to rotate. (ie get the core to brace properly).

I can go on and on and on (as you can most certainly tell! ) but i am pretty passionate about this issue. from my own personal experience, I do 20 minutes of my own core work out, i did a 24 hour solo race last year, and didn't experience one minute of back pain during my ten laps.

smile!
Hannah